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Which Laptop Should You Choose for University?

There are many laptops available on the market, and it can be difficult to know what will meet your needs for university. To narrow down your options, you need to consider how you’ll be using your laptop and what kind of functionality you want. Here’s a brief guide to get you started in making an informed decision. 1. Price Look for a laptop that will provide you with everything you need at the lowest possible price. If there are qualities you’d like your laptop to have but that are nonessential, consider if you can afford a slightly better model. For instance, you may like to have a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) rather than a regular hard drive, as these laptops are faster and less likely to break. 2. RAM The amount of RAM you have will impact how much software you can run at once. You need at least 4 GB of RAM, but it could be worth spending more for 8 GB to make your laptop a better long-term investment — it will be able to cope better with programs in the future that are more demanding. 3. Battery Life Think about whether you need your battery to last a long time, as a longer battery life will mean you sacrifice performance. If you don’t need a great deal of RAM and want to use your laptop throughout the day without needing to constantly search for an outlet, a long battery life could be ideal. 4. Portability If you’ll be on the go with your laptop, you’ll also want it to be lightweight and reasonably small . Bear in mind that this is another characteristic that will reduce processing power. It will also mean your laptop has a smaller screen, which could be unsuitable for graphic design and other tasks that require attention to detail. However, if you’ll mainly be using your laptop to take notes and write papers, this is unlikely to be a problem. 5. Screen Resolution As well as screen size, you need to compare display resolution between different models. Since even the most basic laptops today have a high resolution, you should only pay extra for more than 1080 pixels if you do need this kind of resolution. 6. Hard Drive Storage When you have a large amount of storage, you never need to worry about running out of space for files and apps. However, you can always store some documents in the cloud. You can probably manage with 128 GB of storage, unless you’ll be working on media files. 7. Operating System You may like to choose an operating system according to what you feel more comfortable using. Having said that, since you’ll likely pay less if you choose Windows than MacOS, you should also consider your budget. Furthermore, one operating system may be recommended over the other for your major: Macs tend to be the preferred choice for creative majors, whereas Windows is sometimes necessary for certain software, such as for statistics. If you don’t already have a laptop that’s suitable for university, it’s likely to be one of your biggest investments. The good news is there are other ways you can save money — in particular, by finding affordable student housing. Instead of living in Ontario Tech University residence, move into Foundry Simcoe. Our suites and townhouses are fully furnished and the rent is all inclusive, meaning you won’t have any extra expenses for furniture and utilities. Save even more by signing a lease now to receive ou r early bird pricing.

6 Money Mistakes to Avoid in University

Most students have minimal financial responsibilities before university. Then suddenly, you need to manage your own money to ensure you’re able to cover essentials, have enough for fun activities, and avoid going into debt. Be aware of the most common mistakes to ensure you manage your money appropriately. 1. Misusing Credit Cards You may like to have a credit card to build a credit history. However, it can be tempting to use your credit card to put off paying until later something you want now. You should only take out a credit card if you know you can trust yourself to be responsible. This means only using it for purchases you’ll pay off as soon as the bill comes — as if you can’t afford to pay the balance in full, you’ll incur a high interest rate. If you’ve never had a credit card before but you want one for the credit history, use it just for recurring payments like subscriptions. Set up autopay for payments — and never even take the credit card out of your apartment. This will make it impossible to misuse your card. 2. Spending Your Entire Budget Although spending all your money before the end of the month isn’t quite as bad as going into debt with a credit card, it’s still a bad habit. You have unlimited opportunities to spend at university, but you need to set restrictions for yourself. Turn down invitations to activities that are too expensive or after you’ve already spent all your fun money for the month. There will almost always be free events taking place on campus that make great alternatives. 3. Thinking Scholarships Are Not for You A misperception many students have is that scholarships are only for those at the top of their class and star athletes. In fact, there are most likely a few scholarships out there that apply to your situation — you just need to look for them. You’ll need to dedicate time to researching and applying to scholarships, but this can pay off big time. 4. Only Searching for Jobs in Obvious Places Whereas it’s worth considering jobs on campus and nearby that pay an hourly rate, these are far from your only options. Turning to entrepreneurship will allow you to start work related to the career you want to pursue. It’s also likely you’ll enjoy your job, and the experience will enhance your resume in a way that a standard job never could. Plus, the options are endless: you could offer landscaping services, help locals move, do freelance web design, provide childcare, or sell your own branded university merchandise. Provided you possess the necessary skills and there’s demand for the service, you can turn an idea into a profitable business. 5. Waiting Until Graduation to Apply for Jobs Unless you’re going on to study a master’s degree, it’s best to have a full-time job lined up for as soon as you’ve graduated. It’s likely that your university offers support for finding a job, such as by holding regular job fairs and publishing job posts aimed at recent graduates. Be sure to take advantage of these resources. 6. Living on Campus Student housing can be one of your biggest expenses at university. Whereas living on campus may seem like a logical choice, it’s certainly not the best decision financially. Not only is the rent lower when you live off campus, you’ll also save money by preparing your own meals compared to paying for a mandatory meal plan. An alternative to Ontario Tech University residence is Foundry Simcoe. Our student housing will give you a room in a fully-furnished suite or townhouse located just steps from campus. Plus, to help you save even more money, rent includes high-speed internet and a washer and dryer in your unit. Apply now while immediate move-ins are still available.

