Program Details
Welcome to the Bulldog Mentor Program at Mississippi State University!
Each academic year, student mentees are partnered with alumni mentors for individualized mentorship experiences via the Bulldog Network, a professional networking platform exclusive to Mississippi State University. Each student participant is matched with an alumni mentor whose professional and life experiences align with what the mentee hopes to gain from the program. Participants are matched based on a combination of factors, including personal preferences, professional goals, and career and industry interests.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Alumni Enrollment Begins: August 11, 2025
- Student Enrollment Begins: August 25, 2025
- Student Orientation: Dates Available Below
- Bulldog Mentor Program Student & Alumni Enrollment Deadline: September 30, 2025
- Alumni & Student Match Day Emails: October 13, 2025
- Duration of the Program: October 13, 2025 – April 17, 2026
The goals of the Bulldog Mentor Program are to:
- Support students’ academic, career, and leadership development
- Provide impactful engagement opportunities for alumni
- Foster a welcoming environment where MSU students and alumni build meaningful connections
Why participate?
You will connect with a career professional who will help you expand your knowledge, skills, and network. Your mentor will support your goals and provide valuable advice and insights into career opportunities and possibilities.
What is required of mentees?
- Start strong! Attend a mandatory orientation session. Orientation will equip you with tools to make the most of your mentorship. Sign up here.
- Sign-up for the Bulldog Network and create your profile.
- Complete the Bulldog Mentor Program registration survey.
- Favorite your top mentors. Browse the mentor page to identify alumni with whom you’d like to connect.
- Engage regularly with your mentor through video calls, messages, or in-person meetings in public locations.
- Take initiative. Schedule meetings, arrive prepared, and set and track your personal/professional goals for the program.
- Be professional. Demonstrate timeliness, openness to feedback, and follow-through on commitments.
Interested in joining the
Bulldog Mentor Program?
To join, you will need to RSVP for an Orientation below:
Visit your MSU Connections Account and RSVP to a Bulldog Mentor Program orientation. The first 100 students will be entered in a raffle to win a prize!
- Orientation #1: Wednesday, Aug. 27th 5:00-5:30pm
- Orientation #2: Tuesday, Sept. 2nd 5:00-5:30pm
- Orientation #3: Monday, Sept. 8th 5:00-5:30pm
- Orientation #4: Wednesday, Sept. 24th 5:00-5:30pm
- Last Chance Orientation: Tuesday, Sept. 30th Virtual session 12:00-12:30pm
After you attend your Orientation session, you will be enrolled in the 2025-2026 Bulldog Mentor Program, which is a part of the Bulldog Network platform. As you complete registration, follow the steps below for a successful mentorship match!
Join the Bulldog Network (log-in with your MSU NetID and password).
Click here to create your Bulldog Network student profile.
Complete the registration survey for the Bulldog Mentor Program!
Click here to complete the Bulldog Mentor Program registration survey.
Favorite 5-10 alumni mentors in the Bulldog Mentor Program! Click here to find alumni in your career field/major or find someone who has similar life experiences.
Success Stories
“Participating as a mentee in the Bulldog Mentor Program has made me so much more confident in working towards my aspirations and goals. I’ve also gained the ability to become more comfortable on campus with all the support from my mentor!”
“Serving as a Bulldog Mentor was incredibly fulfilling! I was partnered with my mentee during her first year of college and was able to offer support and advice based on my own experiences. Introducing my mentee to research opportunities, assisting her in creating plans to achieve her goals, and witnessing her academic and personal growth throughout the program was truly rewarding. This experience was enriching for both of us, as we were able to learn and grow from each other in meaningful ways.”
“Being a mentor is a fulfilling and rewarding experience when the mentee is engaged and prepared to learn from my work experiences. My mentee selected the topic for each of our sessions and sent me questions before we met. Some of the topics we covered included industry insights, communication, relationships in the workplace, and resume review. It is gratifying to see how much my mentee developed during the semester, and we plan to stay in contact to follow his long-term progress.”
“My mentor answered questions that were very important to me – not only about my field of study, but also about work-life balance, how to better present myself to companies as a potential employee, and the importance of being engaged in the present beyond my studies and enjoying doing so.
As a mentee, if you come with questions, respect, and a willingness to learn, it is an amazing experience, and I highly encourage my fellow students to find out for themselves! Thank you to my mentor and all the other mentors for taking the time to invest in myself and my peers.”
“I was very impressed with my mentee’s commitment to our conversations. She’s setting her goals and finding results. I have loved meeting with her, and I have no doubt that she’ll go places!”
“Being paired with a mentor who had hometown ties made it feel meant to be…She helped me navigate my change in major, gave me practical advice on everything from interviews to the MCAT application, and really helped me see a clear path forward. It was so encouraging to have a professional in my corner who genuinely cared…This program gave me confidence and hope for my future. “