Blog Posts

How to Prevent Homesickness at University

Although heading off to university is exciting for many students, it’s common to also have some anxiety about what your new life will be like. Most new students experience a period of homesickness when they first arrive, and some feel homesick again after they return to university after break. Whereas you may be unable to avoid homesickness entirely, there are things you can do to settle into student life faster and prevent the feelings from persisting. 1. Talk to Family on a Regular Basis Staying in touch with family members while you’re at university will help you feel like they’re not so far away. Have regular video chats with your parents, siblings, and even pets to be able to see each other’s faces. It’s ideal to find a time each week when you know you won’t be busy, such as an afternoon when you have no classes or Sunday evenings. One call a week will allow you to check in and share your news, but it won’t take too much attention away from building a life at university with new friends and activities. 2. Have a Healthy Routine Video calls with your family should be just one part of your routine. Structuring most of your week will be comforting — plus, it will keep you busy. Set yourself a bedtime and wake-up time, join an extracurricular that has meetings each week, and assign yourself study times most days. 3. Bring Items from Home Make your student housing feel like home by bringing a few personal items along with you. It’s common for students to bring a favourite stuffed toy they’ve had since childhood, a blanket from their bed at home, or a piece of jewellery a loved one gave them. You may also like to decorate your walls or desk with photos of your family members and hometown friends. 4. Cook Family Recipes Something students often miss is food from home. If you’re not stuck with a meal plan, you can prepare your own food whenever you want. Ask your parents for recipes for the dishes you normally eat and learn to cook them yourself. You could also check if there are any local restaurants serving similar meals — this will be perfect for when you want a break from cooking. 5. Build a New Life You’ll stop missing home if you have plenty of great things going on at university. Put in the effort to make friends by striking up conversations with people in your classes, attending campus events, and exploring your opportunities for various clubs, organizations, and sports teams. 6. Seek Mental Health Services If you’re unable to overcome homesickness on your own, it’s worth seeking professional help. Most universities offer counselling services for free or at a discounted rate. There are also hotlines you can call 24/7 if you feel like you need urgent help. The professionals you’ll talk to will understand what you’re going through and provide you with personalized advice. Another way to avoid homesickness is to live somewhere you feel at home. This means leaving the cramped dorm rooms where you have no privacy behind and moving into student apartments. Oshawa has the ultimate student housing at Foundry 1805, located just steps from campus. You’ll be able to prepare your favourite meals in your own modern kitchen, meet new people in the common areas , and have time for yourself in your spacious bedroom. Apply now.

Stress Busters: Effective Techniques for Managing Academic Pressure

It’s no secret that attending university is stressful. Much of this stress is due to academic pressures. Whereas some amount of stress is useful for keeping you motivated, too much will interfere with your mental health and make it hard for you to focus. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are a few things you can do. 1. Strive to Live in the Present The only thing you’re able to control is the present. The future is unknown; the past is already set. Although we all know this, it’s easy to dwell on the past and worry about the future. However, it’s much more productive to focus on what you’re able to do now. 2. Learn from Your Mistakes There will be times at university when you make mistakes. You may receive a bad grade on a test, pick a class that’s too difficult, or forget to hand in a paper on time. Instead of stressing over this mistake, commit to doing better in the future — and find out what steps you can take now to mitigate the damage. In addition, forgive yourself for the mistake instead of chastising yourself. It’s just as important to be compassionate to yourself as it is to be compassionate to others. 3. Make Decisions for Yourself Acknowledge the fact that the only person whom you can make decisions for is yourself. You may want to ensure others are successful, but there is only so much you can do. This means making smart decisions even when your friends want to do something else, such as staying in to finish a paper, going home early to sleep enough before a morning class, or choosing where you’d like to study rather than following a group. 4. Practise Self-Care You’ll only be able to cope with the pressures of academics if you’re taking care of yourself mentally and physically. Eat healthy meals, spend some time outdoors every day, and do activities you enjoy. 5. Take Advantage of the Resources Available to You It’s easy to feel alone when you start university, as you have much less support than you may be used to. However, there are a variety of resources on campus to help you succeed. For instance, there may be workshops to develop your skills in particular areas, office hours with your professors, a writing centre , and your academic advisor. You should also take advantage of other students by forming study groups for your classes. 6. Maintain a Positive Outlook Above all, it’s important to stay positive. Believe in yourself — have confidence that you will pass your classes, land an internship, and meet your goals. Whenever you start having negative thoughts or self-doubt, turn them into positive affirmations. Having a comfortable home where you can study in peace and relax on your own or with friends makes a big difference to managing your stress. This means moving off campus and looking for rooms for rent. Oshawa students can find a new home at Foundry 1805. As well as private bedrooms, we have semi-private rooms that you can share with your bestie. Contact us now to take advantage of our limited-time offers.

