Cornell University: Graduate students benefit from peer mentoring

In graduate school, peer mentoring is a two-way street that benefits everyone.

Advanced students can share what they’ve learned through experience by mentoring early-career students. As mentees, early-career students can avoid common pitfalls and get ahead with the benefit of a more senior student who has been there, done that.

At the Graduate School, with the support of the Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement, the Multicultural Academic Council (MAC) Peer Mentoring Program facilitates these connections by pairing first-year doctoral student mentees with advanced doctoral student and postdoc mentors.

“Peer mentoring programs are important for all graduate students, regardless of whether they’ve been here for five days or five years,” said Rikki Laser, a doctoral student in psychology and MAC co-chair.