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Compass Mentor Application

What is a Compass Mentor? 

Compass Mentors work with 3-4 first-year students who identify as first-generation and/or lower-income. A mentor's main objective is to assist their mentees as they navigate Northwestern, seek out resources, and find community. Mentors do this by facilitating one-on-one meetings and social events for mentees and driving dialogue at weekly workshops. Compass Mentors begin supporting their mentee in the Fall through the end of the academic year. 

Compass Mentor Responsibilities 

Important Dates

Characteristics of a successful Compass Mentor

Qualifications

Compensation

Mentors will be paid hourly at a $16 rate. They will work between 3.5 to 8 hours depending on the week. 

Apply

In Fall 2022 SES began to oversee the Summer Academic Workshop (SAW), a summer bridge program that shares similar goals to the Compass Mentor position-supporting FGLI students through their first-year transition to NU. To increase efficiency, we are running the SAW Counselor and Compass Mentor recruitment and selection process together. The application will open on Sunday, April 2nd and will be called the SES Student Leader Application.

You will be able to select whether you are applying to one or both positions.  We will be sharing information and updates in the SES Newsletter. If you are not subscribed, please contact enrichment@northwestern.edu with the subject “Please add me to the SES Listserv”. 

Applying involves 4 steps: 

  1. Attend a required Virtual SES Student Leader Info Session. 
  2. Complete the SES Student Leader Application  
  3. Participate in a Group Interview process 
  4. Applicants selected to continue in our interview process will be scheduled for an individual interview 

Application 

The SES Student Leader application collects basic information and has an essay portion. Once the application is submitted you will receive a confirmation email. Please read this email carefully as it provides instructions t for a group interview. Below are the essay questions. 

Essay Questions 

  1. Tell us why you want to be a Compass Mentor and/or a SAW Counselor. (150 words)  
  2. Please share your definition of peer mentorship and why it is beneficial for a first-gen and/or lower income (FGLI) first-year? (200 words)  
  3. Write to a new student about an experience, specific to being FGLI, that challenged you during your first year at Northwestern. Please include what you learned and what you would want this new student to take away from your experience. (300 words)  

Group Interview 

The Group Interviews are scheduled for:

You will be able to select the session you are unavailable for when complete the SES Student Leader Application. During the group interview you will complete 2 group activities. One will focus on group dynamics and the other on creativity. 

Individual Interviews

Applicants selected to continue in our interview process will be scheduled for an individual interview. 

Questions  

For questions or more information about the Compass Mentor position, please contact: Mayra Garces, Associate Director- Student Enrichment Services mayra.garces@norhtwestern.edu