UW-Madison is a large campus, and we are here to listen, and to connect you to helpful people and resources. You should meet with your Peer Mentor at least once a semester, but you can meet with us more as questions come up. You might be wondering what topics are OK to talk to your FFWS Peer Mentor about–the answer is anything! We are a great starting point and sounding board for your ideas, questions, and concerns. Here are just a few examples:
Getting to know campus | Jobs | Study Abroad | Majors/Careers | Study Skills | Student Organizations | Talking to Instructors or TAs | Meeting friends | Roommates | Volunteering | Homesickness | Health and Wellness | Financial Aid
You’ll use Starfish to schedule an appointment with your peer mentor. If you cannot find a time or you have any questions, please email us at ffws@advising.wisc.edu. To learn more about Starfish follow this link.
Amanda Cook | Peer Mentor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
A Little About Me …
- 5th year student
- Transfer student!
- Nursing and Global Health major
- Hometown – Oregon, WI (just south of Madison!)
My First Year …
- Attended UW-Milwaukee
- Joined a lot of clubs/ went to events
- Questioned my major
One Piece of Advice …
It’s okay to switch your major or change your mind about your career goals! Meet with an advisor if you are unsure about your major and keep an open mind! There are so many paths to success, and you should take one that makes you feel comfortable and fulfilled.
Levina Simona | Peer Mentor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
A Little About Me …
- Junior at UW-Madison!
- Majoring in Economics with Data Science Certificate
- Hometown – Milwaukee, WI
My First Year …
- Attended UW-Milwaukee
- Struggled to find what I’m passionate about
- Often felt overwhelmed and anxious
One Piece of Advice …
Go at your own pace! College is a lot. You are important and you should prioritize yourself first. There’s a lot of resources here on campus that’d love to help you. Reach out! We are here to help 🙂
Brigid Zei | Peer Mentor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
A Little About Me …
- Third Year Student
- International Studies and Journalism Majors
- German Certificate
- Hometown – Greendale, WI
My First Year …
- Unsure of my major
- Tried out different clubs
- Explored Madison
One Piece of Advice …
Put yourself out there! Making friends and finding places that you connect to can be difficult at first, so attend any and all events that you can. You probably won’t regret trying something new or meeting someone new, so always be open to new experiences!
Korina Thomas | Peer Mentor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
A Little About Me …
- I am a sophomore at UW Madison
- I’m majoring in legal studies, and applying to the personal finance major! I am also pursuing a certificate in Eastern European studies!
- My hometown is Racine, WI!
My First Year …
- I struggled to figure out what I wanted to major in, and I went in thinking I was going to major in political science, but ended up switching to legal studies.
- I lived in lakeshore last year, which was beautiful but a strenuous walk in the winter!
- I loved exploring Madison in the fall!
Lucette Hernandez | Peer Mentor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
A Little About Me …
- Second year at UW-Madison
- Plan to major in Communication Arts/Journalism
- Plan on getting a certificate in Chican@ Latine Studies
- Hometown – Milwaukee, WI
My First Year …
- Changed my class schedule at least 5 times the first week of school
- Tried getting as much free merch as I could
- Had lots of ups and some downs
One piece of advice…
Balance your life on campus especially since there is so much to do here at UW-Madison and definitely take advantage of everything you can do, but also don’t forget why you’re here and where you want to be. Believe in yourself and accept that you may struggle at times, but never forget to be proud of your small accomplishments
Emily Faultersack | Center for Pre-Health Advising, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Peer Mentor Supervisor
Schedule an Appointment on Starfish!
While the peer mentors will be your primary source for support, Emily can be a great resource for questions, too. She also encourages FFWS students who are interested in healthcare careers to meet with her!
A Little About Me …
- Pre-Health Advisor with the Center for Pre-Health Advising
- UW-Madison Peer Mentor Supervisor for FFWS (So, you don’t have to be a pre-health student to meet with me!)
- Attended UW-Fond du Lac and transferred to UW-Stevens Point
- Hometown – Fond du Lac, WI
One Piece of Advice …
UW-Madison can feel huge and hard to navigate. There are a team of academic advisors, career advisors, and other program advisors on campus who can help you learn more about yourself, build connections, and plan for your future. Reach out — we’d love to help!