Background
Choosing the right degree and college is a critical decision for students, especially after high school. Many students and parents seek professional guidance but often lack access to credible counselors.
An education consultancy wanted to bridge this gap by providing a digital platform where students could discover verified counselors, explore their expertise, and book personalized sessions.
Problem / Challenge
Before this project, the consultancy relied on offline processes and word-of-mouth recommendations. This approach created multiple challenges:
- Limited reach: Students could only connect with counselors through referrals or physical visits.
- Scheduling difficulties: Appointments had to be arranged manually, leading to delays and missed opportunities.
- Lack of discovery: Students had no structured way to browse counselors based on specialization (e.g., engineering, management, medical, overseas education).
- Poor scalability: The consultancy could not efficiently handle inquiries from students across different regions.
Solution
I designed and developed a student–counselor portal that digitized the discovery and scheduling process.
Key features included:
- Counselor discovery: Students could browse and filter counselors by specialization, experience, and availability.
- Profile management: Counselors could maintain updated profiles showcasing their expertise, qualifications, and success stories.
- Appointment booking system: Students could view available slots and book meetings directly, reducing manual coordination.
- Notifications & reminders: Automated confirmations and reminders minimized missed sessions.
- Scalable design: Built to accommodate future enhancements such as online payments, video calls, or feedback collection.
Implementation Highlights
- Created a user-friendly interface for both students and counselors.
- Integrated a calendar and scheduling module to handle bookings seamlessly.
- Built the backend to ensure role-based access (admin, counselor, student).
- Ensured data security by managing student–counselor interactions within the platform.
Results / Impact
- Improved accessibility: Students from multiple regions could now connect with counselors online.
- Time saved: Automated scheduling eliminated back-and-forth coordination.
- Higher engagement: Students had better visibility into counselor expertise, leading to more informed choices.
- Scalability: The consultancy expanded its reach to serve more students without increasing administrative overhead.