|
Student Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the mentors that participate in the program?
A: The mentors are senior level executives representing diverse functions, companies and industries in the Seattle community. Some of the mentors have been with the program since its beginning nine years ago, and others are new this year.
Q: What is the time commitment?
A: First year students attend two on-site visits (generally 2 -3 hours). In preparation for the visit students meet with their group and do company research. The student leader for the group sets up logistics and details of the agenda. For second year students, the time commitment can vary widely. Generally you will meet 3 to 4 times throughout the year, for several hours at a time.
Q: What if the mentor match does not prove to be a good match in terms of personality or career interest?
A: In rare cases where students and mentors are not compatible, meetings may be terminated after a couple of sessions.
Q: Is the Mentor Program designed to get me a job?
A: No! The Mentor Program is not an employment finding opportunity. It is designed for you to gain real world exposure to senior level executives in industry and functions of interest to you.
Q: Who gets to participate in the Mentor Program?
A: Currently, the program is available to full time day and evening students in both the first and second year classes.
Q: As a first year student, how do I participate in the program?
A: In October, you will have the chance to bid for two mentor visits. Once you have been matched with your mentor visits in November, you will elect one member of the group to serve as the student lead with the mentor. The majority of on-site visits take place between late January and early March of winter quarter. Five to ten students typically attend the on-site visits.
Q: As a second year student, how do I participate in the program?
A: As a second year student, you will participate in the ongoing mentor matching portion of the program. You bid on mentors whose background and experience align with your interests and goals. You will be assigned one mentor. Generally, each mentor is matched with three students. The form and frequency of the interactions between you and the mentors vary, but most student groups meet 3 or 4 times over the course of the academic year. You will elect a lead student from your small group to arrange the first meeting, usually by the end of fall quarter. Subsequent meetings for the rest of the year are arranged at the mutual convenience of the mentor and the students.
Q: What are the basic responsibilities of the student leader?
A: This individual will assist in planning the logistics and agenda for the visit. The agenda can be crafted by your group and the mentor, and may include: a company tour, meeting with other executives from the company, working on a case study related to the business, a discussion of career paths and opportunities in the industry, and a question and answer session. These are just a few of the possibilities that have worked well.
Q: Can second year students on exchange participate in the Mentor Program?
A: Yes. You will still need to fill out a bid sheet and let us know when you will be returning to the program. You may miss one meeting while you are away, but you can catch up when you return.
Q: If I cannot attend the Mentor Reception on October 18th, can I still participate in the program?
A: You can still participate. We recognize you have many demands on your time, but we strongly recommend you attend at least part of the reception from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Burke Museum. It will give you a chance to meet potential mentors, get to know senior level executives, and be smarter about your mentor choices. Also, it will be a great way to enjoy some desserts, drinks, and relax before or after midterms! This is the networking event of the year, so please come even if you are not planning to participate in the Mentor Program!
Q: What is the Mentor Briefing?
A: The Mentor Briefing is a session designed to describe the program, your responsibilities, expectations, and most importantly, give you your mentor assignments. It is a required part of the program, so please plan on attending.
Q: Where can I find a list of participating mentors?
A: The MBA Mentor Biographies 2007-2008 can be found here: http://depts.washington.edu/bschool/career/mentor/mentorIndex07.shtml
Please note this page is password protected.
Q: I have more questions!
A: Please feel free to contact us for more information:
Susan Canfield, Mentor Program Director:
susancan@u.washington.edu or (206) 616-8609
Kava Vale, Program Coordinator:
kava@u.washington.edu, or (206) 685-9263
Matt Bartels, Program Assistant:
bcc@u.washington.edu, or (206) 685-2410
|
