The Role of an Academic Mentor and How to Find One

If you’re a high school student, you know that finding and maintaining good grades can be difficult. Juggling homework, extracurriculars, and a social life can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel like you’re alone in your struggles.

But the truth is, most students feel this way at some point during their high school career. And one of the best ways to get through it successfully is by having an academic mentor.

Academic mentors can help you in many ways, from choosing the right classes to preparing for college applications.

If you’re looking for a mentor, this blog post will show you how to find and work with an academic mentor. If you’re already working with a mentor, this post will provide tips on how to make the most of that relationship. So, read on to learn more!

What is a Mentor and What Is the Role of a Mentor in a Teen’s Life?

An academic mentor is someone who helps you through your studies, usually with the goal of helping you get into college.

Your mentor can help you in many ways, including advising which classes to take next semester, guiding you through the college application process, and preparing for interviews or scholarship applications.

This person may be a teacher, counselor, parent, or other adult who wants to share their expertise on school subjects with others. You can also choose your own “academic mentor.”

This means that any trusted adult who is willing to guide you during high school could be an academic mentor. Just because this person isn’t designated as your official sponsor doesn’t mean he/she isn’t still a valuable resource!

The Benefits of Having an Academic Mentor

Having an academic mentor can make a huge difference in your academic career. Here are some of the main benefits that having an academic mentor provides:

An Academic Mentor Can Help You Get into College

A lot of students worry about how they’re going to get into college. And if you’re one of these students, don’t worry!

An academic mentor can help you learn more about colleges and how to choose which ones are best for you. A good mentor will also be able to give you advice on applying, including helping you write essays or schedule interviews with admissions counselors.

Finding time for this outside of school can be difficult since it takes up so much time already, but this is one area where it’s vital to have someone guiding you.

A mentor can not only help with the application process but he/she can also be a great resource for getting information on deadlines and college costs.

An Academic Mentor Can Help You Stay on Track Academically

Academic mentors are great resources if you need help studying—they usually have plenty of experience in how to study efficiently, which means that they can give you advice that’ll come in handy when studying for finals or writing papers.

For example, they may suggest that you read over your notes multiple times before an upcoming test, or they may make sure to check over your paper thoroughly before turning it in.

To get the most out of this benefit, choose an academic mentor who has a similar school schedule to yours. For example, choose a mentor who has the same lunch period as you do if you usually meet with him or her during that time.

Another idea is to seek out an academic mentor in a subject area that is difficult for you and ask him/her to help with your homework.

An Academic Mentor Can Help You Improve in School

Sometimes it’s easier to improve in different school areas when someone else gives you feedback about what he or she sees you doing well and not so well in class.

A good academic mentor will know how to give constructive criticism, which means that he or she will be able to offer advice on how to correct any problems or shortcomings that they see in your work.

How To Find an Academic Mentor for Your Online Student?

It can be challenging to find an academic mentor for someone who does most (or all) of his/her schoolwork online, but it’s possible.

The first step is to make sure that your mentor is comfortable communicating with you through your online school program. If this isn’t something he/she will feel comfortable doing, it may not work out as well as you’d like it to.

Next, choose someone who has expertise in the specific subject area that you need help with—for example, if you’re having trouble with algebra, find a great math tutor or mentor to guide you through the subject.

Also, think about choosing a mentor who has experience working with students who are struggling academically because s/he will know how to best help you keep up with the coursework that your school provides.

What To Do If You Don’t Have an Academic Mentor

If you’re one of those students who just doesn’t have a mentor, don’t worry—you’re not alone! If you cannot find a good mentor for your online school program, try meeting with your teacher (if your school offers this) or an academic counselor to get more guidance on what you should be doing in the classroom.

 

Also, make sure that you ask friends and family members if they can help guide you through any areas where they excel. For example, maybe your best friend is great at science but needs some help with history. If this is the case, he/she may be able to give you advice based on his/her expertise and then vice versa.

Try talking to as many people as you can about different subjects that you’re struggling with and ask them to help guide you.

Where Do You Find a Mentor?

There are many places where you can find a great mentor!

Here are just some of the best options:

Your own school programs

If your online school offers this benefit, then take advantage of it! Ask an academic counselor or teacher if they would like to be your advisor/mentor. If not, try someone else who works for your school.

Other students in your class

This may sound obvious, but make sure to talk with classmates who excel at certain subjects (especially ones that you struggle in!)

They might know about other people who could help guide you academically, which is another idea for finding a mentor.

Your afterschool programs

If you go to a public school, you may have access to an afterschool program where local colleges and universities volunteer their time with students who need some extra help in certain areas.

These mentors are great for getting advice on working through different problems in various subject areas.

People at your church

This is a good option if you’re a person of faith! Try talking with anyone in your youth group who might have a lot of knowledge about certain subjects that you need guidance in.

Also, consider speaking with someone who works at your church in a position that requires them to know a lot about history or science, etc. They might be able to offer some good advice for you!

Your local library

Libraries are still a great source for finding information that you need, even if you’re doing most of your schoolwork on the Internet or on your computer.

So, try asking someone who works at the reference desk for help on certain subjects where you might need guidance. Library staff can also help with research, so they may be able to point you in the right direction if you ask them!

Tips For Making the Most Out of Your Mentorship Relationship

 

Once you find a mentor, it’s important to keep the relationship strong so that you can get as much guidance and advice from them as possible.

Here are some good tips for making the most out of your mentorship:

Always try to meet with your mentor in person if at all possible

If this isn’t possible due to scheduling or other issues, then make sure to call, text message, or video chat (using Skype or Google Hangout) until you can plan something in person.

Most mentors will be happy to accommodate your scheduling needs, especially since they want the best for their mentees!

However, if this is not an option, always send emails or letters thanking them for their time and offering suggestions on what else could be helpful.

Stay organized

If you’re meeting with your mentor, try to keep everything as organized as possible. Make sure that you have what you need and if it’s an online meeting, make sure that your computer is working properly.

If you don’t stay organized, then the whole session could get off track, which isn’t helpful for either of you!

Try asking lots of questions during your time together

This may seem like common sense, but make sure to ask plenty of questions about whatever school subjects that you’re struggling with.

Your mentor wants to help, so they will be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have. Just make sure to take notes so that you don’t forget any important information.

Keep your mentor posted on your progress

Try sending emails or letters to update your mentor on how things are going for you in particular subjects whenever you have a big project in the works.

It’s also a good idea to send them an update about life in general since they might be interested to know what’s been going on with you!

Express your gratitude

Lastly, always thank your mentors when you’re finished working together! They will appreciate knowing what all of their time and effort has paid off. It is also nice if you consider taking them out for coffee or lunch sometime as a way of saying thanks!

Conclusion

If you are a high school student seeking academic success, it is vital to have a mentor. A good mentor can help guide you through the challenges of high school and provide support when you need it.

High school of America offers mentorship programs for students across the United States. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find an academic mentor.