Students Studying in The United States Global Student Mentor Program

The mission of the Office of Global Services’ Global Student Mentor Program is to:

1. Support incoming international graduate students as they transition to college life at Northeastern and American culture
2. Foster engagement with the Northeastern community
3. Improve resource awareness and utilization

A peer mentor is a current international student who spends time with new students to help them adjust to college life. The students who receive mentorship are called “mentees.”

Participating new students will be matched with an OGS Global Student Mentor. The mentor will reach out first via Qooper to introduce themselves and set up the first meeting. Throughout the academic term, mentees will connect with their mentor in person through 1-1 meetings, small group sessions, and group gatherings. Small group meetings take place in-person at least once per month. Mentees can ask questions and receive advice from the perspective of an experienced Northeastern student. Mentors will help their mentees set goals and make steps toward completing these goals throughout the first semester at Northeastern. Mentees might consider discussing the following with their mentors:

• How to access resources on campus
• How to join a club or get involved with the campus community
• Suggestions for developing college-level study skills
• How to use public transportation in Boston
• Questions about American culture
• Feelings of homesickness

Within the GSM Program, students will have the opportunity to build community in various forms:

1. Small Group Sessions
2. At least 2 GSM Meetups (events) per semester
3. Affinity Groups

Small Group sessions are led by a Global Student Mentor and are designed to introduce parts of the curriculum while providing a more intentional space for community development.

GSM Meetups are a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world with a shared experience- a first semester graduate student at Northeastern.

Affinity groups are identity based groups designed to connect students to campus resources for long term support and resources.  The GSM Program only supports students in their first semester, so this is a great way to get connected to the broader campus community.  Currently, the Affinity Groups include:

• First Generation
• Women

It is important that mentees make the same level of commitment as their mentor. This includes being responsive to your mentor and making time in your schedule for regular meetings throughout the whole semester.

Northeastern has many different mentorship programs, so please review other options to find which program best supports your interest and needs. The OGS program is dedicated to supporting international students in their cultural transition and academic success. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that your mentor will be a student in your same academic program. If you are interested in peer support specific to your academic program, please consult with your academic advisor to see what may be available. 

Sign up early to be matched with a mentor by December 19th. Additional match dates include January 7th and January 14th.

Please note that you will be matched by the end of the next business day. After January 14th, our program will be closed to new applicants.    

Interested in participating? Before you sign up, confirm that you:

• Will be a new student in your first semester at Northeastern
• Understand the program mission
• Can meet the time commitment to attend regular meetings throughout the semester
• Sign up before January 14th

Click on the link below for your campus to create a mentee profile on Qooper. After publishing your profile, we will go through a vetting process to make sure you meet all the requirements, then you will be matched with a mentor.

CLICK HERE to become a Mentee in our Global Student Mentor program on the NU Boston campus for the Winter ’25 Semester! 

CLICK HERE to become a Mentee in our Global Student Mentor program on the NU Silicon Valley campus for the Winter ’25 Semester! 

Follow us on Instagram to watch and read some GSM testimonials

OGS hires for new Mentors periodically. When Mentor applications are open, you can find the application on the Student Employment portal from your Student Hub page. Mentors can be domestic or international graduate students who have completed at least one semester at Northeastern University. When ready to hire, there will be several days of marketing on Instagram and information in the Newsletter before the application opens.  Make sure to follow nu_ogs on Instagram if you are interested in becoming a Mentor.

• Expectations of a mentor include:
• Attend mandatory trainings
• Be prepared to take on up to 20 mentees at one time
• Meet with each mentee in person at least once per month
• Lead small group sessions
• Provide event support for the Office of Global Services events

• Global Student Mentors will apply for committees to complete additional projects such as the OGS Newsletter, Instagram/Facebook, Reels, etc.
• Meeting with assigned mentees at least once per month throughout the academic term
• Work a minimum of two Office Hours per week in person
• Adherence to the mentor code of ethics

Desired qualities include:

• Interpersonal skills
• High communication skills
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Problem solving
• Patience

• Excellence in customer service
• Professionalism, including punctuality and follow-through
• Interest in creating an inclusive community at Northeastern

Some benefits of becoming a Global Student Mentor include:

• Meeting students from around the world

• Practicing intercultural competence and citizen diplomacy
• Professional development and opportunity to demonstrate and grow in leadership capabilities
• Ability to help shape international student services by providing feedback on the experience of your mentees
• On-campus work experience
• Mentors are not responsible for and should not provide any immigration or visa-related advice or information.

• Mentors are not Career Coaches or Advisors and will not provide resume or job search review.  Please direct student questions to Employer Engagement and Career Design.