Admissions flow optimization
Planning the student registration portal
Restructuring responses to facilitate automated evaluation*
Note: These restructured questions and options came as a result of multiple interviews with program admins and leadership to make sure that we captured all the information needed to make decisions.
A streamlined process with structured responses
The application is contained in one streamlined flow, with related information grouped into manageable steps to reduce cognitive load. We also replaced open-ended questions with structured response options, making the form easier to complete while giving admins cleaner, more consistent data to process.
Better feedback and correction mechanisms
Students receive clear validation and error states as they complete each step. They can move freely between steps, review their information, and correct mistakes before submitting. This helps alleviate stress about mistakes and gives them confidence that their application is complete and accurate.
Immediate confirmation
A clear confirmation screen appears immediately after submission, followed by an almost-instant email receipt confirming that the application was successfully received and will be reviewed. This removes the uncertainty for the students about whether their applications were successfully submitted.
Application processing efficiency has increased by 95%
The updated system evaluates applications against eligibility criteria and instantly notifies admins when a new application is submitted. Each email includes a secure link that allows them to review the application and make the final decision through the dashboard.
Better application management
Instead of having data scattered across multiple different tools, we created a dashboard that consolidates everything so that the program admins can see and manage all student applications in one place. This has considerably improved application tracking and reduced data loss.
Quicker response times
In addition to supporting automated application evaluation, the new system uses email templates so admins no longer have to manually write responses for every application. They simply click “approve” or “reject,” and the system automatically sends a customized email based on a pre-designed template.
Cleaner, more-structured submissions
The application flow discourages spam and low-effort submissions through built-in validation and submission controls. This keeps the application pool cleaner and reduces the time admins spend sorting through spam or incomplete submissions. Structured data also means admins can more easily review each application.
