We use an online platform (powered by Mentor Collective) to facilitate matches and manage the mentor program. After completing a brief survey on the platform, you will be matched with a mentor based on shared academic and professional interests or life experiences. You and your mentor will decide how often to meet, the methods (such as email, phone call, video calls, in-person, etc.) and the topics you'd like to discuss. You may also use the platform’s discussion guides and goal-setting activities to help spark meaningful conversations with mentors and other professionals. Topics vary based on individual goals and may range from navigating the hidden curriculum of graduate school, time management and work-life balance, to professional development and career advice. The program is intended to:

• Provide a structured means of initiating and maintaining a professional relationship with a graduate alum.
• Offer 1:1 advice and support to aid in managing the rigors of graduate education, research and academic goals, life as a graduate student, and professional development or career decisions.
• Facilitate referrals to others to assist in expanding your professional network.
• Build connections and community between Princeton graduate students and graduate alums.

“I was fortunate to have several mentors who contributed significantly to my professional development. Both in the Senate and in private law practice, and I have enjoyed working with GradFUTURES to establish a mentorship program matching interested graduate students and graduate school alumni who want to give back to Princeton... My advice to graduate students? Be proactive. Your professional development is too important to leave to someone else. You would be surprised how helpful people will be if you ask them for help and guidance."

–Drew Harker, *81, SPIA, Founding Mentor, Graduate Alum Mentorship Program

“I am first-gen, so I thought it would be great to have some guidance or mentorship from someone who went through the graduate school at Princeton and knew … what it took, what to expect. I feel like it’s helping the next generation. It’s paving the way forward for someone else."

–Seraya Jones, GS, MOL

“Participating in the GradFUTURES Mentorship Program is one of the highlights of my Princeton education. The conversations I had with my mentor changed my perspectives on my research and career prospects. I really appreciated the thought and effort my mentor invested to help me develop my professional aptitudes."

–Jonathan Aguirre, *22 (SPO), Vice President, User Experience Research Lead, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

“The GradFUTURES mentorship program connected me with an outstanding alumni mentor in Washington, D.C. who has helped show me the value of Ph.D. scientists in government and policymaking... Through my mentor, I could get up close and personal to a field, organization, and potential career trajectory that I otherwise would not have had access to.” 

–Evan Ostrowski, GS, CBE

“The GradFUTURES Mentorship Program is an excellent framework for current students to connect with their fellow Princeton Graduate alumni. My mentorship journey with my mentee, a highly motivated PhD candidate, has been truly rewarding... Her dedication to staying engaged, taking initiative, and executing on the mutually agreed strategies added a dynamic and productive aspect to the experience. This level of enthusiasm is something new and continuing mentees can take inspiration from, reminding them of the importance of proactive involvement and genuine passion in the mentorship process.” 

–Raghuveer Vinukollu *11, CEE, Head - Climate Insights and Advisory, Munich Re US