The Back-to-School Phone Checklist Every Student Needs (Maybe a New Phone?)

New school year, new classes, new… phone plan?

Whether you're heading into middle school, high school, college, or somewhere in between, your phone is basically your sidekick. You use it to text your friends, do your homework, post your lunch, and (let’s be real) avoid awkward eye contact in the hallway.

Before you throw that new backpack over your shoulder and start daydreaming about the next break, check off this list to make sure your phone—and your plan—are actually ready for the school year.

1. Check Cell Coverage at Your School

Don’t wait until your first group project to realize you have zero bars in the library.

Whether you’re attending a massive university or just starting out in middle school, having good service where you study, eat, live, and hang out is a must. And yep, coverage can change from hallway to hallway.

If you're in college or heading there soon, we actually analyzed coverage data on 20 of the most populated college campuses across the U.S. to find out which carriers performed best—and which ones totally flunked.

Read the full report on campus coverage here.

Want a quick way to check your own school? Use the Goji Coverage Map to type in your school’s address and see which carriers have the best signal right around campus.

2. Test Your Current Signal (Before It’s Too Late)

Think your service is fine? Run a quick signal test in the Goji app and find out for sure.

We make it super simple to see if your signal is actually strong in the places you go every day—your bedroom, the lunchroom, your walk between classes, or that corner of the cafeteria with the best cookies.

If you’re seeing lots of dead zones or dropped calls, that’s your sign. 🚩

3. Compare Plans That Actually Work Where You Are

Once you’ve confirmed which carriers have strong coverage at your school, it’s time to find a plan that fits you.

And Goji gives you two ways to do it:

Option 1: Browse Plans Like a Pro

Want full control? Use our filters to scroll through plans and narrow things down by:

• Budget — set your price range
  
  
• Carrier — stick with a favorite or explore new options
  
  
• Perks — want Netflix? A hotspot? International calling?

You can shop like you’re building your dream phone plan—and find one that works exactly where you are.

Option 2: Talk to Barry (Our AI Plan Matchmaker)

Not sure where to start? Barry’s got your back.

Just open the Goji app and tell Barry what you want in a plan—cheap data, a certain carrier, better coverage in your dorm, whatever. Barry will find options that match your needs, wants, and location so you don’t have to do any of the searching.

It’s like having a personal assistant who actually understands phone plans. And the best part? You don’t even have to get off the couch to find a better phone plan.

4. Look for Student Discounts (They’re Out There!)

Why pay full price when you don’t have to?

A lot of carriers offer student discounts, but they don’t always make them easy to find. Good thing you’ve got Goji to help out.

Here are a few we’ve found:

• AT&T: $10 discount for university email addresses. Learn more.
  
  
• Verizon: Save up to $12 on the Unlimited Welcome plan with 2 lines. Learn more.
  
  
• US Mobile: 20% off the Unlimited Premium plan and other perks. Learn more. 

Tip: Check if your school has any exclusive offers with major carriers—you might find bonus data or free subscriptions too.

5. (NEW!) Shop for Phones Right in the Goji App

It’s official: you can now shop for phones directly through Goji!

Maybe your current phone has a cracked screen, weak battery, or no storage left for school pics and app updates. Maybe you’re just ready for something new. Either way, you can now browse and compare phone deals in the app—alongside your plan.

No more bouncing between websites or stores. Just one app, one search, and boom—you’re set for the year.

And since we just launched this new feature, you’ll be one of the first to try it out.

Try out the new feature on Goji.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Let’s keep it real—these back-to-school fails are too common:

• Starting school with a plan that barely works on campus
  
  
• Paying for unlimited data when you’re on Wi-Fi 99% of the time
  
  
• Ignoring student discounts (they add up!)
  
  
• Using an old phone that can’t even open your school app

Don’t be that person. Goji’s got you covered.

FAQ

How do I know which carrier works best at my school?
Easy! Use the Goji Coverage Map to type in your school’s address. We’ll show you which carriers have the best signal right where you’ll be spending your time.

What if I don’t know what kind of phone plan I need?
That’s what Barry is for! Just tell our AI matchmaker what you care about (budget, coverage, perks), and Barry will instantly match you with plans that fit your life and location.

Can I get a student discount through Goji?
Goji does not offer any student discounts as we are a phone plan marketplace, but we help you find plans that do! Many carriers offer student savings or special promos, which are listed in the blog.

Can I buy a new phone through Goji now?
You sure can! We just launched phone shopping on Goji. Now you can browse and compare phones right in the app—no need to search a dozen websites or visit a store.

I’m not in college—can I still use Goji?
Absolutely! If you’re just looking for a better plan or phone, Goji works for anyone who wants to save money and get better coverage.

Does Goji work with every carrier?
Goji helps you compare plans from a wide range of carriers—big names and smaller MVNOs (aka low-cost carriers that use the same networks). You’ll see the full picture before you make a decision.