Guidelines

CollegeTalk exists to help prospective students and parents make informed college decisions by connecting them with real, verified college students.

Every conversation should be respectful, honest, and helpful. These guidelines are designed to create a positive experience for everyone using the platform.

For Prospective Students & Parents

Ask Honest Questions

You're encouraged to ask about any aspect of college life, including but not limited to:

  • Academics and workload
  • Professors and teaching quality
  • Dorms and housing
  • Campus culture
  • Clubs and organizations
  • Athletics
  • Internships and recruiting
  • Dining and student life
  • Safety and transportation
  • Financial aid and cost of living
  • Anything else about the college experience

There are no "bad" questions—as long as they're respectful.

Be Respectful

  • Treat every student with kindness and professionalism.
  • Do not interrupt or dominate the conversation.
  • Respect that students are sharing personal experiences, not official university statements.
  • Avoid harassment, discrimination, or offensive language.

Understand Subjectivity

Every student's experience is unique. One person's opinion may not represent the entire university.

CollegeTalk encourages speaking with multiple students before making important college decisions.

Respect Scheduled Sessions

  • Arrive on time and prepared with questions.
  • Join using a stable internet connection and working audio/video.
  • Avoid recording conversations without explicit permission.
  • Do not attempt to extend or bypass booked time slots.

Repeated no-shows, late cancellations, or misuse of bookings may result in account restrictions.

Communication Etiquette

  • Keep questions clear and relevant to college life.
  • Avoid rapid-fire questioning without allowing responses.
  • Be mindful of tone—curiosity is welcome, hostility is not.
  • Do not pressure students to answer sensitive or personal topics.

For College Students

Share Your Honest Experience

You are not expected to promote your university.

  • Speak honestly and transparently.
  • Share both positives and challenges.
  • Clarify when something is your personal opinion.
  • Avoid rehearsed or scripted answers.

Students are paid for their time—not for giving positive reviews.

Be Professional

  • Be punctual and prepared for each session.
  • Maintain a quiet, distraction-free environment.
  • Dress appropriately for video conversations.
  • Be respectful and attentive throughout the session.

Protect Privacy

Do not share:

  • Personal contact information (phone, email, social media handles).
  • Student records or confidential academic data.
  • Private university systems or internal documents.
  • Other students’ personal or identifying information.

Keep conversations focused on your own experiences.

No False Claims

  • Do not misrepresent your affiliation with the university.
  • Do not guarantee admissions outcomes or probabilities.
  • Avoid giving legal, financial, immigration, or medical advice.
  • Do not fabricate experiences or statistics.

If you don't know an answer, it is acceptable to say so.

Session Responsibility

  • Join sessions on time and remain present for the full duration.
  • Cancel or reschedule if you are running late or are unavailable.
  • Avoid multitasking during paid sessions.
  • Maintain professionalism even with repetitive questions.

For Everyone

Keep Conversations Safe

The following behavior is prohibited:

  • Harassment or bullying
  • Hate speech or discriminatory remarks
  • Threats or intimidation
  • Sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct
  • Illegal activity or encouragement of wrongdoing
  • Spam, advertising, or solicitation
  • Attempting to move conversations off-platform before booking

Accounts violating these rules may be suspended or permanently removed.

Privacy & Data Protection

  • Do not share personal data of others without consent.
  • Do not attempt to collect sensitive information.
  • Respect platform boundaries and confidentiality.
  • Report any suspected privacy violations immediately.

Ratings & Reviews

After each conversation, participants may leave honest feedback.

  • Be fair and objective.
  • Base reviews on actual interactions.
  • Avoid personal attacks or emotional retaliation.
  • Do not submit false or misleading reviews.

Constructive feedback helps improve the CollegeTalk community.

Scheduling & Cancellations

  • Cancellations should be made in advance whenever possible and can be made up to one hour before the start time.
  • Repeated cancellations or rescheduling may affect account standing.
  • Use the platform tools for rescheduling instead of informal arrangements.

Reporting Issues

If you experience:

  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Fake profiles
  • Missed appointments
  • Safety concerns
  • Technical issues

Please report the issue through your CollegeTalk account or contact our support team.

Our Mission

CollegeTalk was built around one simple idea:

Real students. Real experiences. Real conversations.

By treating one another with honesty, respect, and professionalism, we can help thousands of students make more confident college decisions.