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New Students: Get the Most From the Peer Mentor Program

Check your phone voice mail frequently.

Peer Mentors continually report that it is very difficult to reach students. Both your schedule and your peer mentor’s will get very hectic as the semester progresses, making it hard to catch up with people sometimes. So check your voice mail often.

Use e-mail. Sometimes it’s the BEST way to communicate with your mentor.

Students can get a free e-mail account from the University. Get e-mail and use it. Make sure your mentor has your current e-mail address, and get his or hers. These are also available through the UT electronic directory on the Web.

Be bold. Contact your Peer Mentor.

Communication is a two-way street. Call or e-mail your mentor! She or he really does want to talk to you. When you are wondering about how to get advised for next semester or where to buy a decent bagel, check with your mentor! Obviously, you will use common courtesy. Don’t call late at night or early in the morning, but do call! Even mentors need to feel needed.

Join the student organizations at the School of Nursing. Ask your mentor about them.

The more you can get involved, the more you will learn. The student organizations offer valuable information at regular meetings and provide a range of volunteer opportunities.

Come to social gatherings at the School of Nursing.

The more you join in, the more fun you will have with friends you will make. And, if you think of it, invite your mentor!

Ask questions.

Who’s the best professor for a particular class? What are the tests like? How many hours do you need to prepare? What’s upper division like? What do you do in clinicals? What’s this about an application for upper division?

Sign up for the School of Nursing listserv.

Announcements about meetings, socials, short courses, and more are posted on the School’s listserv. Sign up so you can keep up with the School’s activities.

Keep us posted.

Update your contact information with us and your mentor any time you change your phone number or e-mail address. We can’t contact you if we don’t know how to reach you!

Do things with your mentor.

Ride the bus together to the School of Nursing. Share your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Go bowling in the Union (yep, a bowling alley in the basement)! Do something nice for the person who has volunteered to answer your questions!

Seek and use the resources that are available to you.

Plan to be successful. The Learning Center at the School of Nursing has resources to help you succeed as a student. If you want a Peer Mentor, let us know! Come visit us on the 5th floor at the School of Nursing.

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