About the Program
The Dean’s Mentoring Program (DMP) is a selective, semester-long leadership program dedicated to providing outstanding freshman and sophomores in SOM with the tools they need to achieve success in their future careers. The foundation of the program is mentoring; with programming designed to leverage the experiences, knowledge and support of peers, professionals, alumni, and administrators. All freshmen and sophomore mentees are paired with an upperclassman mentor for the duration of the program. Each year DMP accepts 20-22 high-potential underclassmen mentees and an equal number of mentors.
Peer mentors are expected to meet with their mentee once a week. Their role is to provide support and guidance to their mentee throughout the program. Mentors are also responsible for providing mentees with direct feedback on their resumes and mock interviews, connecting them with other peers and alumni, and offering guidance on the career exploration process.
What the Program Includes
- One-on-one peer mentor meetings.
- Individual or small group mentoring with an SOM alum.
- Technical skill development workshops.
- Alumni panel discussions.
- Job search and career preparation workshops.
- A "Steps to Success" meeting with the Dean of SOM.
- Case competition preparation (with the three highest scoring teams presenting to an alumni panel in NYC).
- Firm visits (past visits have included: KPMG, EY, Bloomberg, Deloitte, etc.).
- Social events (i.e., game nights, ice skating, ice cream socials, etc.).
Mentee Graduation Requirements
Each mentee must complete a series of professional development requirements in the Spring semester in order to graduate from the program:
- Participate in a one-on-one meeting with the Dean of SOM.
- Participate in a one-on-one meeting with SOM Career Services.
- Attend at least two career-related/networking events.
- Satisfactorily complete three successful mock interviews with mentors (must include at least one technical interview).
- Satisfactorily complete two video-recorded interviews.
- Have a current resume approved by SOM Career Services on file.
- Satisfactorily complete a case analysis presentation.
- Complete five informational interviews with professionals/alumni (two may be accomplished through networking opportunities).
Mentee Eligibility and Application Process
- DMP is open to first-year SOM students (freshmen or sophomore transfer students).
- Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
- Applicants must have an approved resume on file with SOM Career Services.
- Applicants should submit a 500-word writing sample responding to the prompt: "Why are you interested in joining the Dean's Mentoring Program?"
- Applications for DMP become available early in the fall semester.
Mentor Eligibility and Application Process
All SOM students are eligible to apply to be mentors. To ensure the best mentoring experience, mentors are not selected until the class of mentees is selected. Mentors are chosen largely based on their involvement on campus, but with consideration given to their academic performance, professionalism, and collective fit with the class of mentees.
