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Student-Mentor Relationships

Discover the importance of mentors in your academic journey. A good mentor can take many forms, from an academic advisor to a thesis supervisor, either formally or informally. Mentored individuals tend to achieve greater success, so finding the right mentor is crucial. This guide outlines how to choose a mentor based on your interests and needs, how to be an effective mentee, and what to do if the relationship isn’t working. Remember, the right mentor could be outside your department or even a peer.

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Student-Mentor Relationships

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  1. Student-Mentor Relationships Helen C. Harton Professor of Psychology harton@uni.edu

  2. What is a mentor, and why do I need one? • Could be academic advisor, thesis supervisor, graduate coordinator, or other faculty member • Can be a formal or informal relationship • People who are mentored are generally more successful • Remember that you don’t have to get everything from one person

  3. A good mentor should… • Spend time with you • Provide you with feedback • Provide you with information/resources • Support you and be willing to go to bat for you • Help you find useful experiences/colleagues

  4. How should you choose a mentor? • Things to consider about yourself • Research/scholarly interests • Current level of knowledge/skills • Timetable • What and how much support you need

  5. Things to consider about the mentor • Availability • Reputation • Track record • Personality • Talk to advanced students about potential mentors • Fit is everything!

  6. How can you be a good mentee? • Communicate clearly about expectations • Be respectful of their time • Be respectful of their feedback • Trust that they know more than you, at least about some things • Know what their pet peeves are • Come with solutions, not problems

  7. Admit your mistakes • Don’t assume they can read your mind • Be pleasant to work with • Be independent but not too independent • Plan on revisions • Realize faculty are human and have outside lives too

  8. What should you do if it’s not working • Be open and communicate with the mentor first • Be careful with email (though it can be helpful in documentation) • Don’t escalate • Check with others to make sure you’re seeing things accurately

  9. If it’s still bad… • Exploitation • Harassment • Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad coordinator, department head) and if that person doesn’t listen, find someone else • Keep in mind that some faculty are obligated to report sexual harassment

  10. Remember • You don’t HAVE to have a mentor • Your ideal mentor may actually be outside your department or a peer • Don’t get discouraged—there are people out there who’d love to help you succeed and are a good fit for your needs and interests.

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