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Every September, thousands of international students arrive in Toronto filled with ambition, excitement—and a quiet undercurrent of anxiety. The University of Toronto, Canada’s top-ranked university, is often portrayed as a land of opportunity. And in many ways, it is. But hidden beneath the glossy brochures and orientation speeches is a truth few acknowledge upfront: the first year is hard. Not just academically, but socially, culturally, emotionally, and logistically.

This article explores the nuanced, often unspoken challenges that define the first-year …