Privacy Policy

Swim to College ("we", "us") helps swimmers and families compare U.S. college swimming programs. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. Questions? Email hello@swimtocollege.com.

1. Information we collect

• Account information. When you create an account, your email address and name. If you set a password, we store only a securely hashed (bcrypt) version of it — never the password itself. If you choose a third-party sign-in option, we receive your email and name from that sign-in provider.
• Information you enter. The swim details you submit to our match tool (gender, age, event, course, and times), so we can show your college-level fit.
• Usage and device information. Pages you visit, your IP address, browser type, and the page that referred you — used to operate, secure, and improve the site.
• Cookies. Small identifiers stored in your browser (see section 3).

2. How we use information

• Provide and operate the service — match results, saved profiles, and shortlists.
• Create and secure your account, verify your email, and prevent abuse (for example, limiting how often verification codes can be requested).
• Communicate with you — send verification codes and essential account messages, and, only if you opt in, occasional product updates. Every non-essential email includes an unsubscribe option.
• Understand and improve how the site is used.

3. Cookies

We use a small number of cookies for core functionality and basic analytics:

• aid — an anonymous identifier that remembers a device and links activity before and after sign-in.
• sid — your secure session after you sign in (HttpOnly).
• uname — your display name, so the header can greet you.
• fref / fland — record how you first reached the site, to understand where our visitors come from.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies.

4. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with the service providers that help us operate the site:

• Hosting and email providers — to run the site and to send verification and account emails.
• A third-party sign-in provider — only if you choose to sign in with an external account.

We may disclose information if required by law.

5. International users and children

The site presents U.S. college information and is used by families around the world; our servers are operated in the United States. If you are under the age of 13 (or the minimum age in your country), please use Swim to College only with the involvement of a parent or guardian. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental involvement — if you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

6. Data retention

We keep account information while your account is active. Query and usage logs are retained to operate and improve the service. You may ask us to delete your account and associated personal data at any time by emailing hello@swimtocollege.com.

7. Your choices and rights

You can access, correct, or delete your personal information, or ask what we hold, by emailing us. You can unsubscribe from non-essential emails at any time. Depending on where you live (for example, California or the EU), you may have additional rights, which we honor on request.

8. Security

Passwords are stored using industry-standard bcrypt hashing, and the site is served over HTTPS. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your information.

9. Changes and contact

We may update this policy; the "last updated" date above will change accordingly. Questions or requests: hello@swimtocollege.com.