Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Ellsworth College Advisors (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our clients, website visitors, and users of our services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website https://ellsworthcollegeadvisors.com/ (the “Site”), engage our college admissions counseling services (the “Services”), or otherwise interact with us.

PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY. BY ACCESSING OR USING OUR SITE OR SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO THE PRACTICES DESCRIBED HEREIN. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS POLICY, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CEASE USE OF THE SITE AND SERVICES.

This policy applies to information we collect:

  • On this Site;
  • Through email, text, and other electronic messages between you and the Site or Services;
  • During in-person, video, or telephone consultations;
  • Through the GradBetter and NerdApply platform and other third-party tools used to deliver Services;
  • When you interact with our advertising and applications on third-party websites and services, if those applications or advertising include links to this policy.

It does not apply to information collected by:

  • Us offline or through any other means, including on any other website operated by Company or any third party;
  • Any third party, including through any application or content (including advertising) that may link to or be accessible from or on the Site.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Site and Services, including:

1.1 Personal Information You Provide to Us

“Personal Information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is reasonably capable of being associated with a particular individual. In the context of our college counseling Services, this may include:

  • Identity and Contact Data: Name, email address, mailing address, phone number, date of birth, and similar contact details for students, parents, and guardians.
  • Student Academic Information: High school name, GPA, class rank, standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.), transcript data, course selections, academic awards, and teacher/counselor contact information.
  • Application Materials: Draft and final versions of personal essays, supplemental essays, activity lists, resumes, letters of recommendation, portfolios, and other materials prepared for college applications.
  • Extracurricular and Personal Background: Information about hobbies, volunteer work, employment, leadership roles, family background, personal challenges, and other experiences shared to craft authentic application narratives.
  • Financial Information: Details relevant to financial aid planning, such as estimated family contribution (EFC), income information, asset details, and scholarship search criteria. Note: We do not process or store full credit card numbers or bank account details for financial transactions; these are handled by secure third-party payment processors.
  • Communication Records: Notes, emails, meeting summaries, and feedback exchanged between you and our counselor during the engagement.
  • Preferences and Feedback: Your counseling preferences, goals, concerns, and feedback about our Services.

1.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you access or use our Site, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns:

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, search queries, and other actions taken on the Site.
  • Device and Log Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, access times, and pages viewed.
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze trends, and administer the Site. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some parts of the Site may not function properly without cookies.

1.3 Information About Minors

Our Services are primarily directed to high school students, many of whom are minors under the age of 18. We recognize the heightened sensitivity of collecting information from minors. We collect personal information from students only with the consent and involvement of a parent or legal guardian. Parents/guardians retain the right to review, update, or request deletion of their child’s information as described in Section 10.

2. HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

We collect information through various methods:

  • Directly from You: When you register on the Site, fill out forms, schedule consultations, submit materials, or communicate with us.
  • Automated Technologies: As you navigate the Site, using cookies and server logs.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Through secure connections with platforms like GradBetter and NerdApply, video conferencing tools, or document sharing services, you use to interact with us.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect for legitimate business purposes, including:

  • To Provide and Manage Services: Deliver personalized college counseling, develop college lists, review essays, strategize applications, provide financial aid guidance, and facilitate communication via the GradBetter and NerdApply portal.
  • To Communicate With You: Respond to inquiries, send appointment reminders, share resources, and provide updates about our Services or policy changes.
  • To Improve Our Site and Services: Analyze usage patterns, troubleshoot technical issues, conduct research, and develop new features to better serve students and families.
  • To Ensure Security and Prevent Fraud: Monitor for suspicious activity, protect against unauthorized access, and maintain the integrity of our systems.
  • To Comply with Legal Obligations: Meet record-keeping requirements, respond to lawful requests, and enforce our Terms and Conditions.
  • For Marketing (With Consent): With your permission, send newsletters, success stories, or information about workshops or new Services. You may opt out at any time.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your Personal Information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

