The Pioneer Connections Program, which connects students with alumni mentors in their field of study, received only 30 student applications this year, a big drop from the 80 they received last year.

“Last year we advertised during fall and winter quarters with students,” said Cynthia Hyman, associate director of Alumni Career Programs. “This year, we only advertised during winter quarter so there was less time. We still have many mentors waiting.”

The program will likely extend the student application deadline, which had previously been set for Jan. 16, because there are often more mentor applications than student.

The program is run by students in the Pioneer Ambassador Program and is open to all undergraduates, with preference given to juniors and seniors. If the program does have to turn down student applications, freshmen and sophomores will be turned down first.

“To the extent we are able, we have sometimes matched graduate students as well,” said Hyman. “Students complete an application that provides basic information about their career interests and submit a brief Statement of Intent that outlines their goals for the program and questions they have for a mentor.”

Alumni then must provide information about their educational background and career experience, as well as undergo a background check. Based on this information, Pioneer Ambassadors then match students and mentors to the best of their ability.

“We ask the matched pairs to meet monthly through June,” said Hyman. “This can be in person, via email, Skype or phone. Many of our mentors are outside the Denver area.”

According to Hyman, most students find the program very rewarding.

“Mentors give students real world advice, provide perspective and help with everything from networking to interviewing,” she said. “Mentors have the opportunity to connect with a current DU student. Many mentors appreciate that others helped them and they want to do the same for current students.”

Mariah Bloom, a junior studying accounting and Spanish, participated in the program last year.

“My mentor taught me how important it is to constantly network and be ready and comfortable asking for what you are looking for, to make every experience a learning opportunity and to go out into the world and toy around with your possible career options,” she said.

According to Bloom, the program is something all students should consider.

“You never know what you’ll end up loving,” she said.

According to Hyman, the program is not difficult to get into even though it is still necessary to fill out an application.

“In fact, in each of the last two years, we have turned away mentors because not enough students applied to participate,” said Hyman.

Only one student has been turned down in the past two years, and that was only because her field of study was very narrow and there were no available mentors in that particular area.

Most students have already been notified about their matches within the past couple of days. A kick-off event for mentors and protégés will be held on Thursday before the men’s basketball game against Arkansas State.