About the Golden Door Scholarship
The Golden Door Scholarship provides significant college scholarships, career and fellowship support, mentorship, and community-building opportunities to high-achieving undocumented students. Learn more about the Golden Door Scholarship by watching the General Info Sessions below:
Our scholarship application is now closed.
If you are considering applying for the Golden Door Scholarship, please review the following information:
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Scholarship recipients will receive funding for a four-year degree at a Golden Door Scholars partner school beginning in the Fall 2024 semester. Tuition, room, and board are covered at Golden Door partner schools.
Students who have applied to or are interested in other colleges not considered a GDS partner school should still plan to apply for the Golden Door Scholarship. We will support students at non-partner schools on a case-by-case basis.
Strong preference will be given to applicants interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree that is career ready with high earning potential, meaning applicants will not require an advanced degree to begin their careers. See the preferred majors to know which are accepted.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so applying early is helpful. However, applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
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Timeline
August 4, 2023 - Applications open
October 1, 2023 - Applications close
October 2023 - Applications are reviewed
Early November 2023 - Final candidates are interviewed
Late November 2023 - Award calls
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Step 1: Review Eligibility and Apply
Applicants must ensure they are eligible for the Golden Door Scholarship, then review the application process and expectations before submitting their application. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so applying early is helpful. Applications submitted after the due date of Oct 1, 2023, 11:59 PM will not be considered.
8:59 PM Pacific Time
9:59 PM Mountain Time
10:59 PM Central Time
11:59 PM Eastern Time
Step 2: Application Received
After successfully submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation from Golden Door Scholars. There, you will find a list of GDS partner schools to consider while you wait to hear back from the GDS team.
Golden Door Scholars encourages you to apply for many scholarships. Other scholarships that serve DACAmented individuals can be found here.
Step 3: Eligibility Screen
After the Golden Door Scholar team has reviewed your application, select candidates will move on to the eligibility screening process. Should you be selected to move forward with the screening, you will receive a form that must be filled out by the due date. If Golden Door has questions regarding the eligibility form, select candidates will have a short phone call with a Golden Door Application Committee member. If Golden Door has no questions regarding the eligibility form, select candidates will move to final interviews.
Step 4: Interviews
At this stage, select candidates will move forward for an interview via Zoom, where interviewers and GDS staff will have a chance to get to know you as an individual.
Step 5: Awards
By the end of November 2023, finalists will be notified if they have received the Golden Door Scholarship!
Step 6: Onboarding, Applying, and Matching
Once our scholarship recipients are selected and have accepted the Golden Door Scholarship, scholars will work with GDS staff to gain a deeper understanding of how the scholarship works. They will begin applying to colleges with the support of the Golden Door Scholars team and Golden Door will start matching students. Some students will be matched as early as December, while others will be matched as late as June. The majority of students are matched in April.
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Materials Required for the Golden Door Scholarship
Video Recording
Written Essay
Choose one of the Common App essay prompts
Use an essay prompt from one of our partner schools listed on the website
High school or college transcripts
Application Tips:
Review Eligibility for the Golden Door Scholarship
Demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of the application process, including video recordings and interviews
Be proactive in communication with Golden Door Scholars
Submit all required application materials to be considered for the Golden Door Scholarship
Review essays to minimize grammar and spelling errors
Applicants must be willing to consider, apply, or attend a GDS partner school regardless of location
Important Items to Note
Applicant transcripts are NOT required to be official versions.
SAT and ACT scores are NOT required. However, if you have standardized test scores, you can include them in your application at your discretion.
Scholarship Essays written with or by AI will NOT be considered.
Helpful Resources
Essay Writing
Spelling & Grammar Review Tools
Video Recording
Interviews
General Professionalism
Applying for College
If you are considering applying for the Golden Door Scholarship and still have outstanding questions about our application process after reviewing the Golden Door Scholars website, please reach out to info@goldendoorscholars.org.