SEO Scholars Mentor Application: 2025-26 Cohort


SEO NC Logo

Thank you for your interest in mentoring with shift_ed SEO Scholars! We look forward to learning about you.


What is the application process?

  • Complete application 
  • Participate in a 20 minute zoom interview with the shift_ed team members
  • A background check will be conducted on the behalf of SEO Scholars
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis until all spots are filled

About SEO Scholars: SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. 


About SEO Mentor Program: The goal of our Mentor Program is to ensure each of our scholars becomes a competitive college applicant and confident aspiring professional. We require each of our 10 and 11th grade scholars to attain an internship and/or enrichment program in the summer before their senior year. We match small groups of scholars (3-4) with a mentor to get the guidance and tools to help them reach this requirement.  Across one year, mentors will support their students with (1) career-building skills, (2) college and career exploration, and (3) building their network. We are looking for 40 Mentors from the North Carolina area to support a dedicated and hardworking Scholar throughout their 10th or 11th-grade year. 


Our project-based mentoring model supports the development of critical life skills, encourages relationship-building, allows mentors to share their own experiences, and provides students with the tools they will need to navigate both college and their future careers. 


What is the commitment?

  • Commit to attend four in-person Saturday Community Day sessions in Greensboro, NC from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026
  •  October 11th 2025
  • November 1st 2025
  • March 14 2026
  • April 25th 2026
  • Attend seven virtual mentoring sessions throughout the year, Each virtual mentoring session will be 2-3 hours, including a 1 hour Mentor Opening Circle 
  • September 20, 2025
  • September 27, 2025
  • October 4, 2025
  • October 18, 2025
  • October 25, 2025
  • April 11, 2026
  • April 18, 2026
  • May 2, 2026
  • May 9, 2026
  • May 16, 2026
  • Attend a virtual formal mentor orientation and training in Fall 2025

What is the role of an SEO Scholars Mentor?

  • Have a bachelor’s degree
  • Have 2+ years of professional experience
  • Pass a background check (paid for by SEO Scholars)
  • Maintain consistent and reliable communication with scholar/mentee
  • Cultivate a trusting professional relationship
  • Supportive of the scholar's academic and professional growth
  • Model professionalism and maintain SEO Scholars mission and value of academics and growth



SEO SF Logo

Thank you for your interest in mentoring with SEO Scholars! We look forward to learning about you.


What is the application process?

  • Complete the application ASAP; acceptances will be accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are filled 
  • Participate in a 20 minute zoom interview with a SEO Scholars Program team member
  • Pass a background check, including fingerprinting and DOJ processing (Live Scan)

About SEO Scholars: SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. 


About SEO Mentor Program: The goal of our Mentor Program is to ensure each of our scholars becomes a competitive college applicant and a confident aspiring professional. We require each of our Junior Scholars to secure an internship and/or enrichment program in the summer before their Senior year. We match each of our Juniors with a mentor to get the guidance and tools to help them fulfill this requirement.  Over the course of the year, mentors will support their students with (1) career-building skills, (2) college and career exploration, and (3) building their network. We are looking for 120 Mentors from the San Francisco/East Bay Area to support a dedicated and hardworking Scholar throughout their Junior year. 


Our project-based mentoring model supports the development of critical life skills, encourages relationship-building, allows mentors to share their own experiences, and provides students with the tools they will need to navigate both college and future careers. Mentors attend workshops for a full academic year with their mentee. 


What is the commitment?

  • Commit to 6 sessions, starting in January 2025 and ending in May: 2 sessions will be in-person and 4 will be virtual. Each meeting will be 2 hours and will include 30 minutes of Mentor Professional Development.
  • Spring Dates: 1/25, 2/1, 3/1, 3/22, 4/19, 5/10
  • Underlined dates will be in-person sessions, all other dates will be Zoom sessions 
  • Located in downtown San Francisco, CA OR Berkeley, CA
  • Attend a formal orientation and training in early January 2025 

What is the role of an SEO Scholars Mentor?

  • Bachelor’s degree or enrolled in final year of undergrad   
  • Ideally 2+ years of professional experience
  • Pass a background check: Live Scan (paid for by SEO Scholars)
  • Maintain consistent and reliable communication with scholar/mentee
  • Cultivate a trusting professional relationship
  • Supportive of the scholar's academic and professional growth
  • Model professionalism and maintain SEO Scholars' mission and value of academics and growth
Scholars Miami

Thank you for your interest in mentoring with SEO Scholars! We look forward to learning about you.

What is the application process?

  • Complete application 
  • Participate in a 20 minute zoom interview with the team members
  • A background check will be conducted on the behalf of SEO Scholars
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis until all spots are filled

About SEO Scholars: SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. 


About SEO Mentor Program: The goal of our Mentor Program is to ensure each of our scholars becomes a competitive college applicant and confident aspiring professional. We match small groups of 10th grade scholars (3-4) with a mentor to get the guidance and tools needed to help them throughout this exploratory year.  Mentors will support their students with (1) career-building skills, (2) college and career exploration, and (3) building their network. We are looking for mentors from the Miami area to support a dedicated and hardworking Scholar throughout their 10th-grade year.


Our project-based mentoring model supports the development of critical life skills, encourages relationship-building, allows mentors to share their own experiences, and provides students with the tools they will need to navigate both college and their future careers. 


What is the commitment?

  • Commit to attend four in-person Saturday Community Day sessions in Miami on: 
    • October 11th
    • November 1st
    • March 14th
    • April 25th
  • Attend ten virtual mentoring sessions throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Each virtual mentoring session will be 1-2 hours, including a 1-hour Mentor Opening Circle on:
    • Fall: September 20th, September 27th, October 4th, October 18th, and October 25th
    • Spring: April 11th, April 18th, May 2nd, May 9th, and May 16th
  • Attend a formal mentor orientation and training in Fall 2025

What is the role of an SEO Scholars Mentor?

  • Have a bachelor’s degree
  • Have 2+ years of professional experience
  • Pass a background check (paid for by SEO Scholars)
  • Maintain consistent and reliable communication with scholar/mentee
  • Cultivate a trusting professional relationship
  • Supportive of the scholar's academic and professional growth
  • Model professionalism and maintain SEO Scholars mission and value of academics and growth

Contact and Demographic Information




















The Mentoring Commitment





The SEO Scholars Mentor Program has an enormous impact on both the young people that we serve and the mentors who support them. Our Scholars come from highly vulnerable populations and consistency is crucial to their social-emotional well being and relationship building with adults. To create the best conditions for a successful pairing, mentors commit to attending all designated sessions between October and May (14 sessions total, 4 in person and 10 virtual). 

The Mentor Experience






Submission

Thank you for completing this application! Please submit below and expect a response in the next 2-3 weeks.