About Us
Durham AIM’s mission is grounded in the belief that every student, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education and realize their full potential. Working in partnership with Duke College Advising Corps, our goal is to provide comprehensive 1-on-1 college admissions advisory services to Durham high school students. Given the complexity of the college application process, particularly for students coming from underprivileged backgrounds, Durham AIM seeks to bridge gaps in knowledge through providing support and mentorship. Undergraduate students at Duke possess a wealth of information regarding success in high school, extracurricular opportunities, and the college application process through their own recent experiences. We aim to encourage membership among all undergraduate students regardless of year, background, program of study, or post-graduation aspirations in order to provide our mentees advisors in any area they express interest in. Following rigorous training by our organization and our partners, undergraduate volunteers will serve as individual mentors to a small number of high school students. Mentors will meet with each mentee twice a month to offer tailored advice that addresses the mentee’s aspirations and circumstances. Our holistic approach aims not only to guide students through the mechanics of college applications but also to instill a sense of possibility, ambition, and belonging in the higher education landscape. We hope to foster longevity in our partnerships by preserving successful mentor-mentee pairs over multiple semesters or even years, providing the mentor a fulfilling service experience through their undergraduate career and providing the mentee consistent support through their high school career.
