Welcome

Welcome to Peer to Peer, the CAS Peer Advising Blog! Check out our posts for FAQs, advising tips, and current events!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Being a Peer Advisor Part III

I was a freshman during the Peer Advising Program’s inaugural year. My first semester I met with a peer advisor to try and figure out which gen eds to take, which is a question all of us have to deal with at some point. I was completely undeclared at this point, and was overwhelmed by wanting to try out every subject I hadn’t before (anthropology, sociology, etc.) I liked being able to talk on a comfortable level with another student, and it was helpful to get all my questions answered. The program has grown and developed significantly since that first year, and I’m glad to be a part of it this year.

As a senior, it’s great to be able to share my experiences from the past few years with new students. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn more about AU and explore departments in CAS outside my own areas of study. There’s a fantastic sense of community among the Peer Advisors and with the CAS advising staff that makes it a fun and exciting place to work. Alicia and Andrea, our program coordinators, are always supportive and open to new ideas, which give us opportunities to plan and organize new events or enhance the program in other ways. It’s a great opportunity for leadership development. There are also benefits to working on campus at a job that recognizes that we’re students and works with us to accommodate class schedules and activities. Being a Peer Advisor is an interactive and engaging campus job, and I encourage you to consider applying to join the program next year!

-Emma Morgan

Friday, February 24, 2012

Being a Peer Advisor Part II

When I first applied for this job I was very excited about the prospect of having a job where I could help other students through the process of picking a major and enjoying their academic experience at AU. My freshman year, I probably changed majors every week; by my sophomore year, it was only every other week. It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it; I liked exploring different fields and using the resources on campus to do so, which is why when I learned about the CAS Peer Advisors, I got very excited for the job.
                Now that I am a Peer Advisor (and have finally chosen a major) I very much enjoy helping others try to make the best of this process. However, as I came to realize, there is more to being a Peer Advisor than just meeting other students in similar situations to yours. There are many things that go into Peer Advising, and many reasons why I love this job. One of my favorite ones, though, is the work environment. From the CAS Advisors to the other peer advisors and the CAS Dean’s office, the ‘Battelle People’ are welcoming and great to be around. While the atmosphere is relaxed, flexible and fun, there is usually a lot going on and interesting things to do. It is a very dynamic job and you are continuously learning new things (#CASAcademicsWonk, sorry I had to say it).
                Being a Peer Advisor is a fun job for many reasons, but I would definitely put the office environment among one of the top. Over the last ¾ of a year, I have really enjoyed being part of the CAS Advising team, our office hours, staff meetings and kind of living in Battelle. So, if you are looking for a great work environment, this is certainly one.

-Triana Tello Gerez

Monday, February 20, 2012

Being a Peer Advisor Part I

As we discussed in our last post, the CAS Peer Advising Program is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Peer Advising Team! We wanted to tell you about our experience as peer advisors so that you can learn more about what we do and why we love doing it.
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This is my second year as a peer advisor. I decided to apply because I enjoy meeting other students and helping them figure out how to make the most of their time here at AU. At first I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep track of all the requirements, resources, and programs at AU, but I gradually got the hang of it. The CAS advisors are extremely supportive of the peer advising program, and are always willing to help us with any questions we have. One of the great things about the program is that I get to learn something new every day in an environment where questions are encouraged.

A big part of the peer advising role is meeting with students, specifically CAS freshmen and sophomores. Most often students meet with us to talk about majors, the general education program, and academic resources at AU. Because each student's situation is unique, peer advisors need to be able to think on their feet in order to address that student's specific concerns. One thing we try to keep in mind when meeting with students is that we don't have to know all the answers, just where to find them. It's impossible for one person to know everything about AU, but we strive to aid students in finding the best resource for their question. It's extremely rewarding when you're able to help a student find exactly what he or she needs. Helping students has also helped me in my own academic career, since it has given me the chance to learn about resources that I otherwise may have never realized existed.

Because peer advisors work closely with CAS students, advisors, and professors, being a peer advisor has helped me to feel like a part of the AU community. I've only scratched the surface of what the peer advisor program is about, so please feel free to email me at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu if you have more questions about what we do. I hope you consider applying for the 2012-2013 Peer Advising Team!

-Lindsay Inge

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Now Hiring: 2012-2013 CAS Peer Advising Team!

  • Are you involved on campus and knowledgeable about student resources?
  • Do you have strong communication and listening skills?
  • Are you a highly motivated self-starter with an interest in counseling or advising?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you should apply to be a member of the 2012-2013 CAS Peer Advising Team! The position is open to CAS students who have completed 30 credits with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applications are available online at www.american.edu/cas/advising/peer-application.cfm

 We encourage all interested students to attend our CAS Peer Advisor Information Sessions, where you can ask questions and get to know more about the program and the role of a peer advisor. The information sessions will take place in the History Lounge in Battelle 130 on the following dates:
  • Wednesday, 2/15 (12:00-1:00 pm)
  • Tuesday, 2/21 (5:30-6:30 pm)
  • Friday, 3/2 (12:00-1:00 pm)
You can also email us at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu with questions, or visit our office to find out what it's like to work on the peer advising team. In the upcoming weeks we'll also be featuring blog posts by each member of the current team to give you insight into why we love this job!

The deadline for application is March 8, 2012, so don't delay! Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions. We hope to hear from you soon!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Clubs at AU

We hope that everyone is enjoying this (surprisingly) warm February so far! Now that your course schedules are settled and you're back in school mode, we hope that you're also finding things on campus to help you relax and socialize outside of class. AU has a ton of great clubs, and we want to hear which ones you're involved with! Send us an email at CASPeerAdvisors@american.edu and tell us about the clubs that you've joined, or what kinds of clubs you want to get involved with or wish AU had. Send us an email by February 8th and we'll post your response on the blog. All submittors will have their names entered into a prize drawing for EagleBucks, so don't forget to submit!  

Here's a link to a list of AU clubs:  http://www.american.edu/ocl/activities/Student-Organization-Network.cfm