Fall 2026
Get matched with a mentor who has been where you are going.
First years and sophomores: get into a lab or get started on pre-med. Juniors and seniors: get ready for grad or med school, or mentor. Grad and med students: mentor.
Sign up by Fri, Nov 6
Matching has started. Sign up to join the waitlist.
Sign-ups are closed. Spring opens late January.
How it works
Three steps. You do the first one, we do the second.
Sign up
One short form, about 2 minutes.
Get matched
We match you by goals and interests and email you both by Nov 12.
Meet
Your mentor reaches out. Grab coffee or hop on Zoom. One meeting to start, more if it clicks.
Four tracks
The form puts you on the right one based on your year and where you are headed.
Lab Launch
- For
- First years & sophomores interested in research
- Mentored by
- Juniors, seniors & grad students
Finding a lab, emailing PIs, choosing courses, and figuring out UVM.
Pre-Med Launch
- For
- First years & sophomores thinking about med school
- Mentored by
- Pre-med juniors & seniors
Shadowing, clinical hours, pre-med courses, and planning ahead for the MCAT.
Next Step: Grad
- For
- Juniors & seniors headed to grad school
- Mentored by
- Grad students
Choosing programs, personal statements, the GRE, interviews, and gap years.
Next Step: Med
- For
- Juniors & seniors headed to med school
- Mentored by
- Med students
The MCAT, clinical hours, shadowing, applications, and MD vs. MD-PhD.
Who can join
Find your row. The form asks the same questions and sends you down the right path.
| You are a | You can be |
|---|---|
| First year or sophomore | Mentee (Lab Launch or Pre-Med Launch) |
| Junior or senior | Mentee, mentor, or both |
| Grad student | Mentor (Lab Launch + Next Step: Grad) |
| Med student | Mentor (Next Step: Med) |
Timeline
Fall 2026
– Next
Done: Sign-ups open (after Nov 6, join the waitlist)
Next
Done: Matches emailed
– Next
Done: First meetings (around Thanksgiving break)
Next
Done: Spring sign-ups open
Questions
Who can sign up?
Any UVM undergrad interested in neuroscience, plus UVM grad students and med students who want to mentor. You do not need to be a neuroscience major.
How much time does it take?
One meeting to start, about 30-60 minutes. After that, you and your match decide. Most pairs meet a few times a semester.
I'm a junior. Can I be a mentee?
Yes. Juniors and seniors can be mentees, mentors, or both. Mentees are matched with a grad student or med student based on where you are headed.
How are matches made?
By hand, using what you tell us: your goals, what you want help with, and the short "about you" answers. We aim for a mentor who has done the thing you are trying to do.
When will I hear back?
Sign up by November 6 and your match goes out by November 12. Sign up after that and you join the waitlist.
Can I still sign up after November 6?
Yes. Matching starts after November 6, but the form stays open until December 4. Mentees who sign up late join the waitlist and get matched as mentor spots open up. Mentors are welcome any time.
I'm pre-med. Who mentors me?
First years and sophomores on Pre-Med Launch are matched with pre-med juniors and seniors. Juniors and seniors headed to med school are matched with med students.
What if there are more mentees than mentors?
Last year there were. This year we recruit mentors first. If we still run short, you go on a short waitlist and we tell you your spot.
Who reaches out first?
Mentors do, within a week or two of the match. Mentees are welcome to send the first message too.
What if my match isn't working out?
Email us and we will rematch you. No explanation needed.
Do I need research experience to mentor?
No. If you have figured out something a younger student is trying to figure out (courses, labs, applications, balance), you can help.
Is this an official UVM program?
Neuro Buddy is run by UVM neuroscience graduate students for the UVM neuroscience community.
Resources
Useful whether or not you sign up.