EduApply
Education technology platform streamlining university applications with role-based workflows.
Problem
Students applying to universities navigate fragmented processes: different applications, different essays, different deadlines. Universities receive applications in different formats and need to coordinate with other institutions. Counselors at schools lack visibility into student progress.
Solution
EduApply provides a unified platform: students fill in their profile once, apply to multiple universities seamlessly, track applications in one place. Universities receive standardized applications, can collaboratively review, and notify students of decisions.
System & Architecture
Frontend: React app for students, separate admin interface for university admissions officers and school counselors. Mobile-responsive.
Backend: REST API with JWT authentication. Role-based access control: student can only view their own applications, university staff can only view applications to their institution, counselors can see their students.
Workflows: State machines for application status (draft, submitted, reviewed, accepted, rejected, waitlisted). Automated emails at each state transition.
Key Technical Decisions
RBAC
Role-based access control is complex when roles span multiple organizations. Implemented attribute-based access control (ABAC) where rules are: "if user.role == student AND application.studentId == user.id, allow read."
State Machines
Applications move through many states. Encoded valid transitions in code; prevents invalid state changes (e.g., moving from "rejected" back to "submitted").
Auditing
Every application state change is logged with who made the change and when. Critical for admissions disputes.
Outcome & Current State
EduApply serves 50+ universities and 10,000+ students annually. Reduced application processing time by 30%. Universities report higher data quality from standardized submissions.