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App

GradGuru: Your Community College Advisor in Your Pocket

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

High schoolers preparing to attend community college, and those already enrolled, will love this free app. Users receive reminders on their tablets and/or smart phones of deadlines, tips about how to increase chances for success, and help with transfers to other institutions. The app is designed by a nonprofit whose mission is to “increase and accelerate community college student success.”

10th - 12th Career & Technical Education 10 Views 3 Downloads
Concepts
college admissions
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Additional Tags
college and career readiness
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App Overview

Getting Started:

  1. Begin by entering a zip code to find a community college
  2. Choose two schools the user is considering or attending
  3. Respond to the posted questions to create a profile
  4. Login with e-mail address or on Facebook
  5. To access the registration information for a particular school, scroll through the listed colleges or tap the edit button, tap the unlock button, and send a request to GradGuru to add the school

Additional Features:

  • Due dates may be posted on Facebook, e-mailed to a personal account, or shared on Twitter
  • To see personal progress, tap the MyGradGuru located on the tool bar at the bottom of the screen
  • Awards earned for completing registrations and meeting deadlines, tap the Badges icon on the tool bar for tips regarding how to improve chances for success in community college. Don't forget to tap the Tips button found at the bottom of the page to find useful information
Join for full overview
Curator Rating
  • Adherence to task

    Does advise users about upcoming deadlines

  • Worth the money
  • Fun factor
  • Scaffolding of learning
  • User safety
  • Control and feedback

    The app sends reminders and tips to users

  • How techie do I need to be?
    Novice
See rubric.
Instructional Ideas
  • Provide juniors and seniors with the app so that they can familiarize themselves with the application process and their community college requirements
  • Encourage individuals to download the free app to their tablet or smartphone 
Classroom Considerations
  • Multiple users can create accounts on the app
Pros
  • A free online demo is available upon request 
  • Winner of the 2013 Gates College Knowledge Challenge
  • 2015 Robin Hood College Success Prize semi-finalist 
  • Registration and other deadlines are automatically posted by the school
  • Includes tips for how to increase chances of success
Cons
  • Lack of a Home button makes the app difficult to navigate
  • Must exit the app to exit the Tips page