ScholarMatch Program Updates 2021–22

Dear community,

As we enter year two of this COVID-19 pandemic, we’re dealing with significant challenges that are requiring us to restructure our programs for the 2021–22 school year. When we closed our doors a year ago, quickly pivoting to online support, no one could have anticipated the magnitude of this moment. Through it all, ScholarMatch has continued to support students virtually and provide needed services at a time when the future of education remains uncertain.

As we continue to navigate this pandemic together, we wanted to inform you of some changes to our program for next year, including an overview of our focus areas.

Changes in San Francisco

Due to changes in organizational resources and a reduction in funding, we will be pausing drop-in services at our college center in San Francisco, which means we won’t be offering drop-in volunteer opportunities. Our center in the Mission District will also remain closed for the foreseeable future. We will keep monitoring the pandemic and analyzing precautionary measures for a possible reopening in the future.

While we are unable to offer drop-in services to SF Bay Area students at this time, they still have the option to match one-on-one with a college coach to receive personalized support during the college application process.

Changes in Los Angeles

Unfortunately, these challenges are also impacting our services in the Los Angeles area. We are pausing Destination College services in Los Angeles for the 2021–22 school year. While we are unable to offer advising services to LA students due to these unexpected changes, our online resources continue to be free and open to all students. They include the College Ready Milestones and the ScholarMatcher.

Additionally, Los Angeles area students interested in one-on-one virtual advising support with their college application process may consider applying to CollegePoint. See next steps below.

When we opened our Los Angeles college center in June 2019, we did so with great excitement about expanding our college access services to the Los Angeles community. Our hope is to continue to serve students in Los Angeles in the near future. We will keep providing updates regarding our resources and capacity to serve Los Angeles students once we know more. Stay tuned!

Students next steps

San Francisco Bay Area students

• Students in the San Francisco Bay Area have the option to match one-on-one with a college coach and receive personalized support during the college application process. If you are interested in matching with a coach, please let us know so we can update your application as our records indicate that you wanted to engage as a drop-in student.
• Students can also access our online resources that continue to be free and open to all students. They include the College Ready Milestones and the ScholarMatcher.

Los Angeles area students

• Students in the LA area can also access our online resources that continue to be free and open to all students. They include the College Ready Milestones and the ScholarMatcher.
• Students interested in receiving updates about any additional ScholarMatch resources that may become available later can sign up here.

Additionally, Los Angeles area students interested in one-on-one virtual advising support with their college application process may consider applying to CollegePoint. CollegePoint offers free virtual advising to students who meet the following criteria:

• US high school student on track to graduate in the class of 2022
• Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Have taken a standardized test (PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, and/or ACT) and scored in the 90th percentile or higher — 1340+ on the SAT, 1290+ on the PSAT, or 28+ on the ACT
• Family’s annual income is $80,000 or less

If students have not taken a standardized test OR scored below the 90th percentile, they may still qualify for CollegePoint if they meet the following criteria:

• US high school student on track to graduate in the class of 2022
• Have a GPA of 3.7 or higher
• Have taken or are currently enrolled in at least 2 college-level courses (AP, IB, or dual enrollment) within your first three years of high school.
• Family’s annual income is $80,000 or less

Students can sign up here: https://www.collegepoint.info/sign-up/

Coaches next steps

• If you are still interested in continuing as a matched coach and have completed all of your drop-in onboarding steps, you can complete our matched coach profile and complete our onboarding module for matched coaches to continue with the program. Please see below for your next steps.
• If you’ve previously indicated that you wanted to volunteer as a drop-in college coach only and are no longer interested in volunteering with us due to this change, please complete a coach exit form.
• If you have any further questions, please see our FAQ document for more information.

With gratitude,

ScholarMatch