Privacy Policy

Dream College Path LLC ("Dream College Path," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of all users of the Dream College Planner application, including students, parents, guardians, and education professionals. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, with whom we share it, and the choices and rights available to you.

This Privacy Policy applies to the Dream College Planner website and mobile applications (collectively, the "App" or "Service") and is incorporated by reference into our Terms and Conditions. By using the Service, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly, information generated through your use of the Service, and information from third parties, as described below.

1.1 Information You Provide

• Account Registration: Full name, email address, password, role (student, parent/guardian, counselor), and, for minors, parental/guardian consent information.
• Student Profile Data: Date of birth, grade level, school name, graduation year, and location (city/state).
• Academic Information: Courses, grades, GPA, test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, etc.), extracurricular activities, awards, and honors.
• College Planning Data: College lists, application status, deadlines, target schools, scholarship tracking, and goal information.
• Documents and Files: Transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, and other documents you choose to upload.
• Session and Communication Data: Scheduling information, messages exchanged through the platform with tutors, counselors, or mentors.
• Payment Information: Billing name, address, and payment method details processed by our third-party payment processor. We do not store full payment card numbers.
• Communications with Us: Emails, support tickets, survey responses, and other communications you send to us.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device and Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, mobile network information, and app version.
• Usage Data: Pages and features accessed, actions taken within the App, session timestamps, referral URLs, and search queries within the Service.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, pixel tags, and similar technologies to support authentication, remember preferences, analyze usage, and deliver a consistent experience. See Section 7 for details.
• Log Data: Server logs that record activity related to your use of the Service, including error reports and diagnostic information.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• Single Sign-On (SSO): If you log in using Google, Apple, or another SSO provider, we receive basic profile information (e.g., name and email) from that provider.
• App Store Platforms: Google Play Store and Apple App Store may provide aggregate, non-personally identifiable analytics about app performance.
• Payment Processors: We receive transaction confirmations and limited billing data from our payment processor to fulfill your purchase.
• Other Integrations: If you connect third-party services (e.g., calendar integrations), we may receive relevant data needed to provide that feature.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Providing and Improving the Service

• Creating and managing your account and authenticating your identity.
• Delivering core features including academic planning, college tracking, scheduling, AI-assisted suggestions, and messaging.
• Processing payments for Paid Services and managing subscriptions.
• Operating, maintaining, and improving the performance and security of the Service.
• Developing new features and conducting research and analytics to understand how users engage with the App.

2.2 Communications

• Sending transactional messages such as account confirmations, session reminders, and billing receipts.
• Sending service-related notifications about updates, changes, or important notices regarding the Service.
• Sending promotional or marketing communications, with your consent where required by applicable law. You may opt out at any time.

2.3 Safety, Security, and Legal Compliance

• Detecting, preventing, and responding to fraud, abuse, unauthorized access, and security incidents.
• Enforcing our Terms and Conditions and other policies.
• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal process, including responding to lawful requests from government authorities.
• Protecting the rights, property, and safety of Dream College Path, our users, and the public.

2.4 AI-Assisted Features

Where the Service includes AI-assisted features (such as planning suggestions, essay feedback prompts, or recommendations), your data may be processed to generate personalized outputs. AI outputs are not guaranteed to be accurate and should be reviewed independently. We do not use student data to train third-party AI models without appropriate authorization.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as described below.

3.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party vendors and service providers that assist us in operating the Service, including hosting and cloud infrastructure, payment processing, email and notification delivery, analytics, customer support tools, and cybersecurity. These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only to perform services on our behalf and to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security.

3.2 Authorized Users Within the Platform

If you are a Student and you share information with a Parent/Guardian, counselor, tutor, or mentor through the Service, those individuals will have access to the information you share consistent with the sharing settings you choose. Parents/Guardians of minor Students may have access to certain Student Account information as described in Section 5.

3.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent notice on the Service before your information becomes subject to a materially different privacy policy.

3.4 Legal and Safety Disclosures

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to: (a) comply with applicable law or legal process; (b) protect the rights, property, or safety of Dream College Path, our users, or the public; or (c) detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

4. Children's Privacy and COPPA / FERPA Compliance

4.1 Children Under 13 (COPPA)

The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental or guardian consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under 13 has provided personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at privacy@dreamcollegepath.com. We will take steps to delete such information.

Where we provide service to children under 13 with verifiable parental consent, we collect only the information necessary to provide the Service, we do not use such information for behavioral advertising, and we provide parents/guardians with the ability to review, correct, or delete their child's information.

4.2 Students Ages 13-17

Students between 13 and 17 may use the Service with the involvement and consent of a Parent/Guardian as required by our Terms and Conditions. We encourage Parents/Guardians to review the information their minor student uploads and shares through the Service.

