Golden Door Scholarship Connects Underrepresented Students to College

College students from underrepresented backgrounds face major hurdles, but are also eligible for scholarships that help with the cost of college, like the Golden Door Scholars program.

Golden Door Scholars (GDS), established in 2013 and now under the nonprofit Road to Hire, provides underrepresented students with the support and financial aid necessary to invest in their education and shape their futures. GDS awards up to four years of undergraduate tuition and room and board at one of its regional partner schools.

But GDS offers more than financial assistance.

Golden Door matches scholarship recipients with their top three school choices, barring admission availability. The nonprofit provides a direct route to partner colleges, as well as access to mentors, opportunities for fellowships, and professional growth.

Recipients are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The scholarship gives strong preference to students interested in pursuing software engineering, data analytics, business analytics, and digital marketing. Popular majors that align with these career paths include math, statistics, economics, computer science, and data science.

In addition to specifying their intended major and career path, applicants must submit a two-minute video and an essay used for college applications.

Producing all the official paperwork associated with college and scholarship applications can be a barrier for many students. The Golden Door Scholarship is test-optional, but students may submit SAT and ACT scores if they wish. Likewise, letters of recommendation are not required. However, Golden Door does emphasize the need for strong academic records, and transcripts — official or unofficial — are required.

Applications vary year to year, and students should check the GDS website for specific requirements.

Editor’s Note: Ric Elias is the founder of Golden Door Scholars, a Road to Hire program, and the CEO of Red Ventures, which owns BestColleges.