The post as it appeared in Mid-Day – Delhi Edition on 25th June 2009.

Mid-Day MentorPolis Article

Wish you could get an ex-MIT honcho to help you with your aspirations, instead of that monotonous coaching class? Three young IITians are busy building a stream-specific mentor-mentee nexus

If only foreign studies could be figured on Facebook, and tutors came via Twitter, social networking would’ve lost all the frivolity it’s associated with. But since super-specialised interest groups are still a rarity in the country, there has to be another way to work around it, especially when it comes to education and career. A bunch of young IITians found this way fast, and headed to form a communication channel that brings together achievers and aspirants for career guidance. Called Mentorpolis, their project allows accomplished mentors to hold seminars and consultation sessions with fuchcha mentees, and both the sides can pick people as per their needs and deeds. Who’s who

Here’s a clear picture of how the whole thing happens. Mentees are high school students, undergraduates and young professionals looking for authentic information and personal guidance, whereas mentors, in this case, are senior students and professionals who have ‘been in mentee shoes’, have ‘made it’, and thus can suggest solutions to the former segment’s problems. Their current list of the latter includes students from IIT, IIM, Stanford, Harvard and other top MBA and engineering schools. They are armed with enough experience to give you all the gyaan on MBAs in India and abroad, entrepreneurship and engineering. “To begin with, we wanted to concentrate on the most major educational concerns. But less stereotypical subjects will also be taken up gradually. Law and Commerce are coming up,” says Avijit Sharma, co-founder.

The connect

Just a month into operation, the project has already enrolled about 600 students as mentees, and about 60-65 mentors. The latter’s credibility is measured on time commitment (how many hours they can spare in a week), referrals, experiential assessment, academic portfolio and previous mentoring records. Anyone can apply for either category. Once a mentee furnishes his specific needs in the form available on their website, the administrators get busy with matchmaking. “We check backgrounds, and think of somebody who has the same kind of a history; similar circumstances lead to a better connect. Then, we further the filters and see who’s equipped enough,” explains Avijit. Then, the prospective mentor and mentee get to decide if they’re up for each other. If it doesn’t work out, alternatives are arranged for. The service is pan-continental, with its headquarters in the capital. Once a ‘pair’ is made, they interact through Web seminars, telephonic consultation and in-person meetings, if proximity allows.

Fee good factor

At a fee of Rs 500 per session, is the facility worth it? “It’s true that you tend to find mentors in your own immediate circles, but I, for instance, couldn’t find one for entrepreneurship. The problem is pretty rampant in tier two cities, and that’s where we come in. If you’re not satisfied with the counselling, there’s always the option of cashback. A feedback mechanism is also well in place,” Avijit signs off.

You can access this article here.