About the Program
For new undergraduate international students, preparing for life in the United States can be difficult. Adjusting to life once they arrive in Columbia and starting classes can be equally challenging. Many international students find that their expectations of America are much different than the reality of living in Columbia, South Carolina. Buddies Beyond Borders is a program designed to help with this adjustment process by pairing newly admitted undergraduate international students with current students at USC. That new student’s Buddy could be YOU!
The office International Student ad Scholar Support is looking for current students (both domestic and international) who are willing and interested in being a resource for these new international undergrads and answering any questions that they might have about the campus or life in Columbia. This could be questions about the best places to get groceries and furniture, or maybe about certain cultural differences between the United States and their home country.
If you and your international Buddy are interested, you can also meet up and be a welcoming face on campus as they are getting settled in. Many of our students who participate in this program form friendships with their Buddies.
In addition to your match, International Student and Scholar Support will host events each semester so you can meet other participants in the program, both domestic and international. Students are encouraged to attend these events and make connections and friendships through the wider Buddies community.
Being a Domestic Buddy
If you are a current undergraduate student who has been here for at least 1 semester, you qualify to be a Domestic Buddy. Current international students who have attended USC for at least 1 year may also apply to be a Domestic Buddy.
- Current undergradute students who have been enrolled for at least 1 semester
- Current international undergraduate students who have been enrolled at USC for at least 2 semesters
The most important aspect of this program is communication. If you sign up to be a Buddy for a new international, please make sure you answer their emails or texts and, if you so choose, met up with them upon their arrival on campus.
The Buddies Beyond Borders program is for undergraduate students only. if you are a graduate student, please go to our Global Graduate Network page for our graduate student-focused program.
Your relationship with your Buddy match will depend on what you hope to get out of the program. If you indicate on the application that you are interested in simply contacting your Buddy for advice or guidance, then that is the extent of your requirements. International students who indicate that they are interested in friendship and socializing should make an effort to connect and meet with your domestic Buddy match. Some Buddies will meet in person, others matches will simply email or text. Some will just need a few questions answered from a friendly and knowledgeable resource. Others will meet with their Buddy match face-to-face. Though friendship cannot be guaranteed, we hope that you do form a supportive relationship with your Buddy.
Participants in the Buddies program are expected to communicate with one another. New international students are expected to ask questions and reach out to their Buddy as needed; Domestic Buddies are expected to be responsive to questions and to help the new student feel at home.
Buddies Beyond Borders is meant to provide an opportunity to promote friendship and meaningful intercultural exchange at USC. Any inappropriate or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated from either the Domestic Buddy or the International Buddy. If any inappropriate or disrespectful behavior is reported, the buddy at fault will no longer be permitted to participate in the program.
Interested in being a Domestic Buddy? Apply now!
Contact Chris Reid if you have any questions about the program.
Matching is based upon availability, personal interests, age, and gender. We will do our best to make sure you are paired with a buddy who has some common interests with you, but we cannot guarantee perfect matches. We CAN promise that you will be matched with someone who will be very appreciative of your help and support!
Cultural differences between you and your buddy are inevitable. Remember to treat these differences with respect. If these kinds of differences are leading to negative interactions with your buddy and you are uncomfortable continuing in the program, please contact Chris Reid to discuss other options.
International Students Who Want to be Paired with a Domestic Buddy:
See this section of our website!