Our Values
Path Mentors was born out of our dissatisfaction with the toxic high-pressure environment created by the college admissions process. We believe that there's a better way to spend your high school years other than completing the standard checklist of high test scores, overwhelming course loads, and cookie-cutter clubs. We genuinely believe in the power and impact of having a personal mentor who can guide you as you prepare for college. In other words, our mentors, who have been through the rigorous admissions process themselves, will help you stand out through project-based mentorship without burning out.
Founded in Silicon Valley, California in 2019 by a group of Columbia alumni who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, NYC and Asia. All mentors have graduated from top schools such as Ivy League, Stanford, and MIT who are currently working in a variety of industries such as technology, finance, design, management consulting, journalism, film, academia and more.
“There are no checklists for college admissions: there’s a reason why not every valedictorian goes to Harvard… Seek to succeed on your own terms, and college admissions should be a byproduct. High school is a time for exploration and curiosity, there is no better way to do that than identifying something you might be interested in and going for it.”
— Mentor Spencer | Columbia University
Tech | Engineering | Crypto
“Find an NTA (non-teenager activity) you enjoy doing outside of school. Doing something that is not as common for teenagers to do is the best way to make you stand out.”
— Mentor Ruby | University of Pennsylvania
Business | Finance | Music
Why We Started Path Mentors
We recognize that getting into a college is a major milestone and that there are a lot of fears about the process. At the same time, we believe that there's a more fulfilling way to spend your high school years than the traditional path of catering all of your experiences just to get into the college. We want to help you succeed in your long term personal and professional journey with impact-driven projects, valuable experiences, and guidance throughout the various challenges that you might face.
“My focus is on facilitating the intellectual exploration of novel ideas about our social reality, an activity that forms the foundation of the humanities and social sciences. I’m excited to collaborate with you to sharpen your best ideas and embody them in the future projects”
— Mentor Jane | Harvard University
Sociology | Data | Psychology
“I know how demanding college applications can be and I look forward to supporting your next creative endeavor!”
— Mentor Remy | Brown University/RISD
Design | Illustration | Animation
You Are Unique
Everyone has ups and downs during their high school journey. Life is a marathon and we hope that you can grow and spend time doing things you genuinely enjoy, rather than force yourself to chase a checklist of activities you are not interested in, only to get mediocre results. Believe in yourself – everyone is unique and has a different path!
“No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life. There may be countless trails and bridges and demigods who would gladly carry you across; but only at the price of pawning and forgoing yourself. There is one path in the world that none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!”
- Friedrich Nietzsche, 19th Century German Philosopher.
“Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, I work as a data scientist at an AI startup to build data-driven interventions to reduce incarceration and drive criminal justice reform.”
— Mentor Mayuka | Stanford University
Data | AI | NLP
“If you focus too much on learning a skill, you tend to lose the forest through the trees. Certain technical skills can be applicable both in day-to-day life. Most importantly, the road to learning these skills can be rooted in practicality”
— Mentor Austin | Columbia University
Finance | Tech | Crypto