learning about a potential mentee

When interviewing potential mentees prior to acceptance or mentor assignment, it's important to learn some key things, such as:

• Particulars of their interest in your group's research

• Level of experience and knowledge beyond their completed coursework

• Career interests

• Coursework they particularly liked and what about it interested them

• Personal passions, if any

• Time available to commit to a project, both hours per week, number of semesters, and willingness to do summer internships

• What the potential mentee desires to get out of the experience

To maximize commitment, satisfaction, and success, it is important to connect with some key things of the mentee's background and qualities, such as,

• Potential mentor's available time

• Mentee's desire for outcome of their experience

• Skill level of the mentee relative to time available for training

• Size of the project relative to the number of semesters the mentee can commit

• How the potential mentee's interests might fit with the research group's work

• Evaluating graduate students: preliminary examination slides and documents can be a good source

• Evaluating undergraduates:

  • Resumes

  • Unofficial transcripts

  • Catalog course descriptions for coursework completed

  • Related work samples, if applicable, such as written projects

• Evaluating high school students:

  • Unofficial transcript

  • School profile on school website

  • Teacher recommendations, if available

• Evaluating potential mentees, in general

  • Face-to-face interview