GSP welcomes transfer and exchange students!
Active participation in GSP is a great way to make new friends, meet people from different backgrounds, and broaden your perspectives on global justice issues in a supportive community. Whether you’re coming to U-M to finish your degree or studying here as an exchange student for one or two semesters, being a member of GSP can also help with the transition to life on campus and in Ann Arbor.
To join GSP, students must first be accepted and matriculated to the University of Michigan and have a UMID. Please note that the application to GSP is separate from your other University of Michigan applications. If you are interested in living and learning in the GSP community, please apply to our program directly or through your application for University Housing.
What transfer and international students have said about their GSP experience:
"When I joined GSP, it was as if I had always gone to school here. GSP was a space where it didn’t matter where I came from or how I got here, it only mattered that I was here now. The friends I have met through GSP are friends I imagine being in my life long-term, some of them becoming my closest friends that I spend most of my days with. GSP helped me get through some of the toughest times in my life and the community that I am now a part of is one that I will never forget."
- Katie Boensch (Transfer student)
"As an international student, it isn't always easy to find a community where your unique background becomes an asset rather than a barrier. I've never seen such a supportive community where every member is so engaged in global issues and willing to learn about other cultures. Also, through weekly Collaborative Group meetings and dialogues on various topics, I could practice my communication skills while learning various perspectives. In that regard, joining GSP has been definitely one of the best decisions I made in college. You can be the next GSP-er!”
- Juhui Oh (International student)
“GSP members listened intently and genuinely cared about what struggles other members were facing in their personal lives. Often we are hesitant to be transparent about certain things that may be bothering us because we are afraid that others may not be receptive or may not care. However, this was the complete opposite of my experience in GSP. After Collaborative Group meetings and class sessions, I felt energized during particularly stressful weeks. This is the most important lesson that I have learned from experiences in GSP and one that I hope to pay forward in the future. In the future, I hope to continue to foster the ability to listen intently and be empathetic in my interactions. Listening and caring does go a long way in terms of energizing a person who may be struggling. These are skills that can be applied to any situation in life and may significantly impact the lives of others.”
- Abhinav Janappareddi (Transfer student)
"The meaning of community for me is to be surrounded by people who share similar interests and values, and this was definitely embedded in my GSP experience this year. I can recall many moments that really touched me. I loved the dialogues offered this year, especially the one about jokes and humor and the one about sexism in racially marginalized communities. We talked about how we would deal with trauma and how we experienced intersectionality in everyday life. These topics are not often brought up even with friends, but dialogues provided us with great opportunities to be genuine, be vulnerable, be serious, and be caring.”
- Y.H. (International student)
“When I think of GSP, the word community is one of the first things that comes to mind. I honestly do not know what I would do without the GSP community this year. As a transfer student, I had virtually no community where I felt like I belonged. Within the first day of orientation for GSP, I already felt welcomed and appreciated. I felt like I had friends and that was something I did not think I was going to experience as a new student in a year full of Zoom classes. It was the most reassuring feeling. Every week after through either class. Chai Chatter, or my Collaborative Group, I knew I had a place in the GSP community. I knew that I belonged. I felt constantly a part of a community and that I had community members who valued me.”
- Isabelle McIntyre (Transfer student)