How to Cultivate Great Relationships with Your Professors

Professors do much more than deliver classes and grade assignments. For instance, they’re the ones you’ll ask for letters of recommendation and they may even offer you the chance to participate in a research project while you’re still at college. However, if you never reach out to your professors, the only thing they’ll know about you is how well you did in class. The good news is there are numerous ways you can develop stronger relationships with your professors. 1. Find Out More About Them Search online to see what you can find out about each of your professors in terms of their research and academic achievements. Places to look for information include your college website and LinkedIn. If you find that any of your professors share the same interests as you, definitely put in the effort to cultivate a relationship. 2. Introduce Yourself Armed with the above information about your professors, you’re in a better position to strike up a short conversation after your first class. Introduce yourself and mention what you’re looking forward to. However, don’t expect professors to remember your name the next time you meet — they have a huge number of students every semester. You’ll need to interact with your professors a few times before they’ll put a name to your face. 3. Stay Engaged During Class If your professors encourage students to speak up during class, make sure you do contribute (at least occasionally). The rest of the time, make sure your body language shows that you’re paying attention — this is something professors notice. Lastly, complete even optional homework assignments, and do your best. Although the homework may not count toward your final grade, it will shape your professor’s impression of you. 4. Go to Office Hours Aim to attend two or three office hours with any professor you want to get to know better. Office hours are ideal for when you have a doubt about something you’re studying, you want more detailed feedback after a test, or you need support before you submit an assignment. During one of your office hours visits, it’s a good idea to talk about your career goals. Ask the professor for advice about what you can do to meet your targets. 5. Ask for a Letter of Recommendation Early Instead of waiting until you need a letter of recommendation, ask your professor for one as soon as you finish the class. This will mean your professor still remembers you well — and the letter will reflect this. 6. Stay in Touch After Class Save your professors’ emails to ensure you’re able to drop them a message in the future. For example, you may notice that an employer you’d like to work for is connected to your professor on LinkedIn. Having a mutual contact could help you gain an introduction. You’ll have more opportunities to connect with professors and work with them on projects if you live near campus. For Durham College student housing, your best option is Foundry Simcoe. Our welcoming community is just steps away from the North Oshawa campus. You can hang out in the common room or study at the desk in your private bedroom — all the suites have high-speed internet. Apply now to secure a spot for an immediate move-in.

An Overview of IT Careers

If you’re majoring in anything to do with computers, you may have a bright future ahead of you. There are numerous information technology (IT) careers to choose from, and workers are in high demand. It’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of IT career you would like to pursue, as some are quite specialized whereas others require a broad knowledge of IT in general. 1. IT Support You have a variety of job options if you want to offer IT support, including as a desktop support technician, IT associate, or service desk supervisor. It’s common to start in a general support role and later specialize in a particular field, such as networks or cybersecurity. The other option is to remain in general IT support but become a manager or supervisor. 2. Cybersecurity Professional If your interest lies in cybersecurity, there’s no need to start with general IT — you can jump right into a career in security. In fact, this is a great choice because the field is expected to grow more than any other in IT. Jobs in cybersecurity involve making sure that systems and devices are secure as well as helping companies avoid unauthorized access and breaches of sensitive data. Entry-level careers tend to be in analysis and engineering, whereas experts can often find work as ethical hackers. 3. Cloud Computing The only IT field with projected growth close to cybersecurity is cloud computing. It’s common to enter this field as an engineer or programmer and then move up to become an architect or consultant. It’s important to have specific knowledge of the cloud, which you may be able to gain by choosing appropriate classes at college and through additional certifications. 4. Web Developer As a web developer, you’ll build and maintain websites or apps. You may choose to focus on front-end, back-end, or full-stack development. Since employers prefer knowledge over credentials, it’s important to supplement your learning at college with real-world experience. 5. Software Engineer Another way to utilize your IT development skills is to become a software engineer. This is a great way to move into a specific industry you find interesting, such as video gaming, finance, or tech. You should have an in-depth knowledge of all the main coding languages and a good understanding of the type of software you want to develop. 6. Network IT Working in networks or IT systems can lead to a diverse set of careers, making it a great option if you’d like to grow as you gain experience. In fact, if you work at a small company, your job may involve a wide variety of duties. Entry-level jobs tend to be in administration or analysis, whereas you may be able to find work as an engineer, senior administrator, or architect as you advance. Studying for a qualification in IT is hard work . It’s important you find a place where you’ll have your own bedroom to study in peace and a good WiFi connection when looking for apartments for rent. North Oshawa students can find housing that meets all their requirements at Foundry Simcoe. Suites are fully furnished with modern fixtures and you’ll have access to high-speed internet throughout the building. Apply now for the lowest rates of the year.

