University of Chicago · Chicago, Illinois

You don't have to
do this alone.

ISMP at University of Chicago is a group of volunteer mentors who meet international students here on campus. Come to one event or get matched with a mentor and start from there.

See what's happening Get a mentor

On campus

What's happening at University of Chicago.

Come and meet the mentors here. Everyone is welcome.

Happens regularly

Two Part Series: Choosing a Research Lab & PhD Life Hacks

Tuesdays - October 20 and 27

October 20, 2026 – October 27, 2026

6pm
Norris 1-173

The International Student Mentorship Program partners with Graduate International Students Association to host a 2-part workshop for international graduate students to succeed in school and beyond. Dinner is provided at both events. Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 PM: Choosing a Research Lab How to decide which research lab do you want to be a part of? Come hear Bo and Kuan's advice based on their PhD experiences. Thursday, October 29, 6:00 PM: PhD Life Hacks Pick up practical tips on 15-minute meal prep for busy days, everyday conversation topics with American friends, surviving Chicago winters, and U.S. healthcare basics.

Upcoming

ISMP Connect: Speed Friending, Conversation Tips, and Pumpkin Snacks!

October 24, 2026

3-4:30PM
The Study at University of Chicago (1227 E 60th St, Chicago)

Come join us to learn how to make meaningful connections and try some pumpkin-flavored snack items this fall! 🎃🍁🍪 You will get to know other international students and mentors as you practice how to keep conversations going!

Your mentors here

Some of the mentors you'll meet here.

They run the workshops, host the dinners, and stay in touch long after your first semester.

Robin TajingwaSales Enablement Specialist - RevealUC Berkeley - BA in Architecture

Josh YeungSenior HR Systems Analyst - AllegionUC Berkeley - BA in Psychology & Sociology

Qile ChenData Analyst - Northwestern Student AffairsNorthwestern - MA in Linguistics

Ruben NakanoSenior Data Analyst - TovalaNorthwestern - MS in Machine Learning & Data Science

Josue IdaniMedical Student - Northwestern Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern - BA in Neuroscience

Grace IdaniFinancial & Art Logistics Coordinator - Northwestern LawUC Davis - MA in Art History

What to expect

What a mentor actually does.

Real help
Open to everyone
Your pace

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.