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How to Dress to Impress for Your Interview

During your time at college, there may be several occasions when you have interviews, such as for part-time jobs, internships, research opportunities, and grad school. First impressions matter just as much as what you say during the interview. By dressing to impress, you send a message about who you are and show that you care about the opportunity.
Clothing Tips for Women
Women have a variety of options for outfits. You could wear a suit or dress or you could pair pants or a pencil skirt with a cardigan or blazer. If you wear a skirt, it should reach to a little above your knees. Top colours for outfits include black, navy, white, beige, and brown, although some pale shades are also ideal for interviews, including yellow and pink.
Clothing Tips for Men
Typically, a suit in a solid colour is the best interview outfit for men. However, fitted slacks with a blazer may be a more suitable look for casual workplaces. In either case, opt for black, grey, navy, brown, or white.
How Professional Should You Dress?
Figure out how professional to make your outfit by considering what other people typically wear at the company. You can find this out by looking at employees’ LinkedIn profiles, checking the company website, or asking people. In some workplaces, it’s more common to wear business casual than formal clothing. In this case, you may like to wear tailored jeans or khakis and a button-down shirt, with or without a blazer.
In addition, consider what position you’re applying for. If you’ll be interacting with customers, it’s extra important to ensure you’re presentable. If you’re interviewing for a creative role, you may like to show some personal flair with accessories or a slightly less conventional outfit. Whatever you wear, though, should be a reflection of your personality.
Choose Breathable Fabrics
Wearing uncomfortable clothing may distract you during the interview. In particular, make sure your outfit is breathable and soft to prevent feeling sweaty or itchy. Cotton and linen are top choices.
Outfits for Video Interviews
There are some extra considerations when you interview over video call. Neutral tones can help you look the most professional, especially black, gray, white, and blue. You should definitely avoid bright colours, such as neon hues. In addition to solids, patterned shirts are suitable, provided the design is subtle. Test your outfit with your background before the call — you could even choose a background filter according to the outfit you want to wear. Finally, minimize jewellery, especially anything shiny that could reflect too much light.
Once you start working at your new job or internship, you’ll want to have a home to come back to in the evening where you can relax. Students looking for housing in London, Ontario, can find a home at Foundry First. When you want to be alone, you can chill in your spacious bedroom. If you’re looking for company, you can spend time with your roommates or meet other students in the lounge, at the ping pong table, or in the state-of-the-art theater. Secure your spot today.

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Challenges for International Students & How to Overcome Them

Attending college in Canada is a popular option for international students: it gives you the chance to receive a world-class education while having the experience of living abroad. However, you’ll likely face many challenges when adapting to academic practices and norms that may be quite different to what you’re used to.

Anticipating these challenges in advance will help you make an action plan for how to overcome them.

Formality of Student–Professor Relationships

You may find the interactions between students and professors are different in Canada than in your home country. In particular, relationships may be more informal. In classes, you’ll often have opportunities to join discussions and you should feel free to ask questions if you have any doubts. For queries that require a more in-depth answer, take advantage of office hours or drop your professor an email.

Academic Expectations

The biggest academic challenge international students tend to face is needing to take steps to avoid plagiarism. It can be confusing if you’re not used to referencing sources and formatting papers in the style your college requires. If you’re unsure how to do this, talk to your professors or head to the writing center for advice. It’s important to ensure your formatting is correct before submitting a paper because accusations of plagiarism could cause you to receive a failing grade or even lose your place at the college.

Meeting General Education Requirements

In many countries, students only take classes directly related to their major. In Canada, however, you’ll also need to fulfill general education requirements, which means taking classes that cover a wide range of subjects. There are several advantages to this, including that it expands your knowledge, may help you discover new passions, and gives you the chance to meet more people.

Connecting with Other Students

Your classes are just one way to meet other students. Some of the best places to make friends are at extracurriculars, like sports teams, clubs, and organizations. Choose activities that match your current interests or try something new that you feel you may enjoy.

Where to Find Healthy Food

Food at college is not always the healthiest, especially if you’re stuck with a meal plan. Whereas you will want to eat out sometimes, it will be easier to stick to a balanced diet and save money if you prepare your own meals. Plus, this means you can eat the dishes you usually have at home, perhaps even to share with new friends. You should be able to find most of the ingredients you need at your local grocery store, particularly if your college town has a large international community.

