Category: News

Many students need the support of a tutor at some point in their education. If you’re succeeding academically, you could be one of those tutors. The advantages of such a venture include that you’ll be able to choose what kind of support you want to offer students, what you’ll charge, and how many clients you have, which will allow you to fit tutoring around your own studies. Plus, you may find that tutoring helps you develop a better understanding of your own course material. To create a successful business, there are a few things you should do.

 

1. Search for Opportunities in Your Community

 

Advertise your tutoring services in local networks, such as among students who are about to take a class you’ve already aced and with high school students in your area. Also, tell teachers and lecturers that you’ll be offering tutoring services, as they may be able to recommend you to any of their students who are struggling.

 

2. Look for Online Jobs

 

You can find even more opportunities to tutor if you look online. You could respond directly to job listings, but you’re more likely to have success if you sign up with a tutoring agency that will match you with students. Alternatively, you could use freelance platforms, as the jobs on these platforms tend to pay higher rates — although you’ll likely need to start off charging a lower-than-average rate until you’ve gained experience.

 

3. Ask for Reviews and Referrals

 

Keep growing your business by asking current and former students to recommend you to their friends and family members. It’s also worth building reviews online — all you need to do is create a page on Facebook or Google My Business for your tutoring service. These two things will help you grow your reputation and increase your client base.

 

4. Market Yourself

 

Setting up a page for tutoring services and gaining some reviews is a good start, but you should also dedicate some time to marketing yourself. Be specific about the services you provide. It can be tempting to offer a broad range of services to gain as many clients as possible, but students will prefer to see that you’re offering exactly what they’re looking for. Attract people to your social media pages by posting interesting content that relates to the subjects you’re tutoring and presents you as an expert.

 

5. Highlight Your Relevant Experience

 

If you’ve never tutored before, you’ll need to think about what other experience you have that will make people willing to pick you. Grades, qualification, and awards in the subject you want to tutor are a good start. You may have also worked or volunteered in a role that involved some kind of teaching or homework support, such as babysitting or as a camp counselor. If you’re struggling to find your first clients due to your lack of experience, you could always offer prospective students a free trial session before they commit to paying you.

 

With the extra income you generate from tutoring, you’ll be able to afford much better housing. For instance, you can find places to rent in London, Ontario near Fanshawe College at Foundry First. You’ll live right next to campus and have access to great amenities like a gym, free WiFi, and a state-of-the-art theatre. Find the floor plan for you before all the units are taken.

We usually think of social media as being a fun way to pass the time — catching up with what friends are doing and sharing our own photos and videos. However, some social media platforms can also be valuable for networking purposes, especially LinkedIn. In fact, it makes sense to start using LinkedIn when you’re still a student, instead of waiting until you’re searching for a job, but it’s important to use it the right way.

 

Develop the Online Presence You Want Employers to See

 

Much of what you post online is likely not things you’d want a potential employer to find. However, there’s no use setting everything to private, as you do need some kind of online presence. Creating an online portfolio or website is one option, but that takes a large amount of effort and it may not even be suitable for you, depending on your major. LinkedIn, however, is appropriate for just about everyone.

 

Create an Online Resume

 

LinkedIn allows you to effectively show a resume to employers before you’ve even applied for a job. Plus, there’s the chance to include much more information — about things like what your past jobs involved and your achievements — than you could fit on a traditional resume. LinkedIn is even beneficial if you’ve never had a job, as you can include details about activities and societies you belong to at college, your volunteer experience, your skills, and certifications you’ve achieved.

 

Follow Companies You’re Interested In

 

As well as adding connections, it’s worth following businesses on LinkedIn, particularly ones you may like to work for in the future. This will keep you up to date with what companies are doing and industry news as a whole, but it will also show you more about the values and culture at companies, which can be useful to know before potentially applying for a new job.

