The Collegewise Scholarship

Our History
In 2018, we launched the Collegewise Scholarship Program to formally assist under-resourced students with their college application process. That year, our first group of students worked closely with their assigned Collegewise counselors, they built their college lists, worked on their essays, and presented their very best applications for admissions consideration. Our first group of students were accepted to a wide range of schools—from multiple University of California campuses, to Case Western, UT-Arlington, Hood College, and even Harvard University. In 2019, we welcomed our second cohort and, in addition to being admitted to campuses like the University of Chicago, Duke, UT-Dallas, and many more, five of our students became finalists for QuestBridge’s National College Match. In 2020, we partnered with Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher foundation to expand our cohort and worked with even more students across the country to achieve their college goals!

What is the Collegewise Scholarship?
The Collegewise Scholarship pairs low-income students with one of our counselors, and they work one-on-one to help you navigate the entire college selection and application process. From building your college list, identifying summer activities, brainstorming and crafting your personal statement, all the way through the nuts and bolts of the college application process, your Collegewise counselor will be there for you.

The Collegewise Scholarship accepts rising seniors in the class of 2022 that are United States citizens, permanent residents, or DACA/undocumented students attending a U.S. high school. If you have any questions while working on your application, please email us at scholarship@collegewise.com.

The Priority Deadline for this application is June 18th. The earlier you submit, the better. We will evaluate any applications that come in after this deadline on a case-by-case basis.

Apply Here

Students graduating in 2023 or later:
While we're currently only accepting applications from students in the class of 2022, you can sign up to receive updates on future scholarship cycles (and get plenty of free resources in the meantime). 

Keep Me Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a scholarship I can use to pay for college?

The Collegewise Scholarship is not a monetary scholarship. Rather, it is a free opportunity to work with a private counselor throughout your application season. However, our counselors work closely with students and over the past three years have helped them discover, apply to, and secure merit and need-based scholarships to pay for the cost of college.

If I’m selected, who will I work with?

Learn more about our counselors here!

Who should apply?

We welcome all applicants who are planning to apply to 4-year colleges and universities in the fall and would be excited to receive assistance. While we evaluate the academic rigor and performance of students, we are not looking for a specific GPA. We do check to make sure that you are fulfilling college requirements, on track to graduate, and demonstrate the ability to succeed academically in a college environment – just as colleges will – but if you feel that your academic record doesn’t capture your true potential, let us know!

Do I need an SAT or ACT score to apply?

No! We’re big supporters of the test optional movement for colleges and have never required a test score to apply (or used them to evaluate applicants). While you can let us know your score if you believe it will be helpful, it is not used to evaluate students – especially now that students have so many options if they want to apply without the SAT or ACT.

When should I submit?

While our application is due on June 18th, we encourage you to submit your application sooner. Applications are read as they are received, and spots can fill up. Additionally, we’ve found that students who have the most time to work with a counselor can benefit most from their help with college-list building, testing advice, and essay assistance.

Hear from our past scholarship recipients

“Noor truly became a friend—someone I could talk with about my interests as well as a great counselor to keep me
on-track. She made the college application as stress-free as possible and helped me achieve my dreams!”
Mariana Haro
Harvard University


“With Collegewise, it’s truly a partnership, and you have a great team working on your side! They know how to integrate and engage everyone with professionalism, attentiveness, and expertise. A lot goes into looking for the right college, and many factors must be taken into consideration: financial situation, student goals, etc. Judy's guidance played a huge role in getting our daughter accepted into eight colleges of her choice. It was evident she really cared. Infinite thanks to Collegewise and Judy!”

Samuel & Lorma Montano, Parents of Melissa Montano
Norwalk Community College

Having previously worked in college admissions, Matt Musico was an invaluable mentor to me and made the college process feel less daunting. Every time I walked into his office, Matt was always smiling. He went beyond his job description by investing himself not only in the process, but also in the student. He listened to me talk about my crazy water polo practice or general teenage worries, which can be hard considering how chatty I can be. But by getting to know me, he brought out my strengths and helped me focus on the things that stood out on my application instead of comparing myself to others. Every time I was flustered, Matt would send me the exact words that I needed to hear. He knew how to help me relax and take a deep breath. I trust his knowledge and was excited to share both the good and bad news with him. It was a pleasure to get to know such a kind, helpful, and reassuring counselor. Thank you, Matt!
Claudia Marmelo
Connecticut College

Check out our Free Resources

  • Download one of our free guides or handouts
  • Check out Runway, our on-demand college planning course
  • Attend a webinar
  • Join our newsletter and get free advice delivered to your inbox
  • Check out the advice on our youtube channel