Blog Posts

How to Make Friends with Your New Roommate

One of the biggest challenges many students face when they start college is learning to live with new people. It’s likely you don’t know anyone else attending the same school, meaning you’ll need to live with strangers. To make the experience a positive one, it’s ideal if you become friends with your roommate. Start developing a friendship before you even arrive at campus with these tips. 1. Follow Each Other on Social Media Find out what you have in common with your roommate by checking out what he or she posts online. Following each other on social media will allow you to get to know your future roommate before you even speak — which should make your first encounter feel less awkward. Send your roommate an email asking for his or her social media handles rather than searching for your roommate by name. This will feel less intrusive and mean your roommate is aware that you’ve seen his or her posts when you first talk. It’s more than possible that some aspects of your lifestyles won’t align. One of you may be an introverted bookworm; the other may be into partying. However, it’s likely you’ll still find plenty of things you agree on and topics to talk about. For instance, you may both have pets you love, follow the same sports, or share some of the same opinions. Bear in mind, it’s impossible to truly know someone through social media. People tend to post the best things in their lives — what they want their followers to see. There will likely be many more facets to your roommate that you’ll only discover by building a deeper connection. 2. Have a Video Call or Face-to-Face Meetup You may like to begin communicating with your roommate through text or email, but it makes sense to have a proper conversation at least once before you start living together. This will give you a better sense of your roommate’s personality and reduce the risk of misunderstandings. If you live near each other, your best option is to have a face-to-face meetup. Go for a coffee or find an activity to do together that you both enjoy. If that’s not a possibility, your second-best option is to have a video call. This is better than a phone call, as you’ll be able to see each other’s facial expressions and body language. You’ll also feel much more comfortable when you move in if you’ve seen your roommate’s face as well as heard his or her voice. 3. Talk About Your Expectations for Living Together Keep the conversation flowing over the summer by talking about expectations and ideas for when you live together. In addition to setting some ground rules, talk about who will bring what to your housing to avoid purchasing things you won’t need. You may also like to think of a couple activities to do together when you arrive, such as exploring campus and attending events. You’re more likely to stay friends with your roommate if you’re able to avoid conflict. This means sharing an apartment rather than a bedroom. A great alternative to Durham College residence is Foundry Simcoe. Choose between a three-bedroom flat suite and a five-bedroom townhouse — either option comes fully furnished with en suite bathrooms, a kitchen with granite countertops, and a spacious living room. Plus, you can ask us to pair you with roommates or request to share with friends. Contact us to join our student community.

5 Options for Getting Around on Campus

Many college campuses are large, meaning you often have a long walk from one class to another as well as to the library, dining hall, or wherever else you’re going. When you have a tight schedule, it may be difficult to reach where you need to be on time if you’re walking. The good news is you have many options for getting around campus — including some you likely haven’t considered. 1. Skateboard Skateboarding is a convenient way to move around campus with speed, even through tight spaces. When you arrive at your destination, just pick up your board and carry it with you. If you’re not much of a skater, a long board is ideal because it’s easier to balance on and control than a standard skateboard. 2. Scooter A similar option to a skateboard is a scooter: it’s a convenient size and you use your own momentum to glide around campus. Make sure you find one designed for adults — ideally, with extra-large wheels to support your weight and a long deck to fit both your feet comfortably when you pick up speed. 3. Hybrid Bike In addition to providing you with a means of transport between classes, having a bicycle will be great for reaching campus from your student apartment, heading to the grocery store, and going biking on weekends. If you want an all-purpose bike, your best option is a hybrid. This will be sturdy enough to take you up mountains but feature a lightweight frame that means it’s not too much of a chore to carry it upstairs. 4. Inline Skates If you already know how to skate, you may like to bring some inline skates along with you to campus. As well as ensuring you make it to your classes on time, they’ll give you a way to get around town. You’ll likely see other students doing the same — strike up a conversation with them to make some new friends whom you can go out skating with on the weekends. 5. Electric Scooter Your mode of transport for campus doesn’t need to be something that requires exertion on your part. Electric scooters are one of the most comfortable ways to get around, as they have a soft seat and a basket for your books or other belongings. Many models even come with a seat big enough for two, meaning you’ll be able to give a friend or roommate a ride. Plus, nothing beats an electric scooter if your journey involves a climb up a steep hill. If you live near campus, you’ll only need a means of transport for between classes and to take you the short distance from campus to your student housing. Oshawa students can live just steps from Ontario Tech University and Durham College’s North Oshawa campus by moving into Foundry Simcoe. You’ll have everything you need on site, including your own washer and dryer. Plus, if you have a part-time job farther afield or just want to bring your car to school with you anyway, you can take advantage of our reser ved parking. Book a tour to check out our housing for yourself.

