Be A College Writing Coach for A First-Gen High School Student in LA — Saturdays

About the role

As a Minds Matter College Writing Coach, you’ll work with 2–3 students during the fall semester from August 2026 to January 2027, supporting them through personal statements and supplemental essays. Writing Coaches help students find their voice, gain confidence in their ideas, and see writing as a tool for self-discovery and self-advocacy. You’ll offer thoughtful, constructive feedback, ask reflective questions, and guide students in shaping essays that feel true to who they are.

Support & Belonging

You’ll receive guidance, resources, and ongoing support from program leads and staff. You’ll be part of a community that values empathy, reflection, and care, and understands the responsibility of holding students’ stories with respect.

What you’ll love

You’ll love this role if you enjoy writing, storytelling, or coaching others through the creative process and want to make a tangible, personal impact during the college application process.

Impact

• “My writing coach really fostered my writing to a new level. I am confident that the essay I wrote with his help is my best essay yet.”
• “My writing coach always prioritized my ideas, allowing me to truly express myself, building on my ideas, not the other way around.”

About Minds Matter

We believe a student's zip code should never decide their future—and that opportunity begins with someone who cares. Every Saturday, our students—most of them the first in their families on the road to college—come together with a community of volunteer mentors, writing coaches, test prep tutors, and college advisors for programming that spans mentorship, college essay writing, SAT preparation, social-emotional learning, summer program access, and college advising. The results speak for themselves: 100% of our students are accepted to four-year colleges, and 80% of our current college students attend top-50 schools as ranked by US News.

But what makes Minds Matter special is the community behind those numbers. Our volunteers don't need to be educators or admissions experts—we provide training, co-mentor pairings, and staff support for every role. What they bring is consistency, care, and a belief in every student's potential. Many tell us they've learned as much from their students as they've given, and mentor relationships often continue well beyond the program—through college, graduations, even weddings. Whether you have two hours on a Saturday or a passion for storytelling, test-taking strategy, or holding space for honest conversation, there's a place for you in this story.

Minds Matter is an organization dedicated to preparing motivated and bright students from low-income families to succeed in college. For more information, visit the Minds Matter SoCal website or email us at recruiting@mindsmattersocal.org.