Peer-to-Peer Advising
Starting from the belief that young people are an indispensable part of the solution to this country’s counseling crisis, our research examines both challenges and promising practices related to implementing and scaling a peer-to-peer approach to expanding advising capacity in public institutions. Our studies explore the impact peer-to-peer advising programs have on outcomes for students served and on the postsecondary pathways and career development of peer leaders themselves. Through these studies we advocate for the expansion of peer-to-peer advising models across the country and we support institutions to train and pay young people to support their peers on the path to college and career success.
Peer-Led College Access Programming: A Profile of Student Success Centers in NYC
This report documents the evolution of “Student Success Centers.” This model of collaboration between schools and CBOs–with trained high school students at its center–grew out of advocacy efforts by young people. This report defines best practices for Student Success Centers and explains why their existence & growth is central to post-secondary access in NYC.
Making Transfer Students Visible
Blogpost: Inside Higher Ed (2023)
Profiling CARA’s work at 4 CUNY campuses, this blog describes the ways peer-to-peer advisors can support incoming transfer students and make the obstacles these students face more visible for campus staff.
Don’t just listen to students, employ them
Op-Ed: City Limits (2022)
As Eric Adams began his mayoralty, CARA called on him to provide stable funding for peer leadership as a strategy for college access in NYC.
At-risk youth aren’t the problem–but they can be part of the counseling solution
Op-Ed: The Hechinger Report (2020)
CARA’s co-founders describe the importance and efficacy of using peer-to-peer advising to support college access and success.
Additional Research & Policy Writing
-
Walking the Same Hallways: Youth Leadership in College Access in NYC
CARA and Brooklyn Community Foundation (2012) -
- We are all in it together: The role of youth leadership in college access
Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Voices in Urban Education (2011) - College for All? Youth Lead the Way.
Rethinking Schools. (2009)
- We are all in it together: The role of youth leadership in college access
-
Near-Peer Coaching Program Keeps Incoming Freshmen on Course
The Education Trust (2021)