Frequently Asked Questions

RealTalk is a verified athlete review platform that gives recruits honest insights into college athletic programs. Current and former athletes share detailed reviews about their experiences—covering coaching style, team culture, facilities, academic support, mental health resources, and more. Every reviewer is verified through their school email and roster confirmation, ensuring you get authentic perspectives you won't find anywhere else. Simply search for programs by school, sport, or division, read reviews, and make informed recruiting decisions with confidence.

RealTalk offers a freemium model. You can start with 2 free preview reviews to explore the platform and see the value for yourself—no credit card required. After that, upgrade to Premium for a one-time payment of $250 and get lifetime unlimited access to all reviews, advanced search filters, program comparisons, saved favorites, and athlete networking features. No monthly subscriptions, no recurring fees—just pay once and you're set for life.

Every reviewer must verify their identity through a multi-step process. Athletes sign up using their official school email address (e.g., @umich.edu), and we cross-reference their information with official athletic rosters and directories. Only verified current or former athletes can submit reviews, ensuring every perspective is authentic and credible. We take verification seriously because trust is the foundation of RealTalk—you deserve honest insights, not fake reviews or recruiting propaganda.

Yes! We understand athletes may want to share honest feedback without fear of retribution from coaches or programs. When submitting a review, you can choose to display your name or remain anonymous. Even anonymous reviews are verified through our authentication process, so they carry the same credibility. Your privacy and safety are our top priorities, and we never share identifying information without your explicit permission.

RealTalk covers all NCAA sports across Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA programs. Whether you're looking for reviews of football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, track & field, swimming, lacrosse, baseball, softball, or any other sport, we've got you covered. Our database includes thousands of programs nationwide, and we're constantly adding more reviews as athletes share their experiences. You can filter by sport, division, conference, or specific school to find exactly what you need.

Absolutely! We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Premium purchases. If you're not satisfied with RealTalk for any reason within the first 30 days, simply contact our support team at [email protected] and we'll issue a full refund—no questions asked. We're confident you'll love the value and insights RealTalk provides, but we want you to feel completely comfortable with your investment.

Yes! Parents are an important part of the recruiting process, and many purchase Premium access to research programs alongside their athletes. One Premium account ($250 one-time) gives you lifetime access to all reviews, making it easy for families to evaluate programs together. Parents often find RealTalk invaluable for understanding team culture, academic support, mental health resources, and other factors that impact their child's college experience. We welcome parents to join the RealTalk community!

Reviews on RealTalk come from both current athletes and recent graduates (typically within the last 3-5 years), ensuring you get up-to-date and relevant information. Each review is timestamped and includes the reviewer's graduation year, so you can prioritize the most recent insights. Programs change over time—coaches leave, facilities get upgraded, team culture shifts—so we encourage users to focus on reviews from the past few years for the most accurate picture of what a program is like today.

Our database is growing every day as more athletes join and share their experiences. If a program you're researching has limited reviews, we encourage you to check back regularly—new reviews are added weekly. You can also reach out to current athletes at that program directly (many schools list rosters publicly) or ask your recruiter to connect you with players. Additionally, you can use RealTalk's networking features to connect with verified athletes who might be able to answer your questions privately.

Yes! We take privacy and data security very seriously. All personal information is encrypted and stored securely. We never sell or share your data with third parties, coaches, or recruiting services. Your browsing history, saved programs, and reviews you submit are completely private. If you choose to submit a review anonymously, we take extra precautions to ensure your identity remains protected. For full details, please review our Privacy Policy or contact us with any specific concerns.