We Are
Making A Difference

Minds Matter students are determined, focused, and
fully aware of the value of higher education to
their lifelong successes.

Approximately

%

Are the First in Their Family to Attend College

Our students come from families with an average income of less than $24,000, just below the federal poverty line. They are typically the first in their family to attend college. Our students have varied career goals, and they know that college is their path to success.

San Francisco 1

Zhi - Minds Matter San Francisco

The first in her family to go to college, Zhi relied on Minds Matter to help her navigate the application and selection process. With the encouragement and guidance of Minds Matter, Zhi explored colleges she would have never even considered. Now, Zhi attends Middlebury College tuition-free. 

Chicago 1

Johnathan - Minds Matter Chicago

With the help of Minds Matter Chicago, Johnathan beat the odds in one of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods – graduating from high school in Englewood and enrolling Pomona College on a full scholarship. “I love all of you,” Johnathan wrote in an e-mail to the Chicago chapter during his first semester at Pomona College. “Without you, I wouldn’t have the chance to be here.”

Minds Matter Seattle - Rasha

Rasha - Minds Matter Seattle

Rasha dreams of becoming a primary care doctor or surgeon, and Minds Matter’s summer programs helped her pursue that passion. Rasha’s Minds Matter Mentors helped her apply to attend the MultiCare Nurse Camp over the summer, to pursue her passion in the medical field. During the five-day camp, Rasha tested medical devices, practiced suturing, and shadowed professional nurses and other healthcare providers. 

The Minds Matter Program

Beginning in their sophomore year of high school, our students spend 4-6 hours per week during the school year in Minds Matter sessions with their volunteer mentors and instructors. Our sophomore program centers on cultivating the math and writing/critical thinking skills that are the foundation of our students’ academic success. In the junior program, students work with their mentors on test preparation for the SAT and ACT standardized exams. During the summers after their sophomore and junior year, students attend summer enrichment programs at prep schools, colleges, and universities across the country and around the world. In the senior program, students work closely with their mentors on personal statements, financial aid forms, financial literacy, and navigating the college application process. Our volunteers guide seniors through college selection, helping students determine what school and area of study might be the best fit for them.

Throughout the program, students gain confidence and ambition, strengthen their skills in writing, critical thinking, test-taking, and mathematics, and flourish into young adults who are ready and excited to succeed in college. Minds Matter proudly boasts a 100% success rate for students’ acceptance into four-year colleges and universities.

College Acceptances

We’re consistently impressed by and proud of our Minds Matter students. 100% of our students are accepted into four-year universities and colleges, and many are accepted into some of the most competitive schools in the country.

Just To Name A Few...

Cornell_University_logo.svg
Dartmouth_College_logo
penn_state_logo_detail

Find a Chapter Near You

Visit our Chapters Page to find the chapter nearest you and learn how you can apply to be a student.