Our story

Built by someone who learned the hard way

ScholarPath exists because choosing a college without guidance is one of the most consequential — and least supported — decisions a young person can make.

We're here to change that. Through real student stories, honest college guides, and scholarship funding, we give students what Elliot never had: a clear picture of what they're actually choosing.

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Elliot Geise
Founder & Executive Director

"I picked a college the way most people do — guessing. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, and no one helped me understand how much that decision would cost me — financially and professionally — for years to come."

Elliot's story

The decision nobody helped me make

When Elliot Geise graduated high school, he did what everyone around him expected: he applied to college. He picked a school based on a campus visit, a gut feeling, and the vague hope that things would work themselves out. Nobody sat him down and asked the hard questions — what do you actually want to do? What kind of environment do you thrive in? What happens if you change your mind halfway through?

Nobody told him that the school he chose — and the major he defaulted to — would shape not just his next four years, but the trajectory of his career and his finances for a decade afterward.

"I changed my major twice. I graduated with a degree I wasn't passionate about and debt for a decision I didn't fully understand when I made it."

The financial weight of that uncertainty is something students rarely talk about openly. Choosing the wrong school — or the right school for the wrong reasons — can mean tens of thousands of dollars in additional debt, years spent in a career that doesn't fit, or the painful process of starting over. These aren't small consequences. They follow you.

What frustrated Elliot most wasn't that he made a mistake. It was that the information he needed existed — it just wasn't given to him. There were students out there who had navigated these exact decisions and come out the other side with clarity and purpose. He just never had access to their stories.

That gap is what ScholarPath is built to close. Every college guide, every student testimonial, every scholarship dollar is Elliot's way of giving the next generation what he didn't have: honest, specific, experience-driven guidance from people who've been there — and the financial support to make the right choice possible.

Our impact

Every number is a student whose path got clearer

127
Students supported through scholarship funding
$48K
Total scholarship dollars awarded to date
94%
Graduation rate among ScholarPath recipients
48
Colleges and universities represented in our guides
100%
Of every donation goes directly to students
6
College guide categories covering every type of student

What we believe

The right information changes everything

Most students choose colleges based on rankings, reputation, or what their friends are doing. We believe the best college decisions are made with real information — from real students who faced the same uncertainty and came out with clarity. That's why every guide on ScholarPath is written by someone who lived it.

Financial barriers shouldn't decide futures

The cost of a wrong college decision isn't just measured in tuition — it's measured in years. We fund scholarships that give students the freedom to choose the right path, not just the affordable one. Every dollar donated to ScholarPath goes directly to a student who needs it.

Career clarity starts before college

One of the most expensive mistakes a student can make is choosing a major — and a school — before they understand what they want from their career. Our guides specifically address the question nobody asks enough: what kind of person are you, and what environment will help you become who you're meant to be?

Community is the best compass

Elliot didn't have a community of people who could guide him. ScholarPath is building that community — students helping students, donors investing in futures they believe in, and guides written not by institutions but by people who learned through experience.

Where your money goes

100% of donations go directly to students

ScholarPath operates lean. Every scholarship dollar donated is awarded to a student — not spent on overhead.

First-Generation Student Fund

For students who are the first in their family to attend college. Covers tuition gaps, books, and living expenses so the decision to go doesn't become a financial crisis.

STEM Scholars Fund

Supporting underrepresented students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — fields where diverse voices are most needed and least funded.

Arts & Humanities Fund

For students in creative fields who are told their passion isn't practical. We believe every discipline deserves financial support — not just the ones with obvious job titles.

Donate to a scholarship fund

How we started

From one person's frustration to a growing nonprofit

The idea is born

Elliot reflects on his own college experience and realizes the guidance gap isn't personal — it's systemic. Millions of students make the same uninformed decision every year.

First college guides published

ScholarPath launches with a handful of honest, student-written guides covering HBCUs, community colleges, and liberal arts schools — the stories no brochure tells.

First scholarships awarded

With early donor support, ScholarPath awards its first scholarships to first-generation students in California — turning information into action.

127 students and growing

Today ScholarPath has supported 127 students across 31 states, with 48 colleges represented in our guides and three active scholarship funds open for donations.

What's next

501(c)(3) nonprofit status in progress. Google Ad Grants application submitted. A goal of $100,000 in scholarships awarded by end of year.

Get involved

Ready to be part of the solution?

Whether you donate, share your college story, or simply pass this site to a student who needs it — you're helping close the guidance gap.

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