For many students, applying to college is one of the most stressful processes they will ever navigate. The Common Application platform serves millions of students each year as they manage applications, essays, requirements, and deadlines.

The Challenge

The college application process involves:

• complex multi-step forms
• school-specific requirements
• documentation and essay submissions
• strict deadlines

My Role

I worked on improving parts of the student application experience by simplifying complex workflows and making requirements easier to understand.

Design Approach

We focused on reducing cognitive stress for applicants.

Key improvements included:

• simplifying multi-step application flows
• improving content clarity around requirements
• enhancing progress indicators so students could track completion
• supporting accessibility across diverse user groups

We conducted usability testing with students and advisors to identify friction points and improve the experience.

Outcome

The design improvements helped students navigate the application process with greater clarity and confidence.

What I Learned

Designing for education means supporting users during high-stress, life-changing moments.

When systems provide clear guidance and feedback, users feel more empowered to move forward.