Frequently Asked Questions

Pupil matches underrepresented high schoolers with university mentors from partnered universities and organizations based on an algorithm of commonalities.

Students pick their schools, studies, careers, and identities of interest. Pupil shows mentors that match the students' tailored filters, and the journey begins!

Universities are becoming more selective, expensive, and intimidating, leaving first-generation, limited-income, and students of color struggling for guidance. Students are left thinking that they are incapable of attending college, completing their education, fitting in, or finding a career pathway. On the other hand, universities seek new routes to become more diverse, inclusive, and interactive with these prospective students. Universities want better ways to market directly to students, increase their student yield and conversion rates and strengthen their alumni engagement.

We don't restrict students by costs, selectivity, or location. Students tell us their interests in school, study, careers, and identities and can match, chat and explore their untapped potential with mentors across the nation, guiding them to college with the support of tailored agenda objectives.

Pupil is designed for and attracts self-selective, high-achieving first-gen, limited-income, and underrepresented high schoolers and can support any student trying to discover their untapped potential.

We help students envision themselves through the eyes of the university before they're admitted, ultimately finding the right community. Pupil helps universities market directly to students, increase student retention and conversion rates and strengthen alumni engagement and pipeline admissions.

We work side-by-side with Deans of Admissions, have hosted surveys with students, and have spoken with prospective mentors. We know their needs, wants, and problems, and we designed Pupil around their problems with their hands at every step. Pupil is made by students for students, just like them!

When students and mentors sign-up with Pupil, they opt-in to share their data, interests, and questions the universities want while creating community and bonds between students and the universities.

We source vetted mentors from partnered universities and organizations' student and alumni databases.

Partnered universities feature Pupil on their admissions landing page for prospective students to learn how to get involved and engage with the university community by making an account on Pupil. Other facets include cross-marketing, network effects, and partner collaboration.

When students make an account on Pupil, they are shown how, what, and why to report certain information or accounts, primarily when related to safety. Similarly, universities collaborate with Pupil to set up training sessions and materials to prevent and prepare for different situations for mentors, especially regarding risk and security.

Both mentees and mentors can report each other, and a notification to the mentor's university will be sent for further investigation. For mentees, a notification will be sent to their school, guardian, or parent. Pupil does not encourage mentees and mentors to meet in person unless a university hosts an on-campus event with the proper guidelines to ensure safety. Students are unable to search specific locations; only mentees can search universities. As Pupil develops, a parent and school guardian account will be created to monitor the student's activity. Furthermore, an algorithm will be developed to record conversations and report, block or highlight inappropriate words, messages or actions.

Once students use their filters to pick their school, study, careers, and identities of interest, a list of mentors is generated by the students' tailored filters. Students can have mentors from multiple universities, majors, careers, and identities. Students can then choose to match or skip mentors they want to learn from and speak with. After students select mentors to match with, they can begin communicating and exploring their potential. These relationships continue from high school into college and can be terminated if the student or mentee decides to end the match at any time.

High schools and school districts (public, private, and charter), Universities and colleges (two-year and four-year), Nonprofit and community-based organizations (education and youth-centered)

No. Pupil encourages students to start early and advise that freshman through seniors utilize the free resources to get the most out of

No. Students are not restricted to their GPA or Scores. Instead, all students are encouraged to participate and improve with the help of a mentor!

No. Pupil is entirely free to students.

Pupil customers include High schools and school districts, Universities and colleges, and nonprofit and community-based organizations.

Yes. Students are granted access to Pupil all year.

Yes. Students can unmatch from mentors at any moment.

Students are given a tailored feed of colleges and programs of their interest, where colleges have pages and can display events and opportunities for the students to follow and attend. Students also are given an agenda during each match to set goals, learn, and think more about their college and career interests.

Universities, especially smaller or selective institutions, understand their limited ability to provide mentors. However, most universities are satisfied with students being able to match with mentors in general, especially at similar institutions, as it'll enable the students to position themselves for the application process better.