Peer Mentorship Programs

Global Ambassadors Program (GAP)

The Global Ambassadors Program (GAP) is a summer-only peer-mentoring program designed to assist incoming international undergraduate students in acclimating to a new environment and making a smooth transition into university life at UC San Diego.

The program pairs incoming undergraduate students with current student mentors (GAP Mentors can be international or domestic students) in order to encourage cross-cultural exchange and create a positive transition and adjustment process for incoming students. GAP Mentors provide friendly support in order to engage our incoming undergraduate international students and help them create solid relationships within our campus community. Being a GAP mentor is a CCR approved unpaid leadership and volunteer opportunity.  

GAP Mentors introduce incoming international students to life at UC San Diego through: 

• Pre-Arrival Communication (Summer)
• Peer Mentoring
• Triton Weeks of Welcome festivities

Have questions about the Global Ambassador Program (GAP)? Email getccr@ucsd.edu 

Incoming International? Apply to be a GAP Mentee!

As a new international undergraduate student, you will be assigned one GAP mentor. GAP is a free program that is provided to you by the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) and International House (I-House) at UC San Diego. Once you confirm your enrollment at UC San Diego, your mentors will be given your contact information and will reach out to you over summer so that you can communicate before you arrive on campus at UC San Diego. As a mentee, we expect that you take full advantage of the resources available to you, ask your mentors questions, and participate in GAP activities/events to make your transition to campus a success!  

All incoming international undergraduate students are able to apply! Please note, mentee spots are limited. We encourage you to apply early to secure a spot in the program.

Apply to be a GAP Mentee HERE

Current International or Domestic Student? Apply to be a GAP Mentor!

GAP is a voluntary position for students to draw on their college experience to advise incoming international students. GAP Mentor responsibilities are as follows:

• Attendance of 1 VIRTUAL GAP Mentor Training during early Summer 
• Maintain contact throughout the summer with GAP coordinators & assigned summer contacts 
• Maintain communication with mentees regularly via email, social media, phone, or whatever works best for both the mentee and mentor  
• Assist incoming student mentees with their transitions 
• Help mentees navigate resources outside of weekly topics 
• Act as a resource and provide information to mentees about available campus resources

Criteria for GAP Mentors:  

• Current Undergraduate student at UC San Diego  
• GPA of 2.5 or above 
• Availability to mentor 2-3 incoming students over the summer and meet with them twice in fall quarter 
• Good interpersonal and intercultural communication skills  
• Be approachable, trustworthy and reliable 
• Open and interested in involving your mentee in extracurricular activities 

Apply to be a GAP Mentor HERE

Grad Pals

Grad Pals matches incoming graduate students with current graduate students at UC San Diego (most commonly within their same department). This program aims to help new students settle in by giving them the opportunity to ask non-academic related questions, provide them with support during the first few weeks, and ease their transition into graduate life at UC San Diego. 

Sign-up to be a Grad Pal Mentee HERE.

Sign-up to be a Grad Pal Mentor HERE. 

Have questions about Grad Pals? Email iprograms@ucsd.edu