How AI and Evidence-Based Mentoring Can Transform Student Advising

The process of choosing an academic major can be daunting—especially for students without strong advising networks. While human advisors excel at asking the right questions and tailoring guidance, new research suggests AI could play a supportive role.

A recent paper by Lekan and Pardos (2025) found that GPT-4’s recommendations matched those of human advisors in one-third of cases, with many other suggestions falling within the same academic area. Advisors rated the AI-generated guidance positively, noting its effective use of student information and well-reasoned responses. However, they also pointed out limitations, such as a lack of follow-up questions and occasional overly generalized advice.

At MentorPRO, our mentoring platform and student mentoring software integrate evidence-based practices with emerging tools like AI to support advisors, mentors, and students alike. Our mentor training software and MentorPRO Academy ensure programs maintain the human capacity for dialogue and contextual understanding while leveraging technology for efficiency.

Because in mentoring and advising, AI can offer a head start—but human insight finishes the journey.