4. HOW WE DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

  • With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share information with schools, scholarship committees, educational consultants, or other parties.
  • Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as:
    • GradBetter and NerdApply Platform: For portal access, application tracking, and planning tools.
    • Payment Processors: To securely handle invoicing and payments (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, Venmo).
    • Cloud Storage & Communication Tools: For secure document storage, video conferencing, and email services (e.g., Google Workspace, Zoom).
    • Website Hosting & Analytics: To maintain and analyze Site performance. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
  • Professional Advisors: With attorneys, accountants, or other professionals advising our business, under confidentiality obligations.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Ellsworth College Advisors, our clients, or others.
  • Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, where client information may be transferred as a business asset, subject to confidentiality commitments.
  • Aggregated or De-identified Data: We may share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified data that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for research, industry analysis, or promotional purposes.

5. DATA RETENTION

We retain your Personal Information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Typical retention periods include:

  • Active Client Records: Retained for the duration of our engagement plus [e.g., 5-7 years] for reference, follow-up support, or legal compliance.
  • Website Usage Data: Retained for up to [e.g., 24 months] for analytics and security purposes.
  • Financial Transaction Records: Retained as required by tax and accounting regulations (typically 7 years).

Upon request and subject to legal exceptions, we will securely delete or anonymize your Personal Information when it is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected.

6. DATA SECURITY

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

  • Encryption of sensitive data in transit (using TLS/SSL) and at rest.
  • Access controls and authentication protocols limiting employee access to client information on a need-to-know basis.
  • Regular security assessments and employee training on data privacy practices.
  • Secure contracts with third-party service providers requiring equivalent protections.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for any activity on your account.

7. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

Our Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance functionality and analyze traffic.

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for the Site to function (e.g., secure login, portal access).
  • Performance/Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the Site (e.g., Google Analytics).
  • Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g., language, region).
  • Targeting/Advertising Cookies: Used to deliver relevant content and measure ad effectiveness (if we engage in advertising).

Your Choices: Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie preferences. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of the Site or GradBetter and NerdApply portal. For more information about managing cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

8. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES AND LINKS

Our Services integrate with third-party platforms, most notably the GradBetter and NerdApply platform, to deliver planning tools and portals. These platforms have their own privacy policies and data practices. We encourage you to review their policies:

Our Site may also contain links to external websites (e.g., college websites, scholarship databases, educational resources). We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these third-party sites. Accessing them is at your own risk.

9. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

If you are accessing our Site or Services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers and operations are located. The data protection laws in the U.S. may differ from those in your country. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and its processing in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable U.S. law.

10. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your Personal Information:

  • Access & Portability: Request a copy of the Personal Information we hold about you.
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your Personal Information, subject to legal exceptions (e.g., record-keeping obligations).
  • Restriction & Objection: Object to or request restriction of certain processing activities.
  • Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
  • Opt-Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link or contacting us directly.

For Minors: Parents or legal guardians may exercise these rights on behalf of their child. To protect student privacy, we may require verification of parental authority before fulfilling such requests.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 15. We will respond to verified requests within a reasonable timeframe, typically 30 days.

11. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide additional rights:

  • Right to Know: Request details about the categories and specific pieces of Personal Information we have collected, used, disclosed, or sold.
  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of Personal Information we have collected from you, with certain exceptions.
  • Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate Personal Information.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not “sell” or “share” Personal Information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA. Therefore, no opt-out is necessary.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

To submit a verifiable consumer request under California law, please contact us at the details below. You may also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf; we will require proof of authorization.

12. DO NOT TRACK DISCLOSURE

Some internet browsers may transmit “Do Not Track” signals. Our Site does not currently alter its practices in response to such signals due to the lack of a uniform standard. However, you can manage cookie preferences as described in Section 7.

13. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site or Services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

14. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Ellsworth College Advisors

Attn: Privacy Officer

Betsy@ellsworthcollegeadvisors.com

734-353-0844

For urgent security concerns or reports of unauthorized access, please contact us immediately via email.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

BY USING THE Ellsworth College Advisor WEBSITE OR SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE, AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. YOU FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THIS POLICY AND SUPERVISING MINORS’ USE OF OUR SERVICES.

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