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Introduction: Interactive Scenarios

The scenarios you are about to encounter each have multiple endings. If you are dissatisfied, or if you are curious to see the other endings, feel free to retry as many times as you want.

These interactions are based on situations that real College Success mentors have encountered. By examining these, you should be able to guide your mentee toward concrete solutions or guide them to appropriate resources outside yourself.

Scenario 1: Dealing with Dr. Andersen

As you work through this simulation, think about phrases you see that could be used to address a similar situation in the future.

Situation: While meeting with you, Talitha tells you that she dropped a class. You did not discuss dropping a course with her previously, and she has not spoken to the College Success advisor about it.

Response: Option 2

Response: Option 1

Response: Option 2

Response: Option 1

Response: Option 3

Response: Option 1

Success!

Good job encouraging Talitha to communicate with her professor and working with her to solve problems she was experiencing in the course.

What should you do in this situation?

At some point, your mentee will probably feel trapped in a class or say they want to drop a class. Here are a few tips to steer the conversation in the right direction:

  • If your mentee makes blanket statements about a course or a professor, try to delve deeper into your mentee’s relationship with the professor. For example, ask them if the professor’s teaching style helps them learn.
  • Give your mentee specific advice when you can. Instead of saying, “E-mail him about the class,” say something like this: “You should try e-mailing him and let him know that you are not understanding the assignment handouts.”
  • Encourage your mentee to communicate with their professor first if there is a problem in the course. If they are nervous about reaching out, help them draft an e-mail or talk through a mock meeting.

Scenario 2: Working It

As you work through this simulation, think about phrases you see that could be used to address a similar situation in the future. Once you have completed the scenario sufficiently, the “continue” button will appear below.

Scenario: Work-School Balance

Michael has missed the last several meetings with you, and when you meet with him midway through the semester, you find out he is failing a class.

Response: Option 2

Response: Option 2

Response: Option 3

Success!

Michael texts you several days later to let you know that the College Success advisor was able to help cover his textbooks and arrange a new work schedule so that he has time to attend tutoring.

What should you do?

Because this organization works with students from low-income schools, you will encounter this problem in some form during your mentoring experience. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • If your mentee is failing a class, try to find a solution that they can enact quickly. Most college semesters last between 8 and 15 weeks, which does not leave a lot of time if you find out your mentee is failing mid-semester.
  • Be sensitive to the fact that your mentee comes from a low-income household, which means that they may have less of a financial safety net than their peers and may have different general attitudes toward money.
  • If you do not feel confident handling a financial situation with your mentee, reach out to the College Success advisor. You can either ask them to reach out for a meeting with your mentee directly or ask them for advice on how best to handle the situation.