Blog Posts

6 Things to Do During Your First Semester in Oshawa

You spend much of your first semester at university making friends, going to student events, and becoming familiar with campus. Make sure you don’t neglect to spend time in Oshawa city — it’s packed with great activities you’ll enjoy doing alone or with your new friends. Here are a few ideas to start your list. 1. Visit McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve A highlight of Oshawa has to be McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve, which is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. In fact, you’ll probably want to come here several times to walk the various trails through the forests, past the marshes, and along the beaches. However, to enjoy your time at the wildlife reserve, make sure you bring insect repellent! 2. Check Out Parkwood National Historic Site Another top tourist destination in Oshawa is Parkwood National Historic Site. Dating back to the early 1900s, it was the home of the McLaughlin family until the 1970s. Today, you can have a tour of the mansion (which still has all the original decor) and eat a meal at the teahouse. 3. Go Shopping Whatever your shopping style , there’s something for you in Oshawa. The largest mall in the Durham region is the Oshawa Centre, which has 230 stores, including all the brands you’d expect to find in a modern mall. Alternatively, you may prefer Courtice Flea Market. It’s open every weekend and hosts more than 200 vendors, who sell a wide range of products. There’s also an outdoor farmer’s market on Sundays between May and November, meaning you’ll have the chance to visit during your first semester at university. 4. Pick Up Produce at Linton’s Farm Market Another option for farm-fresh produce is Linton’s Farm Market, located at the farm itself and open every day. At some times of the year, customers also have the opportunity to pick their own fruits and vegetables — fall is pumpkin season. 5. Have a Picnic Near the Waterfront Take advantage of the pleasant weather before it turns cold by having a picnic next to the Oshawa waterfront. A top option is Lakeview Park, which has a gazebo to keep you sheltered while you eat. You could pack your own food or buy lunch at Firehouse Subs. If you feel like having some exercise as well as a picnic, walk out to Lakewoods Park Lookout for views of the water or bike along the trail. 6. Treat Yourself to Dessert at Hollywood Cone If you want to celebrate a big achievement — such as receiving an excellent grade on a paper or even finishing your first semester — there’s no better option than Hollywood Cone. You’ll need to head out to Whitby, but it’s only about a 10-minute drive. The restaurant has theater seating to make you feel fancy as you enjoy an elaborate shake, cake, or ice cream. The establishment’s signature desserts are called mutant shakes: milkshakes topped with treats like donuts, candy bars, and s’mores. There’s also th e huge Titanic Split, which is free if you can finish it in 20 minutes. All the desserts make for great Instagram pictures. Students tend to spend more time exploring their surroundings when they live in an off-campus student rental. Oshawa has the ideal housing for you at Foundry Simcoe. With your own room and en suite bathroom in a flat suite or townhouse, you’ll be much more comfortable than you would be living in a student residence. Plus, there are numerous restaurants, cafés, parks, and shopping options in the neighbourhood . Apply now to join the waitlist.

How to Choose the Right Extracurriculars for You

You’ll likely have numerous options for extracurriculars at university — the amount of choice may even be overwhelming. Since you’ll only be able to belong to a few clubs, organizations, and teams at the most, it’s important to think carefully about which you’ll join. Here are a few ways you can narrow down your options. 1. Pick Something You’ll Commit To Avoid signing up for numerous extracurriculars because you think it will look good on your resume. Prospective employers may ask you questions about your experience and the skills you learned — it will quickly become obvious if you almost never attended meetings. Plus, employers know that university students have a busy schedule, meaning there’s no way you could have time to be a member of a large number of campus organizations. 2. Don’t Be Afraid to Attend Alone It can be tempting to join an extracurricular because you know someone else who wants to join, such as a roommate. However, it’s important to step outside your comfort zone in university — and joining a club on your own is a great way to do this. Besides, you’ll soon make friends at the extracurricular. Better still, these people are more likely to become your close friends because you’ll share similar interests. 3. Follow Your Passions The most obvious way to choose the right extracurricular is to join a club for something you’re already passionate about. You may have played a sport in high school, have always been interested in volunteering in your community, or want to develop leadership skills through an elected position. Bear in mind that it’s better to join something you are passionate about instead of thinking about what will look good to potential employers. Not only do you want to enrich your time at university, your passion will come across when you’re talking about your experience, such as in job interviews. 4. Create Your Own Club If you’re passionate about something that’s not represented at your university, consider starting your own club. Your university will have specific requirements to start a group, which will usually include meeting a minimum requirement for the number of members. This may be easier to achieve after you’ve been at university for some time and have friends you can invite to bring up your numbers. 5. Explore New Interests Extracurriculars are also a great way to discover new hobbies and passions — you may even decide to change your career path. If an extracurricular peaks your interest, go to a meeting at least once just to see. After all, it’s difficult to know if you’ll enjoy or be good at a particular activity until you try. You may even like to try out a few extracurriculars at the beginning of the semester and then just join whatever resonates with you. The great thing about extracurriculars is you’ll expand your circle of friends. If you want to entertain these friends at home, you’ll need to be living in an apartment that has enough space. A great alternative to Ontario Tech University residence is Foundry Simcoe. In addition to your fully-furnished suite — located just steps from campus — you’ll be able to spend time with other students in our community lounge. Plus, there’s reserved parking, pure fiber internet, and even balconies in select units. Appl y now to join our waitlist.

