How can ApplyBoard balance the need for thorough student verification processes with the goal of streamlining the application experience?

Introduction

Balancing thorough student verification processes with a streamlined application experience is a critical challenge for ApplyBoard. This trade-off involves ensuring the integrity of applications while maintaining a user-friendly process for international students. I'll analyze this problem by examining the product ecosystem, identifying key metrics, designing experiments, and providing a data-driven recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming ApplyBoard is facing increased competition and pressure to improve conversion rates. Is this accurate, and are there any specific market trends driving this focus?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize the urgency of streamlining against maintaining rigorous verification. Expected answer: Yes, competition is increasing, especially from regional players. Impact on approach: Would emphasize the need for efficiency without compromising quality.

• Business Context: Based on ApplyBoard's business model, I imagine the company earns revenue from successful placements. What's the current conversion rate from application to enrollment, and how does it compare to industry benchmarks?

Why it matters: Identifies the potential financial impact of streamlining the process. Expected answer: Conversion rate is below industry average, around 15-20%. Impact on approach: Would focus on identifying bottlenecks in the verification process.

• User Impact: I'm thinking about the diverse user base of international students. Can you share insights on which student segments (e.g., by country of origin or study level) face the most challenges with the current verification process?

Why it matters: Helps tailor solutions to the most affected user groups. Expected answer: Undergraduate students from certain countries face more scrutiny. Impact on approach: Would prioritize improvements for these specific segments.

• Technical: Considering the need for thorough verification, I'm curious about our current tech stack. Do we have AI/ML capabilities that could potentially automate parts of the verification process?

Why it matters: Determines the feasibility of tech-driven solutions. Expected answer: Basic AI capabilities exist but aren't fully utilized for verification. Impact on approach: Would explore AI-enhanced verification as a potential solution.

• Resource: Given the potential scope of this project, I'm wondering about our team's capacity. Do we have dedicated resources for improving the application process, or would this require reallocation?

Why it matters: Helps determine the scale and timeline of potential solutions. Expected answer: Limited dedicated resources, would require some reallocation. Impact on approach: Would focus on high-impact, resource-efficient solutions.