The first year of college is an adjustment, and just like in high school, you could benefit greatly by having the advice and guidance of an experienced mentor! A good college mentor knows the demanding schedule of collegiate life and is willing to help with any first (or four) year challenges. If you’re not sure where to find one, or if a mentor relationship will be right for you, read on to find out!
Finding a College Mentor:
You should start looking as early as possible. Once you get settled into college life, start building relationships with your professors to see whose personality, ideals, and experience closely align with yours and what you hope to achieve. You can also try accessing the alumni database to see if you can make a connection with a graduate who had the same major or career path as you. Most importantly, don’t limit yourself to lecture halls when finding a mentor - Greek organizations (like business fraternities), sports clubs, and other societies are great places to look for one.
Finding a Career Mentor:
Career mentors are different than college mentors because they help prepare you for life as a professional. The main similarity between them, however, is that you should start looking for a career mentor just as early in the school year as a college mentor. Reach out to your professors and let them know that you are looking for someone to help you align your college and career goals. There are mentorship programs that you can join as well, and your career service counselor can help with introductions based on your interests, major, and location.
Like any mentor relationship, you should meet to establish expectations for each other so you each know what to expect throughout the year. Here are some ideas to help get your first meeting started productively:
Identify goals and create a plan. Establish your college and career objectives and create a plan based on weekly/monthly activities that work towards your goal.
List challenges. This a great way to figure out how your mentor deals with difficult circumstances, and a good time to brainstorm possible alternatives and solutions.
Meet other like-minded people. If your mentor shares the same interests, they will be a great resource to finding contacts in similar majors or career paths.
Check back often to re-align goals. Once you decide that your mentor is the right one for you, maintain contact as often as appropriate to keep your goals on track. And remember to thank them for all of their help!
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