In a recent IZA discussion paper, Stefania Bortolotti and Annalisa Loviglio examine the effects of a peer-to-peer mentoring program on high school students’ university field selection and performance. The randomized controlled trial, conducted among Italian high school seniors, connected students with mentors enrolled in quantitative fields like STEM and Economics.
Through one-on-one meetings, mentors provided personalized guidance, covering topics such as curriculum details, enrollment procedures, study techniques, and career prospects. These tailored interactions encouraged mentees to ask questions, making the mentorship process responsive to each student’s needs.
The results indicate that students who engaged with mentors were 14-22 percentage points more likely to choose their mentor’s field, a shift that could raise prospective wages by 3.1-3.7%. The study reveals that the mentoring program not only nudges students toward higher-earning fields but does so without harming academic performance. Students in the treatment group were more inclined to select competitive programs, yet they maintained academic performance on par with their peers.
These findings underscore the value of personalized guidance during high school, highlighting how peer mentoring can shape future educational paths and, potentially, career outcomes.