Category: News

Going off to college will change your life forever — but luckily you still have one more summer to enjoy. Fill the time with seeing friends, creating memories, and preparing for the transition to the next chapter of your life. To make your summer as fulfilling as possible, make sure to add these ideas to your bucket list.

1. Go Hiking

Take advantage of the summer weather by going for a hike. Being outdoors and getting some exercise is great for clearing your mind and helping you cope with any anxiety you have about heading off to college. Invite friends and family to go with you for a memorable day out — and remember to take plenty of photos to display in your student apartment.

2. Organize a Road Trip

Ask friends to join you on a road trip to visit places you’ve always wanted to see but never had the chance. You could travel for just a couple days or even a week or two. Search for camping opportunities to avoid the trip becoming too expensive.

3. Cook a Meal with Friends

If many of your friends are too busy to travel, a great way to do something together is to share a home-cooked meal. If you each bring a dish to share, you’ll have an abundance of food and will be able to chat late into the evening about your hopes and dreams for the future.

4. Agree to Stay in Touch

As you all head off to different schools, make a pact with your closest friends to keep each other up to date with what’s going on in your lives. Set up a group chat or schedule regular calls.

5. Donate Possessions You No Longer Want

When packing for college, you may come across many belongings you no longer want, such as clothes you haven’t worn in several years. Instead of leaving these things behind to deal with later, donate them to a secondhand store in your area.

6. Finish a Book from Your Reading List

Since you’ll be doing plenty of reading in college, you may as well get into the habit now. Choose a book that’s been on your reading list for a long time, a new summer bestseller, or a memoir of someone who inspires you.

7. Start Journalling

Journalling can improve your mental health and is a great way to record everything that happens in your life. If you’d like to keep a journal to document your college experience, you may find it helpful to start now.

8. Eat at Your Favourite Restaurant

No matter how great the restaurants near your college are, you’ll definitely miss the food from home. Make sure you go to your favourite restaurant in your hometown at least once before you leave for college.

9. Start Learning to Be Independent

Make the adjustment to college life easier by developing skills that will help you live independently. Learn how to cook a wider variety of meals, work on your organizational skills, and make sure you know how to clean your apartment.

One final thing to do in the summer before you start college is find student housing. You can find a bachelor apartment near Fanshawe College at Foundry First. You’ll be just steps from campus, with everything you need on site as well as some extras to improve your student experience, including a lounge, state-of-the-art theatre, and ping pong table. Apply now for one of the limited spots available after the summer.

If you’re not naturally a social butterfly, you may be worrying about how to make a great first impression when you start college. This is definitely a skill that’s worth learning, as you’ll find it easier to make friends, have better relationships with your roommates, and increase your chances to participate in exciting opportunities. To ensure you make a great first impression on everyone you meet, there are a few things you need to do.

1. Pay Attention to Your Appearance

Before meeting people (such as during social events on campus), make sure you’re presentable. There’s no need to wear smart clothes, as most college students wear T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants, but your clothing should be free from holes and tears. When you meet someone, be sure to smile and maintain eye contact.

2. Work on Your Handshake

A limp handshake feels like you’re putting in no effort. Plus, it won’t help your professional image. Practise a firm handshake by consciously thinking about what you’re doing when you shake the hands of people you meet.

3. Remember People’s Names

People will appreciate it if you remember their names. Make sure you ask everyone you meet and then repeat back their names to both help store the information in your memory and ensure you’re pronouncing the name correctly. Show people that you do remember by using their names during conversations and introducing them to other people you know.

4. Listen During Conversations

Some people try too hard to make a good impression and end up dominating conversations, spending the whole time talking about themselves. This doesn’t impress anyone. What will impress people is if you listen and show interest, such as by asking questions. Other students are more likely to seek you out later if you’ve demonstrated that you’re a good conversationalist.

5. Become Active on Campus

Present yourself as someone who is actively involved in student life by attending events on campus. To go a step further, you could learn more about clubs, organizations, and resources to become a source of information for students or you could volunteer in booths, campaigns, and other activities.