Navigating the Job Market: Strategies for Landing Your First Post-Graduate Job

Even if you’ve had part-time and seasonal jobs before, landing a job after you graduate feels like a big deal. Now, you’re searching for employment related to your degree — even though you may not have much (if any) experience in your field. Since you may keep your first post-graduate job for several years, it’s important to make a good choice . This means making yourself attractive to employers to ensure you land a position you love. 1. Make Full Use of All the Resources Available to You An advantage of being a university student is the huge number of resources available to you. For instance, the campus career centre can let you know about jobs you may like to consider, help you improve your resume, and check your applications before you send them. There are also likely to be frequent job fairs you can attend to meet potential employers. Don’t forget you already have useful contacts in your professors, faculty members, people from your internship, and even other students. Alumni networks are great for connecting you with graduates who were in your exact position once. They may be able to give you tips or let you know about job opportunities. Lastly, consider finding a mentor. This may be possible through the alumni network or by asking someone you met during your studies or at work. This is a great way to take advantage of someone else’s network and gain expert advice for succeeding in your field. 2. Spend Time Improving Your LinkedIn Profile The easiest way to stay in touch with everyone you meet in a professional capacity is LinkedIn. The platform is also ideal for meeting others in your field, such as by joining groups or reaching out to users you find by searching for keywords. You should also use the platform to search and apply for jobs. To use LinkedIn to your advantage, you’ll need to complete your profile. Use a professional headshot, a headline that explains what you’re looking for, and a summary that explains your background in greater depth. This will help employers assess who you are and decide if they want to offer you an interview. 3. Practise Your Interview Skills Make a great impression at interviews by practising in advance. The staff at the careers centre on campus will be able to give you a mock interview with the kinds of questions you’re likely to encounter . 4. Work Short-Term Projects If you’re struggling to find a job because you lack the necessary experience, one strategy could be to take on freelance projects. Contact local businesses that need support on a casual basis, look for projects online, or start your own blog or YouTube channel where you discuss topics within your expertise . All this will help you develop skills and build a portfolio to show employers — many will be impressed by your initiative, perseverance, and creativity. You still have a while left at university. Enjoy it to the full by moving into student apartments. Oshawa has platinum suites at Foundry 1805, where you’ll live in comfort just steps from campus. Use our high-speed internet to start your job search, work on assignments in the 24-hour study rooms, or unwind in your fully-furnished bedroom. Contact us for more information.

Planning Next Semester and Rooms for Rent: Oshawa Students’ Guide

Why You Should Plan Next Semester Now Next semester may feel far away, but it’s never too early to start planning. In fact, there are several reasons why it’s a good idea to start now. 1. Create a Schedule Now is the perfect time to create a schedule for the upcoming semester. Make sure you include your classes, study sessions, and other commitments as well as downtime. If you choose to take a reasonable number of classes next semester, you should have enough time for everything. Creating a schedule will allow you to prioritize and avoid leaving important tasks to the last minute. This should mean you never need to turn down social invitations or miss meetings for your extracurriculars because you need to study for an exam or finish a paper. When you stick to a schedule, you’ll also study more effectively because you’ll be able to spread several short sessions over a longer period rather than having one long cram session. As a result, you’ll retain the information better, avoid feeling exhausted, and even free up more time for the activities you enjoy. 2. Keep Your Stress Levels Under Control Certain times of the year are particularly stressful for university students, particularly before and during midterms and finals. Whereas it’s impossible to avoid stress completely, feeling prepared will help you keep your stress under control. Planning your semester in advance is a key way to feel prepared, as it will mean you make sure you study enough for your exams while still allocating time for your hobbies, socializing, and rest. 3. Have a Buffer There’s always the chance something unexpected may set you back. For instance, you may fall sick or need to return home for a few days. If you’re on track (rather than a bit behind where you’d like to be), it will be easier to catch up again. 4. Gain Higher Grades All the above should ultimately lead to a higher GPA. Although there’s much more to university than just grades, there’s no arguing that they are important. Planning early will mean you’re never completing assignments in a rush or picking what homework assignments to prioritize because you lack the time to do everything well. 5. Set Goals Planning ahead is about more than setting a schedule to follow. Another great thing to do now is set goals for next semester. Having goals to work toward will keep you motivated when times are tough and provide you with a sense of purpose. One more important thing to plan for next semester is where you’re going to live. Use the time you have available now to look for rooms for rent. Oshawa has a student housing community at Foundry 1805. As well as being just steps from Ontario Tech University and Durham College’s North Oshawa campus, you’ll have everything you need on site. Our newly-renovated platinum suites are fully furnished and feature plenty of storage space. We also have great community amenities, including study rooms, a fitness centre, and a large parking lot. Apply now to move in before next semester.

