Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions from students and advisors. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Email us at support@thinkupsocial.com.

For advisors

Who can become an advisor?

Current or recent students with experience worth sharing — admissions, a specific major, an internship search, or a career path — are welcome to apply on the Become an advisor page.

Is there a minimum number of hours I have to work each week?

No. There’s no weekly minimum and no required commitment. You decide how much availability to open up — whether that’s a few hours a month around exams or a steady weekly schedule. Students can only book the times you choose to make available.

How do I set my rate and availability?

After creating your advisor profile, you can set your hourly rate and connect your Google Calendar so students only see times when you’re actually free.

How do I get paid?

Payouts run through Stripe. Once you complete your Stripe onboarding from your dashboard, earnings from completed sessions are deposited to your bank account on Stripe’s standard schedule.

Does ThinkUp Social take a fee?

We take a small platform fee from each booking to cover payment processing and the cost of running the platform. The exact breakdown is shown in your dashboard when a session is booked.

Why do you need access to my Google Calendar?

Calendar access lets us read your busy times so students never book over an existing commitment, and lets us write new sessions to your calendar with a video link. We only touch events related to ThinkUp sessions.

What kind of questions could I be expected to be asked?

Students typically ask about the things you’ve actually lived through: choosing a major, the day-to-day of a specific class or program, application strategy and essays, landing internships, navigating recruiting, balancing coursework and life, and what you’d do differently. You’re not expected to have every answer — sharing your honest experience is the value.

Can I pause or delete my advisor profile?

Yes. You can mark yourself unavailable from your dashboard at any time, or request full account deletion by contacting support@thinkupsocial.com.

For students

What is ThinkUp Social?

ThinkUp Social is a peer-to-peer advising platform that connects high school and college students with student advisors who have recently navigated the same paths — applications, majors, careers, and more.

How do I book a session with an advisor?

Browse advisors from the home page, open the profile of someone whose background matches what you’re looking for, pick an available time, and confirm your booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email with the meeting details.

How much do sessions cost?

Each advisor sets their own rate, which is shown on their profile before you book. You only pay for the sessions you book — there is no subscription or membership fee.

How are payments handled?

Payments are processed securely through Stripe at the time of booking. We never store your full card information.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule?

You can manage upcoming sessions from your dashboard. If you need help with a refund or a change outside of an advisor’s availability, contact us at support@thinkupsocial.com.

How do sessions take place?

Sessions are held over video call. Once your booking is confirmed, the meeting link and calendar invite are sent to your email automatically.

Do I need an account to browse advisors?

You can browse advisor profiles without an account, but you’ll need to sign in to book a session so we can send confirmations and reminders.