6. Be Open-Minded

When you meet someone new, keep the interaction positive. Controversial topics may come up, especially if students are representing clubs or social campaigns. Instead of disagreeing and immediately engaging in an argument, listen to what others have to say. You’ll be exposed to a variety of viewpoints and meet students from diverse backgrounds at college — you may even end up changing some of your world views. Besides, you’ll gain more respect and will be more likely to sway the opinions of others if you have calm, open discussions.

Making a great first impression is just one challenge to overcome at college: you’ll also need to figure out how to find off-campus housing. For students at Fanshawe College, this is easy — you can live at Foundry First. In addition to a furnished suite with WiFi access, you’ll be able to use our onsite amenities, including laundry facilities, parking, and a commercially-equipped gym. Apply now while limited spots are still available.

Anyone who has had a conflict with a roommate in the past will know that choosing who you want to share an apartment with is an art form. Even your closest friends are often not the right choice, especially if you have very different lifestyles. Instead of basing your decision on who you normally like to be around, come up with some criteria and search for roommates who fit the bill.

1. Specify Some Key Qualities

Just a couple factors tend to influence how well you’ll be able to live together: cleanliness and noise. Think about how much it matters to you that your home is clean. If you’re not the neatest person, you shouldn’t live with someone who wants the apartment to be extremely tidy — and vice versa. In addition, decide if you want to throw parties and play music at a reasonably high volume or if you’d prefer to keep your apartment quiet to be able to study.

2. Ask Friends and Acquaintances

Compare your own habits and lifestyle with those of other people searching for roommates. As well as friends, talk to acquaintances and friends of friends. Remember that there’s no need to become close with your roommates — being able to live together harmoniously is far more important than hanging out.

3. Search Online

If you’re unable to find anyone to live with after talking to friends and other people you know, turn to the internet. Look for social media groups for your college and local area. Since you’ll be talking to strangers, it’s extra important to be honest. For instance, mention if you’ll want silence in your apartment after a certain hour to focus on schoolwork or if you’ll often be coming home in the early hours of the morning after a party. Also make sure to discuss your thoughts about inviting guests over, sharing food, and dividing up chores.

4. Post Flyers

If your online search yields no good results, revert to old-fashioned print advertising. Create flyers to stick in places around campus asking for roommate applications. Include key information about what you’re looking for to filter out unsuitable candidates. If you feel uncomfortable including contact information like your social media handle or phone number, create an email address purely for the purpose of finding a roommate.

Choosing the right roommate can be stressful. Students who have had a bad experience with a roommate in the past often decide to rent on their own instead, but this tends to be much more expensive and could be out of your budget. An ideal alternative to a bachelor apartment near Fanshawe College is a suite at Foundry First. We’ll provide you with a private bedroom in a spacious apartment that you’ll share with three or four other people. To ensure you get along great with all your roommates, we’ll use roommate matching based on the personality profile from your application. Apply early to ensure we’re able to pair you with the perfect roommates in time for next semester.

Your life will change dramatically after you graduate and enter the real world. Although this can come as a shock, there are several things you can do to feel prepared.

1. Build a Professional Network

Many of the people you meet while you’re at university could be valuable connections once you graduate. This includes other students, professors, faculty members, your employer at your part-time job or internship, and your coworkers. Make sure you’ll stay in contact with all of them after you graduate, as they could help you find opportunities for work, further study, and even housing. Add them to LinkedIn, make a note of their emails, or join the alumni association to keep in touch.

2. Ask Someone to Be Your Mentor

A mentor can give you advice about how to land your dream job, progress in your career, and overcome hurdles. A professor who has been particularly supportive in the past, a family friend you often turn to for guidance, or a previous employer can all be good choices for a mentor.

3. Attend Job Fairs

Depending on the field you want to enter, you may want to start applying for jobs as soon as you graduate or you could need to start interviewing several months before you finish university. Job fairs on campus are a great way to meet potential employers who are looking for students who are about to graduate to fill upcoming positions. Since you’ll encounter a vast number of opportunities at job fairs, you should limit yourself to talking to just companies you are genuinely interested in working for.

