EVANSTON, Ill. --- Adjusting to university life for the first time is hard for any new student, but it can be particularly challenging for international students.

In addition to learning a school's campus and processes, international students also have to cope with living in a foreign country, learning American customs and sometimes speaking a second language, explained Therese Simpson, Northwestern University's coordinator for international students.

“Some of our students have never been in the United States before,” Simpson said.

To help ease this adjustment process, the International Office at Northwestern started an International Peer Mentoring Program two years ago and now matches incoming international students with a more experienced international student or “mentor” who has spent at least a year at Northwestern and has agreed to serve in this role. The program's mission is to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for international students by offering assistance, sponsoring events and forming a strong community.

The program is open to any international undergraduate or graduate student who applies to be part of the program. Last year, more than 65 international students signed up for a mentor.

Tatiana Filimonova was one of those students. When she first heard about the program while she was living in Russia, Filimonova wasn't sure she needed it. She had lived in the United States before and felt confident she would be able to adjust. But two weeks after arriving at Northwestern, she heard about a dinner for all the international students involved in the program and decided it would be fun to attend.

“I saw that all the people who took part in the program were really interesting and nice, so at that dinner I signed up for a mentor,” she said.

The best part about the program, Filimonova said, was getting to know a lot of people and building a social network. “I found that it is very important for a person in a new place, regardless of whether he or she has experience at an American University or not, to have a way to meet new people,” said Filimonova, who is getting her Ph.D at Northwestern in Slavic languages and literatures.

Last year Milos Lazic was Filimonova's mentor. He said he feels like he was a success because he recently heard that she and another student he mentored applied to be mentors themselves next year.

“I feel grateful for what I received this year and wanted to give back to someone who needed me,” Filimonova said, explaining her decision to be a mentor next year.

Originally, when Lazic applied to be a mentor two years ago, he did so because he also felt grateful for the help he received when he came to the United States, first as high school exchange student and then as a college student in South Carolina. His host family was extremely supportive as were his tennis teammates at the College of Charleston.

“I really appreciated the help,” said Lazic, who is getting his Ph.D. at Northwestern in neuroscience. “I wanted to do the same thing for other international students who come to the United States. Many of these students know absolutely no one and need some support.”

Last year, Lazic served as a mentor to four students. Like many of the mentors, Lazic said he also got a lot out of the program. In addition to making new friends and learning about other countries and cultures, he also had a chance to practice his communication and leadership skills. He plans to continue being a mentor next year and expand his role by also serving as the program's social director.

Incoming international students hear about the program in several ways, Simpson said. Information about the program as well as an application is available on the International Office's website. Additionally, staff members from the International Office email all international students telling them about this program and send them a flyer in the mail when they send important visa information.

Students are assigned mentors the summer before they attend Northwestern. One of the mentor's most important tasks is to send the incoming students a welcoming email before they leave their home country. 

“It's great to show them that someone is here and willing to help,” said Seda Cinlar, a senior at Northwestern from Turkey and the current chair of the Program.  Cinlar, along with Liz Matthews in the International Office, saw a need for the program several years ago set about developing it. She has worked as a mentor and as the program's main administrator.

Although Northwestern has people on staff to assist international students, Cinlar said she felt that it would be particularly helpful for the incoming students to have a fellow student to talk with.

“The international students are able to relate to one another because we're all coming to a foreign country and face the same problems adapting,” she said. “We have a lot in common.”

In addition to emailing during the summer, the mentors are also encouraged to meet with the incoming students soon after they arrive at Northwestern. The mentors and new students participate in planned activities through the International Office and meet on their own.

In the last two years, the program has grown and changed, Cinlar said. This coming year, the mentors will be responsible for fewer students, and there will be more structured activities for the students to attend. There will also be a student advisory board responsible for programming.

As the program grows and expands, Cinlar said she is pleased with where it is going. More than 20 students have applied to be mentors next year, up from 14 this year. “It's a wonderful opportunity for both the mentors and the incoming students,” she said.

Students interested in participating in the program should contact Simpson at therese-simpson@northwestern.edu.

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