FindU
FindU is an app that helps students find their perfect college, by matching them with colleges that fit their needs.
TIMELINE
2024 June - July
ROLE
Product Designer
Co-Founder
PURPOSE
What inspired FindU?
FindU was born out of a desire to help students find the right college for them. When it was time for me to look for colleges, I found the process overwhelming and confusing. On top of that, I had no support system as I was a first-generation student I wanted to create an app that would make the process easier for students like me.
PROBLEM
Why is it so hard to find a college?
Existing college search platforms are often overwhelming and lack personalization, making it difficult for students to find colleges that fit their unique needs. The lack of guidance and support can be especially challenging for first-generation students who may not have the resources or knowledge to navigate the process effectively. This gap in personalized support inspired us to create an app that would provide students with a more tailored, user-friendly experience.
Jobs, pains, and gains
We conducted in-depth research with users to identify their jobs, pains, and gains when applying for colleges. Our findings revealed several key challenges, such as lack of guidance, difficulty keeping track of deadlines, and confusion about college expectations. Users also highlighted pain points related to pressure from family and difficulty touring schools. On the positive side, users expressed a desire for better understanding of the process, finding colleges that fit, and reducing stress. Our insights informed the design and development of a solution that provides more support, helps track deadlines, and ensures timely application submissions.
What stood out?
Lack of guidance
Users often felt they lacked guidance from people close to them, which added to their stress and confusion during the college application process. This pain point underscores the need for better support systems that help students navigate this complex journey with more confidence.
Keeping track of deadlines
A major challenge highlighted was the difficulty in keeping track of deadlines for college applications. Users frequently mentioned how missing deadlines or feeling overwhelmed by them increased their anxiety, pointing to a clear need for better tools to manage and track important dates.
BIASED SOLUTION
Wrongful Bias in User Needs
Throughout the process of building this platform, I realized my own personal bias about school led me to draw certain conclusions about what students need. My own experiences with navigating the college process made me prioritize features like support and personalized guidance. However, in doing so, I unintentionally overlooked some feedback from users who emphasized the importance of tools for self-directed research and less reliance on external support. This bias influenced the initial design direction, but through further refinement, we aimed to balance both tailored support and allowing users the autonomy they need.
Our research identified that the lack of access to scholarships is a major pain point for students. Many feel overwhelmed by the process of finding and applying for financial aid, which adds to their stress and limits their college options. Without proper guidance, students often miss out on valuable opportunities. To address this, we designed a solution that streamlines the scholarship search and application process, making it easier and more accessible. This helps students reduce financial worries and feel more confident in their college choices.
SOLUTION
A user-centric approach
Our solution takes a user-centric approach to simplify the college search process. Many existing platforms are overwhelming and lack the personalization students need to find the right fit. This is especially true for first-generation students, who often struggle with a lack of guidance and resources. To address this, we developed an app that provides a tailored, user-friendly experience, focusing on getting the information to students in a way that is easy to understand and act on.
College Search Process
Base Match Score
This score is calculated based on the user’s preferences and the college’s offerings, and helps students get a quick overview of how well a college matches their needs. The higher the score, the better the fit!
Specific Match Details
This is where students can see detailed information about the match, including key data like costs, academics, and campus life. This helps students make informed decisions about which colleges to pursue further.
College List
This section displays a list of colleges and scholarships students have liked, and provides information like deadlines and requirements. Students can easily track their progress and stay organized throughout the application process.
Scholarships for Students
We conducted in-depth interviews with students to understand their challenges in finding and applying for scholarships. Key pain points such as inadequate filtering, difficulty tracking deadlines, and limited information about eligibility were common frustrations. Our solution addresses these by providing a streamlined, easy-to-navigate platform that allows students to filter scholarships based on their specific needs, track application deadlines, and easily access detailed information about each scholarship. This personalized approach ensures students can find the right scholarships with ease and confidence.
REFLECTION
Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned
Throughout this project, we realized how easy it is to let personal biases shape design decisions. Initially, we focused too much on features we thought students needed, like guidance and support, but overlooked their desire for more autonomy in the process. We also struggled to simplify complex features across multiple platforms while maintaining a seamless user experience. These challenges taught us the importance of listening more carefully to user feedback and embracing constraints. By staying adaptable and focusing on the real needs of users, we created a more refined, functional app that strikes the right balance between support and independence.
Designed and Developed by Kenny Morales • 2024