This guide for doctoral students (especially those from minority groups) and their mentors examines the alliance between the doctoral student and his major professor (dissertation advisor). Mentoring is examined as an element of the doctoral process, including discussion of the roles of the mentor/protege in the alliance, the choosing of a mentor, the formalizing of the mentoring alliance, and the evaluation of the mentoring process (mentor checklist). Several points are stressed: (1) for minority students, good mentoring is a key variable for determining success or failure in completing a doctoral program; (2) selecting a mentor is critical in that the one chosen must have the time and interest to accept the student as a protege; and (3) the mentor, in order to have a successful mentor/protege relationship, needs to become familiar with the protege beyond the superficial level. The booklet concludes with information on effective mentoring techniques for faculty mentors and a list of things to do and not to do that the student should keep in mind when involved in a mentor relationship. Contains 10 references. (GLR)