Psychology Undergraduate Mentoring Program

About us

The Psychology Undergraduate Mentoring Program aims to increase community and belonging for psychology undergraduates (college students) who are members of underrepresented groups or transfer students to the university. This program matches psychology faculty, grad students, alumni, and advanced undergrads with undergraduate psychology majors or prospective majors. We aim to mentor students who identify with an underrepresented group, such as being a member of a racial minority group, first-generation college student, and/or LGBTQ+ identity, and transfer students, who may be more uncertain of their place in the UW community.

We hope that this mentoring program will provide students with a close personal contact with someone who can provide personal advice about their journey in the field, potential career paths, and more.

 

Eligibility

Mentees

You must be a current UW student who identifies as belonging to an underrepresented group and/or is a new transfer student from another college or university. You must be either planning to apply to the psychology major or currently in the major. All years / education levels are welcome.

Mentors

Mentors can be advanced psychology majors (junior or senior), UW alumni (undergrad or grad), graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers, or faculty. 

We are particularly interested in recruiting BA/BS alumni who can advise our current undergrads on career paths that are open to people with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Junior and senior students can participate as both mentors and mentees.

 

Time commitment

Mentors and mentees in this program will meet for 45-60 minutes every other week for the duration of the academic year at a mutually arranged time and location. Please sign up only if you are available to commit to a year-long mentoring relationship. 

We will also have optional drop-in community events on Fridays from 12-3 that you can attend as your schedule permits.

 

How to sign up

Applications are always accepted. We generally match at the start of each regular academic quarter (Autumn, Winter, Spring), so applications submitted now will be held until the start of the next quarter. Please feel welcome to apply.

Mentees: Mentee signup form

Mentors: Mentor signup form

 

Frequently asked questions

How does matching work?

We will generally match first- and second-year students with junior and senior student mentors, and junior/senior students with graduate students, alumni, researchers, and faculty mentors.

We will ask you about your identities and interests within the field and take this information into account when finding your match. We try to find the best match for you possible given the information you give us. The more you can tell us about yourself and what you are looking for in a match, the better the match we can make for you.

The first two weeks of your mentoring relationship are a "free trial." Use this time to get to know your mentor/mentee and decide whether the relationship will work for you. If you'd like to be rematched during this time, just let us know -- easy!

 

Can I sign up after the due date?

Applications are always accepted. We generally match at the start of each regular academic quarter (Autumn, Winter, Spring), so applications submitted now will be held until the start of the next quarter. Please feel welcome to apply.

 

What resources are available for me in this program?

You will have access to an internal program website including resources and guidance for establishing your mentoring relationship, career/internship resources for mentees, and a list of all mentors in each area of interest who can be contacted for advice.

You will also have access to an online platform for asynchronous community building and the option to attend in-person events such as career panels, resume/CV workshops, interview prep, and more.

 

Contact

Please email Dr. Tabitha Kirkland at psychmentor@uw.edu with any questions about the program.

Connect with us

Twitter: @uwpsychmentor

Instagram: @uwpsychmentor

Facebook: /uwpsychmentor