What you get when you join
Everything here is free. It's the easiest first step toward a successful first year for your scholar.
A community that gets it
Parents and students walking the same road. Support, straight talk, and no judgment.
Near-peer advice
Real talk from students and parents a few steps ahead
The free guide
Instant access to The Freshman Failure Trap - the 10 reasons freshmen struggle and what to do about each.
Ask the founder
Post your questions to Matthew directly. He reads everything, and the answers help everyone.
Free live masterclasses
Invitations to live sessions where we tackle the transition in real time
A calmer runway
Bit by bit, get ready — so move-in feels like a plan instead of a scramble.
From a team with a track record
The Ace The Transition community comes from the people behind NxtGEN STEM Scholars — the first virtual multi-institutional college bridge program.
1,000+
students served
97%
first-year retention
3.5
average first-year GPA
About the founder
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Hi, I'm Matthew — founder of Ace The Transition and one of the community hosts. I've spent more than a decade working on one problem: helping students not just get into college, but also succeed through it.
Why did I create this community? To create the college on-ramp I wish I'd had. I was admitted directly into the University of Michigan College of Engineering on a full academic scholarship. Even though I demonstrated tons of potential, I did not have a clear purpose, self-regulation skills, or the resilience to deal with the adversity that comes with college and personal life. I ended up dropping out with tons of debt and no degree.
It took me seven hard years to return to higher education. By then, I had matured and spent alot of time thinking about what I could have done differently. I excelled as a nontraditional student, earning University Honors and making the Dean's List multiple times. I worked as a peer mentor, tutor, and eventually a program director, helping students find their own success.
I started researching the factors that play into student performance as a PhD student in Design Science, and became heavily involved with advocacy initiatives to improve student retention on a national level. I served two terms as National Chairperson of the National Society of Black Engineers, where I led efforts to increase degree attainment for minority engineering students.
I've watched too many good people struggle through a transition no one prepared them for. This community is my way of packaging the knowledge, experience, and social capital I've gained to help others find their way.
I sincerely hope you will consider joining our community. We would love to have you!
Matthew C. Nelson
Questions
Are the communities really free?
Yes. The community, the guide, and the live masterclasses are all free. There's a paid 5-week program for families who want more, but joining costs nothing.
Who are the communities for?
Aspiring/current college students and their families. Parents and students each get their own space.
Can students under 18 join? is it safe?
Yes. Students are welcome in their own space, the community is actively moderated, and students under 18 should join with a parent's help and consent.
What's the paid program?
The Freshman Launch Cohort is a 5-week live program where students build a personal plan for the first year, with a parallel parent track. You'll learn more once you're inside the community.
© Ace The Transition · community.acethetransition.com · Preparing families for what college actually demands.