How to Ease First-Day Jitters

Your first day at university can feel a bit daunting. You’ll need to figure out where to go for classes, talk to a bunch of people you’ve never met before, and generally navigate a whole new life. This can lead to anything from mild jitters to full-blown anxiety. Wherever you fall on this scale, there are certain things you can do to ease your nerves. 1. Remind Yourself That Everyone Feels Like You Although some students are better at hiding their feelings than others, almost everyone will be anxious on their first day. It will take a while before faces become familiar, but you’ll find that the conversations gradually become more natural — and you’ll be making friends before you know it. 2. Find All Your Classes Beforehand Never wait until right before a class starts to figure out where you need to go. A good strategy is to walk around campus a couple days beforehand, figuring out how to get from one class to the next. You’ll feel much more confident knowing that you’re unlikely to get lost or arrive late. 3. Ask Your Professors What You Need for Class To avoid wasting your money, it can be worth waiting to buy textbooks until you’re sure that you’ll need them. The downside of this is that it’s anxiety-inducing to even contemplate the fact that you may neglect to bring something you do need. The solution is to message your professors in advance to ask them what books and other materials to bring. An added advantage to doing this is that you’ll also have introduced yourself to your professors before you meet them. 4. Remember That You Can Drop Classes It’s often difficult to know what to expect from a class by its description alone. If you turn up to a class only to discover that it’s not what you expected, consider dropping it. Do this by the deadline and you may even be able to switch to a different class without incurring any fees. If you’re unsure how to drop a class, reach out to your academic advisor — student services exist to help you navigate university and ensure you have a positive experience. 5. Set a Bedtime Sleep is an excellent way to calm you down. Aim to go to bed by a certain time on your first day of university — it will mean you feel better prepared for the second day. In fact, it’s a good idea to stick to a bedtime every night (or at least on weeknights) to stay healthy. Getting enough sleep regularly will work wonders for preventing anxiety over the long term. It’s easier to settle in at university when you have a comfortable home to return to at the end of the day. An alternative to Ontario Tech University residence is Foundry Simcoe. You’ll have your own bedroom, an en -suite bathroom with either a shower or deep soaker tube, and high-speed internet to complete your homework in peace. Book a tour to check out where you could be living when you start university.

