Counsely Privacy & Cookie Policy
Effective Date: July 24 2025 Last Updated: July 24 2025
Welcome to Counsely. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share your information. This Privacy & Cookie Policy describes our practices regarding the collection and use of information through our website and related services (“Services”).
U.S.–Only Service Counsely is intended for—and accessible only from within—the United States. We block access from IP addresses located outside the U.S. If you are a visitor from another country, please do not use the Services.
1. Information We Collect
a. Information You Provide
- Account Information – name, email address, high-school, GPA, test scores, phone number, city, zipcode, state, and profile details you submit.
- Content – essays, résumés, or other documents you upload or create. (These may contain sensitive academic information; we use it only to provide the Services you request.)
- Payment & Billing Information – card-holder name, billing ZIP/postal code, and purchase details. Your full card number is processed directly by Stripe and never reaches our servers.
- Communication Data – messages or emails you send us.
b. Automatically Collected Data
- Usage Data – pages visited, clicks, scrolls, time on page.
- Device & Browser Info – IP address, device type, browser, screen size, operating system.
- Referral Data – what brought you to our site (e.g., search engine, link).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the data described above to:
- Provide core functionality (e.g., résumé building, college matching).
- Personalize your experience.
- Communicate service updates or other emails and respond to support requests.
- Analyze usage to improve performance and usability.
- Maintain security, investigate fraud, and enforce our Terms of Service.
- Generate admission-strength labels and other automated recommendations; these rely on algorithmic scoring.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
a. What Are Cookies?
Small text files stored on your device to remember information and improve your experience.
b. Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies – required for basic site functions such as login and form submissions (always active and is all cookies besides google analytics.
- Analytics Cookies – help us understand how users navigate the site via Google Analytics. Disabled by default and loaded only after you give consent.
- Affiliate-Tracking Cookies – placed by GoAffPro to attribute referrals and pay commissions. Set only after you consent.
c. Your Choices
On your first visit you will be prompted to accept cookies. Only essential cookies run by default which includes all cookies besides google analytics. You can update your preferences anytime (Settings → Cookie Preferences) or clear cookies via your browser.
d. Do-Not-Track & Global Privacy Control
Browsers may send a “Do Not Track” (DNT) or Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. Counsely does not currently respond to DNT/GPC signals. Essential cookies will still function, and analytics cookies will not load unless you consent.
4. Analytics & AI Tools
- Google Analytics – tracks anonymized IPs, page views, session duration, and traffic sources. Initiated only after you click Accept on the cookie banner.
- AI Service Providers (e.g., OpenAI) – your essays, résumés, chat prompts, and other related content may be sent to vetted large-language-model providers to generate feedback, suggestions, and chatbot answers. Content is transmitted securely and retained by the provider per their standard policy; we do not permit its use for model training.
You may disable analytics cookies anytime in Settings → Cookie Preferences. AI processing is integral to certain features and stops if you delete the relevant content or close your account.
5. Data Sharing
| Recipient | Purpose | Safeguards |
|---|---|---|
| Service Providers | Hosting, analytics, customer-support email, cloud storage, email marketing | Bound by confidentiality and data-processing agreements; access limited to legitimate duties |
| AI Service Providers | Generate essay feedback/generating outlines and essay ideas, résumé analysis, chat responses, | Encrypted transport; contractual limits on use and retention |
| Legal Authorities | When required to comply with law, regulation, court order, or to protect rights and safety | Disclosure limited to what is legally necessary |
Cross-Border Transfers Our servers are in the U.S., but some vetted service providers may operate from other countries. In those cases we require comparable security and contractual commitments to protect your data.
6. Data Retention
| Data Category | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account data | While your account is active (or until you delete it) |
| Content (résumés, essays) | Until you delete the file or close your account |
| Analytics data | Per Google’s standard retention policy (currently 26 months) |
| Support correspondence | 3 years from last interaction, unless needed longer for legal reasons |
| Server logs | 90 days, unless required longer for security investigations |
7. Data Security & Breach Notification
We use encryption (TLS/HTTPS), secure data centers, role-based access controls, and regular security audits. If we discover a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities without undue delay as required by law.
8. Your Rights and Choices
You may:
- Access/Update your profile in account settings.
- Delete Your Account directly in settings or by emailing us.
- Request a Portable Copy of your personal data in a machine-readable format.
- Withdraw Consent for analytics tracking at any time via Settings → Cookie Preferences.
- Request human review of any automated decision (e.g., admission-strength label) and an explanation of how the score was derived.
9. Children’s Privacy (COPPA)
Counsely is intended for U.S. users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. Parents who believe we may have unintentionally collected such data may contact us to delete it.
We do not sell or share personal data of users under 16.
10. California Residents – CCPA/CPRA
California consumers may:
- Request disclosure of personal information we have collected about them.
- Request deletion of personal information.
- Opt out of any “sale” or “sharing” of personal data (we do not sell your data).
- Correct inaccurate personal information.
- Limit use of sensitive personal information (we use it only to provide requested Services).
- Request information about any direct-marketing disclosures (“Shine the Light”).
No Discrimination We will not deny services, charge different prices, or provide a different level of quality solely because you exercised your CCPA rights. To exercise these rights, email support@getcounsely.com.
11. Other U.S. State Privacy Rights
Residents of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Nevada, and any similar U.S. states have privacy rights comparable to those described above (access, deletion, correction, opt out of targeted advertising, etc.). You can exercise these rights by emailing support@getcounsely.com.
12. Third-Party Links
Our Services may contain links to third-party websites or services we do not control. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review their policies before providing personal information.
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the Last Updated date at the top and, if changes are material, notify you via email or a prominent notice on the site before they take effect.
14. Contact Us
Counsely Support
Email: support@getcounsely.com
Website: https://www.getcounsely.com