CampusCompass | Devpost

Inspiration

Preparing to study or work abroad can be overwhelming and isolating. Students often struggle alone with questions about visas, documentation, timelines, and cultural expectations, without knowing who to ask or where to start. CampusCompass was inspired by the idea that knowing others are going through the same process can significantly reduce anxiety and confusion. We wanted to build something that combines information with human connection.

What it does

CampusCompass is a student-focused platform that helps individuals preparing to study or work abroad feel informed and supported.

The platform has two core features:

Student Peer Discovery: Allows students to discover other students planning similar destinations and timelines, helping them feel less alone and more confident.
Study Abroad Guidance: Provides country-specific visa information, required documents, and cultural tips based on the student’s destination and purpose (study or work).

How we built it

CampusCompass was built using Python and Streamlit to quickly prototype a clean and accessible web interface.
Peer matching is handled through a rule-based matching system that compares destination, travel month, and safety preferences.
Country-specific guidance is generated using a structured knowledge base with an AI-ready cultural guidance layer and a fallback system for generic cases.

Challenges we ran into

Designing a clear and intuitive UI under strict time constraints
Ensuring demo data always produces meaningful results
Communicating the role of AI without relying on external APIs
Balancing simplicity with real-world usefulness in a hackathon setting

Accomplishments we’re proud of

Building a functional peer-matching system that demonstrates real student value
Creating country-specific visa and documentation guidance
Designing the project around reducing student isolation, not just sharing information
Completing a fully working demo within the hackathon deadline