Welcome to your one-stop shop for volunteering with ScholarMatch.
Thank you for being a part of this growing community. As the summer unfolds, we’re excited to share that student-coach matches are slowly and thoughtfully beginning to take root. If you haven’t been matched yet, don’t worry! Most coaches are still waiting, and our team will continue to make matches through early fall. We take great care in cultivating each pairing, with the goal of fostering relationships that are grounded in trust, generosity of spirit, and lasting impact. We invite you to connect with fellow coaches through our LinkedIn Volunteer Group. It’s a space to exchange tips, ask questions, and build community.
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.
We're thrilled to have you join our community. To help you get started, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming coach orientation sessions. During this orientation, you will meet ScholarMatch Staff, connect with fellow coaches, access tools and resources you need to get started, and much more! Each session includes the same information, so feel free to choose the one that best fits your schedule. They are also recorded for your convenience.
Check back for any upcoming annoncements
Checkout our comprehensive college toolkit filled with resources to help you support your Students.
College ToolkitThis month, we’re including a list of scholarships with July & August 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.
Navigating the QuestBridge Application (hosted by ScholarMatch coach Paul Edwards)
Come learn about the ins and outs of the QuestBridge National College Match program. We will discuss eligibility, participating schools, the application process, and provide helpful tips on writing essays. The National College Match Program consolidates the application process for 55 colleges and offers resources and opportunities to connect with a network of scholars and alumni.
Application Szn Kickoff Webinar (hosted by NCAN)
Course: Helping Students Apply to Highly Selective Colleges & Universities (hosted by the College Essay Guy)
Finding the Funds: Virtual Scholarship Fair (hosted by NCAN)
2026-27 FAFSA Updates (hosted by NCAN)
Smith College CBO Counselor Coffee Chats Series: Meet and Greet with Smith’s Diversity and Access Recruitment Team
Debunking No-Loan Financial Aid and Early Decision (hosted by Smith College)
We are partnering with uAspire to provide financial aid training webinars for this program year. Missed the live Webinars? That’s alright! We have you covered with the recording below:
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.
A varsity college coach is a coach who has expertise in one or more of the following:
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!
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.
Have a student story you want to share! Please click below and share with us.
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:
Please fill out the interest form by August 11, 2025, to sign up.
For more information about our new program, visit our STEM Transfer Program page.
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.
We’ve change our Office Hours to a more informal “Coffee Chat”.
Join us on Tuesday, August 19, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PDT) to chat with ScholarMatch staff and other coaches regarding any questions you may have about advising, finding resources, or just for a quick pulse check. Coffee is not required, but we hope you’ll drop in!
Don’t forget to add these upcoming dates to your calendar:
Tuesday, August 19, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
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
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
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.
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!
Where can I find my Coach ID?
You can find your Coach ID in the emails you received from ScholarMatch (advising@scholarmatch.org).
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.
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.
View upcoming events below.
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.