Getting to Know Your Mentor: Education & College Experience THE APPLICATION AND DECISION PROCESS 1. When did you start thinking about, and planning for, college? 2. What influenced your decision about where you wanted to go to school and what type of school you wanted to attend (private, public, liberal arts, HBCU, large, small, etc.)? 3. Did you choose to go to school near or far from where you grew up? UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE 4. As a freshman, did you know what you wanted to major in? Did you graduate with that major, or did you change it? Did you have a minor? 5. If you had your undergraduate years to do again, what would you do the same and what would you do differently? 6. How did you finance your undergraduate education? GRADUATE SCHOOL 7. Do you have an advanced degree? If yes, what degree (Master’s, PhD, JD, etc.) and in what subject area? What prompted your decision to obtain an advanced degree? 8. If no, do you plan to pursue an advanced degree? What is currently motivating you to pursue (or not pursue) an advanced degree? PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 9. Based on your experience, what would you recommend I do during high school to prepare me for college? 10. What would you recommend I do during high school to gain college acceptance? 11. What kinds of things should I do now to make me successful in college? Career & Work Experience Your mentor is a great resource to give you insight into what it is like to work in environmental fields. The following are a few questions you can use to learn more about possible environmentally-related fields. 1. What are your first memories of wanting to work in the areas of science, technology and/or the environment, or the profession in which you are currently working? What was your inspiration? 2. What experiences (including internships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, etc.) led you to your current job?
3. What do you like most about your job? 4. What do you like least about your job? 5. What do you like most about your overall career? 6. What special knowledge, skills and abilities are required for your current job? 7. What are the special strengths you bring to your job? 8. What are your aspirations for the future? 9. Would you feel comfortable sharing your resume with me or sharing tips on how to create a useful and effective resume? 10. Would you feel comfortable helping me design and build my resume? 11. Do you have any other thoughts about how to be successful in the fields of science, technology and/or the environment?
Getting to Know Your Student The following are some questions to help you learn about your student's interests, aspirations, and life. Education 1. What is your favorite subject? Why? 2. What is your hardest subject? Why? 3. What kind of teachers do you like? 4. What kind of learner do you think you are: visual, auditory, hands-on, or passive? 5. What was the best project you have ever done in school? Graduation and College 6. Are you on track to graduate high school? If not, what do you need to do? 7. What are you looking forward to after high school? 8. Are you planning on going to college? 9. What type of college are you interested in attending? (size, location, programs, etc) 10. Has anyone else in your family graduated high school? Attended college? Career 11. What jobs or careers paths (such as family members' jobs) do you know about? 12. What is the most interesting job that you have ever seen? 13. What do you think you want to do when you get older?
14. What do you think you need to do to get there? 15. Are you currently doing any activities or programs that will help you prepare for that career?