Voice to Text for Academic Advisors
Your students deserve thoughtful guidance, not rushed notes scribbled between appointments. Blurt lets you capture student meeting notes, degree audit documentation, recommendation letters, and advising session summaries by simply speaking. Hold a button, talk through your observations, release. Text appears wherever your cursor is — in your student information system, Word, email, anywhere. No more reconstructing conversations from memory at 6 PM. No more generic recommendation letters because you ran out of typing time. Just speak and document.
The Typing Problem
Back-to-back advising appointments with no time to document
You just finished a 30-minute session with a student navigating a major change, family crisis, and course withdrawal. Your next student is already waiting. The conversation was nuanced — you discussed four different scenarios and landed on a plan. But there's no time to type it all. You jot three words on a sticky note and hope you remember the rest later. By the end of the day, seven sessions blur together and critical details are lost.
Degree audit notes that never get updated
You walked through Marcus's degree audit together, identifying the substitution needed for his study abroad credits and the petition required for his minor. You explained everything clearly in the meeting. But documenting the specifics — which course substitutes for which requirement, what form needs to be filed — takes another 15 minutes of typing. So the notes stay incomplete, and next semester a colleague asks you what was decided, and you can't quite remember.
Recommendation letters that require personalization
Graduate school deadlines arrive in waves. This week you have eight students who need letters. Each one deserves more than a template with their name swapped in. You remember specific conversations with each student — the time Sarah connected her research interests to your methodology class, how James overcame his first-semester struggles. But typing eight unique, thoughtful letters means nights and weekends at the keyboard.
Progress reports for probation and at-risk students
The retention committee needs progress reports on 12 students by Friday. Each report requires documenting meeting frequency, academic interventions discussed, student responsiveness, and your professional assessment. You know exactly what to say about each student — you've been meeting with them all semester. But typing 12 detailed reports while still seeing your regular advising load feels impossible. Quality suffers when quantity demands too much.
Session summaries that students actually receive
Best practices say you should email students a summary after each advising session — next steps, deadlines discussed, follow-up items. Students benefit from written confirmation of what was decided. But who has time to type individual summaries after every 20-minute drop-in? You want to be that thorough advisor, but the documentation burden makes it unsustainable. Students leave with verbal instructions and no paper trail.
How It Works
Blurt works in every system academic advisors use — Banner, PeopleSoft, Slate, Starfish, your email client, Word. Anywhere you can put a cursor on macOS.
Hold your hotkey
Press your chosen shortcut after a student leaves. A small indicator shows Blurt is listening.
Speak naturally
Talk through the advising session, degree audit findings, or recommendation points. Blurt handles punctuation automatically.
Release and done
Text appears at your cursor. Edit as needed or move to your next appointment. No copying, no pasting, no extra steps.
Real Scenarios
Capturing student meeting notes between appointments
Your student just left after discussing changing from pre-med to public health. You have three minutes before your next appointment. Cursor in your notes system, hold the hotkey: 'Met with Jordan Chen today regarding major change from Biology pre-med track to Public Health. Discussed career goals shift toward health policy after summer internship at county health department. Reviewed remaining requirements — needs to add PUBH 301 and 302, can count existing stats course. Will submit major change form by Friday. Follow up next month to discuss internship options in public health.' Complete session notes in 30 seconds. Next student walks in, and you're ready.
Documenting degree audit reviews and substitutions
You just walked through a complicated degree audit with a transfer student. Hold your hotkey and capture the details: 'Reviewed degree audit with Maria Santos. Study abroad coursework from Universidad de Salamanca requires three substitutions: SPAN 301 equivalent approved for foreign language requirement, European History course needs petition for Area C, and the literature course maps to our SPAN 350. Student will submit substitution forms through registrar portal. Noted that student is still missing quantitative reasoning — recommended MATH 115 for spring.' The specifics are preserved for whoever advises this student next.
Drafting personalized recommendation letters
David needs a letter for his graduate school applications in counseling psychology. You remember three years of advising conversations. Hold the hotkey: 'I have advised David Williams since his first semester and watched him transform from an uncertain freshman into a focused, compassionate student committed to mental health advocacy. What distinguishes David is not just his academic record but his genuine interest in understanding each person's story. I recall a conversation where he connected his own family's experience with addiction to his desire to work with underserved populations. He brings both intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence that will serve him well in a counseling program.' Authentic, specific letters without hours of typing.
Writing progress reports for at-risk students
The retention committee needs your update on students on academic probation. For each student, hold and speak: 'Progress report for Aisha Thompson, third meeting this semester. Student has attended all scheduled advising appointments and demonstrated increased engagement. Currently passing all courses with midterm grades of C or better. Identified time management as primary challenge — implemented weekly planning sessions using campus tutoring center. Recommend continued monitoring with monthly check-ins. Student shows commitment to academic improvement and has utilized all suggested resources.' Thorough, professional reports at speaking speed.
Sending advising session summaries to students
Your student deserves a follow-up email confirming what you discussed. Hold your hotkey right in your email draft: 'Hi Taylor, great meeting with you today. To summarize what we discussed: you will register for PSYCH 310 and SOCI 200 for spring semester, submit your minor declaration form by November 15th, and schedule a meeting with Dr. Patterson about research assistant opportunities. Your graduation audit looks on track for May. Let me know if any questions come up before our next check-in in February.' Students get written documentation, you get it done in 20 seconds.
Recording notes during walk-in advising hours
Drop-in hours are busy — students cycle through with quick questions every 10 minutes. Between each one, hold your hotkey: 'Quick drop-in from Kevin Liu, senior, asked about pass-fail deadline and whether it would affect graduate school applications. Advised that pass-fail can raise questions and recommended keeping letter grade given current B. Student will decide by Friday deadline.' Brief notes captured for every interaction, building a record that helps you and colleagues provide continuity of care.
Creating early alert referrals and intervention notes
A faculty member submitted an early alert for a student you advise. You need to document your outreach and response. Hold and speak: 'Early alert received from Professor Mills regarding attendance concerns for Casey Rodriguez in CHEM 201. Contacted student via email and phone. Student responded and scheduled appointment for Thursday. Initial conversation suggested work schedule conflict — student took on additional shifts due to family financial situation. Will discuss course load adjustment options and connect with financial aid office. Referral to campus food pantry also appropriate.' Intervention documented while the situation is fresh.
Why academic advisors choose Blurt over built-in dictation
| Blurt | macOS Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Single hotkey, instant start between appointments | Click microphone icon or voice command |
| Speed | Text appears in under 500ms | 2-3 second delay before transcription |
| Academic vocabulary | Handles advising terminology and course names | Struggles with academic terms and abbreviations |
| Reliability | Consistent accuracy for documentation | Often cuts off or loses connection mid-sentence |
| Punctuation | Automatic, context-aware punctuation | Requires saying 'period' and 'comma' |
Frequently Asked Questions
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