FIRST connects first-year students with experienced peer mentors who can provide guidance, encouragement, and access to resources throughout the academic year.
The FIRST Mentorship Program is now recruiting first-year University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) students for its 2026 - 27 cohort.
Designed to support students as they transition into graduate and professional education, FIRST connects first-year students with experienced peer mentors who can provide guidance, encouragement, and access to resources throughout the academic year. Through one-on-one mentorship and cohort-based programming, participants have opportunities to build meaningful connections, strengthen their academic success strategies, and develop a sense of belonging within the UMB community.
A key feature of the program is its personalized matching process. Students complete a mentor matching form that allows them to identify their interests, goals, and preferences. The information collected is then used to create thoughtful mentor-mentee matches that align with each student's needs and aspirations.
In addition to individualized mentoring, FIRST participants are invited to attend workshops and community-building events focused on topics such as learning strategies, conflict resolution, professional development, and student success. Interactive activities, including vision board workshops and other reflective exercises, are designed to foster personal growth while helping students build relationships with their peers.
Past participants have highlighted the value of being paired with mentors who recently navigated similar experiences.
"I was impressed by the whole idea of PEER mentorship because it was with our peers, people who have recently experienced our current phase. It makes it easy for them to understand us and to provide practical, actionable advice," said Krystal Ansah, a School of Nursing student.
"Personally, I made a friend! As busy as the semester was, my mentor did her best to check on me as often as possible, and we could chat about anything. We even spoke about and tried out resources we did not know existed at UMB. It was a nice experience with her."
Applications for the FIRST Mentorship Program's 2026 - 27 cohort are now open.