Conditions

Senior students who want to become a buddy to a first-year student must:

• Be a second- or third-year FSW student.
• Be willing to participate for an entire academic year.
• Be motivated to voluntarily mentor a first-year student.

Application procedure

A senior student writes a letter of motivation in which he/she demonstrates his/her motivation to help a first-year student and explains why he/she thinks he/she is suitable as a buddy. This letter should be sent to the coordinator of the buddy system. 

An intake interview will then be held with the coordinator to determine whether the senior student can work as a buddy. The buddy will also be given the same questionnaire so that he/she can be matched with a first-year student.

Regulations

• First-year students and buddies are expected to show mutual respect. Personal information exchanged between them should not be discussed with third parties.
• First-year students should be open to constructive criticism from their buddy.
• It is possible to stop participating in the buddy project at any time if the support of a buddy is no longer needed.
• First-year students must be honest with their buddy about their results and/or resits.
• If a first-year student is unable to arrive on time or attend an appointment with their buddy, they must notify the buddy in good time.
• If the first-year student is late or does not show up for the second time (without canceling), this must be reported to the coordinators. The coordinators will then have a conversation with the first-year student.
• A buddy is not responsible for the first-year student's study progress.
• How the buddy and the first-year student stay in touch will be discussed in mutual consultation.
• The first-year student must take into account that the buddy may not always be available.
• If there is a shortage of buddies, the first-year student will be placed on a waiting list.
• At the end of the academic year, an evaluation interview will take place with one of the coordinators.
• If the regulations are not observed, the first-year student will be excluded from the buddy system.