Open Mentor Sessions

Higher education is full of questions, and not all of them fit neatly into a program. The Open Mentor Sessions offers you direct, one-on-one access to mentoring from Dr. Connolly on your own terms, without a fixed curriculum or structured agenda. Whether navigating a pressing academic decision or thinking through your long-term goals, these sessions provide personalized, flexible guidance whenever you need, across any stage of your education.

Open Mentor Session packages range from 2 to 40 sessions, whether you need focused support around a specific decision or sustained guidance across your academic journey.

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  • No two students arrive with the same questions, and no two sessions look the same. Open Mentor Sessions are built around your priorities, whatever they happen to be at any given moment.

    There is no required content, no set sequence, and no expectation that your concerns stay the same over time. The sessions adapt as you do, meeting you exactly where you are.

  • Bring any question or challenge to your Open Mentor Sessions. This free-form approach opens the floor for navigating academic setbacks as they occur, clarifying post-graduation goals, or whatever area you would like to delve into.

    You can focus on what is most relevant to you. One session might focus on course selection or managing a difficult semester; the next might explore how to make the most of your undergraduate years. No concern is too immediate nor distant to bring to the table.

  • Working one-on-one with Dr. Caroline Connolly across months or years creates something unique: a genuine, ongoing relationship grounded in trust and continuity.

    Dr. Connolly brings over twenty years of experience in higher education, including fourteen years advising undergraduate students at the University of Pennsylvania. She also has a background in positive education: a research-informed approach to promoting and preserving well-being in academic spaces.

    Students who work with Dr. Connolly benefit not only from her depth of expertise, but from a mentor who comes to know them, their goals, their challenges, and their growth, over time.

  • Each session is 50 minutes, scheduled individually as needs arise. Consecutive sessions may be booked if you would like an intense brainstorming session.

    The Open Mentor Session packages range from two to forty sessions, giving you the freedom to engage lightly or deeply depending on where you are and what you need.

    All sessions are available to use across a five-year period, so you can space sessions across semesters, return during moments of transition, or reach out whenever a new challenge or goal emerges.

    There is no pressure to use your time all at once, only the assurance that support is there when you need it.

  • All packages are valid for five years from the date of purchase. Each package contains a number of sessions to be used individually, and/or consecutively for more intense sessions.

    Package sessions are drawn down as sessions are scheduled, giving you control over how and when you engage. Please reach out for more details about these packages.

    • Essentials package: 2 sessions

    • Foundations package: 5 sessions

    • Core package: 10 sessions

    • Extended package: 20 sessions

    • Comprehensive package: 40 sessions

Additional resources you may find helpful

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FAQs for Students and Families

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Preparing for Your First Session

Quick links to Student Programs

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Testimonial

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Hana, Student Mentee

"Caroline Connolly is one of the rare educators whose intellectual rigor is matched by an unwavering commitment to her students’ growth…Each setting was defined by her global perspective, high academic standards, and genuine devotion to education...I have seen firsthand how seriously she takes her responsibility to students, and I am grateful to call her a mentor and friend."

Read More Testimonials Here

Connect with Dr. Connolly

If you would prefer to schedule a free 20 minute consultation, please click here.

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