GOLDEN DOOR SCHOLARS FAQs

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY + TIMELINE

  • To receive the Golden Door Scholarship, all applicants must:

    • Be graduating/have graduated from a United States high school (or have earned or will earn a high school equivalency diploma).

    • Reside in one of our regional states:

      • North Carolina

      • South Carolina

      • Georgia

    • Demonstrate high financial need.

    • Have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.2.

    • Be willing to relocate to and enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program.

    • Be willing to pursue a major aligned with Golden Door Scholars’ preferred major list.

    • You can not be a current college student.

    • Eligibility for the program will not be limited by race, ethnicity, or national origin.

  • No. Recent high school graduates are also welcome to apply. 

  • No. Golden Door Scholarships may only be applied to undergraduate - bachelor degree programs.

  • All scholars must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA each semester.

  • The Golden Door Scholarship funds a four-year bachelor's degree at a regional partner school only. Golden Door Scholars will support students at non-partner schools on a case-by-case basis. If a student is uninterested in attending a GDS regional partner school or does not accept their match, the scholarship may be revoked.

    Golden Door Scholars will match scholarship recipients to a regional partner school based on the student's location, preference and school admission availability. Receiving the Golden Door Scholarship does not guarantee admittance to any one college or university.

  • Preference is given to applicants interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree that is career-ready and has high earning potential, meaning applicants will not require an advanced degree to begin their careers. Software engineering, data analytics, business analytics, and digital marketing are popular career paths that meet these criteria.

ROAD TO HIRE APPLICATION PROCESS

  • GDS reviews all applications that meet the required criteria. Candidates will receive an email notification of the results. Those selected to proceed to the next step will begin the interview process.

  • Please check your spam or junk folders to see if you have received an email from Golden Door Scholars. If you have not received a confirmation email after submitting your application, please contact info@goldendoorscholars.org. 

  • GDS awards scholarships to high-achieving students who are college-ready, actively engaged in their communities and have demonstrated leadership qualities and determination in the face of significant barriers.

  • No, recommendation letters are not required.

  • SAT and ACT scores are not required. However, if you have standardized test scores, you can include them in your application at your discretion.

  • No, high school transcripts DO NOT need to be official versions; you may scan and upload the transcript or use screenshots of your unofficial transcripts.

  • Request them immediately and apply early to ensure you get your transcripts in time. If you still do not have them in time, please attach a Word or PDF document in place of the transcripts, letting us know that you will send your transcripts ASAP once they arrive. You can NOT leave a required field in the application blank. You may use this template.

    When you receive your transcripts, scan or email them to info@goldendoorscholars.org with your first and last name and the date you submitted your application.