Next-Gen peers (2025) are a collective of second-year students and are therefore poised to share thoughts, tips, and gratitudes learnt in their first year at SEAS.  With access to many opportunities and the sometimes necessary challenges, personal growth and professionalism expand exponentially from one year to the next. However, even if this is true, many still express wishes for the experience of more guidance along the way. 

For our first blog, we have compiled some tips and suggestions from our Next Gen Peer Advisors that were collected at our first Lunch ‘n’ Learn with our incoming 2025 Next-Gen cohort. Even if you have found yourself here as a non-Next-Gen-er,  our 2025-2026 ten peer advisors are here to support you! Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, you may find yourself picking and choosing relatable content. Inevitably, as most of our peers found, these issues transcended background and identity at some point in their SEAS experience. We hope you connect with and find answers from a friendly voice that hopes to give you a sense of community and encouragement away from home. Here are our tips:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Fear of the unknown can be paralyzing. By asking questions and getting answers, you will grow confidence in yourself and in your decisions (there are many), like choosing which classes to take, how to tackle in-class discomfort with new technology, and when to start working on scholarship applications. Ask Next Gen peer advisors, professors, advisors, classmates, or anyone you think could help or guide you in the right direction.

2. Meet with your faculty advisors or academic advisor early and start mind-mapping what you want to get out of graduate school during your first year. What are your goals? What are the scholarships and financing opportunities that exist in the specialization you are in? How can they support you throughout this process? These questions are a pretty good start! 

3. Apply to the Formal Mentorship Program when you are a second-year student. This is a great resource if you want more personalized guidance in helping you achieve your goals. Mentors are from our alumni network and want to see you succeed!

4. Start building a life by making good friends, join an intramural sports team, get an affordable Group -X class pass, find a local CSA and share the cost with friends, or enjoy Farm Club stall in the Fall for discounted fruit and veggies, join Trash club/ ArtEco/ Ecological Restoration Club (there are so many), go to MBGNA eco work days.

5. Find time to travel to reasonably priced grocery stores to keep yourself healthy. Find time to come to Next-Gen events and soak in the light of community. Find time to call your loved ones and update them on what is new, difficult, and exciting. Find time to rest. 

6. Financing tips = Seek out financial aid professionals and create a budget! In our weekly Lunch ‘n’ Learns, we focus heavily on financial literacy, smart funding avenues, personal statement assistance, and a community of trust. Next-Gen is a great place to be open and honest about financial stress. If you are new to credit cards, the Discover It student card is a great tool that is easy to use to build your credit (use for groceries, gas, and those sweet treats, now and then).

7. Study Tips = Find a study group, switch up the location, diversify tasks (if one is getting boring, move to something else… it all has to get done), create a skill-share group, don’t drink too much caffeine as it will lead to a crash, stay hydrated, and eat first (bring snacks).

8. Study spots = Dana basement conference rooms, MLA little library on 3rd floor of Dana, 4th Floor commons, Hatcher gallery event space, Munger 8th floor (make a friend who lives there if you do not).

For additional resources: Here is a non-exhaustive list of helpful links.