Our commitment
Academic integrity policy
Luminao is built on the belief that authentic guidance makes better essays — and better students. Here's how we make sure our platform is used ethically.
"Mentors guide. Students write."
This is the core rule every mentor agrees to before joining Luminao.
What mentors may do
- ✓Help students brainstorm topics and personal stories
- ✓Give feedback on essay structure, flow, and clarity
- ✓Ask questions to help students discover their voice
- ✓Suggest stronger word choices or sentence structures
- ✓Review drafts and provide written comments
- ✓Explain what admissions readers look for
- ✓Share their own genuine college application experiences
What mentors may NOT do
- ✗Write any portion of a student's essay
- ✗Rewrite sentences or paragraphs on the student's behalf
- ✗Submit or edit work inside college application portals
- ✗Misrepresent a student's work as the mentor's own guidance
- ✗Encourage students to copy or plagiarize any content
How we enforce this
Mentor agreement
Every mentor signs our academic integrity agreement before their account is approved. Violations result in immediate removal.
Session recordings
Sessions are recorded (with consent). We review flagged sessions to verify compliance with our policy.
Reporting
Students, parents, and mentors can report suspected violations directly from the platform. We investigate all reports within 24 hours.
Zero tolerance
Any mentor found writing essays for students is immediately and permanently removed. No exceptions.
Is this the same as what counselors do?
Yes. What Luminao mentors provide is the same kind of support students receive from school counselors, college advisors, English teachers, and family members who review drafts. The Common App and every major college explicitly allow this kind of guidance.
The key distinction is authorship: the student must write and own every word in their application. Luminao exists to help them do that well.
Questions about this policy? Contact us.