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IvyWise Scholars
Pro Bono College Admissions Support

Our pro bono college admissions program serves high-achieving, low-income students across the U.S. applying as first-year or transfer college students.

Pro Bono College Counseling Program

The IvyWise Scholars program offers free college admissions guidance from IvyWise experts to help high-achieving, low-income students reach their educational goals — providing support through every facet of the preparation and application process. Our goal is to empower students to discover and develop their passions, achieve their personal and academic goals, and find success in the admissions process and beyond.
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Do I Qualify as an IvyWise Scholar?

The IvyWise Scholars program is open to high school students who are 10th, 11th, or 12th graders and are planning to apply to a four-year university during 12th grade, as well as to current college students looking to transfer to a different university. Other qualifications include:

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Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA

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Demonstrate financial need by having a household income below $95,000 per year and/or being eligible for a Federal Pell Grant

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Will meet the U.S. citizen/eligible noncitizen requirement to be eligible to receive U.S. federal student aid as defined by the office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)

The IvyWise Scholars Application Process

In order to be considered for the IvyWise Scholars program, you will need to submit an application form that asks for supplementary materials to confirm eligibility, such as transcripts and tax return(s). All information provided will be held in strict confidence. During the application review period, we may ask for additional information in order to learn more about you, your interests, and your college goals.

In the preliminary application, we typically ask for:

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Information on your residency status

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Information on your household income

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Information on your academic profile (including GPA, standardized test scores, etc.)

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Information on your academic interests, college goals, extracurricular activities, etc.

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An essay answering the prompt: “What are your college goals and what have you done thus far to achieve those goals?” (Maximum of 300 words.)

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A short video essay answering the prompt: “How would being an IvyWise Scholar help you achieve your goals?” (1-2 minutes long.)