Most of such selected students are leaders in other campus organizations. Once they are put through a training program, their role function is to "help you schedule your fall classes, and help support your transition from high school to college life." (University of Pittsburg).

             Peer counselors do not have extended professional training and are thus under the category of paraprofessionals. However they do perform certain functions that normally are carried out by professionals. Using the services of a peer counselor rather than a professional is also beneficial to the college in terms that peer counselors cost less than professionals. Peer counselors on the other hand benefit from the training that they are put through and the opportunity they receive to help others which adds up to their own personal growth and development.

             Through research it has been established that when nonprofessionals are put through a limited training of about 20 to 40 hours, they can be as effective and beneficial, in some fields, as other professionals and they bring out a positive change in their customers (Scott, S. H., and R. W. Warner p.228-331). Due to such researches the role of peer counselors is now widely being accepted and more student turn to their peers for help regarding a wide range of difficulties or problems that they might be facing.

             Researches have also examined the differences in the selection and training of the paraprofessionals as compared to the professionals. This sort of research is to bring out the effectiveness of peer counseling. Student that are chosen for peer counseling are those that have high confidence level and are sympathetic towards others especially their peers. In addition to this they should also be open to a wide range of values that differ from their own. This is because they will deal with a number of people belonging to different ethnic backgrounds who come from a completely different culture.