This article is written by Callie Cohen, a graduate of the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Psychology, currently pursuing her Masters of Social Work on the east coast. She spent 2 years leading impactful projects at Second Chance Center in Denver before starting her graduate studies.
I’m a few weeks into my first semester of grad school in New York City, and it’s been equally exciting and overwhelming. After spending my entire life in Denver, I still catch myself comparing everything — skyscrapers instead of mountains, subway rides in place of mountain drives, (really good) bagels over breakfast burritos.
But the comparisons go beyond scenery and pace of life. They’ve crept into how I interact with school and its technology, and honestly? It’s been a painful wake-up call.
The Challenge with Scattered Systems
Today is day two of orientation, and I’m staring at 25 open browser tabs. Yes, 25. Each represents something essential on my to-do list — completing financial aid forms, billing setup, advisor assignments, my course schedule, activating my student ID, campus maps, orientation modules, the list goes on.
Every single one of these tasks lives in a separate platform with its own login and interface. My laptop screen looks like a digital disaster, and it feels just as overwhelming and chaotic. To cope, I created my own Google Doc — a makeshift command center with links, login notes, bookmarks and reminders. It’s not an elegant (or particularly secure) solution, but it feels like the only way to stay sane and organized.
My grad school experience makes me realize something I’d taken for granted as an undergrad at the University of Denver. We had a single portal called My4D (powered by Pathify) that served as our digital homebase. Everything from class registration reminders and campus event recommendations to dining balances and library holds funneled into My4D. I never appreciated how much time and mental energy I saved because I never had to wonder where to look for information — My4D was always the starting point.
Supportive vs. Stressful Experiences
A one-stop shop like My4D gave me the confidence nothing slipped through the cracks. That sense of control matters, especially in my current situation — when I’m already balancing coursework, moving to a new city and figuring out how to be a grad student.
I consider myself pretty organized, but now, I’m genuinely anxious about missing an important task or deadline — not to mention frustrated and confused when I click around in circles or get logged out of my 25 tabs. If I’m struggling, imagine how overwhelming it must be for students who don’t naturally approach things with the same level of structure, or face other challenges on top of school.
All this running around between different systems adds stress to an already intense transition. The constant anxiety isn’t productive — it’s burning through mental energy I’d rather spend on studying, navigating campus or finding new friends.
Student Success Essentials
I’m not asking for anything fancy — just a few essentials that would genuinely help:
- One clear starting point to find what I’m looking for
- Specific next steps for every task
- Consistent design so I’m not constantly relearning how to navigate different systems
- Confidence I’m not missing key information or deadlines
These aren’t luxury features — they’re features that help students like me feel grounded, capable and prepared. I didn’t enroll in grad school to become an expert at navigating institutional technology. I enrolled to learn, to grow, to build my career.
My4D understood this — it handled the administrative friction, leaving me to focus on what actually matters: learning, connecting and enjoying my college experience. When campus tech works the way it should, it boosts confidence, organization and peace of mind. When it doesn’t, students end up piecing things together on their own, spending time and energy on logistics — barriers to the very outcomes schools aim to achieve.
A Message to Decision Makers
If you’re reading this and hold influence over campus technology decisions, please remember — students go beyond being the users of your systems. We’re the very reason your institution exists. Every portal, every link, every dead-end we experience sends a signal about how much you value our time and peace of mind.
I’m not sharing my experience to criticize my current school or put anyone on blast. But with two vastly different experiences with campus technology, I see firsthand how thoughtful campus tech makes a difference in how supported and empowered students feel.
These details matter enormously, especially during high-pressure times like orientation and registration. Every institution wants its students to succeed (you might even say that’s a given). The difference lies in how the digital experience either supports — or complicates — that goal. Ultimately, students and institutions work toward the same outcomes. Just help us spend our energy on the right things.