Schedule rides in advance

7 Uber Hacks for the College Student

October 21, 2016 / Connecticut

The semester is in full swing, and you already know that we’re here for your celebratory nights out and overslept mornings. But what about all those other things in your life? We’ve got you covered, there, too. Here are 7 Uber hacks you won’t learn in the classroom.

1. Stock up

Late night study sessions (and parties) aren’t going to supply themselves. Grab your roommates, request an uberXL, and head to Stew Leonard’s or COSTCO to stock up on all of the essential snacks, coffee, and household necessities your arms can hold. Bonus: with all of the free samples at these megastores, you’ve basically scored yourself a free lunch.

2. Split it up
It can get awkward asking your friends to pay you back for their share of the ride, so take a break from doing the math (you do enough of that in class anyway) and collecting money in cash. You can split the fare between you and your co-riders right in the Uber app, before you even get into the car. Here’s how:
Tap the “up arrow” next to your driver’s info and select “Split Fare”
Select the friends you’re riding with and tap “Send”
Your Uber-savvy friends will receive a message and be taken directly to the app to confirm the split
Your friends without Uber will be asked to download the app, sign up, and confirm their share of the ride

3. Carpool-karaoke your way to the game

Sometimes the bus is a great option, but when you’re heading out to watch your team, nothing gets you in the gameday spirit like your own playlist. And with the ability to play your Spotify and Pandora playlists in your Uber, you’ll be the most pumped up fans in the student section.

4. Upgrade from dining hall food with UberEATS

Whether you’re on the prowl for late-night eats or your cooking skills haven’t evolved past those of a toddler, UberEATS has you covered with thousands of menu items from your favorite local restaurants, delivered to your door.

5. Retrace your steps

Classes, practices, clubs, parties—it’s a lot to keep track of. Luckily, your Uber receipts provide a record of everywhere you’ve been and what time. And if you lose something along the way (we’ve all done it), you can contact your driver to track it down.

6. Escape an awkward conversation

Have you heard of the “Uber Exit”? With average ETAs less than 5 minutes, an Uber is a tap away from rescuing you from anything from overslept mornings to unwanted conversations. And “My Uber is arriving now” is a perfectly polite (and truthful!) way to tell someone you need to get going.