5 Trends and Innovations Shaping Higher Learning

Higher learning has undergone a major transformation over the past few years. Changes in technology, different opportunities after graduation, and the demand for better student support has led to some new developments and innovations in the higher education sector. Here are some of the most noteworthy trends to consider. 1. Artificial Intelligence for Personalization Recently, there has been a greater understanding that each student has different needs . Higher learning has not traditionally catered to these differences, as class sizes are often large and there’s only so much individual attention each student can receive. Artificial intelligence is changing this by enabling personalization in learning. For instance, algorithms and tools allow instructors to adapt their teaching to the preferences and learning styles of each student. In addition, predictive analytics are able to identify at-risk students early to provide support and prevent these students from dropping out. 2. Immersive Learning One way students can learn in ways that better suit them is through simulations, such as with virtual and augmented reality. This provides them with immersive opportunities to put their skills into practice and try out their knowledge in safe situations. For instance, students may participate in virtual labs or make decisions in realistic scenarios. 3. Hybrid Learning The pandemic revealed that virtual learning is possible at college, but that it’s not ideal for everyone. This has led to an increase in hybrid models. These have many of the benefits of virtual learning (such as greater flexibility for students) but prevent the sense of isolation students may feel if they never interact with their peers or instructors. Students may have the chance to decide whether to attend classes virtually or in person or they may just have occasional days on campus. 4. Emphasis on Soft Skills Employers often care as much about soft skills as they do about industry knowledge, especially since many positions now involve a wide range of duties. This has led more higher learning institutions to make sure students continue developing skills like leadership, communication, and critical thinking. Now, these have a place in the curricula of all majors, meaning employers can be confident that anyone who has completed college will have gained these skills. 5. Micro Credentials It’s becoming more important to have additional credentials to prove your expertise in other skills and knowledge. Students may gain these credentials after they finish college or concurrently to their college programs. They can often gain micro credentials through the same institution or online. It’s important that students realize that their learning experience is unlikely to be over when they graduate — constantly upskilling will be crucial for standing out as a top candidate and for ensuring you have re levant knowledge to continue being a valuable employee. Despite all these new trends , one thing remains true: it’s worth continuing to higher education. To make the experience more enjoyable, it’s important to find the right housing. An alternative to Durham College residence is Foundry Simcoe. You’ll be close to campus and around other students, but you’ll have your own space in a fully-furnished apartment with high-speed internet and top-of-the-line appliances. Book a tour to see where you could be living.

A Guide to Eco-Friendly Living on Campus

Being more eco-friendly doesn’t need to mean a huge lifestyle change: doing several small things can add up to make a big difference . When you start university is the ideal time to become eco-friendly because you’re more in control of your life. Better yet, many of the habits you develop, you’ll keep for life. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 1. Unplug Your Appliances Keeping appliances plugged in uses standby power. Get into the habit of unplugging any you’re not using. This goes for everything from your laptop to your coffeemaker. 2. Switch to CFLs Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use far less energy than regular halogen light bulbs. If your apartment doesn’t already have CFLs, switch out the light bulbs to save energy — you can always replace them with the originals when you move out. 3. Buy Secondhand and Local Make eco-friendly purchase decisions by choosing secondhand and local products. Thrift stores are ideal for everything from clothing to furniture — and this is much cheaper than buying new. Plus, by purchasing local products, you reduce shipping. In addition to looking for local produce, try to buy school supplies and furnishings locally to avoid needing to transport everything with you from home. 4. Bring Your Own Grocery Bags Whenever you go grocery shopping, bring your own reusable bags. This will prevent you accumulating single-use plastic bags, which break if you try to use them more than a couple times. It’s also worth keeping a shopping bag that folds up small with you at all times , just in case you decide to make a purchase. 5. Minimize Your Water Usage There are multiple ways to cut down the amount of water you use. This includes taking shorter showers, turning off water while you brush your teeth, and only doing full loads of laundry. Whenever you’re using water, be conscious of your usage. 6. Take Digital Notes Using paper to take notes for your classes will result in a large amount of waste. If you find it comfortable to take digital notes, consider doing this instead. Whenever you do need to use paper, try to use sheets you already have, such as the back of old handouts you no longer need. When you need notebooks (such as for labs), buy ones made with recycled paper. 7. Join Green Organizations Find out if there are any organizations on campus dedicated to eco-friendly living. They’ll provide you with more tips on how to improve your lifestyle and give you the chance to become involved in larger projects, including advocating for eco-friendly policies or helping other people become greener. 8. Donate Old Belongings Avoid throwing things out that you no longer want but are still useful. This includes clothing, electronics, furniture, and books. Donate them to a local organization or find out if other students would like the items. Living on campus doesn’t always give you a chance to be eco-friendly because you’ll likely be sharing a bedroom and need to be on a meal plan (which tends to lead to a huge amount of food waste). You’ll be able to make a bigger difference if you live in off-campus student housing. Oshawa has the ideal accommodation at Foundry Simcoe. Minimize your purchases by moving into fully-furnished rooms and have more control over your life by preparing your own meals in your kitchen and choosing what products you use in your en suite bathroom. Book a tour to check out the suites and townhouses for yourself.

