Team Member: Olivia Yan, Yunzhi Ding
Inspiration
The journey to creating Path2Grad was born out of personal challenges and frustrations during our own graduate school application process. Both of us faced hurdles that left us feeling overwhelmed and inadequately supported. We discovered that hiring a consultant was not only prohibitively expensive but often unreliable, providing cookie-cutter advice that rarely addressed our unique needs. As we juggled full-time jobs while preparing for grad school, time was a luxury we couldn’t afford, and finding guidance from mentors or peer groups felt like navigating a maze. These experiences fueled our determination to design a solution that could make this journey easier for others. Through extensive market research and engaging with those who shared our frustrations, we learned the importance of crafting a learning design that is personal, accessible, and adaptable. By harnessing AI for tailored support, we envisioned Path2Grad as a platform that empowers applicants to confidently pursue their ambitions with resources and support uniquely aligned to their own stories and goals.
Design Principles
Our design focuses on simplicity. The user interface is clear and direct, facilitating an intuitive experience that enables users to navigate features smoothly and efficiently. We have chosen blue as our primary design color for its calming nature, which can help ease anxiety and encourage users to engage comfortably with the content.
Key Features
- Log-In and User Information Intake Pages: Users can log in to the app and provide information about their current status (student or working professional) and their areas of interest. This information helps the app gain an initial understanding of the user and recommend relevant general information.
- “Perfect Match” Matching System: Our AI-driven system personalizes the application process by matching users with programs, mentors, and peers, offering tailored recommendations based on each user’s profile. It connects students with suitable options by assessing their interests and career goals. The AI adapts over time, refining matches based on user feedback, and also suggests personalized study resources for effective preparation.
- User Profile (Tracking System): The tracking system helps users stay organized throughout their application journey. It provides a robust task management feature for creating and prioritizing application-related to-do lists. With a daily affirmation board and an achievement board, users can meet critical deadlines without stress. Visual dashboards allow for progress monitoring, keeping users informed of completed tasks and outstanding ones. More supporting services such as event registration are provided at the end of the interface.
Unique Points of Our Product
- “Perfect Match” Matching System: Unlike traditional platforms or consulting services that simply help students “get into” a program, Path2Grad is designed to connect aspirants with the “perfect match.” Through our AI-driven system, the app offers personalized connections to programs, mentors, and peers that align with individual profiles, interests, and career aspirations. To enhance this personalized experience, we’ve also integrated a chatbot into the matching system, allowing for even more customized guidance.
- Time-Efficient Solutions: We understand the importance of conserving time amid a busy lifestyle. Our platform emphasizes time efficiency by streamlining application processes with a quick and easy AI-driven program matching service, which eliminates the need for extensive program research. Furthermore, personalized study resources are provided to ensure that students can manage their application journey with ease and reduced stress.
- Affordable and Accessible (“2 A’s”): Path2Grad is built on the principles of affordability and accessibility. We aim to make valuable insights and tailored guidance reachable for all, without the typical high costs of consultancy services. By ensuring accessibility, our platform provides comprehensive support to diverse applicants, making the graduate school application journey smoother for everyone.
Ultimately, Path2Grad is not just an application tool; it is an empowering, comprehensive guide and support system for aspiring graduate students. Our project seeks to build personalized connections, deliver targeted resources, and transform how students approach and succeed in their graduate school applications through thoughtful design and technological innovation.
