Meet Your Match

In 2015, a student we’d never met before wrote us an email that read:

"I come from a single parent household, my father does not support us in any way at all and my mother has just recently been let go of due to financial struggles, but I would like to ask for your help. Please light a little match to guide me through this."

And, just like that, Matchlighters was born. 

The Matchlighters Scholars Program connects generous and experienced college counselors with high-achieving students from low-income households across the country to deliver college admissions help to those who need it most.

The scholarship comprises 10 hours of one-on-one support in navigating the complex college admissions process, from experienced counselors — at no cost.

It’s awarded to high-achieving students who have solid grades, but just need a little extra help. 

The Matchlighters Scholars Program is for high-achieving students from lower-income families who have solid grades, but just need a little extra help on the college application and essay process. See requirements below for more details:

1. You’re a U.S. Resident. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to support international students at this time.

2. You're trying to get into college or graduate school. You're a second-semester junior in high school, a senior in high school, a transfer student, a gap-year student, or even a part-time student working a job to support your family. You might identify as undocumented, as a refugee or currently be experiencing homelessness; perhaps you’d like to apply to art schools, or represent your future campus as a student-athlete — no matter your story, we’ve got a counselor for you.

3. You've earned a 3.0 unweighted GPA. You’ll submit your high school transcripts as part of the application.

4. Your family income qualifies you for one of the following: free/reduced-price lunch, SAT/ACT fee waivers, enrollment in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families. Check this income table to find out if you qualify

5. You are motivated and ready to get to work!

Here’s where a few of our Matchlighters scholars ended up:

What our Matchlighters are saying:

“Thank you so so much for setting up this program. My counselor made a huge difference in how I viewed my essays and the video resources built the foundation for my essays. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to write an essay good enough to be matched for QuestBridge.”

“I would like to thank my counselor who helped me craft the most amazing essays. She is a writing wizard that asked the questions that I was afraid to ask myself. Together we did a fantastic job and I am proud of the essays that I submitted in my applications. “

“It has been an incredible journey of self-awareness for me and it is about to pay off. I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity and I look forward to paying it forward in the future. You guys proved to me that there is opportunity and hope in America! Thank you for making my dreams come true.”

“I am one of your blessed students and wanted to express my gratitude to your whole team for your support in my application process. I have an amazing counselor. I love her so much and would not even know about her without your help. Thank you. “

“I am immensely grateful for all your support and assistance. I couldn't have done this without my counselor and the amazing resources you provided me with. Thank you so much once again!”

“My counselor was great and she really helped me flesh out my essays even though I had only given her about a couple week's notice. Her schedule was very flexible and she made sure to listen to my ideas and provided valuable insight.”

“Working with Matchighters was a great experience! I have done this program twice & have been matched with wonderful counselors! They exceeded their requirements and worked with me throughout the entire process which was great. I LOVED THIS SO MUCH, especially because it's free!”

“If it weren't for College Essay Guy and the Matchlighters scholarship, the college process would've been forever a mystery to me. Taking the initiative and immersing myself in Ethan's videos and meetings with my Matchlighters volunteer was the best decision I've ever made. Along with Ethan's incredible help, my Matchlighters volunteer guided me along the college process: helping me with my college list, answering my naive questions, and providing me with feedback on my writing. As I'm the first to attend a four-year college here in the U.S, I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for Ethan and the Matchlighters Scholarship Program.”

My counselor was amazing. She would always check up on me and make sure I was on track. In fact, she was always available and never got mad at me for asking so many questions. Instead, she always knew what to answer and had a sincere desire to help me get into the college I wanted to. She was very optimistic and even though I didn't think I would get into a certain university, she would still encourage me to apply because you never know.

“I was lost when I reached out to you all those months ago. Without you, I'm not sure if all of my acceptances would have been possible and I wanted to thank you sincerely for everything that you have done for me and supported me through. It means even more than the world to me that you took time out of your busy schedule to work, not only with me, but many other students, as well. Thank you so much!”

“I just screamed in joy after seeing your email... Thank you sooo much for this chance! I can't thank the Matchlighters team enough. I shall forever be grateful for this opportunity.”

“I was very happy and excited when I was accepted and matched with my counselor. It was a wonderful experience to get guidance from her. She helped me in every step from how to write the personal essay to selecting colleges. She helped me with how to structure my essay and convey my story through it.  She encouraged me when I was overwhelmed from all the tasks I needed to do and helped me get through it. I am very thankful for the opportunity that Matchlighters provided me. Thank you!

So, first of all, I could not have asked for a more perfect Matchlighter Counselor, she is super and everything I could have hoped for.”

From our volunteer counselors:

“Yesterday I toured the University of Michigan. It’s an amazing school, no surprise there.
But the thrill of the day was meeting my Matchlighter student. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of working with my Matchlighter last year— he is positively thriving, and I’m so proud!”

“We just had our first meeting and I’m blown away. She and I are hitting it off and she’s, needless to say, just an incredible student. Thanks so very much for giving me the chance to work with her!”

“My Matchlighters student and I spoke last night and his "draft" is unbelievable and may need just minor tweaks. His work is still resonating 12 hours later.... I am still looking forward to working with my second student - this program is incredible.”

“I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed working with my Matchlighter Scholar throughout the fall on her college applications and essays. She is a wonderful young woman and such a hard worker! We enjoyed working together so much that we did not stop at the required hours; we worked together until all of her regular decision applications were submitted a few days before Christmas.  It was truly a rewarding experience for me, and I would be willing to assist additional students whenever needed!!”  

“THIS PAST SUMMER WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MATCHLIGHTERS, AND THE STUDENT I WAS MATCHED WITH WAS SO CONSCIENTIOUS, PURPOSEFUL, SWEET-SOULED AND SMART (!) THAT WORKING WITH HER WAS A PURE PLEASURE. I PLAN TO SIGN UP FOR MATCHLIGHTERS FOREVER!”

From our College Essay Guy Ambassadors:

“I learned so much from working with my student and we have forged a phenomenal friendship. So grateful to Matchlighters for connecting us!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with my Matchlighter scholar and was hoping to stay involved in this amazing family. Thank you for creating and managing this program that is continuously providing hope to marginalized communities.” 

From our College Essay Guy team members:

“Thank you for identifying such a great match (no pun intended). My experience with Matchlighters was a highlight of last year's season.”

From Matchlighters parents:

“It is because of you that this college process was so much more than just a school selection process. She worked hard, she targeted areas for specific improvement and then addressed those areas, she wrote essays where she found her own voice, interviewed with preparedness and confidence, and most importantly, she learned to listen to her own needs and dreams. I want you to know that it was your wonderful ability to read the needs of a kid over the phone that helped her achieve all of this. Through her college search process, she became a deeper, more confident version of herself.”

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, 
but a fire to be kindled.
                                 - Plutarch

Have a question, comment, or idea? Email us at matchlighters@collegeessayguy.com