Help & Support
Welcome to ColPath Help Center!
ColPath is your free college planning companion designed to help students explore colleges, manage their college search, and stay organized throughout the application process. This guide will help you make the most of ColPath's features.
Getting Started
Creating Your Account
- Download ColPath from your app store
- Open the app and tap "Sign Up"
- Enter your email address
- Verify your email through the link sent to your inbox
- Complete your profile setup
💡 Tip: Use a personal email address that you check regularly. We'll send important updates and deadline reminders to this email.
Setting Up Your Profile
Customize your ColPath experience by setting up your profile:
- Academic Interests: Select your intended majors or fields of study
- Location Preferences: Choose regions or states you're interested in
- Notification Settings: Configure deadline reminders and updates
- Search Preferences: Set your college search filters
Core Features
🔍 College Search
Search thousands of colleges by name, location, major, or characteristics. Use filters to narrow down your options.
🗺️ Map View
Visualize colleges on an interactive map. Find colleges near your location or explore by region.
📚 College Details
View comprehensive information including majors offered, admission requirements, and campus details.
📝 Recent Searches
Quickly access your search history. Your last 30 searches are saved automatically.
⏰ Deadline Reminders
Set reminders for application deadlines. Get notified 1 week, 3 days, or 1 day before deadlines.
⚙️ Settings
Customize notifications, location preferences, app appearance, and privacy settings.
How to Use Key Features
Searching for Colleges
- Tap the search icon on the home screen
- Enter a college name, major, or location
- Browse results and tap any college for details
- Use the filter button to refine your search by:
- Location/Region
- Major/Program
- College Type (Public, Private, etc.)
Using the Map Feature
- Tap the map icon to view colleges geographically
- Enable location services to see colleges near you
- Zoom in/out to explore different regions
- Tap markers to view college information
- Use the "Near Me" button to find nearby colleges
Managing Deadline Reminders
- Go to Settings > Deadline Reminders
- Toggle on "Enable Deadline Reminders"
- Select reminder intervals:
- 1 week before
- 3 days before
- 1 day before
- Add specific deadlines from college detail pages
Customizing Notifications
- Open Settings > Notifications
- Choose which notifications you want to receive:
- Deadline reminders
- New college matches
- App updates
- Set quiet hours if needed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is ColPath really free?
A: Yes! ColPath is completely free with no subscription fees, in-app purchases, or hidden costs. All features are available to all users at no charge.
Q: How is my data protected?
A: We use Firebase's secure infrastructure for data storage and industry-standard encryption (HTTPS/TLS) for all data transmission. We do NOT collect sensitive data like financial information, health data, or government IDs. Read our
Privacy Policy for details.
Q: Why does ColPath need my location?
A: Location data is used to show you colleges near your area and provide map-based features. You can disable location services in your device settings, though this will limit map functionality.
Q: How often is college information updated?
A: We regularly update our college database, but we always recommend verifying important details (admission requirements, deadlines, tuition) directly with the colleges' official websites.
Q: Can I use ColPath offline?
A: Some features like viewing saved searches work offline, but you'll need an internet connection for searching colleges, viewing maps, and syncing data.
Q: How many searches are saved?
A: ColPath automatically saves your last 30 searches. When you reach the limit, the oldest search is automatically removed when you perform a new search.
Q: Can I delete my account?
A: Yes. Go to Settings > Profile > Delete Account. Your data will be permanently deleted within 30 days. This action cannot be undone.
Q: What age do I need to be to use ColPath?
A: You must be at least 13 years old. If you're under 18, you should have parental or guardian consent.
Q: Does ColPath guarantee college admission?
A: No. ColPath is an informational tool to help you explore and organize your college search. Admission decisions are made by individual colleges based on their criteria.
Q: Can I use ColPath on multiple devices?
A: Yes! Your data syncs across devices when you log in with the same account. Changes made on one device automatically appear on others.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Login Issues
- Forgot Password: Tap "Forgot Password" on the login screen and follow the email instructions
- Email Not Verified: Check your spam folder for the verification email. Request a new verification email from the login screen
- Account Locked: Contact support if you've attempted too many failed logins
App Performance Issues
- App Running Slow: Close and restart the app. Clear app cache in Settings > Storage
- Search Not Working: Check your internet connection. Try restarting the app
- Map Not Loading: Ensure location services are enabled. Check internet connection
- Crashes: Update to the latest version. Restart your device. Reinstall the app if issues persist
Notification Issues
- Not Receiving Notifications: Check device notification settings for ColPath. Ensure notifications are enabled in app Settings
- Too Many Notifications: Adjust notification preferences in Settings > Notifications
Data Sync Issues
- Data Not Syncing: Check internet connection. Log out and log back in. Verify you're using the same account on all devices
- Lost Data: Data is stored in the cloud. Try logging out and back in to trigger a sync
Privacy & Security
What Data We Collect
- Email address (for account management)
- Firebase UUID (unique identifier)
- Location data (for map features, optional)
- Search history and preferences
- App usage data (for improvement)
- Crash reports (for debugging)
What We DON'T Collect
- ❌ Financial information (credit cards, bank accounts)
- ❌ Health or medical data
- ❌ Government IDs (SSN, passport numbers)
- ❌ Biometric data
- ❌ Social Security Numbers
Your Privacy Rights
- Access: Request a copy of your data
- Correction: Update inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request complete account deletion
- Portability: Export your data in common formats
- Opt-Out: Disable specific data collection features
For complete privacy information, read our Privacy Policy.
Technical Information
System Requirements
- iOS: iOS 13.0 or later
- Android: Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later
- Internet: Required for most features
- Storage: At least 100MB of free space
Technologies Used
- Firebase Authentication: Secure account management
- Cloud Firestore: Real-time data storage and sync
- Firebase Crashlytics: Crash reporting and stability monitoring
- Mapbox Maps: Interactive maps and location services
Permissions Explained
- Location: To show colleges near you and display map features (optional)
- Notifications: To send deadline reminders and important updates (optional)
- Network Access: To search colleges and sync data (required)
Tips for Success
🎯 Make the Most of ColPath
- Start Early: Begin your college search in junior year to have plenty of time
- Stay Organized: Use the recent searches feature to keep track of colleges you're interested in
- Set Reminders: Enable deadline reminders well in advance (we recommend 1 month before)
- Verify Information: Always confirm important details on official college websites
- Explore Broadly: Use the map feature to discover colleges you might not have considered
- Keep Notes: Take screenshots of important information for offline reference
- Regular Updates: Keep the app updated to get the latest features and bug fixes
Additional Resources
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Your free college planning companion.