How to Find Off-Campus Housing

Living off campus is much more comfortable than staying in a shared room in a dorm. You’ll have privacy, plenty of space, and a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. You can find rooms for rent by doing an internet search, checking social media groups to see if other students are looking for roommates, or by asking your college for housing recommendations.

How to Cope with Cultural Difference

Learning as much as possible about cultural differences can help you adjust to living in Canada sooner. Find out if your college has an international student office or a club for international students where you can receive support. Your academic advisor can also offer support, particularly when cultural differences are having an impact on your academics. Finally, if you’re unsure about anything, ask your new friends — they’ll be happy to help.

One challenge you can solve right is finding off-campus housing for Fanshawe College. When you live at Foundry First, you receive a furnished suite at an affordable price and access to some great amenities. We have everything you need to make your time as a student in London, Ontario extra special, such as fast WiFi, laundry facilities, gourmet kitchens in every apartment, and plenty of places to meet other students, including a theater, gym, and lounge. Apply now while there are still some spots available.

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5 Quick Reads for When You’re Stuck Inside

It’s easy to fall out of the habit of reading for pleasure when you’re a student because of all your other commitments, not to mention the masses of required reading. However, there’s no better activity than reading when you’re stuck inside during the winter. Some quick reads, in particular, will help you regain your love of reading.

1. Dark Places

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (author of Gone Girl) is a murder mystery unlike any you’ve read before. The protagonist is seeking to discover the truth about a massacre for which her brother was convicted. The events are not told chronologically but jump between past and present and are recounted by three of the characters. The new information you receive on every page will keep you questioning what really happened until the end.

2. Sharp Objects

If you want more Gillian Flynn after you finish Dark Places, continue with Sharp Objects. It’s another murder mystery in a small town, but this time the protagonist is a reporter who needs to return to her hometown to investigate a murder and a disappearance. At the same time, she’s confronted with darkness in her own life. You’ll likely come up with many of your own theories as the book progresses — and you certainly won’t want to put the book down until you’ve figured out the mystery.

3. Fight Club

There’s a good chance you’ve already seen the movie Fight Club (if you haven’t, watching it after you’ve finished the book is a top activity for while you’re still stuck indoors). Chuck Palahniuk has authored a large number of books, but this is his most famous. If you don’t know much about the story already, it’s worth not finding out anything before you read the book to gain the most enjoyment possible.

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Another book adapted into a movie is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Although you’ve left high school behind now, you’ll find this to be an entertaining read. It’s great for remembering what it was like being an awkward teenager — and you’re especially likely to relate to the story if you’re an introvert yourself.

5. One of Us Is Lying

For more high school, pick up One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. All the characters are the classic high school stereotypes — brain, beauty, criminal, athlete, and outcast — and they’re all in detention together. However, the outcast never makes it out of detention: he’s murdered. All four of the other students are suspects, as they all have a reason to want him dead. The story is told through their perspectives, which reveals that they’re much deeper characters than they first appear.

Another reason you may be reading less than you’d like is because you constantly face distractions, which can make it difficult to stay focused on a book for long. This is often the case when you live in student residence. The solution is to move into off-campus housing. Foundry First is offering student accommodation in London, Ontario, for students at Fanshawe College. You’ll have your own fully-furnished bedroom in a suite with three to five other students — we’ll match you with people who have a similar lifestyle to you. Apply now to secure your spot while there are still spaces available.

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How to Eat More Whole Foods as a Student

You know you should be eating more whole foods, but it can be difficult to find the time to prepare meals that involve fresh produce and expensive to keep your refrigerator stocked with healthy ingredients. Nonetheless, it’s always possible for students to incorporate more whole foods into their diets. Here are a few tips to consider.

1. Start the Day with a Smoothie

If you struggle enough as it is to wake up early and arrive at your morning classes on time, there’s no chance you’ll be in the mood to prepare a full breakfast. Smoothies will provide you with a range of fruits for almost no effort — you can even prepare them the night before. Just throw any combination you like of frozen berries, banana, spinach, kale, and seeds into your blender. You can drink the smoothie at home or take it on the go if you’d prefer to sip it during your first class.

