International Buddy Program

Hey everyone! My name is Annie Thant and my pronouns are she/her. I am a junior student studying Management Information Systems. I am from a southeast asian country called Myanmar also known as Burma. This is my third year studying in the U.S as an international student and I have learned and experienced a lot. All the good things and bad things but I believe every experience is important for your growth as a person, so get involved and try to enjoy every experience! IBP is one way that you can learn and get involved while you are here studying at the U. 

My piece of advice for you is to try new things that may seem out of your comfort zone. You might not enjoy doing it at first but I am sure it is going to help you so much with your growth. And that’s what colleges and universities are for. So, gear up and start trying new things. Good Luck!

Hi everyone, I’m Gopesh Bajaj, an international sophomore student pursuing Computer Science. I welcome you all to the University of Minnesota! Go Gophers! You are going to be a part of one of the most engaging and fun communities you’ll ever witness. I remember my first time in the U. The transition is tiring, confusing, and scary for almost everyone. If you were sailing in the same boat as me? Don’t worry. I still learn new things everyday and I guess that’s what makes the college experience special. You can expect anything from almost everything. I’d suggest everyone to take time to explore things, meet new people, and let the time help you transition. I am glad to welcome you to this new phase in your career.

Hey everyone! I am Jhanak Gupta. I am a sophomore majoring in Computer Science. I am from New Delhi, India. Welcome to the University of Minnesota. Transitioning can be challenging but I believe in you all! Try to reach out to different people and learn from their experiences. Always reach out to your peers, professors, and mentors. My best piece of advice to y’all is to be ready for changes and never be shy to be different. You will have your best and worst experiences in the U. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to be different. Always remember that it's okay to feel the way you are feeling. No matter how different you think you are there is always someone out there facing the same dilemma. Don't worry Gophers you've got this! I am super excited to meet everyone!!

Hi everyone! My name is Nhi Dang. I'm a junior double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. I'm an international student from Vietnam. Throughout my college journey, I received a lot of help from other students that greatly smoothened my transition to the U and I would love to spread that to other international students. I was previously a mentor in the International Buddy Program (IBP), which allowed me to not only help other international students with their college transitioning questions but also bring a sense of community to my mentees. By joining IBP, I hope that you can build good relationships with other students who were in your exact same shoes and make the most of your college experience together. If you need any help related to the International Buddy Program, feel free to reach out to the coordinators at [email protected]. We are here to help make IBP a great experience! Welcome to University of Minnesota and I'm looking forward to meeting you on campus!

Hello everyone!! I am Purvaja Kavuru, and I go by she/her pronouns. I am a sophomore majoring in psychology. I come from Hyderabad, India. And welcome to the University of Minnesota y’all.  I am sure that you guys will have lots of fun here. It could be a struggle with the transition in the beginning but I am confident that you guys will make it through that phase. 

Being open-minded and making an effort to step outside of your comfort zone can help you guys get through the difficult shift. Be bold in your outreach to others. We are glad to have you, and once more I wish you guys luck. Go Gophers!