variations with academic Level

In general, graduate student mentees are:

• Knowledgeable enough about how their interests fit into the professional realm to dedicate their energy to a particular area of professional study

• Focused on becoming very good and very successful at their chosen profession

• Engaging in a lifetime relationship with their mentor that involves passing on a professional legacy

• Experience transition of identity from subordinate to colleague through the mentoring process

• Share mutual interests with their mentor

• Exchange expressions of regard and shared experiences with their mentor

In general, undergraduate mentees are:

• Seeking to gain an understanding of themselves and their interests

• Searching the professional realm to find where their interests might fit into it

• Usually in a relationship with a mentor for a limited period

• Going to experience a transformation, through their mentoring relationships, from being an emerging adult to being a self-reflective, informed adult who can deliberately choose their vocational identity

• Undergraduate students also may choose a different professional path than the one they have been mentored in

In general, high school students:

• Usually have a shorter term relationship with their mentor than undergraduates, most often limited to 6-8 weeks in the summertime

• Are developing critical thinking, self-regulation, and organizational skills

• Are developing an understanding of the scientific process, including methods of inquiry and scientific communication

• Are developing their attention spans and their commitment levels, as a result, they will likely need greater variety in their work day than undergraduates or graduates in order to stay focused and motivated

The experience of other mentors can be extraordinarily helpful. Two articles providing summaries of those experiences are available in the open-access journal, PLOS Computational Biology, and are a good place to start:

• Ten simple rules for providing a meaningful research experience to high school students

• A Win for Science- The Benefits of Mentoring High School Students in the Lab

NOTE : To work with minors at NC State you must request approval and complete required training. The details of these requirements are outlined on the NCSU Programs Involving Participation of Minor web page.