Terms & Conditions

The Consultant agrees to provide high-level strategic advisory and application narrative positioning for the undergraduate Common App Personal Statement as specified in the purchased package description. The Client explicitly acknowledges and agrees that:

Service Limits & Revision Caps: The Services are strictly limited to strategic consulting, structural diagnostic feedback, and competitive narrative positioning as detailed in the package description. The Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite includes the 90-Minute Strategic Architecture Masterclass and Unlimited Iterative Refinement on a single Common App personal essay file (650 words), bounded by a 30-day active review window post-Masterclass. Additional revision rounds beyond the 30-day window, secondary supplemental essays, portfolios, or resume overhauls are strictly excluded.

Exclusions: The Services do not include, and the Consultant is not responsible for, basic proofreading, spelling, syntax correction, grammar editing, or copy-editing.

Prevention of Scope Creep: Any advisory requests or document reviews regarding materials not explicitly included in the purchased package are strictly excluded.

Strict Cycle Deferral Policy: Services are purchased exclusively for the immediate upcoming application cycle active on the date of purchase. If the Client unilaterally decides to defer their application to a subsequent academic year, all active services are immediately paused. To reserve consulting capacity in the upcoming cycle — covering re-onboarding, calendar reallocation, and capacity reservation costs actually incurred — a mandatory Deferral Capacity Reservation Fee equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the total package value will be billed to the Client. This fee is not a penalty; it directly compensates the Consultant for the operational costs of holding and re-allocating a reserved advisory slot. If this fee is not paid within thirty (30) days of the deferral request, the package is deemed abandoned under Section 5.

Total Investment: The Client agrees to pay the non-negotiable fee designated for the selected package at checkout ($250 for College Personal Statement Strategy Diagnostic, $500 for College Personal Statement Architecture Blueprint, or $1,050 for Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite).

Two-Part Retainer Structure (Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite Only): A 50% retainer ($525.00) is due upon booking prior to scheduling the Strategic Architecture Masterclass. This deposit reserves consulting capacity and becomes non-refundable the moment the 90-Minute Masterclass convenes or 7 days elapse from purchase, whichever occurs first. The remaining 50% balance ($525.00) is due immediately upon the completion of the Strategic Architecture Masterclass. The Consultant will not begin Unlimited Iterative Refinement until this balance is paid in full.

Installment Billing Method: The Phase 2 balance installment will be invoiced separately via email and is not automatically charged to the payment method on file. The Client must complete payment of the balance invoice before Unlimited Iterative Refinement begins. If the Client chooses to discontinue services after the Masterclass but prior to paying the balance, the balance invoice will be cancelled and all further narrative refinement services will be immediately terminated.

Late Payments & Suspension: Late payments are subject to an interest fee of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance. DRH Academic Pathways reserves the right to suspend active advisory services — including portal access, document reviews, and live sessions — if any invoice or installment remains unpaid past its designated due date. Services will resume promptly upon payment.

Post-Purchase Agreement Copy: Upon completion of checkout, the Client will receive a confirmation email containing a direct link to the version of these Terms & Conditions active on the date of purchase. This link serves as the Client's contemporaneous copy of the agreement to which they assented. The Client is encouraged to save or print this copy for their records.

Order Summary Controls: The confirmation email will include an order summary reflecting the package(s) purchased, the amount charged at checkout, and the balance (if any) to be invoiced separately. In the event of any discrepancy between the order summary and the amounts actually charged, the Client must notify DRH Academic Pathways at [email protected] within seven (7) calendar days of receipt. Failure to raise a discrepancy within that window constitutes acceptance of the order summary as accurate.

Dispute Process: All billing disputes must be submitted in writing to DRH Academic Pathways at [email protected] before initiating any third-party process. DRH Academic Pathways will respond within ten (10) business days. If the dispute is not resolved, either party may proceed under Section 11.

Financial Institution Rights Preserved: Nothing in this Agreement waives, restricts, penalizes, or conditions any right the Client may have under applicable law or the procedures of a card network, bank, payment processor, or financial institution to dispute a charge. DRH Academic Pathways may submit the accepted agreement, order summary, service records, and other relevant evidence in response to a payment dispute, but will not seek to collect the same amount twice.

Pre-Service Cancellation Window: A Client may request a contract termination and partial refund ONLY IF ALL of the following conditions are met: (1) Fewer than seven (7) calendar days have elapsed since the Date of Purchase; AND (2) The Client has participated in ZERO (0) live consulting sessions, intensives, or strategy audits; AND (3) The Consultant has delivered ZERO (0) custom strategy summaries, narrative blueprints, or draft evaluations.

