Best College Guide

Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: August 5, 2025

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you use our college search form, we may collect:

• Academic information (test scores, intended major, GPA)
• Preferences (location, school size, campus setting)
• Financial information (family income ranges for financial aid calculations)
• Demographic information (for matching with appropriate institutions)

1.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and general location information
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website information
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

However, none of this information is saved beyond a user session

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• College Matching: To provide personalized college recommendations based on your preferences and academic profile
• Website Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve our services
• Technical Operations: To ensure website functionality and security
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

3. Third-Party Advertising and Cookies

3.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
• Advertising Cookies: Used by Google AdSense and other ad networks to display relevant ads
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

3.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website and the relevance of ads displayed to you.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website (such as Google AdSense)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
• Safety and Security: To protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or the public
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Since our college search form is anonymous, we do not retain personal identifying information from these searches.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request information about data we have collected about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your information
• Opt-out: Opt out of certain data processing activities
• Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format

8. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information during such transfers.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information.

12. European Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Union, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and port your personal data, as well as the right to object to certain processing.