Apply to Be An APP

Are you interested in supporting current Engineering Undeclared students by sharing your experiences and advice?

What are Academic Path Peers? 

Academic Path Peers, or APPs, are returning undergraduate engineering students who support new students by sharing their experience of finding their academic path at Ohio State. APPs build connections with new students through the university survey course and share advice and encouragement on adjusting to college classes, exploring majors, and finding success at Ohio State. 

By sharing your own experience and encouragement, you can help a new Buckeye, someone in the same place you were just a year or two ago. Serving as an APP is a great way to pay it forward at Ohio State!

What Would I Do as an APP?

Autumn Semester

During autumn semester, APPs are integrated into the Undeclared Engineering survey class, ENGR 1100.15. Each APP will be connected with a small group of new Undeclared students for whom the APP can get to know and serve as a resource during their first year. You don't have to have been in Undeclared to serve as an APP, but it helps to have some personal experience exploring majors and figuring out the right one for you! APPs will attend specific days of ENGR 1100.15 throughout the semester to provide their peer perspective and advice, encourage students by sharing their own experience at Ohio State, and participate on panels. 

APPs will also assist with events such as the Exploring Engineering and Beyond Fair, representing their current pre-major or major program and talking with students about their experience pursuing that program.

Spring Semester

During spring semester, APPs can choose to continue to be a resource for their small group, reaching out to meet up or hosting open hours around campus for students to stop by and check in.

What Is The Time Commitment To Be An APP?

As an APP, you should anticipate a time commitment of around 1-2 hours each week, for a total of 15-20 hours during the autumn semester. This time will be spent primarily on participating in discussions during University Survey, representing your major or program at exploration events, being available for questions, sharing your perspective, and helping connect students with resources.

Since serving as an APP is a volunteer position, we can help you keep track of the time you spend in your role and can provide documentation of your volunteer hours. You will also have opportunities to partner with the Engineering Ambassadors student organization for professional development opportunities throughout the year.

What Are The Expectations Of An APP?

As an APP you will be expected to:

  • Be excited about helping students find their academic path.
  • Be open, friendly, and responsive to your student group.
  • Arrive on time and prepared for your events, meetings, and training.
  • Check your OSU email daily and be responsive to emails from your students.
  • Learn about campus resources.
  • Adapt your advice and encouragement to meet each student where they are, even if their experience is different than yours.
  • Reach out to an advisor when you need assistance with a student issue or question.

What Are The Requirements To Be An APP? 

In order to apply to be an APP, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Bring positivity, problem-solving, flexibility and collaboration to your role.
  • Be enrolled in the College of Engineering in a specific major program by the start of Autumn Semester 2019.
  • Plan to be enrolled in classes on Columbus campus during the Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. (We want students and APPs to stay connected throughout the student's first year.)
  • Be available during a section of ENGR 1100.15, taught during Autumn Semester 2019.
  • Maintain an OSU GPA of 2.5 or higher.

How Do I Apply?

We will be accepting applications for the 2019-20 academic year beginning April 1, 2019 with an application deadline of April 22, 2019.

Apply to be an APP!

Note: a brief training session for selected 2019-20 mentors will take place during August 2019, prior to start of the Autumn 2019 semester, and will be determined based on student availability.