2. Eat Healthy, but Satiating, Snacks

Raw vegetables and fruit may seem like an obvious snack, but they’re often not enough to keep you feeling full, which can result in you turning to unhealthy foods to satisfy your appetite. A better option is to combine whole foods with protein and healthy fats. For instance, carrot sticks, celery, and peppers pair perfectly with guacamole and hummus, whereas peanut butter and sweet hummus are ideal for bananas, apples, strawberries, and cherries.

Alternatively, you could create a snack pack with some cheese, nuts, or jerky to go along with your fruits or vegetables.

3. Opt for Healthy Dishes When Eating Out

Whenever you’re eating in the dining hall or restaurant, choose meals with plenty of vegetables — even if something else is more appealing. In addition, choose a salad or roasted vegetables as a side instead of fries. Try to fill up as much as possible on whole foods before you turn to starchy foods and protein.

4. Choose Fruit for Dessert

Whenever you’re craving something sweet, reach for a piece of fruit rather than ice cream or cookies. Once you start eating, you’ll often find it’s much more enjoyable than a sugary dessert.

5. Set Eating Goals

You’re much more likely to succeed at including more whole foods in your diet if you increase your intake gradually. You could aim to eat a certain number of pieces of fruit a day and increase this number over time. You may like to begin by ensuring you have at least some vegetables in every meal and later increase to half a plate of (non-starchy) vegetables. It can also help to record what you eat to keep track of your progress.

It’s always easier to eat healthy meals if you have a proper kitchen at home where you can prepare a range of dishes. Foundry First offers London, Ontario, apartments for students, all of which come with spacious kitchens, complete with stainless steel appliances like a dishwasher and microwave. We have eight different floor plans to suit all budgets. Apply now to secure the type of room you want.

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10 of the Best Gifts for Fellow Students

Although it may not be practical to purchase gifts for all your college friends, there’s most likely a few people on your list. Buy them something special without breaking the bank with these ideas.

1. Throw Throw Burrito

If your friends enjoy having regular game nights, you may like to give someone a new game for you all to play. A top choice this year is Throw Throw Burrito, which is a combination of card game and dodgeball.

2. Mini Blender

You can prepare so many things with a blender, including smoothies, soups, and salsas. A mini blender is convenient even for friends who have limited space. Plus, many models come with a lid for the cup, allowing your friend to take a smoothie on the go.

3. Potted Plant

No home is complete without at least a few plants. Choose one that’s easy to care for, such as a succulent that only needs watering every two weeks or so.

4. Slippers

Every college student needs a pair of warm slippers to keep their toes toasty. Plus, slippers are much more comfortable than wearing shoes indoors — and changing into indoor footwear keeps your home cleaner.

5. Coffee Maker

If you have a friend who spends money on coffee every day, there can be no better gift than a coffee maker. Whereas some machines are likely out of your budget, some simple options make great coffee, such as a classic moka pot.

6. Electric Massager

Whether your friend is a college athlete or spends too much time hunched over a desk, an electric massager could provide some well-needed relief. These devices vibrate to massage the muscles and relieve tension.

7. Reusable Notebook

A reusable notebook is cost effective and convenient. Your friend will never need to buy paper notebooks again and can save notes directly to the cloud.

8. Mini Projector

Anyone who likes shooting videos or taking photos will definitely appreciate a projector. This is a great solution for students who don’t have a TV in their apartment but would like to show off pictures or short films they’ve made. Plus, it also works for movie nights.

9. Bluetooth Speaker

A bluetooth speaker is the ideal gift for any music lover. You can find high-quality models that reach high enough volumes to play tunes for parties at budget prices.

10. Diffuser

Gift your friend the benefits of aromatherapy with an essential oil diffuser. Even friends who live in dorms or apartments that don’t allow candles will be able to use one of these to infuse their bedrooms with their favourite scent.