Administrative Fee Deduction: If a valid cancellation request is received within the 7-day window before any live session or document delivery, fees paid will be refunded minus a non-refundable administrative fee of $150.00 (for Strategy Diagnostic/Blueprint sessions) or $250.00 (for Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite). This fee covers onboarding, scheduling, and capacity reservation costs actually incurred.

Post-First-Session Partial Cancellation & Prorated Refund: The initial live consulting session (College Personal Statement Strategy Diagnostic, College Personal Statement Architecture Blueprint session, or Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite Strategic Architecture Masterclass) and any accompanying strategy summary represent a distinct, completed consulting milestone with a defined standalone value. Once the first live session has convened or the initial strategy summary has been delivered, the Client is no longer eligible for a full package refund. If the Client elects to discontinue services after the completion of Session 1 but prior to the delivery of subsequent draft reviews or future sessions, the following applies: (a) Session Value & Administrative Fee Retained: DRH Academic Pathways will retain an amount representing the combined standalone session value and an administrative fee for the completed initial milestone — $250.00 for the College Personal Statement Strategy Diagnostic (full package price); $350.00 for the College Personal Statement Architecture Blueprint session; $650.00 for the Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite Strategic Architecture Masterclass (comprising the earned session value plus an administrative component covering onboarding, scheduling, and capacity reservation costs actually incurred). (b) Refund of Unused Balance: Any prepaid funds exceeding the applicable retained amount will be refunded to the original payment method within ten (10) business days. For the Undergraduate Personal Statement Suite, the $525.00 retainer is the only amount collected at checkout; retaining $650.00 against a $525.00 retainer means no refund of the retainer is available, and the Phase 2 balance invoice ($525.00) will be cancelled. (c) Cancellation of Unbilled Installments: Any unbilled future installments corresponding to unrendered future milestones will be cancelled. (d) License Revocation: Upon cancellation, the Client's license to any custom narrative outlines, positioning frameworks, or strategic concepts created during Session 1 is immediately revoked under Section 7, concurrent with the issuance of any applicable refund.

Post-Service Fees: Once a live session has convened or a strategic document has been delivered, those specific services are considered rendered and the corresponding fees are non-refundable. For packages with a two-part payment structure, only the portion corresponding to services not yet rendered remains eligible for credit or refund consideration under Section 10 (Termination for Cause).

No Acceleration of Unearned Fees: Cancellation, inactivity, or account closure does not make the price of unperformed future services immediately due solely because the relationship ends. DRH Academic Pathways may collect only amounts lawfully owed for services already performed or otherwise earned under this Agreement.

Expiration of Pre-Service Window: If 7 calendar days pass from purchase without a cancellation request, the pre-service cancellation window closes. Following expiration of this window, the Client shall only be invoiced or held responsible for installments corresponding to completed milestones or active review windows as outlined in Section 2. DRH Academic Pathways will not invoice or pursue payment for services not yet rendered or milestones not yet reached.

To maintain institutional efficiency and respect the limited advisory capacity of DRH Academic Pathways, the following strict attendance fees, scheduling restrictions, and rules apply to all live Zoom, phone, or in-person consulting sessions:

Standard Rescheduling: The Client may reschedule a scheduled consulting session without financial penalty by providing written notice at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the session.

Late Rescheduling Fee: Any request to reschedule a session made between twenty-four (24) and forty-eight (48) hours prior to the session start time will incur a $50.00 Rescheduling Fee, billed immediately to the Client's payment method on file. This fee must be settled before the rescheduled session can take place.

Late Cancellation Fee: Any cancellation or rescheduling request made with less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice will be treated as a Late Cancellation. Late Cancellations will incur a strict $100.00 Cancellation Fee AND result in the immediate forfeiture of that session from the Client's package allocation. No makeup session will be provided for that hour.

The 15-Minute No-Show Rule: If the Client is late to a scheduled session, the Consultant will remain available in the designated meeting space for fifteen (15) minutes. If the Client fails to log in or arrive within those fifteen (15) minutes, the session is deemed a "No-Show." A No-Show results in the automatic forfeiture of the session from the package allocation and triggers a $100.00 No-Show Administrative Fee.

Standard Booking Advanced Notice: To ensure adequate advisory preparation and calendar availability, sessions must be scheduled at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance. DRH Academic Pathways cannot guarantee immediate session availability for clients who delay scheduling, particularly during peak application seasons (typically June through January). Failure to book sessions in a timely manner leading up to an institutional deadline does not constitute a breach of contract by the Consultant.

Discretionary Late-Notice Booking Fee: If the Client requests to book a session with less than forty-eight (48) hours' notice, DRH Academic Pathways is under no obligation to accommodate the request. If the Consultant's calendar permits and a slot is open, the session may be granted at the sole, absolute discretion of the Consultant and may be subject to a $75.00 Late-Notice Booking Fee. If enforced by the Consultant, this fee must be paid immediately upon confirmation of the slot and prior to the session convening.

