FAQs

What does Gotham Mentors do?

We pair high school students from New York City (esp. the outer boroughs) to young professional mentors who are accomplished in fields as varied as finance, technology, law and public service to fashion and the arts. We want to expose student mentees to different professional and intellectual options by guiding them to a path to achieve their passions, goals and ambitions in the best way possible. Aside from the mentorship pairings, Gotham Mentors also provides regular panels, workshops and social activities to students in the program.

Why do you have a written application process?

We would like to see seriousness of purpose in the students seeking mentorship. The application allows us to judge that, but also more importantly to gauge the interests and passions of the student. This allows us to par them with mentors best suited to their needs. 

Do you mentor only students from New York?

We have started our movement in New York, where our mentors currently reside and where we have found a great need. However, we hope to expand our reach to other cities with large populations of our target audience.

What are the “Verticals”?

The Verticals are our way of dividing major career and intellectual possibilities in order to best serve our student mentees. If a student is interested in a career in medicine then they can be paired with a current doctor or medical school student, whereas if they are passionate about photography and would like to know of ways to make it a career, then Gotham Mentor would pair them with a photographer. The Verticals allow us to divide interests and ensure the best possible pairings for the students. 

Can I change my Vertical track at any point, or will I be stuck?

You most definitely can, and in fact, we encourage it for those unsure of where they want to be. A major impetus behind Gotham Mentors is to expose students to a wide-range of career, professional and intellectual possibilities. We love it when people want to push the envelope and tread new waters. Our mentoring structure is designed with multiple check-ups to make sure you are satisfied with your Vertical and would like to continue with it. 

How long are mentors paired for?

Mentors are paired with students for periods of 6-months at a time. The system is flexible where the pairs can stay on for an additional 6 months, or students can move on to another mentor.  

How does the pairing process work?

After potential mentees fill out our application we note their interests (both academic and potential career). We then come up with the best mentors for them. Our approach is to have mentors who our most aligned with the interests of the students and can teach them the most. 

Do you mentor only Muslims?

Our aim is not to exclude people, but the reason we were formed was to address a tremendous need for an underserved population. We realize that there are students who due to complex cultural or religious background are unable to attain proper guidance. These students also lack knowledge about the breadth and depth of opportunities available that do not violate religious or cultural obligations. Our unique knowledge of cultural sensitivities allows us to reach such students, especially those who will be the first to attend college in the United States.

Do mentees have to pay at any point?

Certainly not. Our pledge is to provide the best mentorship possible for everyone, regardless of their income levels. At Gotham Mentors we strongly believe that those who have been blessed with much must give back to those in need. This philosophy is the driving factor for our mentors to generously devote time to students in need of guidance. 

Can home-schooled students be mentored by GM?

Absolutely. It is our utmost desire to reach out to the widest swathe of ambitious students possible. 

How can I contribute as a mentor?

An organization like ours needs positive initiative by all those who can contribute and believe strongly in our mission and values. Mentors are bracketed to a broad vertical (see above) and then paired with a student interested in the mentor's field. We do not expect mentors to devote their lives to their mentees, but we expect mentors to spend a little more than an hour a week on their mentees. We also expect monthly or bi-monthly in-person meeting between the mentors and mentees. We provide training to mentors before they commence their roles. If you want to contribute, you can sign up to be a mentor here.   

If I can't devote time to be a mentor, how else can I contribute?

We are always looking for energetic people who have accomplished much (or even broken into) various industries, from finance, to public health to fashion to academia. We will be conducting industry-related panels and would love to have you as a panelist.  If you think you are too busy now and can be an important resource  to us, you can sign up to be a part of our repository.