Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I choose a Mentor? First complete your profile with information on what help you are looking for. Then browse through the list of mentors and create mentoring request.
• How long will the mentors be available? We ask our mentors to make commitments of at one year for our initial scholar selects in order to ensure that the newer Astronaut Scholar is able to fully benefit from the relationship. If a mentor must leave the relationship early, we request at least one month's notice in order to search for a replacement mentor with similar background.
• Relationship is not going well or I am concerned about membership, what to do? We encourage letting the mentor know about the situation and contact the ASF Programming Staff, and we will provide our full support to resolve the situation in a positive and satisfactory manner.

Astronaut scholar DO's

1. TAKE A PROACTIVE ROLE IN SHAPING UP THE RELATIONSHIP.  It is incumbent upon the mentee to seek and develop this relationship. Your mentor volunteered to help you: seek them out and help them help you.
2. Understand what you want from the mentoring relationship and communicate your goals and aspirations to your mentor. Balance personal and professional relationship with your mentor.
3. Set aside time for the mentoring process and keep all scheduled appointments with your mentor and display professional behavior.
4. PUT THE TIME WITH MENTOR TO THE BEST USE. Come to meetings with mentor prepared with planned topics.
5. Respond in a timely manner to your mentor's feedback. Respond to emails from your mentor at most two days after receipt.
6. Be open and honest with your mentor about your challenges and weaknesses. 
7. If something concerning the mentor needs to be discussed with others, it should first be discussed within the mentoring relationship.

astronaut scholar DON'Ts

1. Ask for advice on everything. Have a purpose in each request - this relationship should be transformational - not transactional.
2. Blame the mentor if his or her advice doesn't work out.
3. Expect the mentor to know all the answers or give you answers like a self-help book.
4. Commit yourself to obligations you cannot keep.
5. Cancel meetings/visits with your mentor at the last minute.