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The Program runs for approximately 6 months, from November to April. The professional relationship between the mentor and mentee may continue beyond the program depending on the pairing.

No two alumni-student pairs are the same, and each will develop its own rhythm and frequency of interaction. Mentors are encouraged to prioritize communication with their mentees at least twice a month, whether via email, phone call, skype, or in person where possible.

The application process is competitive. Once the student mentees are selected, SOC academic advisors, career center advisors and SOC Development staff participate in a matching process. The team makes every effort to match a student's degree goals to a mentor's industry, as well as the student's level of academic achievement to a mentor's level of professional experience. If a suitable match cannot be found, the team will not try to impose a mismatched relationship and will notify the mentor that a perfect match was not found. Mentor applicants who are not matched are encouraged to renew their application for the following year.

The mentoring relationship begins when the mentee initiates contact with their mentor. This should occur in late October/early November, shortly after the students are accepted into the Program, undergo orientation and receive the names of their respective mentors.

Mentees may be interested in topics such as career goals, resume building and networking. We recommend that your first interaction includes a conversation about the mentee’s career and program goals. The mentee is encouraged to share with their mentor a resume and personal statement in order to establish a foundation for the mentee’s goals to build from.

Alumni mentor applicants may email SOC Development Coordinator, Lindsay Zimnoch, zimnoch@american.edu, to apply for the Program. Once the application is reviewed, mentor applicants will be contacted by the SOC Development Coordinator to schedule a phone or Skype call. If possible, someone from the SOC Development team will schedule an in person meeting to discuss the mentor applicant’s interest and expectations.

Mentors should feel free to email SOC Development Coordinator, Lindsay Zimnoch, zimnoch@american.edu.