This time of year, you should also think about a gift for yourself. The best way to improve your college experience is to move into better housing. Students looking for housing near Fanshawe College can find a new home at Foundry First. All our suites are designed with your comfort in mind: they’re equipped with stainless steel appliances, feature modern furnishings, and have an open-concept space to seamlessly connect the common areas. Apply now to secure your spot while there are still rooms available.

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How to Start a Study Group

Students often find that they retain more information and feel better prepared for exams when they study in groups. If no one in your classes has set up a study group yet, you may want to take the initiative. Here are a few things to think about when setting up a group to ensure it’s a worthwhile activity.

1. Invite the Right People

Organizing a study group will be a waste of time if you end up using it as an excuse to socialize. This could happen if you mainly invite friends. Better choices are students who you know are committed to working hard and want to achieve good grades. Furthermore, you’ll need the right number of people. If the group is too large, it may be difficult for everyone to participate or you could end up with two conversations happening at once. Avoid this by limiting your group to no more than five members.

2. Stay in Touch with Everyone

You’ll need to set up a group chat where you can discuss any necessary changes (such as if you need to meet at a different time or location than normal) and where members can confirm their attendance. You can also use your group chat to discuss anything related to the class between study sessions, such as if there’s a particular aspect of the material you’re struggling to understand.

3. Decide How Your Group Will Work

As the person setting up the study group, you’re responsible for clarifying how your group will work. For instance, you’ll need to decide how often you’ll meet and for how long. Most groups find meeting once a week for an hour is ideal.

You’ll also need to set rules for the sessions. For example, you may feel it would be more natural to dedicate a couple minutes at the start for small talk, as long as there’s a time limit. Alternatively, you may like to dedicate the entire session to studying. It’s a good idea to check that everyone is in agreement and allow other group members to voice their opinions before you come to any final decisions.

4. Come Up with Ideas for the Sessions

If you lack an objective for a session, you may end up wasting your time trying to decide what to do. It’s important to know in advance what material you’ll be covering and what activities you’ll use to study together. You may like to dedicate some of your first session to creating an agenda for future meetings.

5. Choose Somewhere to Study

Finally, you need to decide where your study group will meet. Finding the perfect place can be challenging, as you’ll need somewhere you won’t be distracted but also where you won’t be bothering anyone else. There may be study rooms you can use on campus (such as in the library), but there’s no guarantee you’ll find the same room available each week.

Your apartment could be the ideal place to hold a group study session — provided it’s large enough and close to campus. You can find London, Ontario, apartments for students at Foundry First. The suites are large with modern furnishings and located just steps from campus. Secure your spot today while there are still spaces.

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6 Themes to Consider for Your Next College Party

Everyone loves a themed party — and you’ll probably be invited to numerous during your time at college. At some point, you may also like to throw your own party. Make it one to remember by choosing from some of the top themes.

1. Decade Party

Go back in time with a decade party. As well as picking a decade, you can set a specific theme to make your party unique from any other you’ve attended. For instance, an 80s party could have a neon-clothing or Ghostbusters theme. Whatever you choose, you’ll need to play tunes from the era all night.

In the past, decades parties were mostly 60s, 70s, and 80s, but now the 90s and early 2000s happened long enough ago to also be possibilities. Alternatively, you could also go further back in time — roaring 20s parties are particularly popular at the moment.

2. Graffiti Party

In a graffiti party, everyone comes wearing a white T-shirt and marker. You write messages and draw doodles on each other’s T-shirts throughout the course of the night. It’s even better to use highlights and black lights, as you won’t be able to see what’s on your T-shirt unless you’re under a black light. It can be particularly fun to have a graffiti party right before graduation, as it will mean everyone ends up with a memento from their time at college.

3. Disco Party

If you want to make the focus of the night dancing, opt for a disco party. There’s no need to feel limited to just disco music, though — anything with a danceable rhythm is fine.

4. Toga Party

A classic at college is the toga party. If no one has thrown one already, it would be great to do it yourself. Unlike with many other types of costumes, it’s easy to throw together a toga — you only need a plain white sheet and sandals. To complete the evening, make sure to plan some party games that have a Greek or Roman twist.

5. Anything But Clothes

Another option for inexpensive costumes is an ABC party: anything but clothes. Get creative by putting together an outfit made from trash bags, cardboard boxes, towels, lampshades, or anything else you can think of.

