Privacy Policy

1. Target Audience

Bus2College is designed exclusively for high school students (typically ages 14-18) who are applying to colleges and universities in the United States. Our platform provides tools to help students organize their college application materials, track deadlines, write essays, and manage the U.S. college application process.

This service is intended for:

• High school students preparing for U.S. college applications
• Students applying through the Common Application system
• Students managing applications to U.S. colleges and universities

If you are not a high school student applying to U.S. colleges, this service may not be suitable for your needs.

2. Information We Collect

When you use Bus2College (web or mobile app), we collect:

• Account Information: Name, email address, grade level
• Student Profile: Academic information (GPA, test scores), contact details, parent/guardian information
• Application Materials: College selections, essays, activities, recommender information
• Usage Data: How you interact with the application, features used, time spent
• Device Information (Mobile): Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers, IP address
• Location Data (If Permitted): Approximate location for deadline reminders in your timezone (optional)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the Bus2College service across web and mobile platforms
• Store and organize your college application materials
• Provide AI-powered feedback and suggestions
• Send deadline reminders and notifications (mobile only, if enabled)
• Sync data across your devices
• Improve our services and user experience
• Provide customer support

4. Mobile App Permissions

The Bus2College mobile app may request the following permissions (all optional):

• Camera/Photos: To upload documents or profile pictures
• Notifications: To send deadline reminders and important updates
• Storage: To cache data for offline access and better performance
• Network Access: To sync your data with our servers
• Location (Approximate): To provide timezone-accurate deadline reminders

You can manage or revoke these permissions at any time through your device settings. Denying permissions may limit certain features but will not prevent basic app functionality.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored using Supabase, a third-party database service with enterprise-grade security. While we implement industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit and at rest, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We recommend maintaining backups of important information.

Mobile App: Some data may be cached locally on your device for offline access. This local cache is encrypted and cleared when you log out or uninstall the app.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with:

• Service Providers: Supabase (database), OpenAI (AI features), app analytics (mobile only)
• App Store Providers: Apple App Store and Google Play Store process payments and manage subscriptions (if applicable)
• Legal Requirements: If required by law or to protect rights and safety

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Request deletion of your account and data (via account settings or contact us)
• Export your data in a portable format
• Opt-out of optional features (like AI feedback, notifications, location services)
• Withdraw consent for data collection at any time
• Request correction of inaccurate data

Mobile Users: You can also delete the app to remove all locally cached data from your device. Server-side data requires account deletion.

8. Cookies and Tracking

Web: Bus2College uses browser local storage to maintain your session and save preferences. We do not use third-party advertising cookies.

Mobile: The mobile app uses device storage for session management and caching. We may use analytics to understand app performance and crashes (anonymized data only).

9. Push Notifications (Mobile)

If you enable push notifications, we may send:

• Deadline reminders for college applications
• Important service updates or security alerts
• AI feedback completion notifications

You can disable notifications at any time in your device settings or app settings.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for students aged 13+. We comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. Users under 18 should review this policy with a parent or guardian.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately for deletion.

11. International Users

Bus2College is operated in the United States. If you access the service from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to and stored in the United States. By using Bus2College, you consent to this transfer.

12. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion:

• Personal data is deleted within 30 days
• Anonymized usage data may be retained for analytics
• Backups may retain data for up to 90 days
• Legal requirements may necessitate longer retention in some cases

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be notified via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Reporting Concerns

If you encounter problematic AI-generated content, privacy violations, or have safety concerns, please report them immediately:

• Problematic AI Content: If the AI provides inappropriate, offensive, harmful, or inaccurate information, use the in-app reporting feature or contact support
• Privacy Violations: If you believe your data has been mishandled or accessed without authorization, contact us immediately
• Safety Concerns: For urgent safety issues involving minors, contact us through the application and consider notifying appropriate authorities
• Data Requests: To request access, correction, or deletion of your personal information

When reporting issues, please provide as much detail as possible including screenshots, timestamps, and specific descriptions of the concern.

15. Contact Us

For privacy questions, to exercise your rights, or to report concerns, contact us through the application or at https://bus2college.com.

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