Alexis Briggins
Ph.D. Student, Department of Counseling Psychology
Navigating graduate school successfully often depends on building strong mentoring relationships that can guide your academic journey and future career path. Graduate students have access to diverse mentorship opportunities that extend beyond traditional academic advisors. Understanding how to find, connect with, and maintain these valuable relationships can significantly enhance your graduate school experience and professional development.
Understanding Different Types of Mentorships
Mentorship comes in various forms, each serving different aspects of your academic and professional growth. Your primary academic advisor provides guidance on your research and academic progress, but expanding your mentorship network can offer additional perspectives and opportunities. Consider seeking mentors who can support different aspects of your development.
- Research Mentors: Faculty members who share your research interests and can guide your scholarly development
- Professional Development Mentors: Industry professionals or alumni who can provide career guidance
- Peer Mentors: Advanced graduate students who can share their experiences and strategies
- Teaching Mentors: Faculty or experienced Associate Instructors who can help develop your pedagogical skills
- Identity and Belonging Mentors: Faculty, staff, or advanced students who share your background and can provide guidance on navigating academia while maintaining authenticity and building a sense of belonging
Finding Potential Mentors
Building a strong mentorship network requires strategic planning and initiative. Here are effective approaches to identifying potential mentors:
Departmental Connections: Start within your department by attending faculty research presentations, brown bag seminars, and departmental social events. These venues provide natural opportunities to learn about faculty members’ research interests and connect with potential mentors in your field. Many departments also maintain lists of faculty research interests and current projects on their websites.
Cross-Disciplinary Opportunities: Look beyond your department for mentors who can provide different perspectives. IU’s research centers and institutes often host events where you can meet faculty from various disciplines.
Professional Organizations: Join professional organizations in your field and attend their events. Many have local chapters or student groups at IU that can connect you with both academic and industry mentors. The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) is particularly valuable for networking and support. As the university-sponsored student government for all graduate and professional students at IU-Bloomington, GPSG has been serving graduate students for over 35 years. While supported by the University Graduate School, GPSG is entirely student-run and student-driven, serving over 10,000 graduate and professional students across all schools and departments. They provide:
- Advocacy for graduate student interests
- Academic support and professional development grants
- Travel awards for conference attendance
- Community building events and networking opportunities
- Access to essential resources and funding
- Regular social events to connect with peers across disciplines
Building and Maintaining Mentoring Relationships
Once you’ve identified potential mentors, developing and maintaining these relationships requires thoughtful effort and clear communication:
Making the Initial Connection: When reaching out to potential mentors, be specific about your interests and what you hope to learn from them. A well-crafted email that demonstrates familiarity with their work and explains why you’re seeking their mentorship can make a strong first impression. Consider asking for a brief meeting to discuss your shared interests rather than immediately requesting a formal mentoring relationship.
Setting Expectations: Once a mentoring relationship begins to form, have an open discussion about expectations, including:
- Meeting frequency and preferred communication methods
- Goals for the mentoring relationship
- Boundaries and time commitments
- Specific areas where you’re seeking guidance
Maximizing Mentorship Benefits
To get the most from your mentoring relationships, consider these strategies:
Regular Check-ins: Maintain consistent communication with your mentors through scheduled meetings or updates. This helps build trust and ensures continuous progress toward your goals. Be prepared for these meetings with specific questions or topics for discussion.
Active Engagement
Take initiative in the mentoring relationship by:
- Following through on suggestions and advice
- Sharing your progress and challenges
- Asking for feedback on your work
- Expressing gratitude for their time and guidance.
Professional Development Opportunities
Work with your mentors to identify growth opportunities, such as:
- Conference presentations
- Publication opportunities
- Grant applications
- Teaching experiences
- Leadership roles in professional organizations
- Jobs
Navigating Advisor-Advisee Challenges
While the goal is to maintain positive mentoring relationships, conflicts between advisors and advisees can arise. It’s important to know how to address these situations professionally and what resources are available to help:
Early Intervention Steps:
- Document specific concerns and incidents in writing
- Have a direct, professional conversation with your advisor about your concerns when possible
- Seek guidance from your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or department chair for advice
- Consult with the Graduate Mentoring Center for strategies to address challenges
When to Consider Institutional Steps: If initial attempts to resolve conflicts are unsuccessful, or if the situation is severe, you may need to take formal action:
- Connect with your department’s Graduate Studies Committee
- Consult with the University Graduate School about policies and procedures
- Consider requesting a change of advisor if the relationship becomes untenable
- In cases involving harassment or discrimination, contact the Office of Institutional Equity
Support Resources: Remember that you’re not alone in navigating these challenges. Several confidential resources are available:
- Student Advocates Office
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Graduate Mentoring Center
The key is to address concerns early while maintaining professionalism throughout the process. Your graduate program and the broader university community have resources and procedures in place to help you navigate these challenging situations while protecting your academic progress.
Resources and Support at IU
Indiana University offers several resources to support mentoring relationships:
The Graduate Mentoring Center: This center provides workshops, resources, and individual consultations on developing effective mentoring relationships. They offer guidance on finding mentors and maintaining productive professional relationships.
Walter Career Center for Career Achievement is a dynamic community of career advocates dedicated to helping students discover and achieve meaningful careers. They believe in transforming career planning from an overwhelming task into an exciting journey of self-discovery and professional growth.
Their experienced team provides comprehensive support through:
- One-on-one career coaching
- Career planning courses for academic credit
- Professional development workshops
- Industry connections with employers and alumni
- Skill-building opportunities
- Personalized guidance at every stage
In addition, several schools have career centers within as well (i.e. School of Public Health Career Coaching)
Conclusion
Successfully navigating graduate school and preparing for your future career requires more than just academic excellence—it requires building a strong network of mentors who can guide your development. At Indiana University Bloomington, the opportunities for finding and connecting with mentors are abundant, but they require your active engagement and initiative. By thoughtfully building these relationships and maintaining them throughout your graduate career, you can create a support system that will benefit you well beyond your time at IU.