Emergency Exceptions: Exceptions to these fees or session forfeitures will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the absolute, sole discretion of the Consultant and may require valid official documentation.

Engagement Expectation: The Client is expected to maintain regular engagement and momentum throughout the application cycle. If the Client fails to communicate, respond to the Consultant's inquiries, submit required drafts, or book a consulting session for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive calendar days, DRH Academic Pathways will send written notice to the Client's email address on file. All formal notices from the Client must be sent to [email protected].

Notice and Cure: The Client will have ten (10) calendar days from the date of that notice to re-engage and resume services. If the Client does not respond or re-engage within that period, the contract will be deemed abandoned and services will be terminated.

Financial Consequences of Abandonment: Upon confirmed abandonment, DRH Academic Pathways will retain fees corresponding to services actually rendered up to the date of termination. Any prepaid fees corresponding to services not yet rendered will be credited to the Client's account for use within twelve (12) months, or refunded at DRH's discretion. Any outstanding installment balances for services not yet rendered will be cancelled.

Standard Turnaround Times: Written draft evaluations, structural notes, and edit reviews require a standard processing time of three to five (3–5) business days from the date of submission. Business days exclude weekends and official U.S. federal holidays.

Submission Cutoff: Submissions received after 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) or on a non-business day will begin their processing window on the following business day.

Official Communication Channels: All official document submissions, scheduling notices, and formal requests must be submitted exclusively via email or the official DRH client portal. Messages sent via SMS or social media will not be monitored for official notice requirements or turnaround timing.

Submission Deadlines & Rush Requests: Clients must submit materials at least 72 hours prior to scheduled sessions. The Consultant is under no obligation to review drafts submitted outside of this window. Rush reviews requested with less than 48 hours' notice prior to a client's external deadline are subject to a $150.00 Rush Review Fee, executed strictly at the Consultant's calendar availability. Missing an institutional deadline due to late client submission does not entitle the Client to a refund or credit.

Accuracy, Authenticity, and AI Generation: The Client represents and warrants that all background metrics, academic histories, personal experiences, and written drafts provided to the Consultant are completely accurate, authentic, and originally authored by the applicant. The use of unauthorized AI generation engines (e.g., ChatGPT) to generate core essay drafts without explicit strategic guidance from the Consultant is strictly prohibited.

Disciplinary History Disclosure: The Client is required to disclose upon enrollment, and on an ongoing basis throughout the engagement, any past, pending, or present academic misconduct findings, institutional disciplinary actions, honor code violations, or criminal history that could reasonably impact their admissions eligibility. Omission or non-disclosure of such history constitutes a material breach of this Agreement and absolves DRH Academic Pathways of any responsibility for admissions outcomes under Section 11.

Parental Interference & Strategic Control: DRH Academic Pathways works directly with the applicant to build an authentic narrative. While feedback from parents or legal guardians is welcome during initial strategy phases, the Consultant retains ultimate editorial and strategic control over the advisory framework. If a parent or guardian alters, rewrites, or overrides the Consultant's strategic advice or the student's authentic writing, the Consultant is entirely absolved of any structural failures in the final application, and such interference may serve as grounds for contract termination under Section 10.

All proprietary methodologies, strategic frameworks, brainstorming structures, interview prep rubrics, and written templates provided by DRH Academic Pathways are the exclusive intellectual property of the Consultant. The Client is granted a single-user, non-transferable license to use these materials for their personal application process only.

Prohibition of Distribution: The Client is strictly prohibited from sharing, publishing, selling, copying, or distributing these proprietary materials to any third party, online forum, or competing consultancy.

Session Notes Policy: DRH Academic Pathways does not record live audio or video consulting sessions. Session notes, strategic action plans, and key decisions are captured in written form only and shared with the Client following each session. The Client acknowledges that no audio or video recording of sessions will be made by DRH Academic Pathways, and that the written session notes constitute the official record of each advisory engagement.

Revocation of Narrative Rights Upon Refund: In the event that service is terminated during the 7-day Evaluation Period and a partial refund is issued under Section 3, the single-user license to any strategic concepts, personal statement blueprints, or character themes developed by the Consultant is immediately and entirely revoked. The Client is strictly and legally barred from using, referencing, or building upon any strategic narrative angles or outlines developed during the evaluation period in their final admissions submissions.

During the term of this Agreement and for a period of two (2) years following its termination, the Client shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, hire, contract, or attempt to hire any employee, contractor, associate consultant, or coach affiliated with DRH Academic Pathways for independent services outside of the firm's structured ecosystem.

Both parties agree to maintain a professional, respectful relationship throughout the engagement.

