Privacy policy

What we collect, why, and how long it sticks around. Plain English. No dark patterns. Last updated February 2026.

The short version

• We never ask for your name, email, phone, or login. Ever.
• Your transcript file is auto-deleted from our servers after 90 days.
• We process your transcript through Fledger's proprietary AI engine for parsing and matching.
• We don't sell your data. We don't run advertising. We don't have third-party trackers.
• You can wipe your session anytime by clearing the fledger_sid cookie in your browser.

Data we collect

Fledger is anonymous-by-default. The only personal data we ever touch is what you explicitly upload (your transcript). We attach a random session identifier (fledger_sid) to your browser as an httpOnly cookie so we can remember your responses across screens. That cookie is a UUID — it does not contain your name, email, IP, or any identifying info.

• Your uploaded transcript file (PDF, Word, or image) — kept on disk for up to 90 days, then deleted.
• Parsed transcript fields (GPA, subjects, grade level, school country, summary line) — kept indefinitely linked to your session, never to you personally.
• Your selections (chosen field, geography, budget, work-study toggle).
• The college recommendations we generated for you, so we can show them again if you return.
• Your shortlist (schools you tapped Save on).
• Aggregate, non-identifying counters used to monitor system health.

How your data is processed

To parse your transcript and generate matches, your data is processed by Fledger's proprietary AI engine, which is built on industry-leading large language model infrastructure operated under enterprise data-processing agreements. Your transcript is not used to train any AI model. The underlying model providers do not train on data submitted via API under their standard enterprise terms.

Cookies & trackers

We set exactly one cookie: fledger_sid (httpOnly, SameSite=Lax, 90-day expiry). It is strictly necessary for the forward-only flow to work. We do not run analytics, session-recording, third-party trackers, or fingerprinting of any kind.

Retention & deletion

The original transcript file is purged from our disks 90 days after upload by an automated job that runs every 6 hours. To delete everything immediately, clear your fledger_sid cookie and your data becomes permanently unreachable from any future session.

Students under 13

Fledger is designed for students applying to college, typically aged 14 and up. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe a minor under 13 has used Fledger, please reach out via the contact page.

Your rights

Because we do not link your account to any identity, conventional data-subject rights (access / correction / deletion) are exercised by you directly: the data on our servers is unreachable without your fledger_sid cookie. Clearing it permanently severs the link.