4.3 Education Records and FERPA

To the extent that the Service is used by schools or districts and involves education records subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we act as a "school official" with a legitimate educational interest, as that term is used under FERPA. We use education records solely to provide the Service and do not redisclose education records to third parties except as permitted by FERPA and our agreement with the relevant educational institution.

5. Parent and Guardian Access

If you are a Parent/Guardian of a minor Student, you may have visibility into certain aspects of your child's Account as enabled by the Service. You may also request to review, correct, or delete information about your child by contacting us at privacy@dreamcollegepath.com. We will respond to such requests within the timeframe required by applicable law.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your Account is active or as needed to provide the Service, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When you delete your Account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, subject to exceptions required by law (such as retention of records for tax, legal, or audit purposes) or technical limitations.

Backup copies of data may persist for a limited additional period before being overwritten or deleted in the ordinary course of our backup retention schedule.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use the following types of cookies and similar technologies:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function, including authentication, security, and session management. These cannot be disabled without impairing core Service functionality.
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings (e.g., language, notification preferences).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the Service, which features are popular, and where errors occur. We use anonymized or aggregated data for these purposes where possible.

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your browser settings. Mobile device operating systems may also provide controls to limit ad tracking. Disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use features of the Service.

We do not use third-party advertising or behavioral tracking cookies on the Service.

8. Data Security

We implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL protocols.
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest.
• Access controls limiting internal access to personal information to employees and contractors with a need to know.
• Regular security assessments and monitoring.

No security measure is completely foolproof. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for notifying us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your Account. We will notify affected users and applicable authorities of any data breach as required by applicable law.

9. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you reside, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include:

9.1 Access, Correction, and Deletion

You may access and update most of your Account information by logging in and visiting your account settings. You may also request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us at privacy@dreamcollegepath.com. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law (e.g., 45 days under CCPA/CPRA or 30 days under GDPR where applicable).

9.2 Portability

Where required by applicable law, you may request a copy of your personal information in a commonly used, machine-readable format.

9.3 Opt-Out of Marketing Communications

You may opt out of receiving promotional emails by following the unsubscribe instructions in any promotional message, or by updating your notification preferences in your Account settings. Please note that you may continue to receive transactional and administrative communications even after opting out of marketing messages.

9.4 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have the right to: know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell; request deletion of their personal information; opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising); and non-discrimination for exercising these rights. To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@dreamcollegepath.com or by mail at the address in Section 13. We will verify your identity before processing requests.

9.5 Nevada Residents

Nevada residents may request that we not sell their covered information. As noted above, we do not sell personal information. You may submit a request to privacy@dreamcollegepath.com.

9.6 International Users

The Service is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to such transfer and processing. We take reasonable measures to ensure that international transfers comply with applicable data protection requirements.

10. Third-Party Services and Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services (such as college websites, testing organizations, scholarship databases, or video conferencing providers). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through or in connection with the Service. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.

11. Push Notifications and In-App Communications

With your permission, we may send push notifications to your mobile device to remind you of sessions, deadlines, and other activity. You can manage push notification preferences through your device's operating system settings or within the App. Standard messaging and data rates may apply to text message communications.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, the Service, or applicable law. If we make material changes, we will provide notice by posting the updated policy in the App, updating the "Last Updated" date, and/or by email to the address associated with your Account. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any updated policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

• Company: Dream College Path LLC
• Email: privacy@dreamcollegepath.com
• Support: support@dreamcollegepath.com
• Mailing Address: Dream College Path LLC, 6200 Village Parkway, STE 200, Dublin, CA 94568, United States
• DMCA / Legal Notices: legal@dreamcollegepath.com

For Parent/Guardian requests regarding a minor's information, please email privacy@dreamcollegepath.com with the subject line "Minor Data Request."

14. Google Play Store — Data Safety Disclosure Summary

In accordance with Google Play's Data Safety requirements, the following summarizes our data practices. Complete details are provided in this Privacy Policy.

Data Collected:

• Personal info: Name, email address, account credentials
• Financial info: Purchase history (payment details handled by payment processor)
• Location: Approximate location (city/state) provided by user
• App activity: In-app actions, session data, feature usage
• App info and performance: Crash logs, diagnostics
• Device or other IDs: Device identifiers for app functionality

Data Shared with Third Parties:

• Service providers: Hosting, analytics, payment processing, communications (under data processing agreements)
• No data is sold to third parties
• No data is shared for advertising or marketing by third parties

Security Practices:

• Data is encrypted in transit
• Data is encrypted at rest
• Users can request data deletion by contacting privacy@dreamcollegepath.com

Children:

• The Service may be used by children under 13 only with verifiable parental consent
• We comply with applicable children's privacy laws including COPPA

This Privacy Policy was prepared for Dream College Path LLC and is effective as of the date noted above. It is intended to meet the requirements of the Google Play Store Data Safety section, Apple App Store Privacy Nutrition Labels, COPPA, FERPA, CCPA/CPRA, and other applicable privacy laws.