Abstract:

Advising is a critical aspect of the Harvard College first-year experience.  When 
freshmen arrive on campus, they have a robust network of academic advisors, proctors, and 
resident deans who can support them on their higher education journey.  A unique aspect of the first-year advising network is the Peer Advising Fellow, or PAF.  PAFs are upperclassmen who undergo a rigorous application process in order to mentor their freshmen counterparts, and their applications are reviewed for key personality traits that make a “good PAF”, such as empathy and ability to reflect.  In this paper, I use interviews with Peer Advising Fellows to comprehend what motivates people to become PAFs, what they emphasize when applying to become Peer Advising Fellows, what they have learned from their role, and what they believe makes a “good PAF”.  In other words, what personal qualities are needed to become a Peer Advising Fellow?