Students Studying in The United States Global Student Mentor Program

The mission of the Office of Global Services’ Global Student Mentor Program is to support incoming international students as they transition to college life at Northeastern and to the culture of the United States, to foster engagement with the Northeastern community, and to improve resource utilization. 

A peer mentor is a current student who spends time with new students to help them adjust to college life. Both international and domestic students can apply to be peer mentors. 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 over email and introduce themselves and set up the first meeting. Throughout the academic term, mentees will connect with their mentor in person through one-on-one meetings and group gatherings. These meetings take place in-person and at least once per month. Mentees can ask questions and receive advice from the perspective of an experienced Northeastern student. Your mentor will help you to set goals for your experience at Northeastern. Mentees might consider discussing 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 

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. Additionally, this program is not for the purpose of career or workplace networking (though you may want to discuss strategies for professional networking with your mentor).

The Spring 2023 cycle starts on January 17th for new students starting their program on-campus in Boston in January.

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

• Understand the program mission
• Able to meet the time commitment to regular meetings throughout the entire semester
• Sign up before January 17

Check back in the Summer 2023 to access our web platform and sign up with your Northeastern login credentials. After publishing your profile, please wait to be matched with a mentor.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Not a first semester student, but need advice from a mentor?  Look no further.  Log on to Ask a Mentor to access mentoring on demand from one of our Global Student Mentors starting back up in June, 2023. The link to join on Zoom will be added in late May.

When Mentor applications are open, you can find the application on the Student Employment portal from the “Services & Links” page in myNortheastern. Mentors can be domestic or international students, and undergrad or graduate students.

Expectations of a mentor include:

• Completing the brief training course 
• Meeting with assigned mentees at least once per month throughout the academic term
• Adherence to the mentor code of ethics

Desired qualities include:

• High communication skills
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• 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
• Letter of Reference and Certificate of Completion for those who complete all responsibilities

Mentors are not responsible for and should not provide any immigration or visa-related advice or information. Please direct student questions to [email protected]