On-Ramp Application

The application is for 2023 is now closed. Thank you for your interest!

College Prep Starts Here

The Thrive Scholars On-Ramp Program is a free pre-college program designed to provide Black/Generational African American males in 10th grade with the skills needed to excel in their college and career preparation.
Participants will meet other ambitious Scholars from across the country in this 10-month program. There are college tours, monthly sessions with a college advisor, access to professionals of color leading in their career fields, and a fun, six-week residential summer program hosted on a college campus where students will be taught by college professors.

Program participants will gain:

Leadership skills
A college experience
Exposure to a broader range of college options
Academic and intellectual growth
An opportunity to sample and apply to Thrive’s Core Program

Are You Eligible?

The On-Ramp Program is for high school sophomores who identify as Black/Generational African American (defined as the descendants of enslaved people in the United States) and male who are eager to learn and want to become more college and career ready.
While we review all applications holistically and do not have a GPA requirement, competitive applicants are high-achievers who typically meet the following criteria:

A competitive GPA: 3.4 or higher (unweighted, out of 4.0)
Primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered at your high school
College ambitions
Active engagement in school community and/or community more generally
Household income at or below $75,000 annually.
- Note the $75,000 annual family income is just a barometer that is used in evaluating an applicant’s financial status. Please do not look at this as a cut off if you are above this number as we consider family size, circumstances, and geographic location.
A commitment to Summer Academy, our six-week residential summer program that takes place late June to early August

Why Does On Ramp Exist?

Black males are vastly underrepresented in the nation’s top colleges, advanced jobs, and corporate leadership roles. This disparity is especially pronounced when looking at the representation of Generational African Americans. On-Ramp seeks to challenge the systems that limit the life and career opportunities of Black males by providing young men academic, social, and emotional resources necessary for success in college and beyond.

Join us for an overview of our programming, a discussion about our application process, and speak directly with current Thrive Scholars and staff.

What’s the Application Timeline?

Priority Application Deadline – November 30, 2022
General Application Deadline – December 15, 2022
Round Two Advancement – Mid-late January 2023
Round Two Submission – Mid-February 2023
Admission Decisions Released – Late March 2023

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Thrive Scholar. There are several essay questions as well as academic and financial documents that you need to prepare. You can save and continue within the application. Please be sure to allow yourself enough time to complete the application to put your best foot forward!