6. Pajama Party

For a more intimate party with just your closest friends, consider a pajama party. You can watch movies, eat snacks, and gossip — all in your pajamas. At the end of the night, everyone crashes at your place, and then you make breakfast together in the morning when you wake up. It’s sure to bring back some high school memories.

To throw any kind of party, you’ll need to be living in an apartment that has enough space to host guests. Foundry First is offering student accommodation in London, Ontario. You’ll be living steps from Fanshawe College in a student community where you’ll have a spacious suite to entertain your college friends. Plus, you’ll have the chance to meet plenty of new people in places like the lounge and theatre. Schedule a tour to see what makes our housing facilities unique.

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8 Practical Exam Prep Tips

Students often feel anxious about taking exams because they have no idea how to prepare for a test. It’s actually simpler than you may think — and the right prep can make a huge difference to your performance.

1. Start Early

The longer you give yourself to prepare for the exam, the more information you’ll retain. Decide when you’ll start and then create a schedule that specifies when you’ll study and what activities you’ll do. If you have several exams around the same time, it may make sense to devote more time to the most challenging rather than to split your time evenly.

2. Create a Study Space

Clean your desk to turn it into a space where you can study comfortably. Remove anything that’s likely to distract you or that’s taking up too much space, as you’ll need to be able to spread out papers and textbooks. In addition, check that you have enough light to read printed materials. You may need to move your desk to a different place in the room or purchase a lamp. Finally, figure out what kind of environment helps you concentrate — options include silence, white noise, or background music.

3. Use Past Exams

If possible, find exam papers from previous years that you can use to practise. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the structure of the exam and to see how the questions are worded. During at least one exam, time yourself to check that you’re able to finish within the amount of time you’ll have on the day.

4. Practise in a Group

It can be difficult to stay focused when studying on your own. Inviting others to study with you can mean you stay on track. Whereas you could just ask people you know to ask you questions from flashcards, it’s even better to form a study group with classmates and prepare for the exam together. Cover a different topic each session and use the opportunity to explain concepts to each other to ensure you’ve understood.

5. Make Visual Aids

Mix things up by drawing diagrams, flowcharts, and timelines. These could represent processes, events, or key facts.

6. Take Regular Breaks

After a certain amount of time, your brain becomes too tired to take in any more information. Figure out how long this is for you and schedule short breaks in between bouts of studying. Going for a walk is ideal, as your mind will benefit from the fresh air and sunlight.

7. Stay Healthy

Keeping your body healthy makes it easier to prepare for and do well on an exam. Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet with foods that boost your memory, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, and yogurt.

8. Be Prepared on Exam Day

Find out the time and location of the exam to determine how you’ll get there and what time you’ll need to leave home. Prepare everything the night before to avoid the stress of forgetting something.
It’s always difficult to prepare for exams when your study space is noisy and you’re constantly being interrupted. The solution is to move out of residence and into off-campus housing. You can find London, Ontario, apartments for students at Foundry First. You’ll receive a bedroom in a fully-furnished suite (with the option of a private washroom) and you’ll have access to a range of great onsite amenities. Apply now before all the units are taken.

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Must-Have Supplies for College Classes

The last thing you want is to arrive on campus only to realize you’re missing some essentials. However, you also don’t want to be carrying around a number of unnecessary items all day — that can get uncomfortable fast. The trick is to know what are the must-haves and bring just these.

1. Basic Essentials

Of course, you’ll need to have some basic essentials with you at all times. This includes pens and pencils (you may like to have a range of different colours), notebooks (at least one for each class), your textbooks, and your laptop along with a charger.

2. Healthy Snacks

It’s easy to be so busy that you have no time to eat a proper meal. Keep your energy levels up by carrying snacks around with you. Healthy choices like protein bars and fruit are best, as they’ll ultimately make you feel better than sugary treats. When you have healthy snacks in your backpack, you’ll be less tempted to purchase something that looks tempting now but that you may regret later. Plus, you’ll save money, as you won’t need to rely on the overpriced food on campus targeted to less-organized students.

