Terms of Service

Last updated: September 1, 2025

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

Welcome to Admission Compass ("we," "us," "our," or the "Service"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("you," "your," or "User") and Admission Compass regarding your access to and use of our college admissions guidance platform and related services.

By accessing or using Admission Compass, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our Service.

2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

Admission Compass is a comprehensive web application that provides college admissions guidance through:

Data-Driven Insights: College admission factor analysis and statistics
AI-Powered Essay Analysis: Automated feedback on application essays using advanced AI technology
Application Analysis: Comprehensive evaluation of college applications
College Comparison: Side-by-side comparison tools for different institutions
Personalized Guidance: Custom recommendations based on user profiles

Features and content may evolve, and we strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee error-free or uninterrupted service. Material changes will be notified in advance.

3. USER ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNTS

3.1 Age Requirements

Users must be at least 13 years old to create an account
Users under 18 must have parental or guardian consent
Users aged 18+ represent they have legal capacity to enter this agreement

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account
You are liable for all activities that occur under your account
We reserve the right to suspend accounts that show signs of security compromise

3.3 Account Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information
You must promptly update any changes to your information
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts with false information

4. ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use Admission Compass for:

Personal, non-commercial college admissions planning
Analyzing your own application materials and essays
Researching colleges and admissions requirements
Receiving guidance and recommendations for your applications

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

Submit essays or content that you do not own or have permission to analyze
Use the service for commercial purposes without written permission
Attempt to reverse engineer, scrape, or extract our algorithms or data
Interfere with or disrupt the service or servers
Create multiple accounts to circumvent usage limitations
Share your account credentials with others
Use the service for any illegal or fraudulent purposes
Submit malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
Harass, abuse, or harm other users or our staff

4.3 Content Standards

All content you submit must be:

Your own original work or properly licensed
Appropriate for an educational context
Free from plagiarism, hate speech, or illegal content
Respectful of others' privacy and rights

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

5.1 Our Intellectual Property

Admission Compass and all its content, features, and functionality are owned by us and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. This includes:

Software code, algorithms, and analysis methods
User interface design and graphics
Educational content and guidance materials
Data compilations and statistical analyses
The Admission Compass name, logo, and branding

5.2 Your Content Rights

You retain all rights to your original essays and application materials
You grant us a limited license to process your content for analysis purposes
This license is revocable and terminates when you delete your content or account
We do not claim ownership of your personal academic information

5.3 Analysis Results

AI-generated analysis and feedback are provided for your personal use
You may use analysis results for your college application process
You may not resell, redistribute, or commercialize our analysis
Analysis results remain linked to your account and are not transferable

6. PAYMENT TERMS AND REFUNDS

6.1 Pricing and Payment

Current pricing is displayed on our pricing page
Prices may change with 30 days notice for new purchases
Payment is processed securely through Stripe
All fees are non-refundable except as described below

6.2 Token System

Services are provided through a token-based system
Tokens are consumed when you use analysis features
Unused tokens do not expire but are tied to your account
Tokens are non-transferable between accounts

6.3 Refund Policy

Limited Refund Circumstances:

Technical issues preventing service access for more than 48 hours
Billing errors or duplicate charges
Cancellation within 24 hours of purchase (unused tokens only)

No Refunds For:

Dissatisfaction with analysis results or recommendations
Changes in college admission outcomes
User error or misunderstanding of service features
Failure to use purchased tokens

7. AI ANALYSIS DISCLAIMERS

7.1 Nature of AI Analysis

Important Understanding:

Our AI provides supplemental guidance, not definitive admissions predictions
Analysis is based on patterns in data and may not account for all factors
Results should be considered alongside human counseling and judgment
AI cannot guarantee admission outcomes or essay success

7.2 Potential Limitations and Biases

AI may reflect biases present in training data
Cultural, linguistic, or contextual nuances may be misunderstood
Analysis may not capture unique personal circumstances
Recommendations may not align with all institutional preferences

7.3 User Responsibility

Always review and critically evaluate AI-generated feedback
Consult human advisors, counselors, or teachers when making important decisions
Verify all factual information independently
Use AI analysis as one input among many in your application strategy

8. PRIVACY AND DATA USE

8.1 Data Collection and Use

Our collection and use of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Key points:

We collect only information necessary to provide our services
Your essays and personal data are not shared with colleges or third parties
Data is used solely for analysis and service improvement
You can request data deletion at any time

8.2 Third-Party Services

We use Cohere AI for essay analysis processing
Payment processing is handled by Stripe
Analytics are provided by Google Analytics (anonymized)
All third-party services comply with applicable privacy laws

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

9.1 Service Limitations

Admission Compass is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

Accuracy of analysis results or college admission predictions
Uninterrupted or error-free service operation
Compatibility with all devices or browsers
Achievement of any specific admission outcomes

9.2 Liability Limitations

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid for the service
We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
We are not responsible for admission decisions made by colleges
Users assume all risks associated with college application outcomes

9.3 Specific Disclaimers

We specifically disclaim liability for:

College admission or rejection decisions
Financial consequences of admission outcomes
Reliance on AI analysis without human review
Third-party actions or decisions based on our analysis

10. ACCOUNT TERMINATION

10.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time
Contact support@admissioncompass.com to request account deletion
Unused tokens are forfeited upon account termination
Some data may be retained for legal compliance purposes

10.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account for:

Violation of these Terms of Service
Fraudulent or illegal activity
Abuse of our systems or staff
Providing false information during registration
Failure to pay fees when due

10.3 Effect of Termination

Access to the service will be immediately suspended
Your data will be deleted according to our Privacy Policy
These Terms will remain in effect for past usage
No refunds will be provided for termination due to Terms violations

11. CHANGES TO SERVICE AND TERMS

11.1 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to:

Modify, suspend, or discontinue features
Update AI algorithms and analysis methods
Change pricing for new subscriptions
Enhance security and privacy measures

11.2 Terms Updates

Terms may be updated periodically
Material changes will be notified via email or platform notice
Continued use constitutes acceptance of updated Terms
You may terminate your account if you disagree with changes

12. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

12.1 Informal Resolution

Contact support@admissioncompass.com for any disputes
We commit to good faith efforts to resolve issues
Allow 30 days for resolution attempts before formal proceedings

12.2 Formal Dispute Process

Disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration
Arbitration will be conducted under California state law
Class action lawsuits are waived
Each party bears their own costs unless otherwise awarded

13. LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND JURISDICTION

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by California state law
Federal laws apply where relevant
International users subject to local law compliance

13.2 Regulatory Compliance

We comply with applicable educational privacy laws
COPPA compliance for users under 13
CCPA compliance for California residents
GDPR protections for European users where applicable

14. CONTACT INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

14.1 Customer Support

For questions or support:

Email: support@admissioncompass.com
Response time: Within 48 hours during business days
Include account information for faster assistance

14.2 Business Information

Service: Admission Compass
Website: admissioncompass.com
Business Location: California, United States

14.3 Legal Notices

For legal matters, compliance issues, or formal notices:

Email: support@admissioncompass.com
Subject: "Legal Notice - [Nature of Issue]"
Include relevant documentation and contact information

15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement
Previous agreements or understandings are superseded
No verbal modifications are valid

15.2 Severability

If any provision is found invalid, the remainder remains in effect
Invalid provisions will be reformed to achieve intended purpose
Core Terms remain binding even if peripheral clauses are invalidated

15.3 Assignment

You may not transfer your account or these Terms
We may assign these Terms in connection with business transfers
Terms bind successors and permitted assigns

These Terms of Service are effective as of September 1, 2025. By using Admission Compass, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at support@admissioncompass.com.