program

Competitive Edge

program

The Competitive Edge Summer Program is a pre-entry summer program designed to support entering doctoral and MFA students from diverse backgrounds. The program supports incoming first-year graduate students into the campus by  teaching them about the UCI community resources, forming relationships with other students, and participating in programming to help them have a successful start to their graduate studies at UCI.

The Competitive Edge program will take place Monday, August 11, 2025 through Friday, September 5, 2025. Please note that the program dates may be subject to change.

Five Competitive Edge participants smile in front of a brick wall

Benefits & Funding

  • Advanced introduction to UCI campus resources
  • Option to move in early  to graduate campus housing
  • Workshops to help students have a successful transition to UCI
  • Mentorship from UCI peer mentors
  • A community-like experience with support from a peer cohort and the UCI Graduate Division
  • Summer stipend of $3,000

Eligibility

  • Priority is first given to students receiving a UC LEADS and UC-HBCU Fellowships. 
  • Departments may sponsor a student’s participation in Competitive Edge. Participants do not directly apply to the Competitive Edge program.  
  • All participants must be doctoral or M.F.A. students entering their first year of graduate study at UCI.
  • Participants must be meet the UC Definition of Diversity
  • Students must be U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or AB540 eligible

Program Requirements

Participants must commit to four-week summer program prior to their enrollment as a doctoral or MFA student at UCI. The time commitment would be approximately 10-15 hours per week of workshops (hosted over Zoom), and other preparatory events (in-person) to be held throughout the duration of the program.

Peer Mentors

Peer Mentor Position Overview

Graduate Peer Mentors will support incoming doctoral and MFA students participating in the 2025 Competitive Edge Program. Peer mentors will assist with facilitating the participants’ acclimation to UCI prior to the start of their graduate programs in the fall. Peer Mentors should be prepared to support mentee(s) in the areas of professional development, effective communication, and health/wellness. Peer mentors will be assigned to 5-7 mentees.

Peer mentors are required to commit for the full four-weeks of the program. There will also be a Peer Mentor training prior to the program to discuss the roles and responsibilities of Peer Mentors in more detail.

Benefits and Compensation

  • Acquire mentoring skills and experience in supporting incoming graduate students on an individual and group basis
  • Expand opportunities for partnership and collaboration by developing relationships with scholars from interdisciplinary fields
  • Engage in opportunities to make a positive impact on the academic trajectory of incoming graduate students from diverse backgrounds 
  • Stipend of up to $700 is payable upon completion of duties and Mentoring Excellence Program (MEP)
  • Opportunity to serve as a workshop facilitator or social mentor for additional compensation (limited positions available)
  • Please note: this Peer Mentor position is not a residential position and will not include compensation for housing.

Applicant Eligibility 

  • Doctoral or MFA students currently in their second year or beyond are preferred (first-year students will be considered)
  • Completion of the Mentoring Excellence Program (MEP) is required – If not yet completed, applicants must enroll and successfully complete the MEP certificate program this summer
  • Returning Peer Mentors must have the MEP series completed by the end of Spring 2025 to be eligible 
  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Past or current experience working with diverse student backgrounds is preferred
  • All candidates must be full-time UCI Doctoral or MFA Students who are eligible to receive fellowship support from the university

Responsibilities and Expectations

  • Check-in with mentee(s) throughout the program on a weekly basis. Check-ins should be structured with targeted questions to develop rapport and assess support areas
  • Provide support and guidance to mentee(s) on navigating grad life at UCI 
  • Share experiences to orient incoming student(s) into their first year of graduate school
  • Report any concerns regarding mentee(s)’ progress or well-being to the Program Coordinator  
  • Willingness to serve as a Peer Mentor to mentee(s) beyond their summer in the Competitive Edge Summer Program

If selected, peer mentors will be required to complete the following: 

  • Attend Peer Mentor Training (date(s) TBD)

Attend and participate in the following programmatic activities in support of mentee(s) –dates, times, and activities are subject to change

  • Competitive Edge Participant/Peer Mentor Welcome
  • Social events
  • Peer Mentor check-ins with Program Coordinator 

Application Deadline: TBD

  • Completed applications must be received by the deadline to be considered.
  • In addition to completing the application, please upload your resume/CV directly to the form. 
Interested in applying to be a peer mentor?

Contact:

Graduate Division
E-Mail: diversity@rgs.uci.edu