DEES Application Mentorship Program (DEES-AMP)

The Department of Earth and Environmental (DEES) Application Mentorship Program (DEES-AMP)  is designed to support prospective graduate students applying to our department, which includes those who are thinking about working with faculties at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, American Museum of Natural History, and Columbia Climate School. Through this program, you'll be paired with a current graduate student who can offer personalized guidance and advice as you navigate the application process.

This graduate student-run initiative provides valuable insights from those who have recently gone through the process themselves, helping you with aspects like communicating with potential advisors, writing personal statements, and securing recommendation letters. While participation in the program is open to all applicants, it is especially valuable for those from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to:

  • Black/African-American, Chicanx/Latinx, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and mixed-race POC
  • LGBTQIA+ students
  • Persons with disabilities
  • First-generation college/university students
  • Low-income students
  • Women
  • International students

Please sign up to be a mentee using this form.

What You Can Expect:

  • One-on-One Mentorship: Get paired with a current graduate student who can answer your questions and provide feedback.
  • Webinars: 2 types of webinars
    • Attend a webinar with a graduate student panel, focusing on different aspects of the application process, such as Statement of Purpose writing and communication with faculty.
    • Attend a webinar with a faculty panel to get insights into what faculty are looking for from prospective graduate students.
  • Faculty Insights: Receive guidance on identifying faculty members who are accepting new students.

We’re here to help you put your best foot forward in your application. If you're interested in participating, our mentorship program will launch on September 9th, 2024.

While the program offers valuable advice, participation will not influence the admissions committee’s review of your application and does not guarantee admission.

Program Timeline:

  • September 13th:
    Mentee enrollment opens:
    Please sign up to be a mentee using this form.
  • October 13th (Midnight):
    Mentee enrollment closes.
  • October 18th:
    Mentee confirmation deadline.
  • October 28th:
    Matches are announced & Program starts.
    Note: Ideally, mentees and mentors will have 2-3 meetings during the program.
  • December 6th:
    Program’s last day.
  • January 4th:
    DEES Application Deadline. 

Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions!

As a mentor in DEES-AMP, you will provide valuable guidance and support to prospective graduate students applying to DEES. Your role includes offering insights into the application process, sharing personal experiences, and helping mentees navigate key components such as writing statements, selecting programs, and communicating with faculty. By dedicating a few hours per month, you’ll help future Earth scientists put their best foot forward and make informed decisions about their academic journey.

Program Timeline:

  • September 13th:
    Mentor enrollment opens.
    Please sign up to be a mentor using this form.
  • TBD:
    Mentor recruitment event.
  • October 18th:
    Mentor enrollment closes.
  • October 21st:
    Matches announced.
  • October 23rd, 24th, or 25th:
    Mentor training sessions.
  • October 25th:
    Participation confirmation & match acceptance.
  • October 25th - As Long as Required:
    Mentors meet with mentees.
  • December 13th:
    Check-in with mentors.
  • January 4th:
    DEES Application Deadline.

Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions!

Our graduate student-led mentoring program aims to support prospective graduate students during the application process. To acknowledge potential equity concerns, our program policy strictly prohibits program organizers and mentors from disclosing any personal information about mentees to faculty, ensuring the program's independence from the admission process.

To better guide prospective students, we would appreciate access to information on which faculty members are currently accepting students. This will allow us to provide more accurate and tailored advice to applicants.

We would also like help in organizing and hosting workshops specifically catered to the graduate application process. These workshops could cover topics, such as what faculty look for in a graduate student and what the research for a Ph.D. Program looks like. Please email us if you are interested in running a workshop or being a guest panelist!