Become a DC Semester Program Mentor
From warm greetings to speaker and site visit contacts to internship leads, our DC Semester Program scholars continue to benefit immensely from W&M alumni. In order to strengthen these valuable ties, we have decided to establish a more formal program to connect these students with alumni.
To become a mentor, sign up here.
DC Semester Program Background
Our bright and focused students have been selected to participate in the DC Semester Program via a competitive application process. Each student spends 30-35 hours a week interning with an organization that matches his or her interest and the semester's theme, while concurrently taking two classes and an independent study related to the internship.
Mentorship Program
When you become a mentor for the DC Semester Program, William & Mary Washington Center administrators will match you with a current student according to shared professional interests. Ideally, a mentor occasionally takes time during the semester to talk to mentees about their experiences in DC, their future careers, and the options that they face during this stage of their professional development.
What Does a Mentor Do?
A mentor is a person who provides any of the following support to a mentee:
- Advice on career options and fields of interest
- Guidance and support as the student develops his or her own professional network
- Consultation on résumés, cover letters, or certain ways to approach a potential employer
- Preparation for interviews and professional challenges
- Introduction to a variety of resources to assist the mentee in preparing for a specific career and transitioning from W&M to the "real world"
(Please note: It is not the mentor's role to help the student find a job in his or her organization or personal network. The mentor is assisting in building a skill set necessary to pursue career opportunities.)
