You don't have to
do this alone.
A mentor who knows the challenges of studying and living in a new country, and who gives you their time.
240+ mentors · 56 campuses
Meet four of
our mentors.
Universities, Campus Programs, and the Communities Around Them
ISMP runs workshops inside university programs, takes part in campus-wide events, and volunteers with the community organizations around them.
See what we did together
Computer Science ProgramWorkshops and practice interviewsISMP teaches the parts of the job search nobody explains, then sits students down with a mentor for a practice interview.
Volunteering in OaklandEarth Day at the Memorial GardenTwenty-five volunteers spent a morning cleaning up the memorial garden the association takes care of for the city. Eight of the mentors there had been international students themselves.
University Health ServicesLevel Up CampA spring break weekend for more than 50 students. Friendships, and the skills you are supposed to pick up somewhere: car maintenance, cooking, power tools, and cleaning tips.
Students and mentors are already meeting every week, across the United States and Canada.
Find your campusYou get one mentor.
And a whole community behind them.
What a mentor actually does.
Get help with the real things.
How to email a professor, a roommate problem, a housing question, and what looking for a job in the U.S. is really like. These are the parts of life here that nobody explains. Our mentors are unpaid volunteers who know how hard it is to move to a new country, and they are happy to help.
Open to everyone.
ISMP is built on Christian values, and all of our mentors are Christians. Their faith is what motivates them to volunteer and invest in the lives of international students. What you do together is practical and personal: studying, working, and building a life here. There is no requirement to be Christian to participate. Every international student is welcome.
You set the pace.
You meet your mentor once to start. After that, you decide how often you meet and what you talk about. Some students meet every week. Others only want to talk once, before something important like a big presentation. You can stop at any time.
Get help with the real things.
How to email a professor, a roommate problem, a housing question, and what looking for a job in the U.S. is really like. These are the parts of life here that nobody explains. Our mentors are unpaid volunteers who know how hard it is to move to a new country, and they are happy to help.
Open to everyone.
ISMP is built on Christian values, and all of our mentors are Christians. Their faith is what motivates them to volunteer and invest in the lives of international students. What you do together is practical and personal: studying, working, and building a life here. There is no requirement to be Christian to participate. Every international student is welcome.
You set the pace.
You meet your mentor once to start. After that, you decide how often you meet and what you talk about. Some students meet every week. Others only want to talk once, before something important like a big presentation. You can stop at any time.
“ISMP really gives me a feeling of home. At LevelUp I learned to cook a lot of things and clean the kitchen efficiently. Now I also cook for my friends.”Rollanda Luo · LL.M. · UC Berkeley
The strongest sense of belonging.
“He knew that as an EECS student I wanted more programming experience, so he'd worked with ISMP leaders to create this opportunity for me. … It's just one of countless other stories of ISMP mentors doing more than what was expected of them.”
“The mentors are highly committed, offering tailor-made guidance not only for academic success but also organizing group activities and thereby building lasting friendships with mentees.”
“I had a fantastic time with the mentors and friends at ISMP. They became the people I can lean on in my life, and ISMP became the place where I feel the strongest sense of belonging as a foreign student.”
“What surprised me the most about being part of ISMP was how deeply people cared. … Even after I moved from Minnesota to Irvine, I still felt connected and supported, as if distance didn't exist.”
“These workshops really engage me in a community and help me build a sense of belonging. Even as I am not able to stay in the U.S. long-term as an exchange student, I hope I can bring that sense of community to others.”
“I felt uncertain and anxious coming into a new environment, not knowing anyone. … The advice from my mentor Andrew that stuck with me is to never be afraid to take the initiative and contact others.”
“My mentor, Caroline, has been incredibly approachable and helpful, guiding me through everything from ordering food to understanding cultural differences.”
“What I remember most about ISMP isn't just the delicious food, but the genuine kindness and care from all the mentors. They taught me the most important lesson of all: the importance of expressing kindness to others.”
“From celebrating Lunar New Year together to the retreats in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and volunteering alongside one another, every event has been filled with kindness, encouragement, and genuine friendship.”
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