Minds Matter

TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF ACCOMPLISHED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BY BROADENING THEIR DREAMS AND PREPARING THEM FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR PROGRAMS IS TO ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS IN GAINING ADMISSION TO COMPETITIVE SUMMER COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAMS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS WITH A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, TEACHES TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS, HELPS DEVELOP NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND PROVIDES A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD.STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE SOPHOMORE PROGRAM BASED ON A RIGOROUS AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS, FINANCIAL CRITERIA, PERSONAL ESSAYS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN INTERVIEW.THE JUNIOR PROGRAM ENROLLS PREVIOUSLY SUCCESSFUL SOPHOMORE PROGRAM STUDENTS AND OCCASIONALLY ACCEPTS NEW STUDENTS BASED ON A RIGOROUS AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS, FINANCIAL CRITERIA, PERSONAL ESSAYS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN INTERVIEW.STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED A PAIR OF MENTORS WITH WHOM THEY MEET WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. MENTORS WORK WITH THEIR STUDENTS DURING SESSIONS TO SELECT SUMMER PROGRAMS, PREPARE APPLICATIONS, CREATE PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND ESSAYS, REQUEST LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, AND COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK. STUDENTS ALSO IMPROVE THEIR BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS AND TEST TAKING STRATEGIES FOR THE S.A.T. THROUGH THE TEST PREP PROGRAM AND IMPROVE THEIR WRITING, LOGIC AND REASONING, PRESENTATION SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS THROUGH THE WRITING AND CRITICAL THINKING PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND FIELD TRIPS, OFTEN TEAMING UP WITH THE SENIOR PROGRAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. AFTER A STUDENT IS ADMITTED TO A SUMMER PROGRAM AND AWARDED A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE, MINDS MATTER PROVIDES AS MUCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS IS NEEDED TO SUPPLEMENT THE SCHOOL'S AWARD.STUDENTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE JUNIOR PROGRAM ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM MEETS WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AGGRESSIVELY LEADS STUDENTS THROUGH THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. MOST STUDENTS RETAIN THEIR MENTORS FROM THE JUNIOR PROGRAM, ENHANCING THE FOUNDATION FOR STRONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT OFTEN CONTINUE AFTER THE STUDENT GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL.THE SENIOR PROGRAM GUIDES STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS BY PROVIDING TRAINING IN COLLEGE SELECTION, ESSAY WRITING, INTERVIEWING AND FINANCIAL AID. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1996 IN NEW YORK, THE SENIOR PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED ITS GOALS TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY GAINING ADMISSION TO COLLEGE BUT ALSO SUCCEEDING ONCE THERE. PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY PREPARES TALENTED YOUTH TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR UNDRGRADUATE EXPERIENCE BY BUILDING THIER ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS. 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 HAS EVOLVED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGEAND BEYOND. THE MAJORITY OF OUR SENIOR PROGRAM STUDENTS RECEIVE GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES FROM SCHOOLS BASED ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND FINANCIAL NEED. IN CASE IN WHICH A STUDENT DOES NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HIS/HER COLLEGE OF CHOICE, MINDS MATTER HELPS THE STUDENT AND HIS/HER FAMILY NEGOTIATE A MORE GENEROUS AWARD AND DETERMINE FINANICAL 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 AT A 4 YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.