Frequently asked questions
Does Soar monitor everything students type?
Soar is not surveillance — it's a shared research workspace. Your linked counselor can view your conversations as part of the college planning process (similar to a shared notebook), but conversations are never shared with third parties or sold. Safety monitoring is separate: every message is scanned for crisis language, and counselors are notified immediately if a genuine safety concern is detected.
What happens if a student expresses thoughts of self-harm?
Soar immediately responds with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and does not process the request further. At the same time, a safety alert is sent to the student's linked counselor so a trusted adult can follow up directly.
Will my counselor see my conversations?
Yes. Soar is a shared workspace — your linked counselor or coach can view your conversations. This is intentional: it lets them understand your research, track your progress, and come fully prepared to every session. Think of it like a shared notebook, not a private journal. The more your counselor knows about where you are in the process, the more useful your time together becomes. Counselors are also notified immediately if Soar detects a safety concern.
I'm working with a school counselor. Are they a mandated reporter?
It depends on their role. School counselors (those employed by a K–12 school or district) are typically mandated reporters under state law — meaning if they become aware of information suggesting you or someone else may be in danger, they may be legally required to report it to authorities, even if shared in confidence. Independent college counselors and educational consultants (IECs) are generally not mandated reporters, though their specific obligations vary. Soar itself never makes mandatory reports — but because your counselor can see your conversations, their legal obligations may require them to act on something they read. If you're unsure about your counselor's reporting obligations, ask them directly before sharing sensitive information.
What kinds of questions is Soar not able to help with?
Soar is designed for college and career research. It won't help with requests involving violence, explicit content, or anything harmful. If a student asks something outside Soar's scope, it will say so clearly and, where appropriate, point to better resources.
What if a student asks about sensitive topics like domestic violence or sexual assault prevention programs at colleges?
These are legitimate and important college research questions. Soar will answer them helpfully — for example, explaining Title IX offices, campus wellness resources, or student advocacy programs. These topics do not trigger safety flags.
How is student data protected?
Conversations are stored securely and are never sold or shared with third parties. Anthropic's API does not retain or train on your conversations. You can read our full privacy policy for details.
I'm a counselor. How do I get notified about safety events?
When a student linked to your account triggers a safety event, their name will appear with a 🚩 flag in your "Research for" picker the next time you log in. Click their name to see details and mark the event as reviewed once you've followed up.