<p>I’m planning to apply for a Davidson Fellows in literature in 2013 and one of the requirements is to have a mentor who has expertise in your field. I’ve contacted several of my friends currently in college (Rice and Harvard) to ask whether they’re taking English this year, in the hopes that my connections could score me a professor, but I’ve hit dead ends so far. Unfortunately, I don’t have any personal connections to university professionals.</p>
<p>So my question is: Where/how can I find a mentor in literature who’ll critique my work, work with me, and give me advice? Do I email university faculty until I’m successful or go straight to the college and ask? (I live very close to Rice and Baylor.) </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>My son applied in the literature category of Davidson Fellows this year. You need three nominators for Davidson, not a single mentor. In writing, it’s usually good to have another writer or teacher critique your work. For nominations, my son asked his school principal, who also teaches English, his counselor, who knows him well, and his outside educational advisor, who has seen the most of his writing. The nominators must complete recommendation forms on your behalf, so make sure you ask people who know you and your writing very well.</p>
<p>The other scholarship you should look at is Scholastic’s Art & Writing contest, which just ended for 2012, but you can enter for 2013. It’s open to students in grades 7 - 12, although the portfolio and novel categories are for seniors only. There are several categories to choose from and you can (and should) enter multiple times in each category. There’s also a novel category - we just Fed Ex’d my son’s book today - deadline is tomorrow. For Scholastic, you need one primary teacher/mentor to list on your application, but may include teachers at school who helped you along the way.</p>
<p>With respect to mentors, if you can find a teacher at your school who you trust and who supports your writing, I’m sure they would be happy to look over your work and give you some feedback. Hope this helps.</p>