Help New RC Students Feel at Home
RC MAP (Mentorship Among Peers) is the Residential College's peer mentoring program, connecting returning RC students with incoming first-year students as they begin their college experience.
Starting college can be exciting, overwhelming, and full of questions. MAP mentors help make that transition a little easier by sharing their experiences, offering encouragement, and helping new students build connections within the RC community.
Whether it's finding the right study spot, navigating Welcome Week, choosing classes, or simply having someone to check in with, MAP mentors help first-year students feel at home in East Quad and the Residential College.
What Do MAP Mentors Do?
MAP mentors are paired with a small group of incoming students and connect with them throughout the semester. Every mentoring relationship looks a little different, but mentors often:
- Meet for coffee or meals in East Quad
- Attend campus or RC events together
- Share advice about classes, academics, and campus resources
- Answer questions about life at Michigan
- Encourage mentees as they adjust to college
- Help students find opportunities to get involved in the RC community
The goal isn't to have all the answers; instead, it's to be a welcoming, supportive peer who remembers what it was like to be new.
Why Become a MAP Mentor?
You were new here once. You remember the questions: which classes to take, which clubs to join, whether everyone else already had it figured out. As a MAP mentor, you're the person who makes that first semester easier, just by having done it before. And you get real things out of it:
- Mentoring, coaching, and leadership experience you can actually talk about in interviews
- Closer ties to the RC community and the other student leaders in it
- The fun of watching someone go from lost to settled, and knowing you helped
- A commitment that fits around your schedule: coffee chats and check-ins, not another club to run
Most mentors say it ends up being one of the best parts of their own RC experience.
“Two of my mentees were on a path really similar to mine, so I could help with the practical stuff: classes, extracurriculars, resumes, interview prep. Watching one land a job at the RC and the other an internship as a freshman was the best part of my year. If you've ever thought, 'I wish I'd known that going in,' this is your chance to pass it along.”
- RC Mentor, Sally Mo (RC'26)
Who Can Become a Mentor?
MAP mentors are returning RC students (sophomores and above) who are excited to help new students succeed. We're looking for students who are:
- Friendly and approachable
- Good listeners
- Dependable and willing to stay connected throughout the semester
- Interested in building an inclusive and welcoming community
You don't need to be an expert on every aspect of the University. The best mentors know when to share their own experiences and when to help students connect with the right campus resources.
Interested in Joining MAP?
Mentor recruitment typically takes place before the start of the academic year. If you're interested in becoming a MAP mentor, watch your RC email for announcements or contact Student Affairs (kaurt@umich.edu) for more information.
Last Upated: 07/02/2026