4. Receive Support from Your Careers Centre

The career centre at your university can provide you with a wide range of resources that will be helpful for preparing you for the world of work. The staff will be able to show you how to improve your resume, give you interview tips (such as through a mock interview based on questions you’re likely to be asked), and give you more information about possible career paths if you’re still unsure about what you want to do.

5. Clean Up Your Online Presence

Whenever you apply for jobs, employers will check what they can find out about you online. In addition to updating your LinkedIn profile with all your relevant experience, see what else employers are likely to find when they search for your name. If anything comes up that may make you look unprofessional or could give a bad impression, change the settings on your other social media profiles to set them to private or delete posts entirely.

6. Improve Your Credit Score

Potential employers and landlords may both check your credit score as part of a background check. There’s still time to improve your credit score by controlling how much you spend to keep your balance at less than 30 percent of your limit and paying your bill on time each month.

7. Figure Out How Much You Need to Earn

You should have been keeping to a budget throughout university. Whereas your budget will be quite different once you start working, the concept is still the same. Figure out how much you’ll need to pay in rent, to cover your basic needs, to pay off your student loans, and to have enough left over to begin saving for an emergency fund and your longer-term goals. This will help you decide what jobs to apply for.

To finish strong, you need to take your studies seriously during your last few semesters at university. This means having a home where you can focus on your schoolwork without distractions. Foundry First offers London, Ontario, apartments for students. You’ll receive a private bedroom in a fully-furnished, modern suite. Apply now while there are still limited spots available.

Heading off to college is a major life change. You’ve probably thought about some of the adjustments you’ll need to navigate, such as living in a new place, managing your time, and making new friends. However, you may not have considered how leaving for college will impact your relationship with family members. It’s important to strike a balance between maintaining strong bonds and developing a sense of independence. To achieve this, there are a few things you need to do.

1. Discuss Boundaries Before You Leave

It’s a good idea to have a conversation with your family about how you’ll stay in touch while you’re at college. If you’re the first child to leave home, your parents may even expect to check in with you every day, but this is unreasonable. You may like to program a chat at the same time each week and agree to call at another point during the week — if your schedule allows for it.

2. Share Only as Much as You Want

Never feel pressured to tell your family every detail of your college life. College is a time for finding out who you are. You shouldn’t feel that you’re required to share every experience with everyone.

3. Be Honest About Finances

One thing you likely will want to be completely open about is finances. This is particularly true if your family is supporting you by paying for part or all of your education. Discuss how you’re managing your budget — and if you’re unable to work right now, consider asking for more financial support.

4. Understand Expectations When You Return to the Family Home

Students often find it difficult to return to their family home when they’re on a break from college because they’ve become used to a greater sense of independence. Talk to your family about their expectations to ensure you’ll feel at ease when you’re back together. For instance, your old bedroom may no longer be a private space just for you, and your parents may expect you to follow the same rules you had during high school or you may be allowed more freedom. It may be helpful for everyone to have a conversation in advance.

5. Talk About Campus Visits

Your family may also want to visit you on campus occasionally. Make it clear that they should always let you know in advance and decide how often it’s reasonable for your family to visit. If you’re quite close to home, your family may want to see you regularly at weekends, but they need to understand that you have other responsibilities and want to maintain an active social life. If you’re going farther afield, don’t forget to discuss sleeping arrangements for visits — you may expect your family to find a hotel whereas they may want to stay in your apartment with you.

You’ll find it easier to make the adjustment from your family home to college if you move into a comfortable apartment. Students looking for housing near Fanshawe College can find a welcoming student community at Foundry First. You’ll have a private bedroom when you want to spend time alone (such as when calling your family) and community amenities like a lounge, gym, and ping pong table when you want to socialize. Apply now while there are still limited spots available.

A high credit score can benefit many aspects of your life. As well as reducing interest rates and improving the chance you’ll receive credit, it can even help you secure an apartment after university. Since you’ll likely become financially independent for the first time at university, this is the perfect time to work toward a higher credit score.

1. Think About What Financial Aid You Need

Taking out a student loan and paying it back on time every month will improve your credit score. However, you should only take out as much as you actually need. It’s better still if you can start paying off loans while you’re at university, which could be a possibility if you find a part-time job.