How to Find the Best Student Housing

Finding the right student housing for you will make a big difference to your experience at college. It will influence how much you spend, whether it’s easy to arrive to classes on time, and what people you meet. Although this is a major decision, you can easily narrow down your options by figuring out what you want from your housing. Here are some considerations to bear in mind as you make your decision. 1. Dorm Room vs Independent Apartment There are two main types of housing to choose from: a dorm room on campus or an independent apartment, including one in a student housing community. Living in a dorm means you’ll have a shared room on campus. Whereas this does mean you’ll be close to classes and around other students, you won’t have much privacy, the housing is often noisy, and it’s unlikely you’ll have facilities to prepare your own meals — instead, you’ll need to pay for a meal plan. In contrast, there are many advantages to renting an independent apartment. For instance, you’ll have your own room, a kitchen where you can cook, and a variety of other facilities you won’t find on campus. The main issue when you start college is you either need to find people to share with or rent a room in a house — which means you may not be around other students. The solution is to live in a student community, where you’ll be paired with roommates. This also means you’ll only be responsible for your ow n lease. Plus, it’s more likely that the rent will include utilities and furniture. 2. Consider Your Budget Counterintuitively, it tends to cost less to live in an independent apartment than on campus — even though you’ll have a private bedroom and much more space. To figure out what you can afford, calculate your budget, taking into account expenses like food, bills, and entertainment. If you find a nicer place you can’t quite afford, consider if you have options to increase your income, such as with a part-time job or gig work. 3. Find a Safe Building If you decide to search for independent apartments, make sure you stick to safe neighbourhoods . You’ll often be carrying many personal belongings with you between campus and your apartment, including a laptop. Neighbourhoods close to campus are likely to be safe, but you should still listen to your gut. In addition, check the security features of the building itself. Do the windows and doors have secure locks? Are there security cameras? How will you access your apartment? 4. What Amenities Do You Want? Finally, you should consider what kinds of amenities you want your housing to have. You certainly need fast WiFi , but you may also want to have laundry facilities in the building and useful services nearby, such as cafés, restaurants, or a gym. If you’ll be living off campus, you may like to search for an apartment with an en suite bathroom, balcony, or parking. Most students decide the best option is to search for rooms for rent. Oshawa students don’t need to look far: you can find a home at Foundry Simcoe. You’ll have your own room in a comfortable suite or townhouse located a short distance from campus. All the apartments are furnished and have full-size appliances, including a washer and dryer. Apply now to secure your spot.

A Guide to Selecting a Graduate School

Deciding to go to graduate school is exciting — but it can also be stressful, especially when you’re trying to figure out what programs you should apply to. You’ll need to narrow down your options from a huge number to just a few to make the application process manageable. Figuring out what you want from the experience can help you come to a decision. 1. What Career Do You Want to Pursue? When you start your undergrad degree, it’s reasonable to have only a vague idea of what you want to do later. Graduate programs, in contrast, tend to be closely related to a particular career. You may end up studying a specific field or researching a niche topic. When assessing programs, consider which align most closely with your interests. If a program covers a reasonably broad range of classes, find out if it’s likely to match your interests and career goals by looking at the type of research the professors at the school have completed. Read the biographies of the faculty members to gain a better picture of their backgrounds. 2. What Can You Afford? Each graduate school charges a different amount for tuition. Furthermore, some offer financial aid, whereas others expect you to pay the full amount yourself. What you can afford will depend on both your savings and if you’ll be working at the same time as studying. If you want financial assistance , search for programs that offer scholarships (these could be related to your field of study or merit based) or that have opportunities for teaching or research assistantships. Also bear in mind that some scholarships are only available once you’ve started a program or if you did your undergraduate degree at the school. 3. Where Do You Want to Live? If you’ll be starting graduate school straight after you complete your undergraduate degree, your living situation may be flexible. However, if you’ve already settled somewhere, you may like to find a program in your area. This is especially useful if you want to continue working at your current job. 4. Do You Want to Take a Semester Abroad? Perhaps you had a great time when you took a semester abroad during your undergraduate degree and now you want to repeat the experience. Alternatively, you may have always regretted not taking advantage of the opportunity. Now, you have a second chance at graduate school. Many programs offer one or two semesters abroad as a chance for students to complete their research. If you have a preference as to the kind of atmosphere you want while you’re abroad, take this into consideration when evaluating programs. Wherever you decide to attend graduate school, you’ll need to search for housing. Since you won’t want to live on campus during grad school, this will mean finding a student rental. Oshawa students can join the community at Foundry Simcoe. You’ll have a private bedroom and en suite bathroom in a five-bedroom townhouse or three-bedroom suite. All the apartments come with a washer and dryer, high-speed internet, and stainless steel appliances. Book a tour to coincide with your visit to Ontario Tech University.