AIU Alumni Mentoring Program Part 1
December 12, 2011
•Alumni
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Being a student at American InterContinental University is a unique experience; not only do our students receive a comprehensive and career-oriented online education, but you also have the choice of joining the AIU Mentoring Program when you enroll. AIU’s Mentoring Program is designed to help students acclimate to college life: how to navigate our Virtual Campus, how to plan your studies around the rest of your life, and how to connect what you learn to your future career. Having a mentor can help a student receive the direction they need to be successful in their academic pursuits and help build the foundation on which a career plan can be built.
As an AIU student, your relationship with your mentor might be unconventional: instead of meeting with your mentor for lunch, you’ll have a regular e-mail correspondence, and perhaps instant messaging and video conference meetings if you and your mentor choose. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a full and rewarding relationship with your mentor. Despite the online nature of your connection with your mentor, you’ll still need to be an active participant in order to get the most out of the experience. Staying inquisitive can help you pick your mentor’s brain about succeeding in college, striking a balance with work, school and home, and how to leverage your education to in your job search.
What works?
Pursuing an online degree might be a new journey for you, so having a mentor can give you an additional resource. Asking your mentor about what studying techniques worked best for them can offer you insight into how they succeeded in their classes. You can also ask them about the university resources they used to help them prepare for their coursework and how to communicate best with professors and instructors when you need help with course materials.
What now?
Being enrolled in a college degree program can be overwhelming at times—especially if you’re returning to the classroom after years away from school or if you’re juggling schoolwork with a family and a job. Asking your mentor for advice on how to strike a school/life balance can help you learn to manage your time more effectively. And for those times when you’re stressed, sometimes a simple e-mail exchange with your mentor can give you the boost you need to keep hitting the books.
What’s next?
The AIU Mentoring Program doesn’t end when you finish your degree—in fact, many AIU grads have lasting personal and professional relationships with their mentors or other alumni. Once you’re ready to start your career search, you can call on your mentor’s experience for ideas on how to network and cultivate professional contacts, when to reach out to employers for job opportunities, and which areas of your field you’re best suited for. And if you and your mentor are in the same profession, he or she can give you advice once you’ve landed the job you want.
Having a mentor to guide you through your higher education can be one of the most useful and encouraging relationships you have during your college experience. At AIU, we’ve learned that building relationships can be one of the most effective tools towards academic success.