Life in Student Apartments: Oshawa Students’ Packing Tips

3 Tips for Packing Up for the Summer Finishing the semester and heading home for the summer is exciting — you’ll be looking forward to having a break from schoolwork and seeing your hometown friends. However, there are some chores to do before you go home, one of which is packing up for the summer. To make this process as smooth as possible, there are a few things you need to do. 1. Decide What to Take If you’re living in dorms, you may need to take everything. An alternative is to find storage, either on campus (if this is something your school offers) or elsewhere. If you have friends in the same situation, you may be able to share a storage unit with them to save money. A final option is to ask a friend living in a student apartment to store some of your belongings over the summer. If you live in off-campus housing, you should be able to leave everything you don’t need over the summer in your student apartment. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to do any planning. For one thing, you may have accumulated many things during the time you’ve been at college, meaning your total number of belongings will be much greater than when you arrived. For this reason, it’s important to start thinking about packing up for the summer ahead of time. 2. Consider How You’ll Be Going Home To avoid problems, start making travel arrangements as early as possible. Several factors will influence how you’ll go home, including the transport available to you, the amount of things you need to bring, and the distance you’re travelling. If you have your own car, this is the obvious choice. Even so, you’ll need to make some preparations, especially if you’re taking a long trip. For instance, you should clean out the car to ensure there’s enough space for everything. It’s also worth receiving an inspection to reduce the risk of a breakdown. If your car won’t be completely full, you may be able to offer another student a ride and split the cost of fuel to save money. If you don’t have your own vehicle, your options may include asking your parents to pick you up or asking another student for a ride — again, the amount of belongings you each have will influence whether this is feasible. You may also like to consider public transport or flying (although this is only likely to be an option if you’re able to leave some of your possessions behind). 3. Make a To-Do List Create a to-do list with all the tasks you need to complete before you leave. Bear in mind you’ll have a lot going on at the end of the semester, meaning you may need to start working through your list early. It’s best to write dates for when you want to complete the tasks on your to-do list to ensure you stay on track. One important task to include is laundry. Once you’ve washed all your clothing and bedding, pack it — leaving out just what you need for your final week at college. Another task is to use up food. Make sure you consume, throw out, or give away anything perishable. The rest of your to-do list should consist of when you’ll pack each item or tackle a particular area of your apartment. Packing up your belongings at the end of the semester only to return several weeks later and need to unpack again quickly becomes tiresome. Avoid the constant packing and unpacking of almost everything you own by moving into student apartments. Oshawa has premier student living at Foundry 1805. You can choose between various floor plans, with four, five, or six bedrooms. The lease is for three years, but you can opt out annually, meaning you’ll be able to stay here during your entire time at college. Contact us now for more information.

Life in Rooms for Rent: Oshawa Students’ Volunteering Guide

6 Benefits of Volunteering at University You may be wondering if it would be a good idea to add another activity to your already-busy schedule through volunteering. Although volunteering will mean you have less free time, the large number of benefits you’ll experience means it’s definitely worthwhile. Here are some of the most noteworthy perks to consider. 1. Give Back to Your Community The reason most people choose to volunteer is they want to help others. Choosing a volunteer project that’s in line with your values will give you a sense of purpose. Even if your contributions are small, you’ll be making the world a better place. 2. Gain Experience for Your Resume A major reason to volunteer while you’re a student is it will give you experience to put on your resume. Since employers prefer candidates with experience, this will improve your chances of landing the job you want after graduation. It doesn’t even matter if the volunteering position is unrelated to the career you want — employers are likely to be impressed that you were willing to dedicate your time to a cause without receiving pay. 3. Develop Your Skills One more reason employers like to see volunteering experience on resumes is it means the candidates will have developed crucial skills. You’ll learn all sorts of skills during your time volunteering, most of which are transferable to any career, including time management, leadership, problem solving, teamwork, and communication. 4. Meet New People Another way volunteering improves your career prospects is by expanding your network. You’ll meet a wide variety of people while volunteering, all of whom will share your passion for the same cause. The people you meet may be able to let you know about job opportunities, introduce you to contacts who work in the industry you want to enter, or become your mentors. Plus, working closely with people from different backgrounds will improve your collaborative skills and help you become more empathetic to different viewpoints. 5. Discover New Career Paths Your volunteering experience may even lead you to change your career goals. If you enjoy the work and feel strongly about the cause, you may decide to look for a job in a nonprofit in the same field after you graduate. 6. Improve Your Mental Health University may take a toll on your mental health at times. Volunteering gives you a break from your classes, your assignments, and the stresses of everyday life, which is great for overall well-being. Plus, knowing you’re having a positive impact and seeing the bigger picture than your own life is great for giving you some perspective. Although there are a huge number of benefits to volunteering at university, it is another commitment. It’s important to give yourself time and space to relax — which is easier when you’re living in rooms for rent. Oshawa students looking to move off campus can find a new home at Foundry 1805. We offer private and semi-private bedrooms in a range of floor plans as well as great community amenities, like a wellness center, large parking lot, and onsite laundry facilities. Apply now to secure the type of room you want.