Peer Mentor Program
The BMES Peer Mentorship Program is an academic year long program that partners upperclassmen with first and second-year students to strengthen community among current students and smooth the transition for new students.
Mentees receive practical advice on classes, careers and life outside of school, while simultaneously finding a community within the BME major. Additionally, mentors will strengthen their leadership skills, reinforce their own subject knowledge, gain new professional/academic connections and enjoy the satisfaction of helping fellow students.
The department also hosts volunteering and social events throughout the semester for students involved in the mentoring program.
For mentees:
- Gain valuable academic and career advice from a fellow student
- Broaden your academic/professional network
- Learn how someone previously in your shoes transitioned into academics at BME and life at CU
- Gain additional insights and support beyond those of your faculty and classmates
For mentors:
- Help a fellow student
- Impart advice
- Academic advice (classes, minors, certificates)
- Career advice (research, internships, volunteering, student organizations)
- Advice on life outside of school
- Improve your communication and leadership skills
- Enhance your resume
- Reinforce your own subject knowledge and study skills
Mentors are required to participate in one panel hosted by BMES. These panels will focus on career development topics, such as applying to internships, medical school, undergraduate research, studying abroad, networking, and work-life balance. The panels offer a unique opportunity for mentors to share their advice on navigating BME and help mentees make the most of resources at the University of Colorado Boulder.
In addition to the required panel, mentors must meet with a mentee three times throughout the academic year. Mentor-mentee pairings do not have to remain consistent, and mentees can select a mentor of their choice. Mentees can sign up for the mentor they find interesting and schedule a time to meet for coffee or simply just talk. This provides a great opportunity for mentees to practice networking skills while learning more about the BME program.
General guidance is provided below to participants on the expected level of commitment. However, we encourage mentors and mentees to be flexible and to share with each other and with the department their ideas for improving or getting the most out of the program.
- Reach out to each other throughout the semester and engage without the demands of an organized meeting. The focus is on establishing face time between mentors and mentees.
- Do not be afraid to reach out to your mentor with questions or concern throughout the semester. However, have reasonable expectations on your mentor’s time and commitments. Please realize that your mentor is also in classes and be considerate of their time.
- Mentors are required to participate in a career development panel and meet 3 times with mentees per academic year.
- Be kind and respectful to everyone in the program. There will be no tolerance for DEI-related violations.
- Answer your mentor partner’s emails or phone calls in a timely manner (1-2 days), even if it is only to say you are busy at the moment and will get back to them at length within a week or two.
The advice mentors give to students will vary greatly, but below are some general topics mentors may wish to address.
- Academic advice. Advise on class material and issues while upholding standards of academic integrity. Moreover, are there any certificates, minors or options you would recommend?
- Class advice. Advise on the classes students will take, including lessons you learned from having certain faculty for your class (things they prefer or expect of students).
- Career advice. How have you found internships or research opportunities? Would you recommend a student or volunteer group?
- The transition from high school/previous school to CU. Whether students have started as first-time freshman or are transferring from another college or university, there are certain things that will be unique or interesting about CU. What have you found that is different about CU, and what can you share about how you have adapted?
- The importance of service. Why do you feel giving back or volunteering is important?
- Helpful advice you have received. Did certain advice help shape your academic career or life?
Conversation starters for mentees
- Can you tell me about yourself and your current job?
- What classes did you/do you most enjoy?
- What classes did you/do you find most difficult and why?
- What recommendations do you have for me to better prepare myself for these courses?
- What would you like to know about me?
- What campus resources have you found to be the most useful?
- In what activities do you participate outside of school?
- How did you manage the transition from high school/community college to CU Boulder?
- Do you have any test-taking or studying strategies?
- I’m interested in (certain classes or activities). Can you suggest any on campus groups that I might join?
- How do you balance school and your personal life?
- How do I best present myself in class and get involved in undergraduate research?
- Do you have advice about classes, professors, places to live or activities on campus or around Boulder?
Conversation starters for mentors
- Tell me about yourself and your background.
- What would you like to know about me?
- What are your questions for me?
- What do you want to take away from this mentoring program?
- What classes do you most enjoy?
- What classes do you find most difficult?
- In what activities are you involved/would you like to become involved?
- In which fields are you interested and why? In which fields are you absolutely not interested and why?
- What are your concerns for this semester?
- What are your academic plans for next year? The year after? Do you have any questions I can answer to help you plan?
- Do you have general questions about classes, professors, places to live or activities on campus or around Boulder?
- Are you interested in graduate school and/or research?
- Where do you see yourself after graduating from CU? What about five years after that?
- Are you interested in any certificates/options/minors?
- What extracurricular activities did you do in high school? Would you like to continue those here at CU?
