Spring Break
Former student's site catching on nationally
College students using UofInfo.com to evaluate businesses, offer tips
By: Kimberly Hill
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: News
An informational Web site created by a recent UA graduate has spread to hundreds of universities nationwide since launching on campus in February.
UofInfo.com is set up for about 300 schools to allow a small group of students to pre-register. As each school fills its quota, the site will be opened up to the rest of the students, said Jared Horowitz, the site's creator and CEO.
The first 100 students to contribute information about on- and off-campus businesses to their school's site receive free T-shirts and backpacks, he said.
Horowitz, who graduated inMay with a degree in regional development, recently redesigned the site to make it more exciting.
"We're opening up to five schools in less than three days," Horowitz said.
The site's main benefit is the rating option, through which students can browse peers' opinions of local businesses chosen by students, Horowitz said, and "based on their personal opinions, we get the 'best of the best' categories."
"For instance, if there's a liquor store and they're hard on IDs, (students) can say on the site and the reviews, 'Don't go there if you have a fake,' " he said. "On other review sites that just wouldn't be proper, but it fits here."
Among the site's quirks include businesses' daily specials listed in order of category; file storage; important UA links; local WiFi Hotspots; printable coupons; a forum for students to post general questions; and student photos.
"We have (professional) photographers who go around to the bars and the parties and football games and take pictures and put them up on the Web site," Horowitz said.
"I think it is a very valuable tool for the students, above and beyond what they get from the university," said Jan Hardesty, a member of the UA marketing department and one of Horowitz's former teachers. "They can rate the services they need and use."
UofInfo.com is set up for about 300 schools to allow a small group of students to pre-register. As each school fills its quota, the site will be opened up to the rest of the students, said Jared Horowitz, the site's creator and CEO.
The first 100 students to contribute information about on- and off-campus businesses to their school's site receive free T-shirts and backpacks, he said.
Horowitz, who graduated in
For instance, if there's a liquor store and they're hard on IDs, (students) can say on the site and the reviews, 'Don't go there if you have a fake.'
-Jared Horowitz,
UofInfo.com CEO and creator
"We're opening up to five schools in less than three days," Horowitz said.
The site's main benefit is the rating option, through which students can browse peers' opinions of local businesses chosen by students, Horowitz said, and "based on their personal opinions, we get the 'best of the best' categories."
"For instance, if there's a liquor store and they're hard on IDs, (students) can say on the site and the reviews, 'Don't go there if you have a fake,' " he said. "On other review sites that just wouldn't be proper, but it fits here."
Among the site's quirks include businesses' daily specials listed in order of category; file storage; important UA links; local WiFi Hotspots; printable coupons; a forum for students to post general questions; and student photos.
"We have (professional) photographers who go around to the bars and the parties and football games and take pictures and put them up on the Web site," Horowitz said.
"I think it is a very valuable tool for the students, above and beyond what they get from the university," said Jan Hardesty, a member of the UA marketing department and one of Horowitz's former teachers. "They can rate the services they need and use."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Anonymous
posted 9/18/07 @ 4:59 AM PST
UofInfo.com really is such a great website, I use it all the time!
Thomas B
posted 9/18/07 @ 8:08 AM PST
Haha I'm sure you do. This is an ad-filled piece of crap site. Nothing there. I'll let the readers in on a little secret: anonymous above can only be one person - Jared Horowitz. (Continued…)
Tom F
posted 9/18/07 @ 8:25 AM PST
This site is not very good. It looks and works like a site a high school hacker made.
Ashley
posted 9/18/07 @ 9:46 AM PST
Thomas and Tom are obviously jealous of Jared's success. I am a loyal user of UofInfo and it has been so helpful for me and my friends. For anyone who has not not seen the RECENT changes, you will be impressed with how well the site IS DESIGNED AND SERVES IT FUNCTION. (Continued…)
Alexis
posted 9/18/07 @ 10:45 AM PST
U of Info is the next big site for college students everywhere... I love it and I use it for any questions or curiosities i have while i'm down at U of A. (Continued…)
Thomas B
posted 9/18/07 @ 10:50 AM PST
Sorry for my comment before, I take it back. UofInfo.com does happen to be a great site.
Jason Campbell
posted 9/18/07 @ 11:27 AM PST
What a joke of a site. Should have taken a job after college instead.
Thomas B
posted 9/18/07 @ 8:18 PM PST
Haha Jared Horowitz nice try saying I take it back. We'll see if you are still at this in 6 months. I'll be watching your site, waiting to see when you call it quits. (Continued…)
Jared Horowitz
posted 9/23/07 @ 12:00 PM PST
Hello All Readers-
This is Jared Horowitz. I have just got word of what has been getting posted on the blog for our article. I am not sure who Thomas B, or any of these people are. (Continued…)
Jake
posted 5/15/08 @ 9:34 PM PST
Uofinfo is the BEST WEBSITE out there i use it 24/7 its awsome
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