GiGS Mentors

Photo of past GiGS mentors

About Mentoring with the GiGS Program

As a GiGS mentor, you may be working with 1-2 first-generation and/or underrepresented Berkeley undergraduate students who are unfamiliar with the path to graduate study. Mentors meet with mentees at least 3 times per semester, maintain responsive email correspondence with mentees, and may be called upon to participate in a classroom panel discussion. Graduate student mentors provide a holistic mentoring experience to encompass more than simply academic advice.

Benefits

Leadership & training

Receive leadership development training to acquire mentoring skills.

Advising skills

Mentors will help increase the diversity of students applying for graduate school by mentoring undergraduate students representing a range of ethnicities, socioeconomic classes, family college backgrounds, and academic disciplines. As a mentor, you will hone advising and mentoring skills as you provide socio-emotional and academic advice and assistance to mentees.

Stipend

Mentors will receive a $1,000 stipend for the year ($500 per semester).

Requirements

Submit an application and contract

Submit an online application. Upon acceptance into the program, mentors will be required to sign a contract detailing their commitment to the program and their respective mentor duties. Please note that mentors will be selected based on undergraduate student needs, including specific research interests and/or intended fields. Thus, we cannot guarantee that your application will be selected.

Mentors must be registered UC Berkeley graduate students in good academic standing and not on filing fee.

APPLICATION

Online Mentor Application

Application Deadline: Friday, August 9, 2024 at 5 PM PT
Selection notifications will be sent out by late August.

Mandatory training & events

Must attend Orientation/Training events in Fall and Spring semesters as scheduled:

Mentor Orientation: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 3-5 PM PT
Program Kick-off Event: Friday, September 20, 2024 2-3 PM PT
End of Year Celebration: date/time TBA

*Spring Semester dates: TBA

Mentee meetings

Required to meet with mentees at least three times per semester, and dedicate at least 10 additional hours to engagement with your mentee (email, phone, etc). Mentor-mentee meetings can be used to discuss undergraduate preparation, program selection, revise graduate school or research program application materials, or give advice and answer questions regarding post-graduation possibilities.

A large part of your commitment as a GiGS mentor is to provide a nurturing environment for your students to feel comfortable asking you any questions/assistance regarding graduate school or post-graduation plans and share your genuine experience to and in graduate school to the extent you are comfortable.