Last Updated: March 10, 2026
Welcome to Edvice Ann Arbor
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms,” “Agreement”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“Client,” “User,” “Student,” “Family,” or “you”) and Edvice Ann Arbor, an independent college admissions counseling service led by Betsy Ellsworth (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), governing your access to and use of the website located at https://www.edviceannarbor.com/ (the “Site”) and all related services, consultations, materials, and tools provided through or in connection with the Site (collectively, the “Services”).
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING OUR SITE OR SERVICES. BY ACCESSING, BROWSING, OR USING THE SITE, OR BY ENGAGING OUR SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CEASE ALL USE OF THE SITE AND SERVICES.
1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND ELIGIBILITY
1.1 Binding Agreement. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Site or Services. Your continued use of the Site or Services after any modifications to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of such changes.
1.2 Eligibility. The Services are intended for high school students, their parents, guardians, or legal representatives. By using the Site or Services, you represent and warrant that: (a) you are at least 18 years of age, or if under 18, you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use the Services; (b) you have the legal authority to enter into this Agreement and to bind the Student and/or Family to these Terms; and (c) your use of the Services does not violate any applicable law, regulation, or obligation to a third party.
1.3 Account Registration. Certain features of the Site, including access to the CounselMore platform, may require registration. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate, current, and complete. You are responsible for safeguarding your password and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.
2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
2.1 Nature of Services. Edvice Ann Arbor provides personalized, independent college admissions counseling services designed to assist students and families in navigating the college search, application, and selection process. Our Services include, but are not limited to:
- Independent College Counseling: Personalized guidance on college search, best-fit college list development, understanding admissions requirements, strategic application planning, and guidance for essays, activities, and recommendations.
- College Application Strategy: Step-by-step guidance on the admissions process, including Early Decision vs. Early Action considerations, application timelines, transfer admissions, test-optional strategies, and college research techniques.
- Essay & Application Review: Assistance with essay brainstorming, editing, feedback, activities list optimization, and positioning achievements effectively.
- Financial Aid & Scholarship Guidance: Support with scholarship search strategies, understanding FAFSA, financial aid planning, and evaluating the financial fit of colleges.
- College Planning Tools: Access to and use of the CounselMore platform, which may include parent and student portals, application trackers, college list building tools, timeline planning, and financial fit planners.
2.2 Service Delivery. Services may be delivered through in-person meetings, video conferences, telephone calls, email correspondence, and via the CounselMore platform. The specific scope, schedule, and deliverables of Services will be outlined in a separate Service Agreement or Engagement Letter executed between the Company and the Client.
2.3 No Guarantee of Outcomes. YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT EDVICE ANN ARBOR DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO ANY SPECIFIC COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. College admissions decisions are made solely by the institutions themselves based on a multitude of factors beyond our control. Our Services are advisory and educational in nature, designed to strengthen a student’s application and guide the process, but we cannot and do not promise or warrant any particular admissions result, scholarship award, or financial aid package.
3. CLIENT OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Honesty and Accuracy. You agree to provide complete, truthful, and accurate information to the Company regarding the Student’s academic record, extracurricular activities, personal background, and any other information relevant to the college application process. Misrepresentation of facts may compromise the effectiveness of our Services and could have serious consequences for the Student’s applications.
3.2 Active Participation. The success of our counseling relationship depends on the active, timely, and engaged participation of the Student and Family. You agree to: (a) attend scheduled meetings prepared and on time; (b) complete assigned tasks and drafts by agreed-upon deadlines; (c) communicate openly and respond to communications from the Company in a timely manner; and (d) take ultimate responsibility for reviewing, finalizing, and submitting all application materials.
3.3 Final Submission Responsibility. While we provide guidance, editing, and strategic advice, the Student and Family retain sole and final responsibility for the content, accuracy, and timely submission of all college applications, essays, forms, and supporting documents. Edvice Ann Arbor is not responsible for errors, omissions, missed deadlines, or technical issues related to the submission of applications through platforms such as the Common Application, Coalition Application, or institutional portals.
3.4 Respectful Conduct. You agree to interact with the Company and its representatives in a professional, respectful, and lawful manner. Harassing, abusive, discriminatory, or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated and may result in immediate termination of Services without refund.
4. FEES, PAYMENT, AND REFUND POLICY
4.1 Service Fees. Fees for our Services are as outlined in the Service Agreement or Engagement Letter provided to you. Fees may be structured as package rates, hourly rates, or retainer agreements. All fees are quoted in United States Dollars (USD).
4.2 Payment Terms. Unless otherwise specified in writing, payment is due upon receipt of the invoice. We accept major credit cards and other payment methods as indicated on our Site or invoicing system. Late payments may be subject to a late fee of 1.5% per month or the maximum allowed by law, whichever is less.
4.3 Refund Policy. Due to the personalized, time-sensitive, and advisory nature of our Services, fees are generally non-refundable once Services have commenced. Specific refund terms, if any, will be detailed in your Service Agreement. In the event of termination by the Client, any unused, prepaid fees for future services not yet rendered may be considered for a partial refund at the Company’s sole discretion, less a reasonable administrative fee.
4.4 Expenses. Client is responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company in connection with providing Services, such as postage, specialized software subscriptions, or travel, if pre-approved in writing by the Client.
5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
5.1 Company Ownership. The Site, its original content, features, functionality, and all Services, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, software, and the CounselMore platform interface, are the property of Edvice Ann Arbor, Betsy Ellsworth, or its content suppliers and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws.
