What to Actually Look for in a Mentor

Contrary to a popular catchphrase, Evan D. Morris writes that students should seek mentors who look out for them—not just those who look like them.

"I have been mentoring students and postdocs in biomedical engineering and medical imaging for 25 years. My friends, some with even longer track records, have mentored aspiring writers, musicians, physicians and neuroscientists. You might guess that our varied mentees have little in common. But you would be wrong. As one colleague likes to say, “All students need something.” The mentor must figure out what it is. Sometimes these needs are solely technical. But often they are more than that."

For the full article: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/10/10/beware-self-defeating-myth-choosing-mentors-opinion