With April here, we are one month away from College Decision Day! This is an especially meaningful milestone for our first-generation students. Many are now choosing between multiple college options, which is an incredible accomplishment and a moment that can feel both exciting and overwhelming.
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For students who may not have family experience to guide them, your role is pivotal. Your encouragement and perspective help make the process clearer and more manageable. Conversations about fit, financial aid, and what college life looks like can help students feel more confident in their decisions. Even small check-ins can have a lasting impact.

Thank you for showing up for our students and helping them take this important step forward with confidence. We look forward to celebrating their decisions with you soon.

Volunteer Intent Form (Early Matching!)

Matching has begun!

Whether you plan to return as a volunteer for another year or are moving on after this coaching term, we're incredibly grateful for all that you've offered our students and community. Please submit your intent to volunteer form here to inform us of your plans for the 2026-2027 academic year

Monthly Goals

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Head over to our College-Ready Milestones page to learn more about available resources and deadlines.
*A note on standardized testing: Our general guidance when advising students on standardized test scores, either to take or re-take the tests, is unique to each student and, of course, depends on the colleges they are considering. As a best practice, we recommend that students review the policies at each school and understand the recommendations. See our Standardized Testing guide for further support.

Announcements

ScholarMatch Higher Ed Updates
College Toolkit We have added new resources for undocumented students!
Have suggestions? Fill out the form!

Quick Links

Coach FAQ
Volunteer Handbook
College Coach Onboarding Modules
Student Support Playbook
Multiple Missing Coach Reports FAQ (c/o 2025)
SFFA SCOTUS Decision Document

College Toolkit

Checkout our comprehensive college toolkit filled with resources to help you support your Students.

Have any resources to share that you think other coaches would benefit from? Click here to submit them

College Toolkit

Scholarships

This month, we’re including a list of scholarships with April and May Scholarship Deadlines—however, we always recommend finding local scholarships since students will have higher chances of receiving those awards. Along with this, Immigrants Rising has a scholarship list for undocumented students.

Quick Links

April & May Scholarship Deadlines
Scholarships for Undocumented Students
ACT Academy
College Application Tracker
Khan Academy SAT Prep
List-building resources
Standardized Testing Guide
ScholarMatch Advising Playbook
Monthly Scholarship List
Undocumented student campus resources
Colleges that meet full need
American Talent Initiative Schools (ATI)
Federal Student Aid Estimator
FAFSA Hub
A Focus on Improving the FAFSA® Experience
Common App

ScholarMatch Webinars

Coach Led Webinar: Reviewing and Comparing Financial Aid Awards

Thursday, April 16th, 3:00 - 4:00 pm (PDT)

With the May 1st Decision Day rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking for your student as they consider one of the biggest financial commitments in their life.Understanding the true cost of their education is the difference between a stressful four years and a successful future.

Join us as we welcome Coach Catherine Kohm, who has been a coach with us for 2 years and is a certified College Counselor, for an informational session. This workshop is specifically designed to help coaches fully understand what the financial aid awards contain and how to choose the best award for your students.

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Coach Coffee Chat (VAC Edition)

Wednesday, April 21st , 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. (PDT)

We are trying something a little different this year! A pilot meet-up to assist coaches, especially new ones, as they start to work with students. In response to your feedback and requests for more real-time support, we’re creating a dedicated space where coaches can access accurate information, exchange perspectives, and drill down on any particular student’s needs. Following this meeting’s results, we will work to ensure upcoming sessions offer what coaches are looking for, especially new ones.

This session will be hosted by the Volunteer Advisory Council, bringing a mix of experiences from new and seasoned coaches. We hope you can join us!

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Upcoming Volunteer Info Sessions

Tuesday, April 14th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm (PST)

Thursday, April 23rd, 2:00 - 3:00 pm (PST)

Are you interested in dismantling barriers to higher education? Join ScholarMatch as a volunteer college coach and help first-generation students navigate the college application process!

As a student-centered organization serving mainly BIPOC youth, we are committed to seeking, prioritizing, and learning from volunteers with similar experiences to our students. As a college coach, you will commit to supporting 1-3 students virtually, averaging 4-6 hours per month.

No prior college access experience is necessary since we train and support all volunteers. Join us at our upcoming info sessions to learn more!

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Upcoming External Webinars

Behind the Curtain: A Live Highly Selective Admissions Committee Case Study

Wednesday, April 8th, 4:00 - 5:00 pm (PDT)

A real-time look at how decisions are made in a committee

Evaluating "on-the-bubble" candidates with competing strengths

The role of institutional priorities in the final admit list

How "soft factors" like character and fit tip the scales

Lessons from the committee room to apply to your own applications

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Relevant Recordings & Training Opportunities

uAspire CSS Profile Completion | Webinar (Part 1, Part 2) | Materials

FAFSA Completion | Webinar (Part 1, Part 2) | Materials

ScholarMatch & uAspire: FAFSA Q&A | Watch: Recording (available through 6/30/2026)

ScholarMatch & uAspire: FAFSA Completion Part 1 | Watch: Recording (available through 6/30/2026)

ScholarMatch & uAspire: FAFSA Completion Part 2 | Watch: Recording (available through 6/30/2026)

ScholarMatch & uAspire: CSS Profile Completion Part 1 | Watch: Recording (available through 6/30/2026)

ScholarMatch & uAspire: CSS Profile Completion Part 2 | Watch: Recording (available through 6/30/2026)

Would You like to Lead a Webinar?

