Nikko Schaff

Nikko Schaff, working through his second year at RIT is easily classified as a campus celebrity. In his first year here, he created an app that is actually available on the Apple app market. He’s currently working on a company in his second year. Balancing both school and becoming an entrepreneur, Nikko Schaff is definitely a RIT Campus Celebrity.
 
What is your major? And year?
Computer Science, 2015.
 
Why did you choose RIT?
It was the best college, in my eyes, that offered a strong educational experience, while providing the resources to allow me to work on my own independent ventures.
 
What has been your favorite class so far?
Most likely Science & Technology values, as taught by Thomas Cornell, Ph.D. He expertly linked themes and raised significant thoughts about particularly interesting figures in the history of Western science and technology, and the societal impact they made.
 
Favorite part of RIT?
RIT is a university that’s full of surprises. On the surface you may only notice a sea of bricks, but when you start to discover the amazing and unique programs at the School for American Crafts, or learn about the mind-blowing research that our professors have done, you start to gain an appreciation for RIT that is difficult to duplicate anywhere else.
 
Favorite professor?
Ryan Garcia, Ph.D, professor of political science. I had an Introduction to International Relations course with him, and from there I’ve learned a great deal, we’ve become good friends, and he even helped me form the idea for my current entrepreneurial venture.
 
Favorite place to eat?
The Grille at Global Village has never disappointed, but it’s hard to walk by Artesano without being tempted for a hot cider.
 
What is your app? What does it do?
My app is called “YouFree,” and it acts as an indicator for mobile availability. In other words, it allows you to display whether you’d like to be contacted or not, and by what forms, such as texts or calls.
 
Where did the inspiration for your app come from?
It was a classic case of finding a solution to a personal problem. Last winter quarter, the silent button on my iPhone was broken. I know it sounds like a pretty serious First World Problem, but I constantly had people texting me while I was in class, and the loud “ding!” was always so disruptive; I felt embarrassed every time it went off. So I decided to fix the problem in way other than just turning my phone off.
 
How did you balance school and building the app?
Caffeine and a good schedule. The latter provided me with one day of the week without classes, so I had a great big chunk of time I could devote solely to development, and the former allowed me to work until I crashed well into the morning of my free day.
 
What was the hardest part of building the app?
The most difficult part was knowing what to do. I had never developed anything to its completion before, especially an iPhone app. At one point I even subcontracted the databasing and server work to a development team in India, while I focused on the front-end. However, it was a great experience that, even considering the (extremely high) cost, I would never have changed a thing.
 
Any other apps in the working?
My grandest project so far is a company called “GradeSnap,” which makes software that allows multiple-choice tests to be graded by putting them through any regular photocopier, from a cheap model for students to large office machines, instead of paying the exorbitant cost of a Scantron machine and the paper needed to run it. It’s designed to be an entire suite of helpful grading tools that any teacher could afford. When a teacher or a department needs new supplies – the Scantron machine that RIT employs is over twenty years old, mind – they have to, in effect, convince the entire institution to say it is a worthwhile cost. However, for a teacher using GradeSnap, the choice of how to handle their grading process becomes entirely up to them, as it should be.
 
Piece of advice on how to survive RIT?
RIT is fantastic in that it has relatively small classes, especially in the intro courses. This means the relationship with your professors and support networks can be much more personal, instead of an assembly line of education. Reach out and ask for help. Even though professors may assign you piles upon piles of work, they’re really here to see you learn and succeed, not burn and fail.
 
Piece of advice for girls on how to survive RIT?
Pretty much what I said about generally surviving, except all I ask is to be polite and courteous, not impatient, when turning down guys, which might happen a bit more than you think. PLEASE, however, don’t let yourself think that just because you’re a clear minority that you can mess around with anyone and everyone, because believe me, we’ll know, and it’s not a good way to start off a long five years.
 
 
 
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Either the San Francisco/Silicon Valley area, or far out east, preferably Singapore. Having braved the disgusting midtown Manhattan subways too many times to count, I can respect a society where throwing a wrapper on the ground leads to plainclothes officers whipping out the canes and beating you.
 
What’s your dream job?
I can’t tell just yet whether I would like to run a huge, influential, and inspiring corporation, like the late Steve Jobs at Apple, or if I might find it better to continually start up companies and sell them off once they’ve hit the ground running. I suppose I’ll just have to find out!