Undergraduates may still need guidance in developing:

• Self-esteem
• Critical-thinking skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Writing abilities

Encourage undergraduates to seek out a broad array of experiences through networking, coursework, and other internships.

Encourage students to think about their skills as they might relate to interdisciplinary research. Many undergraduates see their field in very narrow terms. They don’t realize that a chemist, for example, might be able to work with a team of environmental, material, or life scientists as well as with engineers.

Communicate the satisfaction you get from your career. Many students are energized by the enthusiasm and enjoyment they see demonstrated by their mentors.

Introduce students to important scientific journals in their field.

Undergraduates generally have a distorted view of how the professional world works. They are often unable to see themselves operating successfully within it. You can help define that world by providing advice and guidance on:

• Careers in your field and at your facility
• The team approach and interdisciplinary nature of many jobs
• Appropriate academic coursework and degrees required for success
• Graduate school
• Networking
• Importance of communication and interpersonal skills
  

Deciding to go to graduate school is a big step for many students. But that decision may be trivial compared to the difficulty of choosing a school and advisor. As a mentor, you may be called upon to have critical input into this life-defining choice. You should encourage your student to:

• Visit campuses
• Investigate departments and potential advisors
• Talk with current students, faculty, and alumni
• Apply to more than one school
• Consider graduation rates and time to degree at institutions of choice