2025-2026 Hop-In Peer Leader Recruitment

Peer Leader Position Overview
Peer Leaders are critical in supporting Hop-In participants as they transition to Johns Hopkins University. Serving as mentors and resources, Peer Leaders help first-year students navigate the academic and social aspects of university life. These relationships begin during the summer program and continue throughout the academic year, providing consistent support and fostering a sense of belonging within the Hopkins community.

Key Responsibilities

• Mentorship & Relationship Building
• Build rapport with assigned students through daily summer interactions and maintain mentoring relationships during the academic year.
• Facilitate small group and one-on-one meetings weekly during the summer and periodically in the semester during the academic year.
• Student Support & Engagement
• Be approachable and available for students to discuss concerns or seek guidance.
• Serve as a positive role model by answering questions, troubleshooting issues, and fostering meaningful relationships among participants.
• Encourage students to engage with JHU culture through formal and informal discussions about campus life.
• Resource Connection
• Refer students to JHU resources or the Hop-In professional team as needed.
• Provide assistance in navigating challenges and opportunities within the Hopkins community.

Qualifications

• GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• In good conduct and judicial standing.
• Rising upperclassmen during the time of the Summer Program.
• Demonstrated campus leadership experience.
• Applicant must be a FLI student and have demonstrated participation in the FLI Network and/or FLI Community.

Compensation

• Summer Peer Leader Pay: $3,000 *
• Academic Year Peer Leader Pay: $1,000. *
• Round-trip travel reimbursement of up to $200.
• Paid Summer room and board in a university residence hall and dining café.
• Membership to the Ralph O’Connor Recreation Center.

*All pay is considered taxable income

Time Commitment for the Peer Leader Role

The Peer Leader role is an essential part of helping Hop-In students transition to the Johns Hopkins community. Peer Leaders provide critical support during both the Summer Program and the Academic Year. By accepting the role, Peer Leaders commit to attending all training sessions and being present throughout the entirety of the program.

Summer Commitment
If you are considering the Peer Leader role and anticipate any schedule conflicts—such as research opportunities, study abroad programs, outside jobs, internships, or summer classes—you must communicate these conflicts to the staff before accepting the role.

Please note that conflicting commitments may disqualify you from being selected as a Peer Leader.

Summer 2025 Dates

• Training: June 12–June 26
• Move-In: June 18
• Program: June 28–August 1
• Move-Out: August 2

Academic Year Commitment

Beyond the summer program, Peer Leaders are expected to actively engage in responsibilities during the academic year. This includes:

• Attending staff meetings.
• Participating in Hop-In programming and FLI events.
• Maintaining consistent communication with mentees through formal and informal one-on-one check-ins and gatherings.

If you plan to study abroad, take a leave of absence, or have other significant commitments during the semester, this role may not be a suitable fit. Please consult with professional staff if you anticipate any conflicts arising.

Mandated Fall 2025 Dates and Events

(Staff meeting dates TBD based on staff availability)

August	September	October	November	December
FLI Student Pep Rally FLI Family Welcome Reception Staff Meetings	FLI Ice Cream Social Hop-In Welcome Back Social FLI Family Mix and Mingle Staff Meetings	Hop-In Fall Break Event Staff Meetings	FLI Day Peer Leader Information Session Staff Meetings	Staff Meetings

Mandated Spring 2026 Dates and Events

(Staff meeting dates TBD based on staff availability)

January	February	March	April	May
FLI Ice Skating Staff Meetings	FLI Field Day at the Rec Peer Leader Interviews Staff Meetings	Book Talk Staff Meetings	End of Year Celebration Staff Meetings

Hiring Timeline:

Below is a Hiring Timeline for the Peer Leader Role 2025-2026

• Application Opens: Dec 6th
• Application Closes: Jan 20th
• Interview Notifications: Jan 27th
• Interview Period: Feb 3rd-14th
• Position Offer: February 24th

Hiring Timeline:

• Step1: Complete the application on applications must be submitted through Hopkins SMILE. P0sition 12498 ‘
• Step 2: Complete the essay application on Hopkins groups

Go to the Hop-In Program page on Hopkins Groups, then click the resources tab and scroll down to “Surveys and Forms.”

Below are the essay questions you must answer on the application:

1. What is your definition of leadership and what skills do you hope to gain as a mentor?
2. Please explain a challenge you experienced as a first-year student and how you overcame it.
3. What value do programs supporting financially disadvantaged or historically underrepresented students provide to the Hopkins community?
4. If you were chosen to be a peer leader, what would you want your mentees to say about you after completing the summer program and why?

If I applied last year and was not hired, do I have to apply again?
Yes. We as that all re-applicants go through the entirety of the process again. A different essay application will be shared with you. In the essay application please share with us how you have learned and grown since last applying.

Do I have to attend an Information Session to be eligible?
No, attending an information session is not required. However, these sessions are great opportunities to learn about the role of current Peer Leaders and ask questions directly to the staff. If you have questions about the role, the application process, or whether it is a good fit for you, feel free to reach out to a professional staff member or a current Peer Leader.

Are the Information Sessions being held in person or virtually?
Both. We understand the challenges of student schedules and aim to be flexible by offering both in-person and virtual information sessions. If you can’t attend any sessions but still have questions before applying, please reach out to a FLI staff member.

Do I have to fill out the application all at once?
The SMILE application must be completed at once. The essay application on Hopkins Groups can be saved and completed over time.

What does the rest of the recruitment process look like?
After completion of the two online applications, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule their interviews. There are two interviews for this position; one with the current peer leaders and the second with the profession staff.

Are interviews in person or online?
The interviews are hosted in person. There is no online option.

What does it mean to be an alternate?
Sometimes life can bring unexpected challenges, such as family emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. If a Peer Leader is no longer eligible or able to commit to the summer program or academic year, we will reach out to those on out alternate list to step into the role.