New School, New Country – Advice from a current University of Toronto Student

New School, New Country – Advice from a current University of Toronto Student

At the University of Toronto Scarborough, approximately 8% of our students are international students studying here on a student authorization visa/study permit. We sat down and spoke with one of these students - Lynn, a fourth year management student from China.

Lynn describes her experience of coming to U of T Scarborough, and offers some advice for students looking to make the move to Canada. First, “don’t just hang out with people from your own culture – try and connect with different types of people. If you’re only involved in your own community, then you won’t get to learn about other types of people”. Second, “join extracurricular activities, don’t just study!” Getting involved gives you new and exciting opportunities. Lastly, Lynn advises that “it’s important to balance academic studying and daily life. No one will tell you what to do, so you need to manage your time well. Self discipline is very important.”

The language difference is something that many international students may have difficulty with. Lynn explains, “When I took a psychology class that required a lot of reading, I realized that because English isn’t my first language I read a lot more slowly than native speakers.” Reading quickly is something that comes with practice, and there are many resources at the Scarborough campus for students looking to improve their English skills, including the English Conversation Partner and English Language Development seminars.

Moving to a new country and being so far away from everything familiar can be a struggle, but “after a while you just get used to it,” Lynn says. “I’m lucky I live in Toronto instead of somewhere where there isn’t a whole lot of diversity. It’s easy to find restaurants and groceries stores with food that you’re familiar with!”

There are lots of opportunities to meet new people on campus! The International Student Centre offers orientations, informative workshops, and fun cultural events throughout the year for all international students. There’s never a shortage of things to do! On her experience with volunteering at the International Student Centre, Lynn explains that “it is really one of my most exciting experiences. I met a lot of people there and they’re all very nice. If I ever have any problems – either academic or personal – I know I can talk to them. They’re like family.”

International Student Centre at U of T Scarborough: http://studentlife.utsc.utoronto.ca/isc/