Step 2
Student Application Overview
Congratulations! You’re one step closer to joining the Minds Matter program and becoming a college student.
By going through and completing the Minds Matter application process, students are proactively practicing for the college application process.
What You Need to Know Before Applying
The Minds Matter Application should take about an hour total to complete.
You can save the application and come back to it at another time by clicking the “save my progress” check box at the top of the application.
Make sure to keep track of the email address you use to log in!
There are multiple components of the application that different people will need to complete.
Component 1: Student Information
- Student contact information, school information, and extracurricular details
- Two written short answer questions (1-2 paragraphs per question)
- Your parent/caregiver email address and phone number
- Your guidance counselor’s name and email address (usually located on your school’s website)
- The name and email address of a teacher who will submit a recommendation form for you
Component 2: Teacher + Guidance
Counselor Recommendation Forms
It’s a good idea to let your counselor and teacher know that you are requesting a recommendation form that will come to them via email. We recommend giving educators two weeks notice to complete recommendations. Don't forget to follow up if needed, and to thank your recommenders!
- When you enter your teacher and counselor’s contact information in your application, we will send them a link via email to complete your recommendation forms..
- The Minds Matter recommendation form has a few short prompts for the recommender to answer, rather than asking them to write a letter from scratch.
- Your guidance counselor will also attach a copy of your most recent transcript to your application via this form.
Component 3: Parent/Caregiver Form
- When you enter your parent/caregiver’s contact information in your application, we will send them a link via email to complete your Parent/Caregiver Form.
- They will fill out this form to permit your participation in the Minds Matter program, report their income, and attach their tax forms to validate their income.
- We accept the following forms as proof of income: W-2, 1099, 1040, and proof of Social Security/Disability benefits.
- If you have multiple caregivers that contribute to your household, they will all need to submit proof of income.
Being a part of the Minds Matter community makes me feel like my future matters.
Nadia, Minds Matter Class of 2024,
Kenyon College Class of 2028
We’re here to help!
Please reach out to admissions@mindsmattercleveland.org via email if you have questions about forms, income and/or personal circumstances that you are unsure about and need to talk through with us.