Become a College Mentor and Support a High School Senior's Next Steps!

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East Harlem Tutorial Program’s (EHTP) mission is to support scholars to build the academic skills, strength of character, and emotional well-being to thrive in school and lead in their communities. The College Mentoring Program is one way we work towards achieving our goal.

CMP is a two-year postsecondary advising, access, and success program for high school seniors in EHTP’s programs and schools known as East Harlem Scholar Academies. Students and mentors make a two-year commitment to the mentoring relationship, extending from the senior year of high school (CMP Y1) into the first year post-graduation (CMP Y2).

Year 1: Designed to provide critical, personal, and responsive support to students throughout the college application and financial aid process. Mentors and mentees, with the support of staff, are focused on postsecondary discernment and application submission.

Year 2: Mentors stay in touch with their mentees through monthly, virtual, staff-facilitated touchpoints, and provide guidance and support for their students during the first year of their postsecondary experience. Monthly touch-points include topics such as academic advising, career coaching, and social-emotional wellness. Outside of organized virtual meetings, mentors regularly communicate with mentees during informal phone calls, in-person meetings, or online communication.

Mentors will also receive quarterly training throughout CMP years 1 and 2 to give them the skills to best support their mentees.

Mentor Responsibilities:

- Mentees apply to a minimum of 6 CUNY and/or SUNY schools (Y1)

- Support students as they research and apply to an additional six "best fit" colleges or programs and at least four scholarships (Y1)

- Complete all required parts of the college application with students by program deadlines, including the personal statement, financial aid applications, and submission of academic records (Y1)

- Support your mentee as they transition into and through their first-year post-graduation experience via monthly virtual meetings and regular communication via email, text, call, or in-person meetings (Y2)

- Support the development of their professional communication skills, including skills related to interviews and email communication

- Track and report student progress regularly in accordance with program policies

- Act as a role model, resource, and support system to your mentee

- Communicate regularly with program staff, including completing weekly or monthly check-in summaries and proactive outreach related to student concerns or needs

Competencies of a Successful Mentor:

- Extreme locus of control - mentor goes above and beyond to meet goals and is action-oriented

- Excellent project manager - a mentor is highly organized, can articulate a system for keeping track of responsibilities and meeting deadlines, and has a willingness and desire to do the research necessary to develop a list of "best fit" schools for the mentee

- Strong influencer/motivator - builds relationships quickly, is a great listener, inspires trust, and has a strong ability to influence and motivate people to desired outcomes

- Mission Fit - Passionate about EHTP’s mission of preparing students with the academic skills, strength of character, and emotional well-being to excel in high school and college, to lead in their communities, and to realize their best possible selves

Time Commitment:

CMP is a two-year commitment with different requirements in Years 1 & 2.

• Year 1: Starting in September - minimum of 90 minutes once per week, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, between 6 pm and 8 pm
• Year 2: Starting in June after completion of Year 1 - once a month, virtual, 60-minute check-in; including informal check-ins throughout the year

Questions? Contact the Public Engagement team at volunteerinfo@ehtp.org

Ready to apply? Apply using our online application: http://bttr.im/qn257