ISMP at University of Pittsburgh 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.
Come and meet the mentors here. Everyone is welcome.
August 21, 2026
Learn about why building relationships and making connections in the U.S. is critical in international students' experience and success in the U.S. Also, learn practical conversation tips on engaging in small talk with Americans and asking good questions.
Sign upThey run the workshops, host the dinners, and stay in touch long after your first semester.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
“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.”Yan Ting Ng · M.S. AI & Chemical Engineering · Carnegie Mellon · University of Pittsburgh
Tell us your year and what you want help with. It takes a few minutes.
Apply to get a mentor
