When you become a member of the LINC Mentor program at St. Lawrence University, you complete the first step in investing in your future. SLU’s unique opportunities in mentorship provide students with invaluable experiences that potentially make or break their career paths.
“The place makes the people,” said Sarah Coburn, associate director of Career Services. Coburn has been in charge of the LINC Mentor program since its start in 2013.
The LINC Mentor program was started to individually match sophomore students with a St. Lawrence alumnus or parent who serves as an experienced mentor. Students who take part in the LINC program “expand their networking skills and develop connections in businesses and careers,” mentioned Coburn.
The strength of SLU’s alumni network entices prospective students to apply to the school because of its extensive connections on and off campus. Coburn remarked that SLU’s “pay it forward culture” is what stands out to others when comparing accolades with other private universities. The school’s secluded campus combined with its strong inward bond benefits its networking connections and career opportunities.
Gloria McAdam, Executive Director of Garden Share and LINC mentor, believes a mentor’s hands-on involvement is directly related to his or her student’s success. “I think the program enhances students’ abilities in the areas of networking and building relationships with alumni,” said McAdam. Long time mentor and participant in the LINC Mentor program, McAdam added that “mentors provide students with connections to alumni and also to other people that they may know who work in the field the student is interested in.”
Many LINC program mentees have the opportunity to travel off campus and visit alumni who have fulfilled career paths similar to their own desires. Carly Jefferson, a statistics and economics double major with a mathematics minor, participated in SLU Connect Montana and SLU Connect Boston and met with a few SLU parents working in the Financial District of Boston, MA. “I got to have personal meetings with alumni who worked for Cambridge Associates, and I was able to interview for an internship there in the summer,” said Jefferson.
Sophomore Katherine Apt took part in SLU Connect New York City where she was inspired by the commitment of the SLU alumnus who were invested in the futures of the current students who were visiting. “Networking as a sophomore has made me more comfortable in situations where I have to explain what I’m interested in,” said Apt.
Current first-year students are eligible to apply to be in the LINC Mentor program during the 2018-2019 academic year and can apply by April 9 to be considered. The application for the 2018-2019 Mentor program can be found on the St. Lawrence University website under career services.