Introducing gradtrackr…

gradtrackr — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:16:46 +0000

The impetus for creating gradtrackr came when we — that is, Carlos and myself — were applying to graduate school ourselves. We each had a solid half-dozen or so schools on our application list and carefully crafted how we would attack the application process. Each of us had our own voodoo: spreadsheets, databases, folders, post-it notes, you name it. I started using a spreadsheet and found it severely lacking in the kind of functionality I needed it to provide. I needed to keep track of the specific statements I was sending to schools, the faculty with whom I wanted to work, the specifics of that schools instructions. A spreadsheet just wasn’t going to cut it. Working at a web development company that specialized in data management at the time, I figured the way to solve this problem was to make a simple display interface for a few simple database tables.

It wasn’t anything special; it had no adding/editing support through the web and was only for viewing reference. But it kept my priorities in line and made sure I was achieving the necessary tasks for applying to each school. Upon seeing this application, Carlos thought it would be a good idea to expand this kind of data management to people who didn’t have the technical savvy to make an application like this. Thus gradtrackr was born!

Our vision since then has dramatically changed. It has morphed from a glorified read-only spreadsheet to a central hub of graduate school application activity. We want gradtrackr to make what could be (and frequently is) a stressful, arduous process into an activity that is fun, intuitively organized, and comprehensive. How we plan on doing this is to give you the ability to set up trackrs — a module for each program or submission system you are applying to. Then we give you several ways of adding and manipulating your data. Our trackr wizard guides you, step-by-step, through the process of applying to a specific type of program. Or if you’re willing to attack the materials head-on, you can work through your materials that way too. There’s more than one way to do it.

Upon releasing in September, we will go live with an alpha version, which we will only invite a small number of users to try out. We hope these users will provide extensive feedback to our project. Graduate school applications have been around for years, and that there have been thousands if not millions of applicants to programs, each with their own method of keeping track of materials. That’s why your feedback is so crucial. If you’re interested, send a message to alex@gradtrackr.com to get an invite when we go live.

Good luck, and see you on campus!

- Alex

GradTrackr Blog

Introducing gradtrackr…