GradGuru app gives students gift cards for visiting counselor

GradGuru app helps students stay on-track while rewarding them with gift cards. 

By Monserrat Solis, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Monarchs can take advantage of the free app GradGuru to stay on track and meet deadlines while earning gift cards – college has never been more rewarding.

The Los Angeles Community College District adopted GradGuru, an award-winning app that launched in 2012, to help students overcome barriers in community college. The app advertises higher transfer rates and generally a successful college life by rewarding students who utilize school resources.

Brenda Chavez, a criminal justice major at Valley said she is open to downloading the app and stated, “the app would be helpful and realistically I would use it,” as Chavez looks to transfer in the next school year.

The app offers services like customizing notifications by selecting preferred events, deadlines and tips to manage calendar events, targeting specific deadlines like financial aid and tips to stay on-track. This can serve as a reminder for students who struggle with organization or time management.

A popular feature is the rewards section. Checking off milestones collects points to earn gift cards by meeting with advisors, making an education plan and keeping a 3.5 GPA average. By including a rewards systems, the app hopes to increase school participation and transfer rates.

Although the program seems foolproof, it all depends on downloaders and how the app is used. 

According to GradGuru.org, there are more than 40,000 students on the app with 65 percent saying the deadlines are being met and 70 percent saying they have recommended it to friends. With support from the Gates Foundation, ECMC Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation.

The mobile app asks for students’ ID, college name and quick questions about educational goals when signing up. The screen opens up to a calendar where all events and deadlines are shown, from there students can decide what information they want to see on their dash. There are no data charges and is available to download in the Google Play and the App Store.