New York
Mentoring Project for Architecture Students
A collaborative project of
American Institute of Architects New York State
Society of American Registered Architects New York District
National Organization of Minority Architects

Welcome!

The New York Mentoring Project for Architecture Students

Please note: For the Spring semester 2006, the mentoring network is a pilot program open to students of the New York City College of Technology. If you attend another school and are interested, please send an e-mail to gabiley@aianys.org. We are trying to grow the network! 

What is it?

The mentoring program is the partnering of a student of architecture with an architect or intern. The practitioner meets with a student to share real world experiences and to offer guidance as the student prepares for a career in architecture.

Why?

If you are a student…

you must have many questions about a career in architecture.
     What skills do I need?
           How do I get a job? What’s the pay?
                How do I become licensed?

If you are considering being a mentor…

Remember the confusion and anxiety of being a student?
      Who reached out to you? A professor?, an employer?, a fellow student?
           Now is the time to give back to your profession.
This is an opportunity for you to help and guide future architects.

Mentoring is a relationship, and for the relationship to succeed, both mentor and student must want to participate and learn from each other. The connection is based on trust and respect.

How does the program work?

Interested students and potential mentors complete an on-line application. Within a few weeks, they will be notified of their mentoring partner. And then the rest is up to them.

Mentors and students meet at times and places convenient to them. There are no rules, no minimum requirements, no grades, no time limits, and no promise of a job. The relationship is totally up to the mentor and student. The meetings may be in person, by phone or e-mail. The type and frequency of contact is yours to decide. Once each semester, mentors and students will be asked to evaluate how their relationship is working and to offer suggestions for program improvements.

The New York Mentoring Project is voluntary. Students receive no credit and there is no minimum standard for contacts between the mentor and student. The relationship will be as formal or as casual as the two of you decide. Based on experience, we suggest that you personally meet at least once during the academic semester. Email and/or telephone can supplement face to face contacts quickly and easily.

What’s the catch?

The New York Mentoring Project is not a recruitment program for AIA, SARA or NOMA, nor is it a substitute for, or in competition with, the Intern Development Program (IDP). Also, this is not a job placement program.

Both parties take on responsibilities:

• To promptly respond to e-mails and/or phone calls;
• To respect one another’s time commitment;
• To meet personally once each semester;
• To actively participate to make the mentoring relationship successful

Sign up

Student application https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=aianys&formId=806

Mentor application https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=aianys&formId=915

Some tips for getting the mentoring started

What To Talk About

Finding interesting things to discuss will usually not be a problem, but here are some topics students want to talk about (obviously this is only a partial list, but it can get you started):

Him/Herself

Ask your student about his/her background and pathway into the study of architecture. What inspired him/her to want to be an architect?

You

Students want to know your pathway into the profession. Talk about your inspirations, motivations, interests, life goals, etc.

The Job Market

Where are jobs available? How does someone become marketable? How do you put together a great resume’? Portfolio?

Traditional Practice vs. Jobs Outside Traditional Practice

What opportunities are out there beside traditional proactice, i.e, education, corporations, government, business, public policy, etc?

Graduate Schools

• What are some good graduate schools to consider?
• Big Firm vs. Small Practice
• What are the pros and cons?

Income

What do architects really make?

Balance

Are all-nighters normal? How do you balance personal and professional lives?

Inspiration

What inspires/motivates you to achieve?

Background information

Some Tips

Here are some tips for a successful student-mentor relationship:

Be responsive. Respect each other.

Students and mentors are all busy people. When you contact each other, respect each other enough to respond promptly. When relationships wither, it is almost always because the student or mentor has not been responsive.

Identify the kind of communication that works best for you.

Email may be the best way for you to communicate. Or perhaps its over a cup of coffee or lunch. Decide what suits you both.

Be honest. Trust.

For this relationship to have real value, you must be real with each other.

Be willing to give. Mentoring is a two-way relationship.

Every successful relationship is two-way. This is no different.

The First Contact

Students expect you to contact them first. Don’t wait too long to make contact.

Leaving a Message

Leave a message for a student to call you when they get a chance, but remember to follow up if the student does not contact you. Not to follow-up sends a signal of disinterest, not convenience.

If a student does not return your contact, please let me know so we can help. Sometimes students have to leave school and the word may not get to you right away. Sometimes they just need a reminder.

Problems?

Whenever we hear of problems or questions, we will work to get the situation smoothed out as soon as possible.