3. Hand Sanitizer

Before you can eat that snack you packed, you’ll need to clean your hands. A fast way to do this is using hand sanitizer.

4. Water Bottle or Travel Mug

Another way you may waste money on campus is if you buy beverages every time you’re thirsty. Water will allow you to stay hydrated without increasing your calorie intake, but sometimes you may need a hit of caffeine. Carry a water bottle and travel mug to satisfy both needs.

5. Lip Balm

Dry or cold weather can lead your lips to crack and feel painful. Find immediate relief with some lip balm.

6. Over-the-Counter Painkillers

Headaches can easily strike when you’re stressed or feeling rundown. Pick up a generic brand at your local drugstore and keep a few with you at all times.

7. A Planner

It often comes as a shock to new students just how organized you need to be to survive at college. A planner can help remind you of due dates, work shifts, meetings, clubs, appointments, and everything else on your schedule. You may think you can remember everything, but you’ll soon realize this is impossible — and it’s better to not figure this out the hard way.

8. A Decent Backpack

You may have chosen a backpack in high school based purely on appearances. In college, your backpack needs to be functional: it must be able to fit everything above and anything else you need for specific classes. Even if you’re driving to campus, you can’t expect to keep most of your belongings in your car because you may have back-to-back classes located in completely different areas of campus. Instead, invest in a large, comfortable backpack — you won’t regret it.

Another thing new college students often struggle with is figuring out how to find off-campus housing. If you’ll be attending Fanshawe College, look no further than Foundry First. Located just steps from campus, our student housing provides you with everything you need plus much more, including a fully-furnished suite, a commercially-equipped gym, parking, and laundry facilities. Apply now while there are still limited spots available.

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7 Benefits of Having a College Degree

Attending college has a number of benefits compared to finishing your education with high school. Whatever your career goals, it’s likely that a number of these benefits will apply to you.

1. More Job Opportunities

Many jobs require a college degree — and you won’t even be considered for some positions without one. If you know what kind of job you want, check if it falls into this category. If you’re still unsure about what career to pursue, it’s worth having a degree to keep your options open and help you stand out as a candidate, even for jobs that don’t require a particular qualification.

2. Higher Salary

Higher levels of education lead to higher average salaries. Even differences per year are pronounced, which adds up to a significant increase in earnings over your lifetime.

3. Greater Stability

Jobs that require a college degree also tend to be more stable than those available to high school graduates. As well as being more likely to remain in the same job for longer, you should be able to find a new job quickly if you do end up becoming unemployed. This is both because you’ll be more desirable as a worker and because the kinds of jobs that require a degree are less likely to disappear due to automation or offshoring.

4. Better Job Satisfaction

You’re more likely to enjoy your job if it requires a degree. The work will often put you on the path to a particular career — rather than just paying the bills. Plus, you’ll receive more benefits that make your life more pleasant.

5. Valuable Contacts

During your time at college, you’ll meet a variety of people, including professors, other students, and mentors. All these contacts could be valuable later on, as they’ll connect you to a wider network. In fact, many jobs are never advertised and only available if you know the right people.

6. Personal Development

Just the experience of attending college could be a benefit in itself. Finding out that earning a degree is something you’re able to do can be rewarding. Plus, you’ll develop a number of useful skills, including critical thinking, writing, organization, and independence. Depending on your major and what opportunities you take, you may also learn how to give presentations and work in a team. All this can increase your self-confidence: leading you to sell yourself better in interviews, helping you to better overcome adversity, and reducing your levels of stress.

7. Chance to Gain an Advanced Degree

College is the first step if you think you may like to earn a master’s degree or PhD one day. This will pave the way to work as some kind of specialist or researcher, leading to even higher earnings and often very satisfying work. You may also simply want the experience of gaining an advanced degree: for the challenge, the sense of achievement, or the chance to learn about an area that interests you in great depth.

To graduate on time with a good GPA, you’ll need to study hard throughout college. As it can be especially difficult to focus when you’re sharing a room, it makes sense to search for off-campus housing. You can find London, Ontario, apartments for students at Foundry First. You’ll be able to study in your fully-furnished bedroom — or take a break and meet other students in places like the lounge or theatre. Apply now while leases are still available.