Apply to the Minds Matter Chicago Program

Empowering high-potential, low-income students through personalized support and guidance.

How to Apply

Minds Matter Chicago is recruiting current high school freshmen (Class of 2028) to join our program in Fall 2025! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until our cohort is filled.

Click the links to view forms:

before you apply...

Check Your Eligibility

In order to be considered for admission to the MMC program, you must:

  • Be a freshman student during the application year
  • Maintain an overall unweighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher
  • Be committed to pursuing a Bachelor's degree from a four-year college
  • Come from a low-income household (eligible for HUD or 200% of the FPL)
  • Demonstrate strong academic potential, motivation, maturity, and responsibility
  • Contribute to extracurricular activities or community efforts, or hold a part-time job
  • Show that you would benefit greatly from a summer academic experience

Understand the program requirements

If you are accepted to the Minds Matter Chicago program, you will be expected to:

  • Commit to 3 years of program participation, working together with two mentors
  • Attend Minds Matter sessions 10:30 am - 2:30 pm every Saturday during the school academic year (excluding holidays and breaks) at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago
  • Participate in a summer enrichment program during the summer following your sophomore or junior year
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and remain in good academic standing

Important Dates

December 15, 2024
APPLICATION GOES LIVE

February 2025
SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS

March 2025
MINDS MATTER LIVE (OPEN HOUSE)

March - August 2025
APPLICATION REVIEWS

August 2025
CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS

September 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE

September 2025
ACCEPTED STUDENT & PARENTS DAY

Frequently Asked Questions

Still Have questions?

We Have the
answers!

If you've looked through this page and still have questions about our program or our processes, our team is here to help! You can contact a Minds Matter Chicago representative by emailing admissions@mindsmatterchicago.org

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