Pathways to the Future
Mentor Path is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable initiative started by Empowerly to provide high school students from first-generation, lower-income, and minority communities with college and career mentorship, tutoring, internships, and research opportunities.
Mentor Path formed to provide college and career guidance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds – especially those most affected by the recent Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action – and empower them to attend and receive full financial aid at top universities.
In the News
As Seen In
A Growing College Degree Divide
In today’s society, motivation and talent is distributed equally, but opportunities are not. Due to socioeconomic barriers and limited resources, students from underrepresented communities have inadequate access to college and career opportunities such as quality tutoring, mentorship, and internships – contributing to the growing college degree divide. Today, college graduation rates remain significantly lower for students from underrepresented communities and students of color compared to their higher income peers.
After the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn affirmative action policies, matriculation rates for students from underrepresented communities and communities of color are likely to decline even further, especially at selective institutions. Top universities often have the largest endowments and offer very generous financial aid, with many schools covering 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need. In many cases, it is actually more affordable for students with household incomes of less than $65,000 per year to attend a selective private school rather than their local state college. For high achieving students from these communities, accessibility to these opportunities is a major factor in supporting their higher education journey, and the increased barrier to entry will only exacerbate the growing college degree divide.
The Value of a College Degree
- 24% increase in employment1
- 3.5 times lower likelihood of living in poverty compared to non-college attendees2
- $1.2 million more in their lifetime earnings3
College graduates also exhibit higher rates of civic engagement in their communities. By removing barriers to college access and success, we can foster diversity, enrich educational experiences, and contribute to a more innovative, equitable, and vibrant workforce and society.
How Mentor Path Works
Mentor Path focuses on helping high achieving students from underrepresented communities gain admissions to a Top 100 School that meet close to 100% of their demonstrated financial need. These schools often have large endowments and many cover 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need (including room and board), or have national merit programs that offer full scholarships.
As experts with a collective 725 years of college and career counseling experience, we know what it takes to guide students towards success. We match students with a one-on-one mentor and a team of experts to develop important academic, critical thinking, and leadership skills. We also provide students with research and internship opportunities, data, and tutoring to help them achieve their college and career goals – donor supported and free for the student.
Our Impact
A Few of Our Students’ Acceptances
STUDENTS
Over one-third of all undergraduates in the US are first-generation students, and nearly 60% of them are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Unfortunately, they often attend schools lacking the necessary resources to guide them through the challenging terrain of college admissions. Mentor Path empowers students from underrepresented and low income communities to discover their passions, achieve their career goals, attend top universities, and receive scholarships to meet most or all of their financial needs.
UNIVERSITIES
Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers. Unfortunately, the recent repeal of affirmative action policies has had a discernible impact on the diversity of top universities and subsequently the leadership positions and influential roles those universities help shape. Addressing the diversity gap at its core, by investing in adequate and scalable K-12 personal development programs, can be a transformative and cost effective strategy.
Embracing diversity in educational institutions and the workplace brings forth a myriad of positive advantages to society. Studies have consistently shown that diverse teams and organizations outperform homogeneous ones. By tapping into a diverse talent pool, we can unlock fresh perspectives, foster innovation, and enhance problem-solving capabilities, leading to increased productivity, equity, and societal profitability.
98%
of our students get into a top 100 school
4X
more likely to get accepted on average
70%
of students are ethnic minorities
Your Future, Within Reach
At Mentor Path, we understand that talent is equally distributed in society – but opportunity is not. We strive to bridge that gap by providing personalized guidance and support to first-generation and low income students throughout their academic journey – at no cost to the student.
Our team of experts, including college admissions counselors, former admissions officers, and more, work closely with each student to identify their unique strengths, interests, and goals. They help create a customized plan to achieve their objectives, whether it’s preparing for college admissions, improving academic performance, or exploring internship and extracurricular options. We strongly believe that success is not just about getting good grades and test scores, but also about developing critical life skills such as problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking. Our team has the knowledge and experience to guide students through each step of the process and help students reach their full potential.