Is this program free?

Yes! Our program is completely free to all mentees no matter their background or their income. We asked for low-income status and ethnicity for our own statistics, however, this will not have an effect on your child’s application as we strive to be more inclusive. We do accept donations on our GoFundMe page here.

Do mentors at PupilPrep get paid?

No! Mentors get volunteer hours. If they do a minimum of six hours every month, they get extra hours to serve as an incentive to mentor their mentee.

How do we select our mentors?

Through our application, we gain an idea of the type of people our mentors are, and using their proposed schedule and subject interests, we pair them with a mentee that would be a good fit for them and potentially a resource as they transition from elementary to middle school then middle to high school.

Do parents receive report cards?

We have parent-teacher conferences between mentors and parents every few months. Mentors and parents are given a PTC Guide to give inspiration for what to discuss such as the mentee’s strengths and weaknesses and what topics may have been worked on during this time. However, we do not use number grades. We feel this may discourage the mentee and simply the fact that grades are not the best identifier of effort or understanding.

Why do we say “mentor” instead of “tutor”?

Mentors are not only there for their students academically but also as role models and resources outside of the classroom. Because our mentors are high school and college students, mentees have someone closer in an age that they can be comfortable going to for help or to talk to.

How is this program different from others?

Our program is different from others due to our desire to reduce educational inequity and amend the barriers underprivileged and underrepresented youth face. Additionally, our seasonal programs that lend to career development and community building are made to aid both mentors and mentees and provide an opportunity to get more involved with the team and our organization as a whole.