Our Program

A four-year program beginning in tenth grade, Minds Matter Boston provides wrap-around services, including 2:1 mentoring, professional ACT and writing instruction, access to college-immersion summer programs, and personalized college advising, to ensure that promising students have equal opportunity to gain admission to, enroll in, and graduate from competitive four-year colleges.

Minds Matter students join our program as sophomores in high school and receive the following: 

  • Individualized mentor support: focused support from two dedicated mentors every Saturday. Mentors and students build strong relationships and work together to help achieve the students' academic and personal goals.

  • Professional ACT preparation: differentiated, small- group instruction led by Princeton Review tutors that cover testing strategies for all 4 subject tests every Saturday.

  • Professional writing instruction: program introduced in program year 2016-17 to strengthen students' writing and critical thinking skills while teaching them to advocate for social change. 

  • Group academic instruction: in-class instruction focused on college prep facilitated by Team Leads.

  • Access to experts on college admissions & financial aid: outside speakers who specialize in college selection, admission and financial aid processes present to mentors and mentees in junior and senior year.

  • Summer enrichment programs: opportunity to attend two rigorous summer academic programs at top-tier institutions to explore their educational interests. 

  • Alumni program: mentorship, workshops and internships are offered to first-year alumni to support their matriculation and transition to college.

OUR REACH

2019 – 2020 Academic Year:

  • 21 Boston & Cambridge Area schools represented

  • 126 Students served (33 sophomores, 32 juniors, 34 seniors, 27 first-year alumni)

  • +200 Volunteers involved

OUR IMPACT

2018-2019 AcADEMIC YEAR:

  • On average, students saw a 15% increase on their ACT composite and 35% increase in their writing skills (as measured by the Common Core State Standard Writing Rubric) after one year of instruction

  • 96% of Sophomores and Juniors attended a college-prep summer program

  • 100% of Seniors gained admission to a 4-year college or university

    • 81% of Seniors were accepted to a college in Barron’s top three tiers

    • 49% of Seniors gained admission to Top 50 schools

  • The average Senior received $48,000 in first-year financial aid, meeting 94% of their financial need

  • 100% of Seniors believed MMB who played a major role in preparing them for college

  • 94% of Minds Matter Boston alumni are still enrolled or have graduated from a 4-year college

Select Colleges ATTended by Graduates

  • American College

  • Amherst College

  • Boston College

  • Bowdoin College

  • Bryn Mawr College

  • Dartmouth College

  • Howard University

  • Northeastern University

  • Tufts University

  • Vassar College

  • Wellesley College