Mentors Frequently Asked Questions

  • Any University of Michigan alum working in or adjacent to real estate is welcome to participate. Mentors come from a wide range of roles, industries, and career stages.

  • Mentors are asked to:

    • Connect with their mentee at least once during the academic year

    • Offer guidance, perspective, and honest advice

    • Share insights into career paths, recruiting, and industry trends

    There is no requirement to provide internships or job opportunities.

  • Most mentors connect with their mentee 1–8 times per year. The program is designed to be flexible and respectful of busy schedules

  • Matches are made based on:

    • Student interests

    • Career goals

    • Industry alignment

    • Location Preferences

  • Yes. Mentors receive:

    • A brief onboarding email outlining expectations

    • Suggested conversation topics and prompts
      Support from the Weiser Center team if questions arise.

  • Most mentors are matched with one student per year. In some cases, mentors may choose to take on an additional mentee depending on availability and interest.

  • Yes. Mentors who express interest in the program are automatically invited to participate in future years to maintain continuity and reduce administrative friction. Mentors can opt out, pause, or adjust their level of involvement at any time by notifying the Weiser Center teamn

  • Mentors should reach out once or twice. If the issue persists, the Weiser Center team can follow up or reassign the student as needed.

  • Mentors receive an application form directly via Weiser Center for Real Estate email communications typically at the start of fall semester. 

Students Frequently Asked Questions

  • Any University of Michigan student with an interest in real estate is welcome to apply. The program is open to students across all schools and colleges, including Ross, LSA, Taubman, Engineering, and more. You do not need to be a real estate minor to participate.

  • Applications open once per academic year, typically at the start of the fall semester. Students are encouraged to apply early to maximize matching opportunities.

  • Students are matched with new mentors each year to gain exposure to different sectors, roles, or career paths within real estate. However, some mentor relationships naturally continue beyond one year if both the student and mentor find value in staying connected.

  • Mentors come from across the real estate ecosystem, including:

    • Development

    • Acquisitions & investments

    • Asset management

    • Brokerage

    • Finance & capital markets

    • Construction & operations

    • Affordable housing and impact-driven work

    • Urban Planning & Architecture

  • The program is intentionally low-pressure and flexible. Most mentor-mentee pairs connect once a month, depending on schedules. Students are expected to take initiative in scheduling conversations and coming prepared.

  • No — and that’s what makes it valuable.
    While conversations may touch on internships or full-time roles, the program is focused on long-term guidance, career exploration, and relationship-building, not job placement.

  • That’s completely okay.
    The program is designed to help students clarify interests, ask honest questions, and learn from professionals who have navigated similar uncertainty.

  • Students consistently cite:

    • Increased confidence during recruiting

    • Clearer understanding of career paths

    • Honest feedback from industry professionals

    • Long-term professional relationships

    Many alumni mentors remain points of contact well beyond graduation.

  • If a mentor becomes unresponsive, students should first send a polite follow-up. If there is still no response, the Weiser Center team can step in to support re-engagement or explore a new match.