Apply to Be a Curious Cardinals Mentor

Inspire the next generation. Empower your future.

Become a mentor

Why Become a
Curious Cardinals Mentor?

At Curious Cardinals, we believe college students and recent grads are uniquely positioned to inspire and uplift the next generation of changemakers. As a mentor, you'll enjoy:

Great Pay

Earn $40–$60/hr in a flexible, part-time role.

Professional Growth

Access resources, training, and development opportunities that help you lead with confidence.

Flexible Scheduling

Set your own hours and build your mentorship around your life.

Prestigious Community

Join a national network of exceptional mentors, from Fulbright Scholars to future founders.

What you’ll do:

Mentor K–12 students through personalized academic support or passion project guidance
Lead engaging 1:1 sessions focused on curiosity, skill-building, and self-confidence
Grow your leadership, communication, and teaching skills

What we look for

Passion

You bring contagious enthusiasm. You love what you do and want to ignite that spark in others.

Expertise

You're accomplished in your field and eager to keep learning. You help students set goals—and achieve them.

Inclusivity

You meet students where they are. You listen deeply and adapt to support diverse learning needs.

Professionalism

You're dependable, communicative, and lead with integrity. Students and families trust you to show up—and follow through.

Become a mentor

What we look for

1

Tell us about yourself

Share your story, your subject strengths, and your academic background. Upload your resume so we can learn more about your experiences, leadership, and curiosity.

2

Respond to questions

Help us get to know you beyond your resume. Share what inspires you, how you lead, and what you love to teach.
We’re looking for:
  • Passion and curiosity – What fuels your love of learning?
  • Professionalism – How do you communicate, follow through, and lead?
  • Teaching inspiration – Which topics excite you most, and why do you want to teach them?

3

Live interview

We want to see how you teach and connect. In your interview, we’ll look for clarity, energy, adaptability, and your ability to make ideas come alive.
Become a mentor

Join our national network

1.000+

active mentors 🔢

30,000+

hours mentored ⏱️

200+

colleges and universities represented 🎓

Curious Cardinals mentors have gone on to thrive at Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and beyond. This is more than a job—it's a launchpad for what’s next.

Princeton University Logo
University of California Berkeley logo

Hear from our mentors

If your middle school asked you to come back and teach a group of kids for one day, what would you teach?

If you can’t explain it, then you haven’t understood it well enough. Teaching is an act of distillation, searching across the bounds of an idea and distilling it down to it’s essence. Listen to Benjamin, a sophomore at Stanford University studying Bioengineering, speak on the topics he’s passionate about teaching.

Imagine you’re going to be on the cover of your favorite magazine, what would your dream headline be?

Listen to Brynn, a sophomore at Stanford University, speak about her dream headline. If you, or your student, are struggling to answer this question Curious Cardinals is here to help. We believe in helping students find the spark that unlocks their potential, curiosity, or even willingness to go further than they can imagine on their own.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply to be a mentor. Become the mentor you wish you had.

Become a mentor