GUIDED PATHWAY
SUPPORT PROGRAM
YOUR FREE GUIDE TO COLLEGE SUCCESS
The Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) is a FREE virtual program specifically designed for college-bound African American high school juniors and seniors. GPS offers direct access to expert resources and personalized support, ensuring you have the tools you need to navigate the admissions process with confidence.
program benefits
- Expert Insights: Participate in live events on college admissions and scholarship strategies to enhance your understanding and preparedness.
- Application Support: Receive detailed reviews of your college applications, essays, supplements, and activity lists to ensure they stand out.
- Financial Assistance: Gain help obtaining SAT fee waivers and comprehensive guidance on completing the FAFSA and CSS profiles for financial aid.
- Test Preparation: Boost your SAT and ACT scores with free access to The Princeton Review® Self-Paced SAT & ACT service
gps
program
stats
93%
COLLEGE MATRICULATION RATE
7,022
STUDENTS SERVED
25
EDUCATION PARTNERS & CORPORATE SPONSORS
our approach
GPS is an online community that provides advising for college-bound African American students. The GPS platform convenes a team of counselors, college partners, and the Ron Brown Scholar community to connect college-aspiring African American high school students to leadership opportunities and professional college/career guidance.
EDUCATE our students & families on the college application process by:
- Hosting year-round live college advising events
- Accessing comprehensive college advising content
- Connecting with our college partners
ADVISE our students & families on their unique path by helping them:
- Apply to leadership programs designed to make them more competitive for college
- Find scholarships to help pay for college
- Explore extra-curricular and summer enrichment opportunities
- Select advanced high school courses that push them academically and intellectually, so they’re prepared for the rigor of college (i.e. Honors, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment)
- Research and build a college list that fits their academic and professional goals
- Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile, including help with verification and financial aid appeals
- Edit their personal statements, supplemental essays, scholarship essays, resumes, cover letters, and other writing pieces
- Prepare for college, scholarship, internship, and job interviews
SUPPORT our students & families by connecting them to:
- A safe and affirming community for black students to share their college journeys accessible anytime and anywhere with an internet connection through their phone, tablet, or computer
- Hundreds of near-peer mentors who are current college students or recent college alumni, including Ron Brown Scholars and Captains, who stay connected to our program through mentorship
- A team of culturally-competent advisors who share many of the identities and backgrounds of our students, 80% of which are alumni of Ron Brown programs
Educational partners
The Ron Brown Scholar Program depends upon support from corporate partners and scholarship sponsors to advance higher education and improve the lives of intellectually gifted and public service-minded young people. We invite you to become a sponsor of the Ron Brown Scholar Program to help today’s youth become the leaders of tomorrow. To learn more about becoming a Sponsor, please contact Anita Karadia at akaradia@ronbrown.org or call 434-964-1588.
Eligibility faqs
To be eligible for the RBS GPS Program, you must:
- Be a rising high school junior or senior;
- Have a strong A-B academic record;
- Have demonstrated leadership and active involvement at school and/or in the community; and
- Identify as African-American
No, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to apply for the Guided Pathway Support Program.
Yes, home-schooled students are eligible.
The Guided Pathway Support Program is free.
Application & Deadline Requirements
To complete the Guided Pathway Support Program application, submit each of the following:
- the online application form and
- upload an unofficial high school transcript.
Standardized exam scores and academic resume are optional.
Unofficial transcripts are eligible for submission and are preferred.
Yes. Although we only require unofficial transcripts, those students who submit an official transcript will not be penalized
An unofficial transcript is a student-copy of their transcript and is not considered official. It does not include a high school seal or registrar’s signature. If you have any questions on whether or not your transcript is official or unofficial, please contact your high school’s academic office to make sure it is unofficial.
No. Your test scores should not be official. Just indicate on the application what score you got on the test(s) you have taken.
If you have not received a confirmation email for your login in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you are unsure whether you submitted the wrong email, click here to access your saved application, and change the email address. For further assistance, email gpsprogram@ronbrown.org.
Application Submission Procedures
This happens when we are unaware of your local time zone. Please set your time zone in your account settings page.
Applications must be submitted online.
Due to the large number of applicants, we are unable to accept faxed or emailed applications or any part of the application.
Applicants are notified by email and mail within four to six weeks after submitting a complete application.
Selection FAQs
Students will be selected on a competitive basis. The Guided Pathway Support Program is not limited to a minimum or maximum number of participants to accept.
The Guided Pathway Support Program seeks African American high school juniors and seniors who are active at school or in their community.
No, selection to participate for the Guided Pathway Support Program is not the same as selection for the Ron Brown scholarship. To apply for the Ron Brown scholarship, please visit www.ronbrown.org.
Managing Your Online Account
After you submit you application and if you are accepted, you will receive and email on how to make your online GPS profile account.
Upon creating an account you should have received an email to the provided email address. This email will have instructions on how to activate your account. If you cannot see the email in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
If you did not receive your confirmation email in your inbox, check your spam folder. If it’s still not there, email us at gpsprogram@ronbrown.org for help.
After you have created and saved your account, you should get an email which explains how to reset your password. Please check your inbox and spam folder.
No, resetting your password will not delete all of your work. You will have the same saved information for your application, but your password will just be different.
After a student has been accepted to the Guided Pathway Support Program, the student and their parent on record can access the GPS online community by entering their email addresses: (1) at gps.workplace.com; (2) after clicking Sign In on the GPS home page; or (3) using the link in your acceptance email. Only invited guests, accepted students, and parents of accepted students may access the community. For further assistance, please email gpsprogram@ronbrown.org.
Other Questions
If you have any other questions regarding the Guided Pathway Support Program, contact our office at (434) 964-1588 or email gpsprogram@ronbrown.org.
The Ron Brown Scholar Fund is a public 501c3 charity and administers the Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP). Established in 1996 by Anthony M. Pilaro to honor the late Secretary of Commerce, RBSP is a college scholarship and leadership program for African American students. Three initiatives fall under RBSP:
- Ron Brown Signature Scholarship – A $40,000 scholarships to African American high school seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service.
- Ron Brown Leaders Network – Connects Scholars, Captains, and Alumni with career development opportunities, mentorship, and a robust professional network.
- Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) – A free innovative college access initiative for African American high school juniors and seniors (as well as their parents and counselors). A high tech, high-touch approach, provides students the mentoring, information, and inspiration they need to make college accessible.
Whether it was helping me with last-minute essays, applying to incredible programs like Bovard Scholars, taking the Cornell class, or finding life-changing opportunities like the General Catalyst externship and BLK Capital Management, you’ve always been there. You’ve seen me grow, push myself, and navigate challenges, and your belief in me has been such a source of strength.
More than just your practical help, though, you’ve been someone I could truly talk to about anything and everything. I’ll never forget how you were there for me when I opened up about the struggles of competing with students at my private school or navigating social dynamics in more affluent spaces. It wasn’t easy to share those feelings, but having someone like you to listen and encourage me meant the world.
I’ve always appreciated how you made time for me, no matter how busy things got. Our conversations—whether about college, life, or just catching up—have been so meaningful. You reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this process, and your words of encouragement gave me the motivation to keep going, even when things felt overwhelming.
