I think that it should be this way, and I am hoping that that is how the system is changed. By doing away with the voting, and having reviewers have mentors instead. It will make things a lot easier.

It's not easier for us mentors either way, as generally people enter the Mentor program needing help. It's whether they take the help or not that makes it difficult or easy.

Yup, total sense. I think people should have to pass before even applying unless they have a rating of like 5 or more.

It would certainly improve the quality of reviews overall if Basic students were required to have a Mentor before becoming Advanced. I think it would also help the new writers avoid a lot of trial and error so they can feel more confident.

However, a few who consistently write less than useful reviews have already somehow managed to become Advanced reviewers, and they need help just as much if not more. So I'm not sure how or if EF could switch the system over to "Mentors required for all Basics" without shutting out the already Advanced reviewers who need help.

The one thing we've encountered is that *some* Advanced reviewers (NOT all) are indeed harder to work with, especially if they've already been cranking out reviews for awhile before grabbing a Mentor. They seem to be less attentive to suggestions for changes in their reviewing methods compared to the people who are starting fresh.

I do think it'd be more beneficial for all new reviewers to take a mentoring class and then graduate rather then being voted in. If I had known it was available I'd definitely have done that at first.

I totally agree. I know that having a mentor really helped my writing. I told a friend about EF and told her to make sure she gets a mentor before posting any reviews. I think it helps the community on better written reviews. If I had known about the mentor program before I wrote my frist review I could have written a better one on it. At some point we are all new, but I think it would be a wonderful idea that all new reviewers have to go through the mentor program before becoming advanced.

I'm a newly Basic Reviewer, with only 2 reviews under my belt so far. I just joined the Ambassador Program and I do plan working myself up to Advanced level. I will definitely be getting myself a mentor! Not because I think I am a bad writer, but because it will teach me to become an excellent reviewer by knowing exactly what is looked for in a review.
I love the whole idea of the Mentor Program......I love the whole idea of Eden Fantasys!