We are excited to announce the launch of our 2025-26 Coach-led Webinars series! If you are interested in leading a webinar, please apply here.

Quick Links

Coach-Led Panel: Winter Lull: Tips & Tricks to Keep the Fire Going

Thursday, January 22, 5 - 6 p.m. (PST)

This program year, many coaches have reported increased unresponsiveness from their students. With the winter lull traditionally affecting student response rates, we will have ScholarMatch coaches share tips and strategies to keep students engaged and communicative.

Want to be a Varsity Coach?

A varsity college coach is a coach who has expertise in one or more of the following:

Personal Statement best practices
Financial aid: FAFSA - particularly in demand!
Financial aid: CSS profile - particularly in demand!
Building a balanced college list - particularly in demand!
Supporting undocumented students
Supporting STEM students

And is willing to share that expertise with other coaches via the communication method of their choice (email, text, phone calls, video calls, etc.) Does this sound like a good fit for you? Then submit an application below!

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Varsity Coach Interest Form

Want to Lead a Webinar?

We are excited to announce the launch of our Coach-led Webinar series. If you are interested in leading a webinar, hosting a Q&A, or participating in a panel discussion, we are currently accepting webinar interest forms for the fall. We are looking forward to working more closely with our coach community to offer students the holistic support that meets their diverse needs. If you are interested in leading a webinar, please apply below and we will be in touch.

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Share Student Stories!

Have a student story you want to share! Please click below and share with us.

ScholarMatch Story & Spotlight

Support Our New STEM Transfer Program

We are inviting experienced ScholarMatch coaches to support transfer students in the Bay Area as they pursue their STEM degrees. Navigating the transfer process, especially into STEM majors at UCs, CSUs, private, and out-of-state schools, can be overwhelming. That is where you come in!

Join us at one of our STEM Transfer Coach Info Sessions to learn more about this program:

Support Our New STEM Transfer Program Recording

For more information about our new program, visit our STEM Transfer Program page.

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Quick Links

Connect with Other Coaches via Community Platforms

Join our Community Platforms!‍

Connect with fellow coaches in our vibrant community. Join our LinkedIn group to share tips and suggestions and build community with other passionate individuals dedicated to mentoring students. We also recommend posting your questions (and celebrations) on our Coach Listserv.

Student Communication and Engagement

Have you been matched with a student who isn’t responding? Has your scholar gone radio silent after you began working together? Is your student rescheduling all your meetings? We know from precedent that this unfortunately happens with a small number of our students each year, so we’ve created a few guides to help you out and clarify our expectations.

Student Engagement and Communication Norms

Unresponsive Student Protocol (c/o 2025)

Unresponsive Student Form (c/o 2025)

Quick Links

Forum Email Listserv
Coach LinkedIn Group
Coach Varsity Gallery

Training and Onboarding Timeline

PROCESS

DEADLINE

Training and Onboarding Period

March - May

Final day to submit all onboarding materials

May 31

Coach Orientation Session on Zoom*

June

Match with a student and begin coaching until June 2026

July - August

* = will be recorded and posted to the coach resource page

Volunteer Handbook

We’re so happy you’ve decided to join us in the fight for educational equity! With your help, we are making college possible for students in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country. As a ScholarMatch volunteer, you are joining a community of dedicated professionals committed to supporting students to and through college.

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Collectively, our volunteer community has an incredible wealth of experience and expertise in all college-related topics. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in college access or coming to this work from another field, we’re excited to have you join us!

Review the Handbook

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find my Coach ID?

You can find your Coach ID in the emails you received from ScholarMatch (advising@scholarmatch.org).

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I need more time to complete my training modules, who do I contact?

If you need more time to complete the training modules, please email volunteer@scholarmatch.org.

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Do I have to complete the training if I am an independent education consultant (IEC) or work in a field related to college access and admissions?

If you have previous experience in college access and admissions and would like to waive the training modules, please complete our Training Module Waiver Form. Please note that completing this form does not automatically waive the training modules. Our team will review your submission and be in touch to let you know if we can advance you directly to our onboarding module.

Please review our Pre-Training College Coach FAQs for additional information. If you have any other questions or would like to speak with a member of the ScholarMatch staff, please email volunteer@scholarmatch.org.

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Quick Links

Coach Training Modules
Volunteer Handbook

PROGRAM CALENDAR

View upcoming events below.

MEET OUR COMMUNITY

VARSITY COLLEGE COACHES

Join a network of passionate individuals dedicated to guiding students through their educational journeys. Share experiences, exchange insights, and collaborate with like-minded changemakers to empower students towards academic success and beyond. Together, we make a difference!

The view below is password protected, please reach out to advising@scholarmatch.org for the password.

Subscribe to our Coach Email List

Join our Coach Linkedin Group

COLLEGE COACHES

Program Report Form

Calendar

Varsity Coaches

Updates, Opportunities, and the Latest on our Volunteer Community

PROGRAM CALENDAR

VARSITY COLLEGE COACHES

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