A Year 13 student from Dubai, Garv Lamba, has developed an innovative AI-powered website aimed at assisting underprivileged students with their college applications. The platform, college-compass.pages.dev, acts as a virtual counsellor, offering guidance on building strong application portfolios, identifying gaps, and suggesting tailored extracurricular activities.
Garv, who has been accepted to the University of California, San Diego to study artificial intelligence, was inspired by his own experiences navigating the college application process. Although he had access to school counsellors and external consultants, he realised that many students around the world lack such support.
To address this gap, Garv teamed up with fellow students Ian Pannetier and Mahmoud Moursy to create a platform that uses natural language processing to evaluate a student’s interests, background, and goals. The AI then provides customised advice, helping students plan extracurriculars and improve essays — especially valuable for those applying to competitive institutions like the Ivy League.
One standout feature is an “Interviewer” tool that simulates college interviews, preparing students for real-world scenarios. The website also provides constructive feedback on essays and generates a personalised roadmap based on user input.
Garv emphasises that the platform isn’t a replacement for human counsellors but serves as an accessible alternative for students who may not have access to professional guidance.
The initiative has already received positive reviews from users in countries like India and the U.S., highlighting its global relevance and the increasing demand for equitable access to educational resources.
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