FOCUS Mentorship Program

FOCUS is a structured mentorship program designed to offer first-year, first-generation* undergraduate student mentees the opportunity to develop relationships with NYU alum, faculty, staff, and graduate student mentors who can serve as resources and/or advocates through establishing an ongoing mentoring relationship. 

FOCUS mentors assist their mentees in building confidence, exploring interests and passion, and finding community at NYU. By connecting students to the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs (CMEP) and other university resources, FOCUS helps mentees establish a foundation at NYU for their educational and personal success. Through deep engagement, FOCUS builds a cohort that enables mutual learning and growth. The program embraces many experiences, often centering those of first-generation students of color. Learn about the process and benefits and access the application for mentors and mentees below.   

* For this program, "first-generation" is defined as students whose parent(s) or primary caregiver(s) have not completed a bachelor's degree.

FOCUS Aims To:

  • Support the first-year transition and success of first-generation college students, including international and first-gen transfer students
  • Connect mentees to resources available at NYU
  • Assist students in developing positive connections with the broader NYU community
  • Create a support system for academic success and professional and social development

FOCUS Mentorship Benefits:

  • Meaningful personal and professional relationships
  • Opportunities to network, reflect, and share first-generation experiences
  • Opportunities to attend special events at NYU and throughout New York City (e.g. Broadway shows, The Schomburg, El Museo De Barrio, etc.)
  • Opportunities to participate in free events throughout New York City (past excursions have included visiting the Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens)
  • Special invitation to university-wide events hosted by the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation
  • Professional development workshops/opportunities and social activities on-and-off- campus
  • Consideration for the FOCUS Book Scholarship
  • CMEP Swag and other free giveaways

FOCUS Application Information

Learn About Becoming a Mentor
Learn About Becoming a Mentee

Mentor applications for the 2024–2025 academic year are now available! Apply by Fri, Aug 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Mentee applications for the 2024–2025 academic year will become available at the end of August.

Please subscribe to the CMEP listserv for the most up-to-date information.

FOCUS Selection Process

Both mentors and mentees are selected through an application process. Although FOCUS can be a resource for career development, pairings are not solely based on career interests. Instead, the FOCUS Program’s dedicated staff carefully review each application to identify commonalities (e.g. career considerations, various aspects of social identities and lived experiences, academic interests, hobbies, and goals) between potential matches.

Mentors are selected to provide students with the opportunity to develop personally and professionally in ways that will continue beyond the program.