Piper Olson is a busy student. A junior studying health science, she’s preparing to apply for a physician’s assistant program. But she also finds time to share what she’s learned with first-year students as a peer advisor.
Along with the School of Education and Health Sciences’ three holistic advisors, six peer advisors help answer questions about scheduling and organizing and share other helpful information with new students.
It isn’t surprising Olson was approached to be a peer advisor. With a packed resume — working as a teaching assistant for HSS 305L Human Anatomy Lab and HSS 101 Introduction to Learning and Living in the UD Community; volunteering and shadowing with local hospitals; two years of Flyers cheerleading; and participating in the pre-physician’s assistants club as a member and the professional co-ed fraternity for health and sport science majors as the president — she knows how quickly a busy schedule can feel burdensome.
For students just beginning their UD journey, “it can be easier to talk to students,” Olson said. “Especially those who have been in the same classes you need.”
With support from One Day, One Dayton donors to the School of Education and Health Sciences’ Dean’s Fund for Excellence, the advising offices in the dean’s suite are buzzing with student activity.
Olson said peer advisors discuss everything, such as credits and requirements, how to get support and access resources, how to weigh options for housing, and how to effectively schedule. A key piece of advice: Don’t take three labs or dense courses, and try to balance intense coursework with electives.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m still figuring this out myself, and then I think about the freshmen I’ve been able to help and the leadership and communication skills I’ve learned,” Olson said.
No matter what is shared, though, Olson said she wants students to know it’s all a part of the college experience.
"It’s OK if you’re struggling, and it’s OK if you’re thriving; that’s fantastic, too,” she said.
Peer advising has been helpful for Olson, too. She said helping first-year students prepare for their professional school applications helps her remember little things for her application.
“We didn’t have this when I was a freshman. If there was any way I could have helped my freshman self with feeling overwhelmed in my first semester, I would do that,” she said. “So I thought, if I can help at least one student, that will make me feel good.”