Initial ideas and prototypes suggested a few different directions. We first considered an experience-based design, like a major fair. However, when considering student reach and temporal constraints, we instead opted for a solution integrated within current Dartmouth technological infrastructure.

The obvious next step was to audit Dartmouth's major selection software for potential points of improvement. Having experience with the tedious process of declaring a major, I went through the college's software searching for insights. The major declaration flow included standard instructions such as adding courses and justifying courses included in major curricula. However, I wondered if it would be possible to include a step that invoked personal reflection before a major was declared, as a way to confirm genuine student follow-through.

While it seemed promising, our prototype didn't test well with users. To them, the major declaration process was thorough enough to naturally discourage half-hearted major selection.