The Benefits of Having a Mentor in College: Why You Should Consider Seeking One

As you are weighing options, I recommend to my students to investigate some of the lesser-known features of the colleges offering admission. Mentorship opportunities may be a defining factor - do you need a mentor in college? Some benefits of having a mentor in college include: assistance with navigating your courses, finding internships and other resume-building options.

 College mentorship may come in different forms. Greek life is one option. If you are interested in Greek life and joining an organization along these lines, ensure your college provides ample information about the quality, security and oversight. The first stop is the college or university website and somewhere under campus life, there should be an explanation of the school's requirements as well as punishment for infractions. Fraternities and sororities offer networking and social experiences that foster growth. Networking may lead to future internship or job opportunities and if elected to a position within the organization, students may build their resume. Greek organizations connect new members with mentors in future career paths. I will be posting a blog in the upcoming weeks for pros and cons of Greek life.

Another mentorship opportunity exists with honor societies. While some are similar to a fraternity or sorority and may even have a Greek name, these societies do not have residential facilities and are directly linked to a program, discipline or niche area. Some popular societies include Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society for Leadership and Success. There are tons more! These are two that are common at both 2-year schools and 4-year schools. Both offer access to scholarships available to members only as well as resume-building opportunities. Additionally, alumni from the school's chapters may have direct influence on current membership through networking, fellowship, internship or industry tour assistance. These options will be chapter specific and worth talking to the advisor on campus to see how membership will benefit you.

Finally, I have two other options and one leads to the other. If you have identified your intended major, ask to speak with the program chair or if there is an assigned academic advisor for the program, set up an appointment with them. Between March and June is a great time to catch these folks. Faculty usually have summers off and advisors are likely giving tours to interested students for the next admission cycle. Some things to ask your potential faculty mentor include:

• Can you tell me about your background in this field? (probably want to start with some small talk...)

• Do you have connections with local industry partners for internships?

• What career path do you recommend for me in my first, second, transfer, etc? Have a general idea and allow the faculty member to provide their insight.

• If you will need to transfer to another school, maybe ask for suggestions. Faculty in entry-level disciplines will know what is required to get into top schools...political science generally know about law school (LSAT as well) criteria; social work and psychology also well-versed in transfer programs for grad school to meet industry requirements to practice; natural science faculty also have insight into medical career paths.

• And then ask some development questions...what books to recommend I read? Are there resume builders you suggest? What are some things you would do differently?

While a faculty member may be crunched for time, they are generally more informed than academic advisors. However, a dedicated advisor to a program (e.g. aviation) may have the connections and time to devote to mentorship - not to mention, it is likely part of their job to ensure placement after graduation.

There are other options for finding a mentor as well. Maybe you really liked an instructor or particular advisor - ask if they would help you on your path. Perhaps, you really liked a guest speaker, send an email afterwards. Or, there is a club on campus that has connected you to like-minded individuals, send an email or participate in a larger event sponsored by the club. Get involved in the community! College is a time for exploration as well as development - finding a mentor will help you on your career path.

State legislatures can make college admission a guarantee...

Earlier this week, the University of Wisconsin system joined Tennessee and Texas in guaranteeing in-state students admission to colleges in their system, by passing a bill in the state legislature. According to the Associated Press,the University of Wisconsin-Madison would be required to admit all high school students who finish in the top 5% of their class. Other campuses would be required to admit the top 10%, as described in a bill passed by the state legislature.

Texas has had a similar program in effect since 1997 and Tennessee just instituted their policy in September 2023. The goal, according to Wisconsin officials, is to encourage Wisconsin students to stay in Wisconsin after graduation. This bill is not without some questionable exchanges.

With Republican state legislators driving negotiations, the university system conceded to mandated cuts and modifications to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In return, the system will receive an estimated $800 million to compensate for staff raises and construction projects. This trade off is timely given conversations about the pending enrollment decline in higher education that is expected to peak in the next two years nationwide. In order to prevent closures or consolidation, these deals within states with declining population may become more popular.

What does this mean for students? If you are the student of state where the legislature is considering "guaranteed" admission to in-state colleges, be sure to read the fine print. Once bills are enacted, be sure to understand the parameters such as minimum GPA, class standing/rank, any restrictions on academic major or program, requirements to transfer to in-state four year programs if admission to two-year school is guaranteed and others.

On the other hand, there are some genuine benefits to this program that may be reflected in a response to guaranteed admission. Requirements for standardized test scores may become optional or no longer required at more schools. AP and dual enrollment programs may expand to include more degree or program options. Financial aid, grants and funding may change in response to enrollment trends. Declines in out of state applications may encourage more aggressive recruiting and outreach. This is something to watch for sure...in the meantime, if your state has an opportunity for FREE education, take advantage and make a plan!

What are the factors in college admission decisions?

As the acceptance, deferral and non-acceptance letters are rolling out, it begs the question: what factors do colleges consider in their admission decisions?

The National Association for College Admission Counseling has published data from fall 2023. The top two factors are high school grades in college prep courses and total high school grades in all courses - reflected initially in the GPA. While sample size is 185 students and you'll have to dig a little deeper into the data to investigate types of schools reporting data, these two factors mirror previous reporting.

COVID-19 forced colleges and universities to adapt their standardized test score policy. Many are returning to requiring submission of scores, while others are remaining test-optional. Standardized test scores fall way lower on the list of admission factors than one might expect. The recent data suggests schools are more interested in a student's ability to successfully complete college coursework/degree as indicated by academic rigor at the high school and the student's GPA. The student's interest in attending the school ranks higher than the standardized test scores!

What about the essay for writing sample? This factor rounded out the top 5 and it is noteworthy that Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores ranked higher than standardized test scores for many schools. This difference might be attributed to the school and/or program applied for...so keep that in mind when registering for high school classes next year.

I highly encourage rising juniors and seniors to reach out to the schools they intend to apply to (grad class 2025 and grade class 2026 seniors, I'm looking at you) to begin the conversation about what AP/IB and dual-enrolled classes will transfer. Please check out my other blog posts on this topic, linked below. It is not uncommon for top-tier schools to limit the amount of AP credit and dual-credit they will allow which makes registering for high school classes part of the strategy. It may be best to speak with the high school counselors or if you want more detailed assistance, a college consultant can help.

Ultimately, colleges and universities are more likely to look at your student holistically rather than just one factor. That's a good thing!