How does a mentor support you?

Assist in overcoming obstacles to your education

Mentors are community near-peer level volunteers. They are established in their careers and ready to help students complete their education. They will listen and help you access campus and community resources. If you’re struggling to stay in college, your mentor can work with you to tackle problems like affording tuition, finding housing or registering for classes.

Provide Career advising and academic direction

Trying to figure out what to do with your college degree or what to study? Pick a mentor to learn about their career, field and education.

How do I get a mentor?

Please select the button below to register for our free mentoring service.

We will match you according to the preferences you list.

You can also look through our Mentor Directory and when you sign-up, you may request specifically who you’d like to meet with.

Questions? Email info@mentoringproject.org

faqS

How and for how long do I meet with my mentor?

To start, you will meet virtually with your mentor 1 - 3 times. You can meet through any agreed upon platform (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, etc.) with your mentor. After these initial meetings, you will both decide if the match is a good fit and you can continue to meet.

How do I qualify?

If you are 18 or over, have a low-income background, and are a college student, you qualify! You could be enrolled in or planning to attend a community college or university. You must have a low-income background, but you do not have to submit proof.

Who are the mentors?

You can meet some mentors on our Mentor Directory page. They are mostly:

  • Patient, resourceful and caring. They won’t have all of the answers but they will know where to help you look.

  • Community volunteers, not experts or licensed professionals.

  • Diverse in their backgrounds

  • College graduates (many have graduate degrees in STEM fields)

  • Near-peer or within ten years of college graduation.

  • First generation in their families to go to college and struggled to overcome educational barriers

Are Bi-lingual mentors available?

Yes! Bi-lingual mentors are available who speak:

  • Vietnamese

  • Spanish

  • Mandarin

Please let us know in your application if you prefer a mentor with fluency in one of these languages.

Will The Mentoring Project give me money for college?

No, but we will help you apply for financial aid by making sure you have the support you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Washington Application for State Financial (WASFA) if you are undocumented. We can help you identify scholarships you may qualify for. We can also connect you to campus or community resources if you need emergency financial aid.

The Mentoring Project is committed to treating all persons with dignity and respect while building a diverse, equitable, inclusive environment where opportunities are accessible to all.