2. Apply for a Credit Card

University tends to be a good time to take out your first credit card. The safest option is a secured card, which is connected to a separate account whose balance is the maximum you can charge to the card. After some time of making payments on time (without the credit card company needing to touch the balance in your account), you may be able to progress to an unsecured card.

3. Become an Authorized User of a Credit Card

If you don’t feel ready for your own credit card or your only options are ones with high interest rates, a better option could be to become an authorized user on someone else’s card. A parent or another close family member may be willing to do this. You’ll have your own card, but you won’t be liable for making payments. However, since the named user will be on the hook if you fail to pay, you’ll have an added incentive to be responsible.

As well as teaching you good habits for when you have your own credit card, you can use this method to build a credit score. To do this, the owner of the credit card will need to report the account activity to a credit bureau.

4. Take Out a Credit Builder Loan

If you want to boost your credit score fast, a credit builder loan could go a long way. These loans are aimed at people without a credit history. The loan amount goes into a locked account, giving you access to the funds gradually. You need to make repayments every month for usually between six and 24 months and you’ll receive back the amount you pay minus interest.

5. Request Rent Reporting

There’s one final way to boost your credit score that doesn’t involve borrowing any money: reporting your rent payments. You’ll need to ask your landlord to do this for you — and, of course, you’ll need to make sure you always pay on time.
Another way to boost your credit score is to avoid accumulating debt. You’ll spend less if you search for a more affordable apartment. Foundry First is offering student accommodation at a budget rate. Our student housing has all the amenities you need to be comfortable, including spacious bedrooms, WiFi, and laundry facilities. Schedule a tour now before all the leases are taken.

Spring break is an important time to gain some rest and recuperation before that final sprint to the end of the school year. However, there’s no need to use the entire time to relax — spring break is a great opportunity to do all those things you never seem to have time for when you’re busy with classes. In fact, there are several ways you can make spring break more productive.

1. List All the Things You Want to Do

Start by making a list of everything you’ve wanted to do but haven’t had time for in recent weeks. These don’t need to all be serious things — your list could include watching a series that everyone’s talking about or spending time with someone from your hometown.

2. Dedicate a Day to Self-Care

Being productive doesn’t necessarily mean staying busy. Spring break is the perfect time for pampering, such as by getting a haircut or pedicure. Alternatively, you could spend an entire day on one of your favourite hobbies or doing something else that gives you pleasure.

3. Finish Your Homework

It’s difficult to fully enjoy spring break if you know you need to complete an assignment before you return to college. Finish any homework or other chores right at the start of spring break and there will be nothing hanging over you.

4. Clean Your Apartment

Similarly, the last thing you want is to return from spring break to an apartment that’s a mess. Do a proper spring cleaning to be ready for next semester: wash your laundry, switch your closet from winter to warm-weather clothing, declutter surfaces, throw out any junk that’s lying around, and sort through your papers. It will feel great to start the semester with a tidy apartment.

5. Update Your Resume and Online Presence

If you’ll be applying to jobs soon, it’s a good idea to start preparing now. Update your resume to reflect the experience you’ve gained recently — whether through a part-time job, volunteering, or extracurriculars. You can also include information about classes you’ve taken and relevant skills you’ve acquired. If you’ve worked on projects at college that relate to your career goals, you could also create an online portfolio. Finally, you can improve your online presence by highlighting your achievements on your social media profiles, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn.

6. Learn More About Your Career Options

As your graduation date nears, you need to think more about what you’ll do after college. Research possible career options and learn more about the industry you want to work in. Follow industry leaders on social media, subscribe to more podcasts, and create a reading list of useful articles (and make sure you read them whenever you have spare time during spring break.

7. Shadow a Mentor

Perhaps you already know exactly what you want to do after you graduate. In this case, a great use of your time would be to reach out to potential mentors and ask if there’s an opportunity to shadow them for a couple days. This will show you exactly what the work you want to do will involve and help you to start building connections in the industry.

8. Apply for an Internship or Summer Job

An internship or job could be a great way to spend your summer. Now is the perfect time to apply for positions. Stick to those that match your career goals, interests, and skills.

