College Programming and Orientation

UChicago Mentoring Program

The UChicago Mentoring Program (UCMP) strives to foster community at the University of Chicago through peer mentorship. UCMP provides incoming first-year and transfer students with upper-class mentors to aid in their transition to College and the University of Chicago.

The goals of the UChicago Mentoring Program are:

Stylized program logo with dots and letter P
  • To assist incoming students in building relationships with upper-class students.
  • Provide new students with a personable connection to campus and the UChicago community.
  • Aid incoming students in their transition to College and UChicago.
  • Provide support and direction to new students when completing various to-dos relating to their transition to the University. 
  • Provide upper-class students with leadership opportunities and ways to engage and give back to the campus community.

Incoming students will receive an invitation from their Peer Mentor June 16, 2023!

    Meet the 2023 Advisory Board

    Jessica Aaron

    Jessica is a third-year from Los Altos, California majoring in Philosophy and History. She is on the board of two performing arts groups on campus, the Dean's Men Shakespeare group and a dance RSO called Rhythmic Bodies in Motion. Outside dance and theater, Jessica is a research assistant in the Stevanovich Institute on the Formation of Knowledge, where she is working on a project about intersectional feminism in early science fiction literature. When she's not performing or researching, Jessica likes to bake, play video games (her favorites are Hollow Knight and Breath of the Wild), and play DnD.

    Ariel Barnea

    Ariel is a third-year in the College pursuing a Joint BS/MS in Astrophysics and Computer Science.This is Ariel’s second year serving on the UCMP Advisory Board, and he is very excited to work with everyone again! Outside of academics and the CPO, Ariel conducts year-round Computational Cosmology research in the Computational Physics and Advanced Computing (CPAC) Group at Argonne National Laboratory. Ariel is heavily involved in the MUN sphere at UChicago, serving as the Secretary-General (i.e. President) of MUNUC as well as actively participating in ChoMUN/Team in addition to working as a Student Visit Coordinator in Admissions. He serves on the Student Government Finance Committee (SGFC). In his minimal free time, he enjoys biking around Chicago, making homemade espresso drinks, cooking random TikTok recipes, trying and “blogging” about new restaurants and cafes around Chicago, and (poorly) playing squash!

    Jordyn Bourne

    Jordyn is a third-year student from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in French and Francophone Studies. She is pursuing healthcare consulting and spends most of her time outside of class sprinting on the UChicago Women’s Track and Field Team. However, in her free time, she enjoys taking walks along Lake Michigan (in any weather!), trying new foods, and watching quality tv – she is an avid Survivor fan.

    Angelysse Madsen

    Angelysse is a third-year in the College majoring in Psychology and Comparative Human Development and minoring in Neuroscience. She is from Prescott, Arizona, where she does get snow in the winter. Outside of academics, Angelysse works at Mindworks, the world's first behavioral science discovery center, as well as conducting research with other psychology labs on campus. She is involved in the College's Council On University Programming as well as the Model UN team. Beyond UChicago, she loves exploring Chicago through coffee shops, taking care of her many plants, and playing (amateur) hockey. 

    Hayley Szymanek

    Hayley is a third-year majoring in computer science. She works as research assistant in SUPERgroup, UChicago's computer security and privacy research group. She is also a member of the (national championship winning) UChicago Womxn's Rugby Team. In her free time, she enjoys baking, crosswords, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

    Caroline Waldmann

    Caroline is a second-year student double-majoring in Gender & Sexuality Studies and Spanish, and intending to complete the MAPSS program in Comparative Human Development. She is from Park City, Utah, and loves music, bullet journaling, hiking, and camping. Outside of academics, she is a part of Women in Business, Eckhart Consulting, the Women’s Ensemble, and she works as a Barista at Harper Café.

    50 positions available

    The College Programming Office is looking to hire 50 upper-class students to serve as Peer Mentors for the UChicago Mentoring Program. Engagement between Mentors and incoming students will begin over the summer, and continue through Orientation Week as small group leaders. Peer Mentors are expected to attend training sessions during the spring quarter before they begin communicating with their mentees. Mentors will also receive a stipend, along with UCMP swag.

    2023 Application Cycle

    • Applications open - January 23
    • Applications close - February 10
    • Interviews following the close of the application

    For more information, visit the Orientation Team Website at oteam.uchicago.edu