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Education / Startups / Universities

5 Delaware startups to make back to school easier

Whether you're preparing for college or getting ready for grad school, there's a local startup that can help.

Memorial Hall at the University of Delaware. (Photo by Flickr user Seth Goldstein, used under a Creative Commons license)

Summer is officially on the way out, with Delaware public schools reopening this week (and no, we don’t know why they open before Labor Day), and colleges getting their fall semesters rolling.
It can be stressful, whether you’re a college student wondering how you’ll afford textbooks or a parent of a high-schooler anxious about paying for college.
But there is some relief. These five Delaware startups can make education easier to navigate — and they’re founded by entrepreneurs with firsthand knowledge of the issues faced by today’s students.

Scholarship Shark

If we’ve learned anything from the student loan frenzy of the ’80s–’00s, it’s that loans should be a last resort, taken out as sparingly as possible to prevent years (or decades) of crippling debt. That’s not so easy when your teenager has their eye on a high-tuition private college.
When Pam Andrews, aka the Scholarship Shark, was faced with such a scenario, she and her son got serious about scholarships. As a result, her son has landed enough money in scholarships ($700,000) to pay for both undergrad and grad school. Now she helps families with their scholarship processes, through workshops, an online course, podcasts and a book called The Scholarship Shark: Taking a Bite Out of College Debt.
“It’s never too late to apply for scholarships — even if you’re currently in college,” said Andrews. “Two of the biggest challenges that most college students face is learning where to search for scholarships that are specifically for college students and balancing being a college student with applying for scholarships.
“When it comes to high school students, it’s never too early to apply for scholarships.  Students can acquire scholarship searching skills and start early with applying for scholarships.”

PlayerChase

High school athletes hoping for a sports scholarship, take note: Ryan Considine and Michael Smith of Newark just launched PlayerChase, a platform that allows high school athletes to create profiles with their info and stats. PlayerChase connects athletes with coaches and coaches with participating universities.
“Being a student athlete is extremely difficult,” said Smith. “You’re expected to be successful in the classroom and on the athletic field. Starting with football, PlayerChase is bringing both of those components together to empower a student’s success to get to the next level.”

BookBandit

For students starting college, the cost of textbooks can be a major sticker shock. UD senior Jim Jannuzzio developed a way to aggregate booksellers to allow students to save up to 74 percent on textbooks through his BookBandit app and website.
“BookBandit is your personal concierge,” said Jannuzzio. “Whether it’s helping you save money on textbooks or writing blog posts to help you survive the semester, we’re here to help you navigate through your college years.”
It has been a hit so far, as you might imagine with textbook prices so high. It’s even earned a coveted place in this quarter’s invitation-only Google Advantage Program.

TenantU

Finding good, safe off-campus student housing can be a challenge. With the more laid-back nature of student rentals, how do you know the property has been inspected and properly maintained? And do you really want to trust Craigslist?
Fed up with poor student housing options, Jacob Jeifa created TenantU, a platform that connects students and/or their parents to trustworthy landlords and inspected properties. You can search for housing, request maintenance and pay rent all on the platform.
“From the day you start looking for your off-campus home to the day you move out, TenantU puts everything you need right at your fingertips,” said Jeifa. “With hundreds of listings along with a sweeping set of renter management tools to help you with day-to-day tasks, we don’t only help you find the right place, we help you live in it, too.”

GeoSwap

A college student’s got to eat. GeoSwap, a mobile app created by recent UD grads Jason Bamford, Jordan Gonzales and Keith Doggett, hooks users up with local deals in the area, from half-price burgers to concert deals, updated by business owners and users alike.
“Going to college can be a scary experience,” said Bamford. “A new area, new people, and no mom and dad. GeoSwap helps you feel like a local all over again by providing you all the best events and local business specials so you’re always in the loop.”
Right now, GeoSwap users can take advantage of Newark Month, four weeks of special deals for new and returning students (as well as anyone who lives or hangs in Newark) from Main Street mainstays like Klondike Kate’s and Grotto Pizza.

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