Our Program
Our volunteers work with our talented students on Saturdays during the school year to help them improve their academic skills, gain acceptance to college summer programs, and eventually gain admission to a four-year university.
The Minds Matter program is a three year-long commitment beginning with the application process during Freshman Year.
FRESHMAN YEAR
Apply to join Minds Matter. During the fall and winter seasons of the school year, guidance counselors or teachers will recommend students to Minds Matter. Students may have the opportunity to attend an information session hosted at their high schools and decide that they are committed to participating in this three year-long program. The application will open up in the spring, selected students are invited for an interview, and acceptance emails are sent out in the summer.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Students enter the program in the fall and team-up with one other sophomore student and two college-graduate mentors. During the morning sessions, students rotate through different tutors focusing on writing, mathematics, study skills, or homework help. The sophomore class participates in group team building, critical thinking activities, civics lessons, finance workshops, and skill-building discussions. Students also work with their mentors during the afternoon sessions to select summer programs and prepare applications. The summer after sophomore year, students travel to their first summer program.
JUNIOR YEAR
Students enter their junior year focusing on college and career exploration. In addition to cultivating writing, math, and study skills, the morning sessions will also concentrate on SAT prep. During the afternoon sessions the student-mentor teams work together to refine critical thinking skills, dive deeper into their career interests, listen to career panels from a range of different fields (medical, engineering, education, law and government, etc.), work on building their resumes, and practice interview skills. Students also continue to work with their mentors on summer program applications and attend their second summer program after their junior year.
SENIOR YEAR
Students enter their senior year with a new team member: their college guidance counselor. Morning sessions will be directed towards financial aid applications (FAFSA), college applications, and scholarships. During afternoon sessions the student-mentor teams work together to investigate different colleges through visits, tours, and informational sessions, work on college essays, and attend guest speaker panels who not only provide career exploration opportunities, but additionally share their college experiences. In the spring of senior year, students work with their mentors on “college readiness,” focusing on the academic and social skills needed to be ready to succeed in college.
Minds Matter students have attended summer programs at some of the country’s top public and private colleges and universities including:
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Brown University
- Georgetown University
- Harvard University
- Smith College
- Stanford University
- UCLA
- University of Chicago
- University of Notre Dame
- Yale University