One-on-one Career Mentor

Three students were talking about whether the school should offer one-on-one career mentors for undergraduates. The first student really liked the idea. She's studying environmental science and feels stuck between going to grad school or working for an NGO. She said the career center only helps with resumes, not with advice for specific majors. A mentor could help her locate internships and connect with professionals. Her friend even got a national park internship through a mentor. But the second student didn't agree. He said hiring mentors for each major would cost too much, and students might not use the service regularly. His roommate skipped a career meeting just to finish a lab report. He thinks it would waste money. The third student also had doubts. He said alumni mentors might offer outdated advice, like his sister's mentor who talked about print journalism, which isn't popular anymore. He also said scheduling would be challenging since alumni have jobs, and shy students might not feel comfortable talking to strangers. The first student suggested solutions: train alumni on current trends, offer online evening sessions, and start with short chats for shy students. She even said her professor offered to help and has excellent connections. Still, the second student felt most students wouldn't use it enough. He suggested the school should offer more major-specific workshops instead, like one focused on green jobs. The third student agreed. He said professors already know students well and can provide better advice. He also advocated for the career center to enhance its current offerings, such as updating the job board, which hasn't received any updates in the past two months. In the end, they all had different views. One wanted mentors to help students identify their path, while the others felt the school should enhance current resources and offer better workshops instead of starting something new that might not work.