This study explores the background of minority teacher education candidates; their experience in teacher education courses and how the program met student goals and expectations; cultural conflicts they experienced in participating in teacher education; and the mentoring and support systems that the participants used or needed. Interviews held with 12 participants revealed that mentoring is an essential process that comes from the family support system ("La familia") or a group support system (the "Dile") of friends knowledgeable about the university system. As students passed into the college of education, they found that professors were more caring and helpful than those of the larger university setting. Hispanic students were uncomfortable using the central advisement center because of its formality and limited contact time per student. The paper concludes that the university must incorporate Hispanics'"La familia" and "Dile" support systems into its support systems. Not only should the student be oriented to the university, but the family as a whole should receive this orientation. (Contains approximately 25 references.) (JDD)