(A Guest blog by Maris Briggs)
Moving to the 40 acres as a
freshman, I had no idea what to expect, what to do, or where to go! However,
after downloading a few apps on my phone such as Hooked, CapMetro, Uber, and
UT’s own Texas app, I was ready to take on the semester!
The struggle first started when I
had no idea where any of my classes were. How are you supposed to be successful
if you can’t even get to the building of a classroom?! If you’re anything like
me, reading a map off a piece of paper is out of the question. That’s why the
first app that saved my UT career is called Texas. It’s an app made by UT for
UT, and it is an actual lifesaver. The Texas app includes a map of campus with
all buildings included, bus routes, dining, museums, news, sports, and so much
more! However, so many students at UT are unaware this app even exists.
The next app I’ve found to be
useful is called CapMetro. While the 40 acres buses are great for going from
one location on campus to another, CapMetro is useful to get around Austin in
general. For example, I ride the CapMetro buses twice a week to get to the
School of Nursing. If you’re looking for a way to get to the Disch-Falk Field
to watch a homerun in baseball or Frank Erwin Center for some basketball,
CapMetro is also useful. All you do is: select your current location, select
your ending location, when you want to depart, and BAM! CapMetro tells you
exactly which bus to catch. And the best part, it is FREE! Using your UTID will
pay for the bus ride.
Another great app for traveling
from one location to another is Uber if you do not want to bring a car and
worry about parking. Uber is a way of transportation which actual people like
you and me use their own vehicles to chauffeur passengers. Because your credit
card is already hooked up to the app, Uber saves the hassle of paying and
tipping drivers. Uber drivers are available 24/7. However, they do tend to
charge more money on the weekends. Even with this raised price, Uber is still
very reasonable, and is such a convenient app for Austin!
After learning all these new means
of transportation, we need to go somewhere! What’s better than trying new food?
ATX has so many wonderful restaurants to enjoy, but being a broke college kid
limits my choices! That’s why Hooked is a wonderful app if you are looking for
a great deal at a delicious restaurant. Hooked finds deals and discounts at
restaurants within a few miles from your location. Many well-known restaurants
have deals such as “Buy one get one free” and “20% off entire bill” that one
would be completely unaware about without checking Hooked.
Enjoying UT can be made easier with
the help of just a few phone apps: Texas, CapMetro, Uber, and Hooked. Enjoy!
