Enhancing International Graduate Student Experience through AI-Driven Support Systems: A LLM and RAG-Based Approach

International graduate students encounter unique challenges that impede their academic and personal success. This paper introduces an AI-powered chatbot designed specifically for these students, utilizing advanced language models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Unlike generic solutions, our chatbot is tailored with a dataset curated from Reddit communi-ties frequented by international students, enabling it to provide highly relevant and actionable advice. The system combines GPT-3.5's generative capabilities with precise information retrieval to effectively guide students through academic procedures, cul-tural adjustments, and personal challenges. An evaluation shows that our RAG-enhanced model outperforms standard GPT-3.5, demonstrating significant improvements in response accuracy and relevance. This research not only advances AI applications in student support but also offers practical, real-time aid to enhance international students' educational experiences.