One more way to spend spring break is to find better housing. Foundry First has London, Ontario, apartments for students, designed with your needs in mind. Our suites feature spacious bedrooms, modern furnishings, and stainless steel appliances to give you the ultimate student living experience. There are still a few spaces available, so don’t wait to apply.

It used to be obvious why college libraries mattered: they were the main place to find relevant and reliable information. With the internet, it has become possible to search for information from anywhere. Nonetheless, college libraries are still crucial for students for the following reasons.

1. Access Just High-Quality Materials

There’s a huge amount of inaccurate information online. Since you’re only able to use reputable sources as references in your assignment, the actual information available to you online may feel quite limited. In your campus library, though, you’re surrounded by only high-quality books, journals, and magazines that are always suitable as reference material.

2. Find What You’re Looking For

You can find exactly what you’re looking for at the library because of the support system of librarians and other students. This means that finding materials you can use as references can be faster when you’re at the library than if you rely on internet searches.

3. Read for Pleasure

At college, it’s easy to forget that reading is also fun. You may end up spending all your time reading the materials for your classes and neglect other books available to you. Spending time in the library will incentivize you to read due to the presence of books. Something may catch your eye — and before you know it, you’ll have fallen back into the habit of reading for pleasure.

4. Expand Your Knowledge

Another side effect of college is that students tend to become absorbed fully in topics related to their classes and end up neglecting everything else. There’s a world of knowledge out there. Expanding your mind will ultimately help you with academics and more. The library is a great reminder of all the other subjects you find interesting and gives you the chance to explore them in your free time.

5. Find Solutions

When you have a problem you need to solve, it’s the library that can often provide a solution. Find materials that inspire you and that take your ideas to the next level. Just spending more time in the library will improve your skills at searching for information, which will help you become more innovative when solving problems.

6. There’s No Better Place to Study

There’s always a risk that you’ll become sidetracked when you sit down to study, but the risks are much lower when you choose the library. The atmosphere is conducive to studying, meaning you’re more likely to finish reading a text in the time you allocated — and you’re more likely to understand what you read. As a result, you’ll produce papers faster and to a higher quality.

7. Somewhere to Spend Quiet Time

You can head to the library for more than just when you want to study: it’s the perfect place to go whenever you want peace and quiet to focus. Whereas many students like to spend their free time socializing, introverts can find this exhausting. The library gives you a place to concentrate on your personal projects and hobbies undisturbed and undistracted.

When it’s inconvenient to head to the campus library, the next best place to focus is your private bedroom. Students looking for housing in London, Ontario, can find the ideal apartment at Foundry First.

Your bedroom will be your refuge whenever you want to be alone, whereas the communal amenities like the lounge, theatre, and ping pong table are great when you want to be around other students. Apply for a suite now while there are still limited spots available.

College students often suffer from anxiety and other mental health disorders because of the pressures to do well, fit in, and adapt to a new environment. To succeed with your academics and enjoy your time at college, you need to prioritize your mental health, which you can do in the following ways.

1. Compile Resources

It’s worth compiling a variety of resources to help you with your mental health before you even need them. Start by finding out what wellness services your college offers and make a note of how to access them. If your school can pair you with a peer mentor or wellness coach, make sure to save the person’s contact information. Other resources you may like to use include apps for relaxation and videos of breathing exercises.

2. See a Counsellor

Find out if your college offers counselling as part of its mental health services. These may be available for free or at a discount. Alternatively, you could look for an online therapist at an affordable price, including for group support.

3. Make More Time for Socializing

Mental health disorders can make you want to spend more time alone, but isolating yourself from friends can end up making you feel worse. Open up to a close friend about how you’re feeling or search for a support group on campus to find people you can talk to. Sharing what is making you stressed can make your problems feel more manageable.

4. Keep Your Body Healthy

Your body and mind are intricately linked: one cannot be healthy without the other. There are several ways to keep your body healthy, including eating a balanced diet, sleeping enough (between seven and nine hours a night is ideal), and exercising regularly. Team sports and fitness classes are particularly ideal because you’re also spending time with other people, which can be more motivating.

