The USC Career Center and USC Counseling & Mental Health are excited to announce the second annual International Student Mentorship Program in Spring 2024! The program aims to support international undergraduate and graduate student career and personal development and wellbeing by fostering mentorship relationships with international Trojan alumni.
Program Timeline:
- Mentee Application Period: December 2, 2023 – January 2, 2024
- Match Decisions: January 2-11, 2024
- Mentee Orientation (mandatory): January 12, 2024
- Mentor-mentee meetings: January-May (at least once per month)
- Career and Personal Development Workshops/Activities: January-April (2-3 times per month)
- Program Closing Celebration: May 4, 2024
Program Calendar:
Becoming an International Student Mentee
The application for mentees opens on December 2, 2023 and closes on January 2, 2024. You can access the registration questions and application through the International Student Mentorship Program Page in the Trojan Network. Be sure to complete your Trojan Network profile and the program application questions in detail since we will use your responses to pair you with our international alumni mentors.
What You Will Gain
You will gain professional development, personal wellness tools, and career direction while fostering a relationship with someone who can be a mentor and role model. You can discuss any concerns or challenges you face as an international student at USC while gaining support and guidance from your mentor. It is especially important during these uncertain times to build community and learn from others to prepare you for your future.
Mentee Expectations
- Active Participation: Proactively connect at least once a month with your mentor and commit to expectations set by the program.
- It is mandatory to meet once a month with your mentor if you wish to continue being a part of the program.
- Participate in a minimum of two USC Career Center workshops during the program.
- Responsibility for Learning: Utilize campus tools/resources presented in workshops and through the USC Career Center website to set yourself up for success.
- Clear Goals & Open communication: Set SMART goals and share them with mentors for personalized guidance. Additionally, maintaining an open and honest communicative environment will help you make the best use of your time with your mentor.
- Networking: Gain insight into the USC international student experience while expanding your network and learning about career and wellness resources, internships, jobs and/or career paths.
The program requires a commitment of one academic semester (January–May). Throughout the semester, the Career Center and Counseling & Mental Health will hold monthly workshops or activities in which all mentees and mentors are encouraged to participate. These events will focus on international student career resources and exploration, personal and career development, and mental health and wellbeing, while allowing all program participants to network and interact as a group.
Orientation will be held virtually via Zoom and workshops will a mix of virtual and in person. Mentor and mentee pairs can meet virtually or in person at their convenience, although if you are both located in the same city, it is recommended that you meet in person at least once. The Closing Celebration in person at the USC Career Center.
Outside of our monthly events, mentors and mentees are expected to connect at least once per month on their own for a career/personal development activity. We have put together a Mentee Goal Guide with suggested professional-, personal-, and academic-development activities to help you and your mentor get started. We have also developed Mentorship Principles that help set the foundation for a successful mentorship. Connecting regularly and communicating with your mentor is important – and it is a two-way street. Please do not expect alumni to only reach out to you to set up meetings! Be proactive, take initiative, and send the first email or make the first phone call.
As a reminder, use your best judgment when engaging with alumni. Review our Non-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Guidelines for policies on how to interact with alumni while developing a mentoring relationship. If an interaction is inappropriate or unprofessional, please notify us. We expect appropriate and professional engagement at all times.
Program Eligibility
Mentee candidates must:
- Not be currently involved in another USC mentorship program.
- Be in good academic standing (no minimum GPA requirement).
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at USC.
- Have completed one full semester of classes at USC, with the exception of first-semester transfer students.
- Be enrolled in classes for both fall and spring semesters (December graduates are ineligible).
Selection Process
Students are selected through an application process. Selected mentees will be notified via email by early to mid January. Spots are limited and if not matched, you are encouraged to utilize the Trojan Network to build connections and network with fellow Trojans!
Students are expected to remain accountable in addition to demonstrating strong written and verbal communication skills. Students must be able to commit to the program for the full semester. Commitment to the program is demonstrated by responding to communication from the International Student Mentorship Program Coordinator and your mentor in a timely manner and being mindful of mandatory program events when registration for Spring classes occurs. This also includes notifying the Coordinator and your Mentor in the event of emergencies at least two days (48 hours) in advance.
USC Alumni
If you were an international college student and would like to become a mentor, see the Becoming an International Student Mentor page.
If you have any questions, please contact Addie Cheng.
Experience Information
- Sponsor
- USC Career Center
- Start Date
- Jan 12, 2024
- End Date
- May 4, 2024
- Apply By
- Jan 2, 2024
- Decision Date
- Jan 11, 2024