The interview is a fit conversation, not a job interview. The mentor is deciding whether they can actually help you; you are deciding whether they are the right person to spend a semester with. Here is how to show up ready.
Decide before you walk in: how often do you want to meet, what doors do you want opened, what do you want in hand by December (an internship, real interviews, a bigger network)? The mentor will ask. Have an answer.
Read their profile and LinkedIn. Come in knowing their field and one thing you admire about their path.
Be ready to say, in one sentence, what you want from your second half and why this mentor fits it.
Ask about their path, a decision they would redo, or how to break into their field. Good questions show you are serious.
The discipline, teamwork, and pressure you know translate. Have one specific example ready.
For a virtual slot, join the Zoom link from your chat a minute early. For a phone slot, send your number with the date and time.
A short thank-you message after the interview goes a long way and keeps the conversation open.