Mentorship

United Italian Societies is a no-profit organisation that has the sole objective of supporting and promoting Italian students in the UK. This mentoring programme aims to boost the careers of deserving Italian students by connecting them with Italian professionals from Finance, Law, Consulting and many other sectors. This service is provided for free, with the efforts of fellow Italian students. Any Italian student from a university abroad that is interested in a career in Finance, Law and Consulting is encouraged to apply.

Ambitiousness and curiosity are the key things we look for in a candidate. Your grades are not the first factor for our selection process because we believe they reflect only a small fraction of your personality, and definitely not all your interests or ambition in facing new challenges. All Italian students from an Italian society within UIS are welcome to apply, independently of their grades. The selection criteria are based on: • One motivational letter that describes why you would like to participate in this programme (Max 300 words) • Extracurricular activities (internships, competitions, entrepreneurship, scholarships and voluntary work) • Your CV • Willingness to dedicate at least 1 hour every 2 months to tutoring an Italian high school student applying to a university abroad

You would join a community of other young Italian talents that help each other while seeking personal and professional improvements; together with a professional and competent mentor that generously dedicate their time to help motivated students in overcoming challenges similar to what they faced in the past. It is fundamental that mentees understand that their mentor is there to provide tips and suggest several options or your life; they are not there to teach you technicalities or help you in your daily lives. The relationship between mentee and mentor will consist at least of 1h meeting every 2/3 months. During these meetings, mentees will need to have an active role. Here are some suggestions to maximise your experience in the programme: Before the meeting, plan a list of key things you want to discuss, to optimize at best your time. Do not let what was discussed during the meeting to get lost. Instead, try to get a deeper understanding of what key points you learned during the weeks after the meeting. Be aware of the fact that mentors have decided to become mentors because they are willing to help! Sometimes they might be extremely busy, but do not give up and keep in touch with them.

For the 2024/2025 programme, Our initiative comprises two interconnected programs designed to support Italian students at various stages of their educational journey, fostering a cycle of guidance and support that enhances academic and professional growth. Parallel to the mentoring program, UIS will introduce the tutoring program which will start in September 2024. Here, the university students—who are mentees in the mentoring program—serve as tutors. Italian university students (also mentees in the mentoring program) will tutor Italian high school students to counsel them in drafting their applications to universities abroad. The tutoring program is designed to assist high school students in preparing strong applications for universities abroad. This involves helping them understand the application process, drafting personal statements, and providing general counsel on the requirements and expectations of international academic institutions. Being a free service, in addition to providing a moral incentive to tutors, we have thought to further motivate them by involving them in the mentoring program. In this way, they can connect with a professional from a company of their interest and, possibly, find a job opportunity. The costs of many tutoring programmes in Italy are very often prohibitive for those high school students who do not have the economic means, and with this service, UIS hopes to help talented students in receiving an offer from their dream university.