Fostering College Persistence Through a High School Mentor Program

Abstract

Minds Matter Seattle (MMSEA) recruits “determined and driven” high school students to receive mentorship, academic preparation, and college application support. As the MMSEA program grows, its leaders seek additional information to inform their programmatic decisions in support of mentees' persistence to college graduation. We employed a mixed methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and program document reviews to gather comprehensive insights into the experiences of mentees, mentors, and program staff within MMSEA. Project findings included: Mentors play a central role in guiding mentees through the program, but mentees’ experiences were mentor-dependent and varied dramatically. Many students struggled with mental health issues during and after the program, especially related to stress and anxiety. Mentees expressed a need for more intra- and inter-cohort community-building to increase their support networks. The transition from high school to college is often difficult for MMSEA graduates, especially related to academic, social, emotional, and financial challenges.