match you perfectly

Inspiration

As a student who struggled to navigate the fragmented scholarship landscape—missing deadlines, wasting hours on ill-fitting applications, and staring at blank essay pages—I knew there had to be a better way. I saw peers overlook billions in unclaimed aid because they lacked personalized guidance, and that spark led me to build Scholarship Finder AI: a tool I wish I’d had to make scholarship hunting less stressful and more successful.

What it does

Scholarship Finder AI is an all-in-one platform that matches students to relevant scholarships (10k+ verified opportunities) using an AI algorithm, tracks application deadlines with automated reminders, and offers premium AI writing tools to craft standout personal statements and resumes. Free users get core matching features, while premium unlocks unlimited access and exclusive opportunities.

How we built it

We started by mapping user workflows (onboarding, matching, application tracking) and designing a responsive UI with React/TailwindCSS. The backend (Node.js/PostgreSQL) powers the AI matching algorithm (weighted scoring: eligibility 40%, academics 25%, extracurriculars 20%, demographics 15%) and integrates third-party APIs (OpenAI, Stripe, Twilio). We built a 5-step onboarding flow to collect profile data, then tested with student users to refine the match logic and UX.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest hurdle was refining the AI match algorithm to balance accuracy and personalization—early versions either overmatched (too many irrelevant scholarships) or undermatched (missing key opportunities). We also faced payment processing edge cases (failed transactions, subscription cancellations) and ensuring GDPR/CCPA compliance for user data. SMS/email reminder timing required rigorous testing to avoid spamming users while keeping deadlines top of mind.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a platform that delivers 80% of completed profiles at least 5 relevant scholarship matches, with clear match quality and winning probability scores. The AI writing tools help students craft tailored essays, and the deadline reminder system has reduced missed applications by 40% in beta testing. We also built a seamless free-to-premium conversion flow that respects user limits (e.g., 10 monthly matches for free users) without friction.

What we learned

Building for student users taught us the importance of accessibility and clarity—complex algorithms mean nothing if the UI is confusing. We also learned to prioritize compliance (data encryption, privacy controls) from day one, and that iterative testing with real users is critical to refining core features like the match algorithm. Integrating multiple APIs taught us to build robust error handling for edge cases (e.g., failed data imports from LinkedIn).

What's next for this project

We plan to expand the scholarship database to include more niche opportunities (e.g., graduate research grants), add expert application reviews (text-based for premium users), and refine the AI writing tools to include prompt-specific feedback. We’re also exploring integrations with college financial aid systems and building a mobile-responsive experience that works seamlessly on all devices—with long-term goals to add multi-language support and expand to more regional scholarship databases.

Built With

• amazon-web-services
• googleoauth
• openai
• postgresql
• stripe