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Mentorship can be a major difference maker in your journey from graduate school to career success. A dedicated mentor can help you navigate the challenges of breaking into or growing within an industry, and be your introduction to a wider network of professional connections. At The Gordon Institute, we don't leave those connections up to chance — we build mentorship directly into our student experience!
Every year, our graduate students participate in a mentor matching event on Tufts' campus. At this event, every student has the opportunity to connect with Tufts alumni and industry professionals who will serve as mentors throughout the year. The night spans a few hours in the form of a "speed dating" style of mingling (students rotate around the mentors and speak to each for a period of time), ultimately culminating in students matching with a specific mentor that they'll continue to connect with throughout the year.
Read on to hear about the value of direct mentorship, straight from our students themselves!
"Such valuable networking opportunities are rare, even at professional networking events. I greatly appreciate the mentors' enthusiasm to give back and support students, as well as their thoughtful insights and constructive suggestions."
“Meeting with the alumni was an enriching experience that really opened my horizons. Hearing about their day-to-day realities helped me better understand different career paths and clarified possibilities I hadn’t considered before. I’m truly grateful for the time, guidance, and insights they shared.”
"I was very happy to hear the mentors mention their journeys of discovering what they want to do and how passion can expand your risk-taking ability. Be curious, ask questions, sometimes the silly doubts and questions can bring a big shift altogether."
"I am grateful for the advice I've received from all of the alumni. I was deeply inspired by their journeys as they pursued what they are passionate about. I feel encouraged that I can also thrive wherever my curiosity leads me."
"Thank you to all of the mentors for showing up, engaging in every conversation, and giving us all such helpful advice in a short amount of time. I hope you all know how much it meant to us."
"I have the utmost respect and thanks for our alumni being so open and friendly with us current students. I loved talking to each of them, with such diverse perspectives to share. Some quotes I kept, 'it's okay to be uncomfortable', 'never silo within the content you learn', and 'master your passion.' I can't wait to connect with many more."
"I really appreciate the time and guidance all of the mentors shared during the [mentor matching] event. The insights were particularly meaningful and gave me a new perspective on my career. Thank you to the mentors for generously sharing your experience and advice."
"Hearing the honest journeys – the pivots, doubts, and wins – made the path ahead feel both more real and more achievable."
"Connecting with the alumni felt truly uplifting. Their kindness, honesty, and encouragement gave me so much clarity and comfort. Thank you for taking the time to guide us. It genuinely meant a lot and left me feeling hopeful and inspired."
"The Tufts Gordon Institute mentor-matching event was an incredibly positive experience. It allowed me to build genuine connections with Tufts alumni and grow my professional network. I'm grateful to have been matching with a mentor and look forward to learning from their guidance."
"I appreciate the mentors for taking the time to help us! It is tough out there, we all need support sometimes."
"I came for advice and left with perspective."
"The mentors' guidance gave me clarity, confidence, and meaningful direction in my career journey."
"Meeting so many alumni was incredibly inspiring. I'm truly grateful for the time, honesty, and encouragement that each person shared. Hearing career journeys and the lessons behind them gave me clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction that I've been searching for."
"Meeting and learning from alumni was one of the most valuable parts of this experience. The clarity and confidence I gained from these conversations will stay with me as I move forward in my career journey."
