TransferAble

TransferAble is a sleek, student-first platform designed to support community college students on their path to transferring, combining smart course planning, UC/CSU requirement mapping, and mentorship from current university students. Built to remove confusion, eliminate outdated information, and give every student a clear, personalized roadmap.

🚀 Features

Core Features (MVP)

• Smart Course-Planning Engine: Track required courses, prerequisites, and course equivalencies across all target universities
• Transfer Timeline Generator: Never miss a deadline with personalized timelines tracking applications, exams, and important dates
• Peer Mentorship Network: Connect with verified mentors from your target universities for personalized guidance
• UC/CSU Application Hub: PIQ brainstorming tools, essay tracking, activity logs, and automated feedback
• Resource Hub: Access scholarships, transfer stories, campus comparisons, and student-generated advice

Planned Features (Phase 2)

• AI-Powered Course Audit (transcript parsing)
• Mentor Marketplace (paid mentorship options)
• College-Specific Micro Communities
• Mental Health & Study Skills Support

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Frontend: Next.js 14 (App Router), React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS
• Backend: Next.js API Routes, Prisma ORM
• Database: PostgreSQL
• Authentication: Clerk
• UI Components: Radix UI, Lucide Icons
• Deployment: Vercel (Frontend) + Railway (Database)

📋 Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ and npm/yarn
• PostgreSQL database (local or cloud)
• Clerk account for authentication

🔧 Setup Instructions

1. Clone and Install Dependencies

cd TransferAble
npm install

2. Set Up Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the root directory:

cp .env.example .env

Fill in your environment variables:

# Database
DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/transferable?schema=public"

# Clerk Authentication
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=your_clerk_publishable_key
CLERK_SECRET_KEY=your_clerk_secret_key

# App URL
NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=http://localhost:3000

3. Set Up Database

# Generate Prisma Client
npm run db:generate

# Push schema to database (for development)
npm run db:push

# Or run migrations (for production)
npm run db:migrate

4. Run Development Server

npm run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

📁 Project Structure

TransferAble/
├── app/                    # Next.js App Router
│   ├── (auth)/            # Authentication pages
│   ├── (dashboard)/       # Protected dashboard pages
│   ├── api/               # API routes
│   ├── layout.tsx         # Root layout
│   └── page.tsx           # Home page
├── components/            # React components
│   ├── ui/               # Reusable UI components
│   └── onboarding/       # Onboarding components
├── lib/                   # Utility functions
│   ├── prisma.ts         # Prisma client
│   └── utils.ts          # Helper functions
├── prisma/                # Database schema
│   └── schema.prisma     # Prisma schema
└── public/                # Static assets

🗄️ Database Schema

The app uses Prisma with PostgreSQL. Key models include:

• User: Student, mentor, and counselor accounts
• CommunityCollege: Community college information
• University: Target universities (UC, CSU, Private)
• Major: Major requirements per university
• Course: Courses offered at community colleges
• CourseEquivalency: Course transfer equivalencies
• Timeline: Transfer timelines and milestones
• Application: UC/CSU applications
• MentorProfile: Mentor profiles and availability
• MentorshipRequest: Mentorship connections

See prisma/schema.prisma for the complete schema.

🎯 Key Pages

• / - Landing page
• /sign-in - Sign in page
• /sign-up - Sign up page
• /dashboard - Main dashboard
• /onboarding - Initial setup flow
• /courses - Course planning
• /timeline - Transfer timeline
• /mentors - Mentor matching
• /applications - Application tracking
• /resources - Resource hub
• /settings - User settings

🚧 Development Roadmap

Month 1-2 (Current)

• ✅ Project setup and core structure
• ✅ Authentication system
• ✅ Onboarding flow
• ✅ Dashboard and navigation
• ✅ Basic course planning UI
• ✅ Timeline generator UI
• ✅ Mentor matching UI
• ✅ Application hub UI
• ✅ Resource hub UI

Month 2-3

• Connect course planning to database
• Implement mentor matching algorithm
• Build messaging system
• Add PIQ essay editor
• Integrate ASSIST API or build equivalency database

Month 4-5

• Beta testing at partner community colleges
• User feedback and iterations
• Performance optimization
• Mobile responsiveness improvements

Month 5-6

• AI transcript audit feature
• Mobile app (React Native)
• Advanced analytics
• Gamification features

🤝 Contributing

This is a private project, but contributions are welcome! Please:

1. Create a feature branch
2. Make your changes
3. Test thoroughly
4. Submit a pull request

📝 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

🆘 Support

For issues or questions, please open an issue in the repository.

🙏 Acknowledgments

Built with ❤️ for community college students navigating their transfer journey.