Transition from college to university: peer to peer student mentoring

Students transitioning from college to university face many challenges. Meeting new people, adapting to new organisation systems, navigating unfamiliar buildings and adjusting to different ways of studying, are some of issues that have been highlighted by students entering university at an advanced level. In an attempt to make this transition simpler and smoother a peer to peer mentoring project has been introduced, with students from the university mentoring prospective students from college. The aim of the project is for students who have made the transition from college to university to use their experience and knowledge to support college students who are in the process of making the transition. In this presentation staff will briefly outline the motivations and rationale for the project, how it is organised and reflect on its success. The main focus will be the reflections of students taking part in the project. One student each from the college and university will explain their fears, hopes and challenges they are experiencing or experienced regarding transition. They will comment on their motivations for taking part in the project and also reflect on the experience of being a mentor and mentee.