CASE STUDY

One of the top ranked medical schools in the country - Online Application System
 
Zap Solutions was contracted to build a new online application system for one of the top ranked medical schools in the country.  The program receives more than 5,000 applications annually. Features of the new online application system included a role-based security system, real-time credit card processing, and integration with external systems including PeopleSoft and AMCAS, the national clearinghouse for medical school applications. The completed system also handled online recommendations and applicant screening, online interview scheduling, supplemental applications and statistics and reporting. In short: This project moved the entire online application tracking process online. This system was built on the .NET platform with a SQL Server database.

Project Goals
The goals for the new application tool included the following:

• Develop an online application management and review process that is efficient, dependable and user friendly for applicants and admissions personnel. 
• Develop an application management and review process that will interface with the university’s PeopleSoft systems implementation and the legacy R-Base system when needed.
• Create a scaleable and modular online application management and review process that could support other graduate programs within the medical school, once those program’s unique application processes are determined.

Project Benefits

• A streamlined application management and review process will save significant administrative time and costs.
• The rapid development timeline is set up to complete and test the application management and review process for use this upcoming recruiting season.
• The application and management review process will maximize code re-use – stretching that invested budget in improving the application process.
• Developing a user friendly system will improve the application process for applicants.
• A more user friendly application process is anticipated to aid in increasing the applicant yield, especially for the best applicants.
• By developing a reliable system, applicant reviewers, such as doctors, will save time completing their review(s) and as a result they will spread good will toward the School of Medicine.
• Developing an efficient application review process that is accessible online will save applicant reviewers travel time as well as avoid the current schedule constraints they face in order to complete an application review on site at the medical school.  Saving a reviewers valuable time spreads good will within the medical school.

Results

This medical school online application was launched in July, 2004. Already the project has been a huge success.  Processed applications have been completed ten times faster than the previous year. In addition, productivity for the admission staff has greatly increased.