Cleveland - Senior Program

Students who successfully complete the Sophomore and Junior Programs are invited to apply for our Senior Program. The Minds Matter of Cleveland Interview Committee considers each student’s performance in the Junior Program and reevaluates academic credentials including performance in Minds Matter courses and summer academic programs, financial need, personal essay statements, guidance counselor and teacher recommendations, and the degree of parental or guardian support as deemed relevant.
 
In contrast to the first two years, the Senior Program is aimed at aggressively seeking scholarship funds and leading students through the college application process. By this point, students will have identified their primary field of interest such as medicine, law, or engineering and will thus work on identifying and applying for funding that encourages scholarship in those areas. The Writing and Critical Thinking program along with the Minds Matter Writing Council continues to provide close guidance and support in this process encouraging students to undertake research projects as necessary for essay contests, scholarship applications, debate competitions, and/or other academically oriented projects that will enhance their portfolios. This process is supported by the two preceding years of targeted Minds Matter coursework and academic summer experiences.
 
After lunch, the students once again work with their assigned Mentors who are often the same professionals assigned to assist them in the Junior Program. This long-term relationship enhances the foundation for strong friendships that often continue after the student graduates high school. Mentors now have the exciting task of guiding students through the entire college application process engaging in mock interviews, strengthening student applications, and seeking sources of financial aid. Indeed, the Senior Program's goal is not only to address gaining admission to college, but also succeeding once there. Our talented students are thus fully prepared to make the most of their undergraduate experience as they will have built professional, organizational, analytical, and communication skills to last a lifetime. With the addition of programming that educates seniors on selecting a major, adapting to college life, choosing a career path, and interviewing for internships and jobs, the Senior Program provides a comprehensive guide to succeeding in college and beyond.
 
The majority of national Minds Matter Senior Program students have received generous financial aid packages from schools based on their academic achievements and financial need. In cases in which a student has not received adequate financial assistance from the chosen college, Minds Matter has assisted the student and his/her family to negotiate a more generous award and to determine other financial aid options. Minds Matter also provides a stipend to each student who successfully completes the Senior Program.
 
100% of Minds Matter graduates have been accepted to a 4-year college or university.