Undergraduate Mentorships
Build Your Network. For the last three decades, the Hubbard School has matched hundreds of students with mentors in journalism, advertising, public relations, media and communication through its Mentor Program.
How Does the Program Work?
With an extensive alumni and supporter base , the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication is in a unique position to provide professional assistance to students.
Each student is matched with a professional who has a job in a field that is of interest to the student. Mentors don't have to be local; virtual mentorships work well, too! The mentorship is not an internship, nor is it intended to lead to a job at the mentor’s workplace. It is simply a chance to talk candidly, to learn about life after college, and to begin that transition from college life to the “real world.” Possible Activities:
- Tour of a mentor’s workplace (if possible)
- Resume writing assistance
- Job search planning
- Portfolio/tape critiquing
- Networking
Student Application Process
In the Fall, all Hubbard majors are sent an email message inviting them to view a slide show to learn about the mentor program and how to apply (the program is also included in the Murphy Weekly). After completing the quiz at the end of the slideshow, students are provided with the application for the program. For questions, reach out to Student Services.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Mentoring doesn’t happen unless you make the time for it.
- If a meeting needs to be rescheduled, do so quickly. Coordinating your schedule with a student’s may take a few tries.
- Make sure your schedule allows for you to spend time (at least one hour per month) with a student.
Be candid.
- Students are counting on you to tell them things they can’t learn in a class. Tell them what you know. Think about what you wish you’d known in college.
- Tell them advice all students in your field should know.
- The more insight you can give them, the better!
Give them real world experience.
- Have them job shadow you for a day. What can you teach them about your profession? What knowledge can they gain from assisting you in a project?
- Let them learn what the job is really like. If appropriate, have them attend a staff meeting, tag-along to an interview, attend an event or assist on a photo shoot.
- Review the student’s resume. Think about how you can help them be ready for the job market.
Listen without judgement.
- Mentoring is about listening without negative judgment and questioning with respect.
- A mentor is looked upon for wise advice and guidance—give these as often as possible.
- Treat your mentee with professional respect.
- Fill out the interest form any time.
- In early fall, a Hubbard School staff member will reach out to you to learn more about you and gauge your interest.
- If you're matched with a student, you will meet in late October or early November.
Meet a Mentor Program Pair
Student Mukhtar Ibrahim (B.A. '11) was paired up with mentor Laura Yuen of MPR back in 2009. The pair went on to have a successful match, become colleagues and together report on important issues affecting Minnesota's immigrant community.
"Although I was her mentee, Laura never treated me as such. I think she always viewed me as a reporter who can do the work. She believed in me when I had doubts whether I made the right decision by switching from pre-med to journalism. I remember one evening I notified Laura about a shooting in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. It was a chilly evening, but Laura decided to come anyway. She told me to ask some questions to witnesses. When she wrote the story, she gave me a byline. I could not believe it. I think that was my first byline, and I still remember the euphoria I felt when I saw my name next to Laura’s on the website of MPR News."
– Mukhtar Ibrahim, Founder, CEO & Publisher of Sahan Journal, 2019–2024