PALS Program

Go Global...without ever leaving campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

To contact us:

Phone: 512-471-2348

Fax: 512-471-8848

E-mail: pals@uts.cc.utexas.edu

Nothing! It is absolutely free to join the PALS program. Just fill out an application and submit it online or to our office, and you’re all set. Sometimes PALS have events at nearby eateries and it is necessary for you to bring your own money if you would like to have food or drinks. See our calendar for more information, or stop by our office to pick up a hard copy of the activity schedule.

How much does it cost to join PALS?

PALS’ official way of communicating is via email. We need your email to notify you incase you’ve been matched and to send you updates about the weekly events. It is very important that you give us your correct email address.

Why do I need to provide an email address?

Great! If you found a PAL before the Program Coordinators got to match you with someone, please notify us immediately, either by going to our office or by emailing us. We will simply enter this match into our system. This way, we do not continue looking for a match for you, or accidentally match you with another PAL.

I attended an event and found a PAL there. What do I do now?

How often can I meet with my PAL? Where do I meet with my PAL?

Once you are matched, it is up to you and your PAL to set up a time and date to meet. You should plan to meet on or around campus and during daytime hours, if at all possible. PALS are committed to an hour meeting once a week, but  you can meet more often if you like. If you and your PAL have conflicting schedules, let the Program Coordinators know as soon as possible so that we can find the both of you another match. Stop by our office or email us if you need help.

I cannot contact my PAL. What do I do now?

If you have been matched, but after several attempts have failed to contact your PAL, please let us know. We will do our best to correct contact information, contact your PAL, or find you another match. Please email us or stop by our office if you need help with this problem.

Why haven’t I received an email confirmation?

If you applied several weeks ago and still have not received any emails from PALS, email us or stop by our office. We probably have incorrect contact information on you. Sometimes the emails we send out bounce back and we try our best to find the correct email address, but finding that information is not always possible without your help.

Why haven’t I been matched?

Once you submit an application and receive a confirmation, it usually takes one to two weeks to get matched with a PAL. It might take a bit longer depending on the traffic in our office. Sometimes it is difficult to match everyone because we have a limited number of applicants with the same preferences. Because it is the purpose of our program to encourage cultural as well as language exchange, we urge you to apply early in the semester and to be flexible with the preferences you indicate on your application. We continue making matches throughout the semester. However, we do send out an email when there are zero to very few matches that we believe we will be able to make throughout the duration of the semester.

I have a question, concern or comment not listed here.

Stop by our office, or email us! Don’t forget to include the topic of your email in the subject line, please.

To apply to PALS, fill out the online application, or stop by our office to fill out a paper application. There is no deadline to submit the application. The Program Coordinators attempt to make matches throughout most of the semester. If a match is not likely at a certain point during the semester, we will encourage you to fill out an application for the following semester.

How do I apply? When is the deadline?