From Guntur and Ludhiana to Roorkee and Asansol, there are millions of young Indians for whom the opportunity to study abroad is the best way to gain the relevant skills, credentials, and networks needed to succeed. However, it is often difficult for students to determine which program or college to apply to. Many choose based on arbitrary or questionable rankings. Some students and parents realize that top-ranked universities may not be a good fit for them.
Making decisions based on well-intentioned, but largely unqualified advice from family, friends or batchmates may not provide students with the maximum return on investment (ROI) on their education. This is akin to making choices based on piecemeal guidance from counselors, many of whom choose commission and profit over a student’s strengths and future goals. Moreover, counselors who charge lakhs for their services are out of reach of most deserving students, especially those from small towns and cities.
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What if students instead chose an AI-powered, data-driven digital platform to help them make that decision? Leveraging the power of data science to shortlist programs and universities uniquely suited to their profile, professional and personal goals and financial circumstances will help students make better decisions about their future. Think of it as algorithmic matchmaking, connecting students directly with the colleges of their choice.
Eliminating “middlemen”, replacing ideas with facts and data. Instead of talking to a “counselor” who may never have earned a degree or may never have been to that country, candidates can talk to students who are currently studying in “the country”. “match-college” or recent alumni of that college. This can be far more reliable and valuable in narrowing down college choices that are uniquely suited to the prospective student.
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As students shortlist preferred universities, they can also learn which ones are “bank fundable”, saving them the heartbreak of turning down their applications because they can’t fund their degree . In this process, both the student and the matching university can feel more certain of their choice of each other and go through the entire process in a stress-free and efficient manner.
A digital platform that helps students to have complete control over their higher education journey is the way of the future. A student-centered ecosystem that can power rational college choice and efficient financing can significantly transform access to higher education for students from low- and middle-income backgrounds, and contribute to social equity to the extent that Is.
– Written by Shashidhar Sista, Co-Founder, GradeWrite and Ayush Nagpal, Founding Member, GradeWrite
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