Freshman Blake Katz thought it was going to be her night. She was dressed up and ready to go out after a long week of studying when the unthinkable happened. She cracked the screen of her phone.

Countless students deal with having their cell phones break at school and having to make time to get them fixed. With limited time and minimal funds, students report that this occurrence can be a huge inconvenience.

“I feel that having to leave campus to get my phone fixed takes more time than I have,” Katz said. “We are college students, we’re busy, we have work, we have a lot to do. I don’t like to leave campus by myself, and no one will voluntarily go with me.”

As a result, Katz still has not repaired her phone. Another student, Cameron Woodle, dropped his iPhone 6s while in an elevator. The screen went black, and Woodle was unable to view any icons.

“I could still take calls just by swiping the black screen … and I could play music by swiping up and pressing the little quick player,” Woodle said. “So basically my phone was like an old school phone because I could only take calls, and it was actually kind of nice for a little bit, but then I needed my phone back.”

Technology Connection, sometimes referred to as the Tulane Apple Store, does not fix cracked screens.

“The Tulane Apple Store here doesn’t do phones, which is really annoying,” Woodle said. “I went to Verizon … the Tulane Apple Store turned me away.”

When the tulane apple store can’t fix my apple phone screen

— Hannah Goodman (@gmizzlehopper) November 5, 2016

With cell phones breaking so frequently and students not having the time or money to get them repaired, freshman Buddy Vetrone learned how to replace cracked screens on his own.

“I kept breaking my own phones, and at one point I realized that it is easier and cheaper to just fix it myself,” Vetrone said.

With his mechanical skills and study of Youtube videos, Vetrone learned how to successfully replace phone screens. Vetrone offers cheaper rates than kiosks in malls or at the Apple store where it typically runs $80-100 per repair. Vetrone charges a reduced rate of $60.

“It is really expensive and takes a while, and it is kind of a lot of money for a little bit of work,” Vetrone said. “It is kind of ridiculous. I think that they charge way too much and that anyone can do it for cheaper.”

Many students find a broken mobile device to be a burden. Vetrone offers students a cheaper and more accessible option than having an in-store repair. There are also resources available for students to learn how to repair them by themselves if they can find the time.