Free workshops & guides
The college prep guidance no one sat us down and explained.
ScholarPath was built on a simple idea: most of what trips up first-generation and underserved students isn't a lack of intelligence or effort — it's a lack of access to the right information at the right time. The resources below are the workshops, walkthroughs, and guides we wish someone had handed us before we made the biggest financial decisions of our young lives. Every video on this page is free. Every source is credible. Start anywhere.
Section 1 of 5
The FAFSA is the single most important form most college-bound students will ever fill out. It unlocks federal Pell Grants, state aid like California's Cal Grant, and most college-specific need-based aid. The form has been simplified in recent years, but it still trips up families every year — especially first-generation families filing for the first time. The videos below are produced by Federal Student Aid, the U.S. Department of Education office that actually runs the FAFSA, so you're getting it straight from the source.
Video 1 of 2
What Is the FAFSA? — Federal Student Aid
Video 2 of 2
2026–2027 FAFSA Walkthrough — Federal Student Aid
Section 2 of 5
Our founder Elliot transferred from Cabrillo College to UC San Diego and had to declare a major before he had any real framework for what that choice would mean for his life after college. He picked political science. He graduated with a degree he wasn't passionate about and debt for a decision he didn't fully understand when he made it. This is the most common, most expensive mistake first-generation students make — and it's almost always avoidable. Choosing a major well starts with knowing your own values, then matching those values to careers and labor market realities. The video below is a starting point. The links beneath it are the official U.S. Department of Labor tools you can use to research the actual labor market for any career you're considering.
Values Exercise: a starting point for major selection — College Essay Guy
Section 3 of 5
The college essay is where most first-generation students sell themselves short. Either they think they don't have a "good enough" story to tell, or they try to write what they think admissions officers want to hear instead of what's actually true about them. Both are mistakes. Ethan Sawyer — the College Essay Guy — has spent over a decade helping students find and write their real stories. The videos below are two of his most useful brainstorming exercises, both completely free. He also offers pay-what-you-can pricing on his paid courses for students from low-income families.
Video 1 of 2
Essence Objects Exercise — a brainstorming starting point — College Essay Guy
Video 2 of 2
The Feelings and Needs Exercise — College Essay Guy
Section 4 of 5
Test prep is one of the great wealth gaps in college admissions. Wealthy families pay tutors $200 an hour. Everyone else gets whatever the high school provides. Khan Academy changed that — they partner officially with the College Board (the organization that runs the SAT) to provide free, high-quality digital SAT prep that's just as good as anything you can pay for. The video below introduces their approach, and the link beneath it takes you to the full free course.
SAT Prep Strategies — getting started with Khan Academy
Looking for ACT prep instead? Free resources from ACT.org →
Section 5 of 5
About a third of UC's incoming class every year transfers in from a California community college. ScholarPath's founder was one of them — two years at Cabrillo before transferring to UCSD. The community college transfer pathway is one of the smartest, most affordable ways to get a four-year degree from a top public university. It's also the path most first-generation and lower-income students take. But it has its own rules, deadlines, and tools that nobody really explains in high school. The videos below cover the basics of the UC transfer application and the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which guarantees you a spot at one of six UC campuses if you meet the requirements.
Video 1 of 2
UC Application & Personal Insight Questions Overview — UC Davis Transfer Opportunity Program
Video 2 of 2
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) Overview — UC Davis Transfer Opportunity Program
ScholarPath is just getting started. If there's a college prep topic you wish someone would explain — financial aid appeal letters, navigating dual enrollment, applying as an undocumented student, anything — let us know.
Email us →