<p>So i got this email about the alumni-student mentoring program and was wondering if anyone could offer any insights on it? Do a lot of people participate in this program? Is it helpful? Thanks! =D</p>
<p>I’ve read a few posts in the past about it and everyone seems to regard it as a great opportunity to connect with alumni. I just signed up today and I can’t wait to see who I get paired up with. I don’t really see how this can be a program you can pass up, so don’t miss this chance!</p>
<p>Just join! 
Seems to me there’s not much to lose, and there’s so much to gain.</p>
<p>I didn’t get the email…did it go to the Cornell email address?</p>
<p>I can say that’s it’s very helpful. I currently have a mentor and we interact with each other every-so-often. The relationship is really determined by how much each party puts into it.</p>
<p>^islander4, was your mentor a recent graduate?</p>
<p>Yes. He had graduated when I had just started high school (four years ago). Mentors can also be folks who graduated decades ago, however. I know someone who had a mentor that graduated in the 70’s. Apparently, Mann Library was a very ugly place back then. :|</p>
<p>My mentor graduated sometime in the 70s.
He’s a private practice surgeon, so we don’t interact that much, but he’s very accessible if need be.</p>
<p>I don’t really have much to contact him about…so I usually don’t.</p>
<p>thanks everyone for all the responses! 
does anyone know if mentors make finding internships/research positions easier?</p>
<p>Ehh, I didn’t find mine particularly useful, but I think it was mostly bc I didn’t try to contact him more. However, he did provide me useful advice in some emails I sent him asking questions about his work.</p>
<p>so who is the program for? I have never heard of it.</p>
<p>Since I’m pre-med, and mine is a doctor/surgeon, I can shadow him whenever…but he’s private practice, so it’s not that great.</p>
<p>I assume if your mentor is in the field you desire to study/pursue, and you show aptitude and grades, he can hook you up with what power he has.</p>
<p>@ansar, so you didn’t really find it that useful?</p>
<p>Well…because I don’t really have a need to contact the guy. I’ve already shadowed him a couple times. That, and my interest in Medicine has been waning lately, so I’ve not seen much use for it. I suppose if I need some kind of recommendation to shadow other doctors in my area, he could come in very handy. </p>
<p>It depends on the person, though! If you’re a math major who loves [particular field in math] and you get put with a Math prof who also loves [particular field in math], it could lead to some incredible opportunities.</p>
<p>@ansar, i see i see :D</p>