Peer mentoring has been used in education for decades as a way of supporting younger students through the guidance of those slightly ahead of them. In recent years it has gained significant attention as a tool for supporting post-18 decision making — helping sixth formers navigate one of the most consequential choices of their educational lives.
This post explains what peer mentoring for university decisions actually involves, why it works and how to access it.
In the context of university decision making, peer mentoring involves a sixth form student having a structured conversation with a current university student or recent graduate who is studying or has studied a subject relevant to the sixth former’s interests. The conversation is student-led, honest and unscripted — a genuine exchange of information and experience rather than a formal interview or presentation.
The mentor is not there to persuade the student to choose their university or their subject. They are there to share what they genuinely know — the workload, the culture, the graduate outcomes, the things they wish they’d known before they started.
The research on near-peer mentoring is consistent. Young people are significantly more likely to trust and engage with information from someone only a few years ahead of them than from teachers, careers advisers or university representatives. The peer mentor is seen as credible, relatable and disinterested — they have nothing to gain from the student making any particular choice.
This combination of credibility and honesty is what makes peer mentoring so effective for university decisions specifically. Students are not looking for more information — they have access to more information than any previous generation. What they are looking for is someone who will tell them the truth about what the experience is actually like.
The best peer mentoring sessions for university decisions share a few common characteristics. The student leads the conversation with genuine questions. The mentor answers honestly, including sharing things that were difficult or unexpected. The session covers not just the academic content of the course but the social, practical and emotional realities of university life. And crucially, the mentor is not affiliated with or incentivised by any particular university.
Already Doing It is a UK platform that connects sixth formers with over 300 vetted, trained university students and graduates for honest 1:1 peer mentoring sessions. Every mentor has been identity verified, completed safeguarding training and is trained to facilitate honest, student-led conversations.
Students search by subject and university, browse mentor profiles and book directly. Sessions take place via video call and last 30 minutes. Early feedback shows a significant increase in student confidence in their university choices following a session.
Visit alreadydoingit.co.uk to book a peer mentoring session before you make your university decision.
One honest conversation before you commit is worth more than ten open days.
© 2026 Already Doing It Ltd. All rights reserved. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional career or admissions advice. Insider Sessions and Our Insider Guides reflect perspectives; always verify specific course details, entry requirements, and module lists with the official University Prospectus before applying.