5. Schedule Time for Activities That Make You Happy

It can feel like your schedule is already packed with classes, homework, and other essentials. However, it’s important for your mental health to make time for activities you enjoy. It can help to schedule these activities to ensure you spend time every day doing something you love.

Some ideas for relaxing activities include reading for pleasure, listening to music, making art, and writing down what you’re grateful for. All these are much better for your mind than scrolling through social media. In fact, anything off screen has a stronger link to happiness than activities on screen.

6. Think Positive

If you’ve labelled yourself a pessimist, positive thinking may sound impossible. In fact, it’s something you can learn to do. Instead of focusing on the negative, learn to reframe situations as opportunities and learning experiences.

7. Learn to Meditate

One way to improve your positive thinking is through meditation. This will teach you about being present, improve your focus, and increase your happiness. You can reap the benefits with just 10 minutes a day.

Sharing your personal space with someone else can be particularly trying for your mental health. To live independently but still share time with other people, move into a student housing community. Foundry First is offering student accommodation within walking distance of Fanshawe College. Schedule a tour to check out the floor plans and amenities.

College isn’t all about studying. Whenever you don’t have much homework or you just need a break, Netflix is a great place to turn to. Some shows in particular are great for binge watching when you have time between classes. Here are a few to try next time you’re looking for something new to watch.

1. Money Heist

One of the most popular international series on Netflix is Money Heist. It’s full of action, intrigue, and complex schemes. As a bonus, if you’re a language major, this will give you a chance to practise your Spanish. As the final episodes just came out recently, you can now binge watch it to the end.

2. Squid Game

Maybe you haven’t even watched Squid Game yet. Stop feeling left out and start bingeing the series now. Although it’s violent and can be difficult to watch at times (especially as you get attached to characters), you’ll find that you’re hooked until the end.

3. Hellbound

If you loved Squid Game, the next show on your list should be Hellbound. It’s an adaptation of a webtoon of the same name, although you may also know the director from the zombie movie Train to Busan. The story is sure to grab you: it’s about a prophetic angel who condemns people to hell, even telling them the exact time they will be taken.

4. Colin in Black & White

One of the most famous NFL players of our time is Colin Kaepernick due to his stance against police brutality. The series Colin in Black & White is a fictionalized drama in just six episodes that shows how the events in Kaepernick’s life led him toward activism. It’s definitely one to watch if you’re interested in social justice.

5. Seinfeld

Since Seinfeld arrived on Netflix a few months ago, it’s become a top show to binge. The classic sitcom hits its target just as well as it did when it was released. Even if you’ve watched it before, it’s worth bingeing from beginning to end in case there are episodes in the nine seasons you’ve missed — and also to relive all the best moments.

6. Big Mouth

Although Big Mouth is a cartoon about teenagers, it’s certainly aimed at an adult audience. It’s hilarious and also quite disgusting most of the time. It will make you feel relieved to have left puberty behind.

7. The Witcher

Fans have long been awaiting a second season of The Witcher — and it’s finally here. If you enjoy fantasy, this is a show you’ll love. The good news is that season two follows a chronological timeline, meaning there are fewer places where you’ll need to pause and clarify with your friends what’s going on.

8. The Chair

Usually, series about university centre on the students. The Chair is different. This comedy-drama is from the perspective of professors and covers a range of social issues — although taken to the extreme. Plus, it stars Sandra Oh, which should be enough reason alone to watch the show.

9. You

It’s been a couple years, but You is finally back with a third season. This one brings the creepiness to a new level as Joe, the main character, develops new obsessions. There are more plot twists (and twisted characters) in this latest season than ever before.

10. Cowboy Bebop

There are actually two Cowboy Bebop series for you to binge. The original is an anime from the 90s. Netflix bought the rights to this to accompany its own live-action series. If you’re a hardcore fan of the anime version, you may want to skip the new one.

Otherwise, it’s worth watching if you’re into sci-fi, especially for the superb acting.
Now you just need a place to watch all these Netflix shows. The question is how to find off-campus housing equipped with a big TV and fast internet. The answer for students in London, Ontario, is to come to Foundry First. You’ll be able to watch Netflix in the living room of your suite or in our state-of-the-art theatre. Apply now while there are still limited spots available.