• The name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com, if you are connecting from an America Online account, or harvard.edu, if you are connecting from Harvard University's domain); the date and time; the Internet address of the web site you left to visit us; the names of the pages you visit while at our site; and the Internet address of the web site you then visit.

  To do this, our web server will write a "cookie" to your hard drive upon your first visit to our site. This tiny electronic file is tracked during your visit and helps us understand what parts of our site visitors find most useful and where they are likely to return over time. This information allows us to improve the site and make it more useful.

If you submit an online application or send us an e-mail:

• We may enter the information you send into our electronic database. You may also be contacted by us for additional information.

  Most of the forms on Collegiatefunding.com use encryption to send your information across the Internet to us. This is the case where confidential information, such as your account number or social security number, is requested.

  We ask that you do not send confidential information to us via e-mail. E-mail is not necessarily secure against interception. If your communication is very sensitive, or includes personal information like your account numbers, credit card numbers, or social security number, you might want to call us or send it by regular mail instead.