The Benefits of a Social Media Cleanse for Students

Most college students spend a large amount of time on social media. It’s where you connect with friends, take a break with some entertainment, or just kill time. However, using social media constantly can have a negative impact on your life in multiple ways. If you’re spending the majority of your free time on social media, cutting down with a social media cleanse could bring the following benefits. 1. Improve Your Mental Health You may not immediately feel better when you stop spending time on social media. In fact, you may initially struggle with the temptation to constantly open your favourite apps. Over time, though, a reduction in social media use should increase your sense of happiness and decrease your feelings of anxiety. It’s important to acknowledge that this is due to a lack of social media — otherwise, you may return to bad habits ! 2. Gain Back a Sense of Control When social media becomes an addiction, you stop consciously choosing to check your feeds and just do it automatically. By actively deciding to limit your social media usage, you regain control and start to only open apps when you actually want to look at something or send a message. 3. Focus on Your Hobbies and Interests Social media can suck time away from the things you care about. By committing to spend less time on social media, you’ll have more chances to pursue your interests and practise your hobbies — perhaps even to explore new passions. 4. Improve Your Relationships When you’re always glued to your phone, you neglect the people around you — plus, chatting over text is not the same as having an in-person conversation. Talking more with the people you see every day will strengthen your relationships and help you make closer friends at college. 5. Reduce Negativity in Your Life People almost always post about the best things in their lives. This can make it seem like your friends are doing much more exciting things than you are, which can lead to negative emotions. The situation is worse still if you follow influencers: their entire job is to show how great their lives are. Turning off social media will allow you to focus on the real world. When you stop comparing yourself to everyone else, it’s easier to enjoy life. Another way decreasing your time on social media reduces negativity is by preventing interactions with trolls. Since people are far less likely to say mean things to each other in person, real-world interactions are, as a rule, more pleasant — including with strangers. Instead of opening up a social media app, spend your free time meeting people and practicing self -care. As well as joining activities on campus, you can make friends at your student housing — provided you choose the right rooms for rent. Oshawa has the ideal student housing at Foundry Simcoe. You can meet other students in the common room, make friends with your new roommates, or relax in the bedroom of your fully-furnished apartment. Apply now and you could secure a unit with a balcony.

7 Winter Sports to Keep You Active All Season

When you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that sees snow during the winter, you need to take advantage. Besides, attending college is the perfect time to discover a new winter sport, since there are all sorts of opportunities to join a club or team. No matter what sport you choose, it will be a great way to stay active and ensure your fitness levels don’t diminish over the coldest months of the year. 1. Cross-Country Skiing The ideal sport if you’re looking for a weekend activity is cross-country skiing. You may even forget how hard you’re exercising due to the beautiful scenery. Your best option is to rent equipment — this can make skiing affordable and give you the chance to figure out if it’s the sport for you. 2. Snowboarding Any activity that involves racing down a snowy mountainside is sure to give you a burst of adrenaline. Instead of downhill skiing, you may prefer to try snowboarding, which is becoming increasingly popular. Make sure you stay safe by taking lessons first and sticking to the beginner slopes until you’ve built up enough experience. 3. Snow Boating For something more extreme still, try snow boating. Also called snow kayaking, it involves taking a playboat or creek-boat down the slopes. This could be a good option if you like whitewater kayaking, since you’ll already know how to handle flips. Although this is a relatively new sport, there are already international competitions — perhaps you could be the next champion. 4. Ice Skating Whether you’ve been ice skating since you were a kid or you only have limited experience, there’s always more to learn. Set a goal this winter: it could be to stay upright and skate for a certain amount of time or learn a basic figure. 5. Hockey If you’re already competent at ice skating, why not take up hockey? Find out if your local ice rink has any teams that have space for a rookie . 6. Racquetball Winter sports aren’t just limited to the snow. If you dislike the cold, try an indoor sport instead. Racquetball is a great option for the winter, as you’ll warm up in minutes: you need to be constantly moving to keep up with the ball as it ricochets off the wall and heads in different directions. Tennis players , in particular, should try this sport — it will prevent your racquet skills becoming rusty before the summer. Try to pair with someone who has about the same level of experience as you to avoid injuries. 7. Bowling A sport that involves more skill than stamina is bowling. Whereas bowling is often just recreational, it can become a competitive sport if you learn the proper technique. To practice on a regular basis, find out if your college has a team — or perhaps even start one yourself. It’s important to have a welcoming home base to return to after all that exercise. You can find Durham College off-campus housing at Foundry Simcoe. The apartments are located right next to campus and there’s plenty of parking on site, meaning you’ll always have somewhere to leave your car when you’re back from practicing sports. Apply now and you may be able to secure a unit with a balcony.