At Kira Talent, the applicant experience directly shapes admissions outcomes. When the process is structured, accessible, and well-supported, applicants can focus on demonstrating their potential – and admissions teams can evaluate with confidence.
We continuously refine our platform based on valuable applicant feedback. From product enhancements to support improvements, each update is designed to promote clarity, consistency, and equal opportunity across every assessment.
In 2025, more than 290,000 applicants left feedback on their Kira experience.
This report takes a closer look at what they told us, exploring satisfaction trends, support performance, and the platform capabilities that helped applicants feel prepared throughout their assessments.
- New features making an impact in 2025
- Applicant feedback scores
- Applicant testimonials
- What’s next?
- Past reports
New Features Making an Impact in 2025
In 2025, we focused on strengthening the accessibility, scalability, and reliability of the Kira applicant experience. As admissions processes grow in complexity and volume, consistency and performance matter more than ever.
This year’s updates expanded how applicants can participate, while giving admissions teams stronger tools to support structured evaluation and maintain fairness at scale:
Mobile Support
Applicants can now complete async assessments and live interviews directly from their mobile devices. This milestone expands access by allowing applicants to use the device that works best for them – whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. For many applicants with limited access to laptop or desktop computers, mobile support removes a meaningful barrier to participation.
Live Interview Recordings
Admissions teams can now choose to record live interviews conducted in Kira. This enhancement supports greater transparency of the applicants' experience and helps schools refine questions and discussions to improve for future cycles. Recorded interviews also provide valuable insight into interviewer consistency across applicants, supporting a fairer applicant evaluation process.
Scalability and Stability
Behind the scenes, we delivered substantial infrastructure upgrades to improve system performance under high load – particularly during large live interview events and peak async assessment deadlines. Applicants can now expect faster page load times and smoother transitions throughout their assessment.
Applicant Feedback Scores
The highlights:
- 4.6/5 average applicant satisfaction rating – our fifth consecutive year of an “Exceptional” rating!
- 90.8% of users rated their experience as “Exceptional” (5/5) or “Great” (4/5) – another remarkable track record, over 90% of applicants have rated their Kira experience as ‘Exceptional’ every year since 2019.
- 87% of support reviews marked “Great” – maintaining the high standard of technical support that applicants appreciated in previous years.
When applicants feel supported throughout the process, they are better positioned to demonstrate their potential – and more likely to view your program as organized, fair, and intentional.
Each year, our Applicant Experience Report measures how effectively the Kira platform delivers that experience. The findings reflect our ongoing commitment to structured evaluation, transparent processes, and equitable access at every stage of review.
Applicant Testimonials
Kira Talent was founded on the belief that numbers alone can't capture the whole story. That’s why, when we evaluate the Kira applicant experience, we focus on sharing feedback straight from the applicants themselves. Here’s what some users shared about their experiences this year:
Applicants valued the opportunity to show who they are.
“Kira Assessment was a great way to show soft skills and demonstrate professionalism beyond academic achievements. I enjoyed the platform because I was able to express myself and show personality.”
“The questions were well structured and gave me enough time to think and express my ideas, rather than feeling rushed. I also appreciated that the platform allowed me to respond in my own words, which helped me present my personality and experiences more authentically. ”
“I enjoyed the ability to speak with the interview panel in a relaxed manner through the video interview. The time feature was reassuring as well, making sure that there was enough time for everyone to speak and give thoughtful answers.”
“This was a very efficient process for the admissions staff to get to know students in a casual and stress-free way. I thought that the questions were very insightful, and allowed me to add additional points that my AMCAS application may not have been able to get across.”
The platform made interviews feel clear and manageable.
“I absolutely loved this experience! KiraTalent made it easy to navigate these mini-interviews as I wasn't required to touch anything. The whole experience was seamless with no tech issues at all and I really appreciated that!”
“I thought the format was very easy to use. I like that there [were] practice questions to familiarize yourself with the process. It was laid out very nicely, showing the total questions and then updating as questions were completed. For not being super tech savvy, I think this website was very easy to use for this interview.”
“I really enjoyed this format! The process was smooth and well-communicated and overall felt very natural to complete from start to end. I hope to complete more asynchronous Kira Talent interviews in the future.”
“I thought the format was very easy to use. I like that there [were] practice questions to familiarize yourself with the process. It was laid out very nicely, showing the total questions and then updating as questions were completed. For not being super tech savvy, I think this website was very easy to use for this interview.”
Custom questions helped applicants feel seen.
“I liked that the questions were tailored to the school. I also liked being able to give both written and video responses. It felt like a nice substitute for or addition to an interview.”
“The platform was very easy to understand. Practice scenarios helped me to know the formatting of each question and the technical requirements that were needed before being surprised by errors in the actual attempt.”
“I really appreciated this platform's ability to read out the scenarios. Sometimes when I'm stressed I'll read too fast and miss important information. With this platform I was able to clearly understand what was expected of me and I really appreciated that!”
“I enjoyed the clarity of the user interface. I also enjoyed that this test was able to be custom-made based on the needs of the institution. I felt that there was ample time provided for my written responses, allowing me to effectively show my strengths and my story.”
Built-in support reduced stress.
“It was awesome and smooth! I had some technical difficulties and had to use incognito, but I didn't even have to [do] a google search; the support page had all the information I needed. Awesome platform; compliments to the developers!”
“The platform was very intuitive, even when I faced some technical issues I had the easily accessible support available. The experience of doing an online interview is very nerve [w]racking however Kira made it easy.”
“I found the interview platform to be intuitive and well-structured, which made the experience feel organized and low-stress. My internet would fail out sometimes, but the mechanism of my progress saving is a life-saver. I especially valued how clearly the instructions were presented and how smoothly the platform guided me through each stage of the interview. This allowed me to focus on reflecting and responding thoughtfully.”
“What I valued about the platform was how supportive and accessible it was when I needed help. And the staff did a great job of explaining the question and guiding us.”
Virtual interviews expanded access and flexibility.
“I thought it ran very smoothly. It also valued everybody's time by allowing both the person being interviewed and the people watching the interview to do these interviews on their own time.”
“I like the virtual interviews! I think it's a great way to get your foot in the door and put a face to a name on an application. I thought all of the questions were wonderful introduction questions that really made me ponder and construct well-thought-out answers. I appreciate the ability to do this and hope to see more of it in the future!”
“This experience was helpful in that it allowed us to work within our schedule. Having a virtual option moving forward will benefit families with complicated schedules.”
“I found that this is an efficient and flexible way to conduct an interview. The timing of responses and the flexibility of carrying out the interview at home took some pressure [off] me as the interviewee.”
“It was fun. It was also fast and convenient. This process saved time and money over having to show up in person at the university.”
At Kira, we value sharing applicant feedback transparently. Our aim is to give admissions teams clear insight into how their processes are experienced – and where continued refinement can strengthen fairness and consistency.
What’s Next?
In 2025, we advanced the accessibility, reliability, and scalability of the Kira platform. We will continue to invest in improvements that support structured evaluation, reduce friction for applicants, and help admissions teams manage complexity with confidence.
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To everyone who used Kira Talent this year, thank you for sharing your stories, feedback, and insights. Together, we’re reshaping admissions—one exceptional experience at a time.