5.2 Limited License. Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Site and Services for your personal, non-commercial use in connection with your college admissions process. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any materials from our Site or Services without our prior written consent.
5.3 Client Materials. You retain ownership of any materials, essays, or personal information you provide to us (“Client Materials”). By submitting Client Materials, you grant Edvice Ann Arbor a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and modify such materials solely for the purpose of providing and improving the Services to you. We will treat Client Materials as confidential, subject to the provisions of our Privacy Policy.
5.4 Feedback. Any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, feedback, or other information you provide to Edvice Ann Arbor (“Feedback”) is non-confidential and shall become the sole property of the Company. We shall be entitled to the unrestricted use and dissemination of such Feedback for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to you.
6. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION
6.1 Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information gathered in connection with the Site and Services are governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our practices.
6.2 Sensitive Information. You are responsible for deciding what personal or sensitive information about the Student you choose to share with us. We advise caution when sharing highly sensitive data. We implement reasonable security measures to protect information under our control, but no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
6.3 Third-Party Platforms. Our use of the CounselMore platform or other third-party tools for service delivery is subject to their respective privacy policies and terms of service. We encourage you to review those policies. We are not responsible for the data practices of these third-party platforms.
7. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
7.1 “AS IS” DISCLAIMER. THE SITE, SERVICES, AND ALL CONTENT AND MATERIALS PROVIDED THROUGH THEM ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICES WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, OR MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
7.2 NO PROFESSIONAL GUARANTEE. While Betsy Elsworth brings experience as a former admissions dean, THE SERVICES PROVIDED ARE FOR COUNSELING AND ADVISORY PURPOSES ONLY. THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL, FINANCIAL, OR THERAPEUTIC ADVICE. FOR SUCH MATTERS, YOU SHOULD CONSULT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN THE RELEVANT FIELD.
7.3 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL EDVICE ANN ARBOR, ITS PRINCIPAL, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES), ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS, THE SITE, THE SERVICES, OR YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THEM, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
7.4 CAP ON LIABILITY. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES PAID BY YOU TO EDVICE ANN ARBOR IN THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY
8.1 Definition. “Confidential Information” means any non-public, proprietary information disclosed by one party to the other, whether orally or in writing, that is designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.
8.2 Obligations. Each party agrees to: (a) hold the other’s Confidential Information in strict confidence; (b) not disclose such information to any third party without prior written consent; and (c) use such information only for the purpose of performing under this Agreement. Our confidentiality obligations regarding your Client Materials are further detailed in our Privacy Policy.
8.3 Exclusions. Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly known through no fault of the receiving party; (b) was rightfully known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (c) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of the disclosing party’s Confidential Information; or (d) is required to be disclosed by law or court order, provided the disclosing party is given reasonable prior notice to contest such disclosure.
9. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES AND LINKS
9.1 GradBetter and NerdApply Platform. Our use of the CounselMore platform is a service provided by a third party. Your use of the CounselMore platform is also subject to its own terms of service and privacy policy, which we encourage you to review. We are not responsible for the operation, content, or data practices of the CounselMore platform.
9.2 External Links. The Site may contain links to third-party websites or resources. We provide these links for your convenience and information only. We do not endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for any content, advertising, products, or materials on or available from such third-party sites. Your interactions with third parties are solely between you and the third party.
10. MODIFICATION OF TERMS AND SERVICES
10.1 Right to Modify. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms, or any part thereof, at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the new Terms on the Site with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site or Services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.
10.2 Service Changes. We also reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services, including the availability of any features, content, or support, at any time without prior notice or liability.
11. TERMINATION
11.1 Termination by You. You may terminate your use of the Site and Services at any time by discontinuing your use and providing written notice to us.
11.2 Termination by Us. We may terminate or suspend your access to the Site and Services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms.
11.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination, your right to use the Site and Services will immediately cease. All provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnity, and dispute resolution.
12. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
12.1 Governing Law. These Terms and your use of the Site and Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
12.2 Informal Resolution. In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting the other party in writing at the address provided below.
12.3 Binding Arbitration. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, it shall be finally settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, rather than in court. The arbitration will take place in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. YOU AND EDVICE ANN ARBOR AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
12.4 Exceptions to Arbitration. Either party may bring a lawsuit in court solely for (a) injunctive or equitable relief related to intellectual property infringement or misuse, or (b) to enforce the arbitration clause itself.
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any executed Service Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Edvice Ann Arbor regarding the subject matter herein and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, or representations.
13.2 Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent necessary, such that the remaining provisions of the Terms will continue in full force and effect.
13.3 Waiver. No waiver by either party of any breach or default hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach or default.
13.4 Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. Edvice Ann Arbor may assign these Terms without restriction.
13.5 Notices. All notices required or permitted under these Terms shall be in writing and deemed delivered when sent via email to the address provided during registration or via certified mail to our principal place of business.
13.6 Force Majeure. We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, internet failures, or government actions.
13.7 Contact Information. For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
Edvice Ann Arbor
Betsy@ellsworthcollegeadvisors.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
BY USING THE EDVICE ANN ARBOR WEBSITE AND/OR SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NO GUARANTEE OF COLLEGE ADMISSION, SCHOLARSHIP, OR FINANCIAL AID IS MADE OR IMPLIED BY EDVICE ANN ARBOR, AND THAT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS AND DECISIONS RESTS WITH THE STUDENT AND FAMILY.