Mutual Accuracy Covenant: Neither party shall make knowingly false statements of fact about the other party, or disclose the other party's confidential information in violation of applicable law. This covenant does not restrict either party from publishing truthful, good-faith feedback or reviews based on their actual experience.

Client Conduct: The Client agrees to engage respectfully with the Consultant and staff. DRH Academic Pathways reserves the right to terminate service under Section 10 if the Client engages in abusive, threatening, or harassing conduct.

DRH Academic Pathways may terminate service for cause in the following circumstances:

Immediate Termination (No Cure Period): Service may be terminated immediately, without prior notice, if the Client: (a) Engages in plagiarism, material misrepresentation, or falsification of academic records submitted to DRH or to any admissions institution; or (b) Exhibits abusive, threatening, or harassing conduct toward the Consultant or staff.

Termination with Notice and Cure: For other material breaches — including repeated failure to cooperate, repeated violations of scheduling policies, or repeated violations of the abandonment policy — DRH Academic Pathways will provide written notice describing the breach. The Client will have seven (7) calendar days to cure the breach before services are terminated.

Financial Consequences: Upon termination for cause, DRH Academic Pathways will retain fees corresponding to services actually rendered and completed milestones up to the date of termination, plus any applicable administrative or session cancellation fees incurred under Section 4. Prepaid fees for services not yet rendered will be refunded on a pro-rated milestone basis. Outstanding installment balances for unrendered future milestones will be cancelled and will not be invoiced or collected.

Limitation of Liability: In no event shall DRH Academic Pathways be liable to the Client for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages. The maximum aggregate liability of the Consultant under any circumstance shall not exceed the total amount of fees actually paid by the Client to DRH Academic Pathways.

Indemnification: The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DRH Academic Pathways, its operators, employees, and contractors from any claims, losses, liabilities, or damages resulting from the Client's application outcomes, background omissions, plagiarism, or misrepresentations on their admissions portals.

No Guarantee of Admission: The Client explicitly acknowledges that admission to any academic institution or undergraduate program depends entirely on variables outside the Consultant's control. DRH Academic Pathways does not guarantee acceptance into any school or program.

Dispute Resolution — Mandatory Pre-Arbitration Notice: Before initiating arbitration, the party asserting a claim must send written notice to the other party describing the dispute and the relief sought. The parties will have thirty (30) days from receipt of that notice to attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith.

Binding Arbitration: If the dispute is not resolved within the 30-day notice period, it shall be submitted to binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, which are available at www.adr.org. The arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator. The seat of arbitration will be Wayne County, Michigan, though hearings may be conducted remotely by mutual agreement. The arbitrator's award will be final and binding, and judgment may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. If the AAA is unable or unwilling to administer the arbitration, the dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by a mutually agreed-upon independent arbitration service in Michigan.

Costs: AAA filing fees will be allocated in accordance with the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules. Each party will bear its own attorneys' fees unless the arbitrator finds that a claim or defense was frivolous, in which case the arbitrator may award fees to the prevailing party.

Exceptions: Either party may seek emergency injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm pending arbitration. Nothing in this section prevents either party from filing a claim in small claims court for disputes within that court's jurisdictional limits.

Governing Law: This Agreement and any disputes arising out of or related to it shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its choice or conflict of law rules.

Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under applicable Michigan or federal law, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Client and DRH Academic Pathways regarding the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings, or representations.

Force Majeure: Neither party shall be liable for failure or delay in performance (other than payment obligations) caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, severe technology network outages, or government actions.

Consumer Rights Savings Clause: Nothing in this Agreement waives or limits any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be waived under federal, state, or local consumer-protection law, payment-card rules, privacy law, or other applicable law. If applicable law requires a specific cancellation notice, cooling-off period, venue, refund right, or other consumer protection, that required protection will apply notwithstanding any inconsistent term in this Agreement.

Privacy & Data Protection: All academic records, personal narrative history, and written drafts provided by the Client are kept strictly confidential and handled in accordance with the DRH Academic Pathways Privacy Policy. DRH Academic Pathways does not sell, rent, or distribute Client personal data to third parties.

Retention Period: Client application materials are retained only for the duration of the active application cycle plus twelve (12) months, after which they are securely archived or destroyed.

Minor Contracting Party: If the applicant is under eighteen (18) years of age, a parent or legal guardian must execute this Agreement as the contracting party and is jointly and severally liable for all financial obligations herein. The parent or guardian acknowledges that the applicant is the sole client for purposes of strategic advisory decisions, editorial direction, and confidential communications, and that DRH Academic Pathways will direct all strategic guidance to the applicant directly. Where a third party who is not a parent or legal guardian finances the package on behalf of the applicant, that party agrees to be financially responsible for all amounts due but does not acquire any right to direct or override the applicant's strategic advisory relationship.