The Power of Mentorship in Higher Ed Admissions with Denver Barrows + Cayde Bruce

In this episode of Service to School Stories, Emma Parish, Director of Student Advising, sits down with S2S applicant & Ambassador pair Denver Barrows and Cayde Bruce to explore the power of peer mentorship in the veteran-to-college journey.

They dig into how strong mentor–mentee relationships are built, why they matter, and the real impact they can have on your admissions strategy and confidence. Denver and Cayde share what makes mentorship work, the trends they’re seeing across the veteran community, and the qualities that set great mentors apart.

You’ll also hear honest insights about navigating the unique challenges military-affiliated applicants face and how having someone in your corner can change everything.

The episode closes with practical guidance for both mentors and mentees, plus inspiring reminders of why mentorship is one of the most transformative parts of the Service to School experience.

00:00 Introduction to Mentorship in Education

05:06 The Impact of Mentorship on College Admissions

11:10 Building a Network Through Mentorship

14:04 Maintaining Relationships Beyond College Applications

16:37 Trends in Mentorship and Education for Veterans

20:30 Qualities of an Effective Mentor

24:46 Navigating Feedback in Mentorship

28:43 The Unique Value of Mentorship for Military Applicants

31:20 Final Thoughts and Reflections

34:28 S2S Stories Podcast Outro Video.mp4

Additional Resources:

Become a mentor with S2S