Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about CollegeTalk.

Are students paid to promote their school?

No. Students are paid for their time and personal experiences, not for giving positive reviews. Every student is encouraged to share honest perspectives.

How do I know students are legitimate?

Every student is verified before joining CollegeTalk. Profiles also include ratings, school information, interview history, and reliability scores.

Why not use a college consultant?

CollegeTalk connects you directly with current college students so you hear authentic experiences rather than generalized advice.

How are interviews conducted?

Every interview takes place directly through CollegeTalk. You'll receive everything you need to join your scheduled session from your dashboard—no third-party apps or software downloads required.

How long are interviews?

College students choose the session lengths they offer, with interviews typically lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. The available options and pricing are shown on each student's profile before you book.

Who sets the interview price?

Each college student sets their own pricing, availability, and session lengths. You'll always see the cost before booking, so there are no surprises.

How are college students verified?

Every college student goes through a multi-step verification process before being approved. This includes verification of a current-year transcript matching their profile, verification of an active .edu email address, and a profile photo showing their face and shoulders.

Are conversations recorded?

Yes. Interviews are recorded to help keep CollegeTalk safe for everyone. Recordings are not routinely viewed and are only reviewed if there is a report of abuse, harassment, fraud, or other activity that violates our policies.

What happens if a college student doesn't show up?

If a scheduled interview cannot take place because the college student doesn't attend, you will not be charged. Our goal is to make booking risk-free for prospective students and parents.

Can I reschedule an interview?

Yes. Both prospective students and college students may request to reschedule an interview up to 3 hours before the scheduled start time. If a college student requests a reschedule, the prospective student must approve the request before the interview is moved.

Can I cancel my interview?

Yes. Either party may cancel a scheduled interview up to 1 hour before it begins. This gives both prospective students and college students enough time to adjust their schedules.

Can I talk to more than one student from the same university?

Absolutely. Many users speak with several students from the same school to hear different perspectives, compare majors, and better understand campus life before making a decision.

Can parents join the interview?

Yes. Parents are welcome to participate in interviews and ask questions alongside prospective students but only two participating devices can be in a meeting at once.

How do ratings work?

After each completed interview, prospective students can leave a rating and review. These reviews help future users identify reliable, knowledgeable, and engaging college students.

What kinds of questions should I ask?

You can ask about academics, professors, dorms, internships, recruiting, clubs, sports, campus culture, housing, study abroad opportunities, career preparation, social life, and almost anything else about the college experience.

Can transfer students or graduate school applicants use CollegeTalk?

Yes. CollegeTalk is useful for anyone looking to learn more about a college directly from current students, including transfer students and those considering graduate school.

What happens when it's time for my interview?

Go to the Schedule page on your profile. Up to one minute before your scheduled interview begins, you'll see a Join button. Click Join, set your camera and microphone preferences, and you'll be able to enter the interview directly through CollegeTalk.

Can I join an interview from my phone?

Yes. CollegeTalk interviews can be joined from your phone, so you don't need to be at a computer to speak with a college student and vice versa.

Can I book multiple interviews?

Yes. CollegeTalk interviews can be joined from your phone, so you don't need to be at a computer to speak with a college student and vice versa.

Can I join an interview from my phone?

Absolutely. In fact, we recommend speaking with multiple students, including different students from the same college. Every student has their own experiences and perspective, and talking with several students can help you build a more complete picture of what it's actually like at that school.

What should I do if I have a bad experience with a college student?

If you have a negative experience with a college student, you can leave an honest review on their profile and/or report the student using the Report button on their profile. If you need to find an interview you've previously completed, you can access it through Interview History on your dashboard.

What information can a college student see about me?

Prospective student profiles are not publicly visible. When you book an interview, the college student you're meeting can see limited information associated with your booking: your first name, last initial, and the state you're from. Other prospective students cannot browse your profile.

Does CollegeTalk provide admissions advice?

No. CollegeTalk is not an admissions consulting service and does not provide guarantees about admission. The platform is focused on helping prospective students understand the real student experience through one-on-one conversations with current college students.

Can a CollegeTalk interview guarantee that I'll be admitted to a college?

No. CollegeTalk does not guarantee admission to any college. Anyone claiming that an interview or conversation through CollegeTalk can guarantee admission is making a false claim. CollegeTalk exists to help you better understand the student experience, not to influence or guarantee an admissions decision.

How is CollegeTalk different from Reddit and other social media?

College information on Reddit and other social media can be scattered across countless posts, comments, and conflicting opinions. CollegeTalk gives you the opportunity to speak directly with current students and ask the specific questions you care about in a one-on-one conversation.

Why should I talk to a current student instead of just researching a college online?

College websites, rankings, brochures, and other resources can tell you a lot about an institution, but they don't always tell you what everyday life there actually feels like. CollegeTalk lets you ask current students about their firsthand experiences and get context that can be difficult to find through traditional research.

Can I talk to students from different colleges before making my decision?

Yes. CollegeTalk is designed to help you compare firsthand experiences across different schools. Speaking with students at multiple colleges can help you understand the differences between campuses, programs, and student experiences.

Still have questions?

You can email [email protected]. If your question wasn't answered here, we'd love to help. Our team is always happy to answer questions about CollegeTalk, how the platform works, or anything else you're curious about.

We do our best to respond to every email as quickly as possible, and most inquiries receive a reply within 24–48 hours. If we think your question would help other students and parents, we may even add it to this FAQ to make the platform even more helpful for everyone.