9 Decorating Ideas for Student Apartments

An exciting part of moving into student accommodation is the chance to decorate your apartment however you like. If you’re unsure where to begin, try incorporating some of these ideas. 1. Display Some Photos Bring a piece of home to your new apartment by decorating with photos of friends and family. You’ll be able to turn to your favourite moments from high school and family vacations whenever you’re feeling homesick. There are several ways to display photos, although top ideas include creating a collage and hanging photos on a clothesline. 2. Soften the Lighting with a Lamp An overhead light can be too intense in the evenings. For softer lighting, install lamps next to your bed and beside the couch in the living room. It’s best of all to choose one that allows you to adjust the level of brightness. 3. Hang Some Fairy Lights Another way to improve the lighting in your bedroom or living room is with fairy lights. Hang some strings across one wall to make an accent wall or around your photo collage to make it the centrepiece of the room. You can even find lights that change colour in sync with your music. 4. Buy Some Potted Plants Plants can instantly add life to your apartment, lifting your mood. Choose low-maintenance plants that won’t die if you forget (or if you’re unable) to water them for several days. 5. Update Your Bedding Instead of bringing the bedding you have already, treat yourself to some new sheets and a quilt. You can find some in a style you love to welcome you back home in the evenings. 6. Give Your Bed a Headboard If your bed doesn’t already have a headboard, it may be worth purchasing one. As well as adding to the aesthetics of the room, it will make your bed more comfortable if you want to sit there to read, watch a series, or scroll through social media. 7. Throw Around Some Pillows Make your bed even more comfy with some more pillows. Choose fun designs that match the style of the rest of the room. Don’t forget to also bring a few pillows for the living room couch. 8. Warm the Floor with an Area Rug A thick plush rug can make getting out of bed for your early classes more bearable. In the living room, it can give your guests a place to lounge comfortably on the floor. Plus, area rugs come in all kinds of colours and designs, meaning you can find one that matches your style. You could even make your own shag rug using yarn, a latch hook, and a rug canvas. 9. Create Seating with Ottomans If you want to invite friends over often, it makes sense to have seating. An ottoman is ideal because it doubles up as storage. You can fill it with things like extra bedding, textbooks, or just odds and ends . Before you get too excited about decorating your new home, remember that you still need to find an apartment! Foundry Simcoe is the perfect choice for Durham College student housing. You’ll have a private bedroom and bathroom in a suite with two roommates or a townhouse with four other people. Our apartments all come fully furnished with modern fixtures, including stainless steel appliances, a wall-mounted TV, and a large couch. Sign a lease now to take advantage of our early bird pricing.

How to Make the Most of Long Lectures

Love them or hate them, lectures are critical for helping you understand the material for your classes. Unfortunately, long lectures can feel like a slog, especially if you struggle to pay attention for extended periods of time. Nonetheless, it’s important to make the most of them to take full advantage of your education. Here are some ways to get more out of your lectures. 1. Select Your Seat Wisely If the lecture hall is large, you may struggle to hear well sitting near the back, particularly if the professor lacks a microphone. Avoid missing information by choosing a seat near the front of the room. You should also sit in the middle to have a clear view of the PowerPoint presentation. 2. Improve Your Note Taking Experiment with various note taking strategies to figure out what works for you. Try both writing and typing — you’re likely able to type faster, but writing can help you retain more information. Using more than one colour is also useful, as is including diagrams. 3. Consider Recording the Lecture If your college allows it, you may like to record the lecture with your phone. This could prove useful if you miss parts of the lecture due to your mind wandering. Having a recording is also helpful if you find that your notes are unclear in places, as you can listen again to what the professor said. 4. Ask Questions It’s important to clear up any doubts you have about the lecture. Some professors welcome questions during lectures, whereas others prefer students to stay quiet. In the case of the latter, you can either stay behind for a few minutes after the lecture or make a note of your question and pay the professor a visit during office hours. 5. Stay Hydrated Bring a bottle of cold water with you to your lecture to stay hydrated. You’ll find this maintains your energy levels better than large amounts of caffeine or sugar, as you won’t experience a crash when the effects wear off. If you have a couple of long lectures on the same day, this will be crucial. 6. Make Friends with Your Classmates It’s easier to handle long lectures when you attend with friends. If no one you already know is in the class, put in the effort to make a couple friends. You’ll be able to study together to compare notes, discuss ideas, and generally support each other. 7. Choose Interesting Classes Even the longest lectures are enjoyable if you’re interested in the topic. On the flip side , though, sitting through a long lecture for a class you find boring can be challenging. Read class descriptions and talk to other students before you come to a decision about what classes to take, and drop any classes you dislike early enough to take something else. Making the most of long lectures is just one way you’re more likely to succeed at college. Another is dedicating enough time to studying on your own — although this is often easier said than done, especially if you face numerous distractions due to living in student residence. The solution is to move into an apartment. For Durham College off-campus housing, there’s no better option than Foundry Simcoe. Our fully-furnished suites and townhouses are designed to suit the student lifestyle. Sign a lease now to take advantage of our early bird pricing.

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.