 

Check Job Openings

 

Many employers post jobs directly to LinkedIn. You’ll be able to see jobs from the companies you’re following as well as others related to your interests and career goals. Even if it’s too early to start thinking about applying to jobs, it’s useful to see what kinds of opportunities are available to you to ensure you’re developing relevant skills and choosing the best electives. You may even discover a new potential career path that you hadn’t considered.

 

Connect with Alumni

 

People who have been where you are today are great to connect with. It’s likely that there’s an alumni group for your college on LinkedIn, where you can chat with people and grow your network. Graduates who majored in the same subject as you may be able to give you career advice, including where to find internships and volunteering opportunities.

 

Make a Great Impression

 

It’s worth checking your LinkedIn profile often and thinking about how you can improve it. For example, you need to have a high-resolution, professional photo of just you that’s relatively recent. A second important part of your profile is the summary. This gives you the chance to explain who you are and what you’re hoping to achieve. Write it as you would a cover letter and proofread it carefully — the last thing you want is a glaring error on your profile.

 

Ask for Recommendations

 

What you add to your LinkedIn profile is all your own words. Potential employers need to see that other people agree with your assessment of yourself. A great feature of LinkedIn is the chance to give recommendations. You can request these from anyone you like, but it’s best if they come from an employer or your professors.

 

LinkedIn can do plenty for you, but it can’t teach you how to find cheap apartments for college students. The good news is that if you’re attending Fanshawe College, there’s no need to look any further. Foundry First provides affordable student housing that meets your needs. You’ll have a spacious, fully-furnished suite with a private bedroom and a variety of onsite amenities to make you feel at home. Apply now while there are still spots still available.

If you’ve always found school quite easy, you may like to give yourself a challenge at university. Picking a difficult major can pay off, since you’ll show potential employers that you have a great work ethic — plus, these majors often have excellent career prospects. Nine majors in particular stand out as being the most difficult of all.

 

1. Architecture

 

On average, architecture majors are the students who spend the most time preparing for classes. The reason architecture is such a challenging major is that you need to learn both design techniques and architectural history. To create designs that are feasible, you’ll also need to understand physics and calculus as well as design theory and processes. The history side of your degree will cover everything from buildings and urban centres to art history as a whole.

 

2. Aerospace Engineering

 

Two majors fall under aerospace engineering: aeronautical engineering (which is about aircraft) and astronautical engineering (which covers spacecraft). It’s hard to say if either one is more challenging than the other. In addition to covering aircraft or spacecraft structure, you’ll study aerodynamics, propulsion, and gas dynamics.

 

3. Cell and Molecular Biology

 

Although it’s called biology, when you go down to the cellular and molecular level, the discipline is more biochemistry than pure biology. To understand cell and molecular biology in practice, you’ll likely also take classes in ecology, marine biology, and immunology.

 

4. Neuroscience

 

Another major that appears to be biology but is actually more interdisciplinary is neuroscience. You’ll cover all aspects of the nervous system, which means you’ll need to take classes in chemistry, psychology, and physics as well as anatomy and physiology.

 

5. Bioengineering

 

Combine your interests for engineering and biology into a single major by studying bioengineering. You’ll learn how to create products for all kinds of biological applications. One type of bioengineering major is biomedical engineering, in which you specifically consider how to develop devices for health care and medicine.

 

6. Physics

 

Since physics covers the very large down to the very small, it has a huge range of applications in the real world, making it a useful major to choose. It may take you time to fully grasp the concepts of thermodynamics, magnetism, gravity, and waves, which is why this major is such a challenge.

 

7. Biophysics

 

You can also combine physics with biology in biophysics. This is a great major to take if you have an interest in learning about the role of physics in all kinds of organisms. You may be able to specialize in an area like cell biology, neurobiology, physiology, or evolution.

 

8. Astronomy

 

A major that sounds instantly appealing to many students is astronomy — but don’t expect this to be anything close to an easy ride. You’ll take many of the same classes as physics students, in addition to calculus, computer science, and cosmology. Expect to learn about different types of celestial objects and other phenomena that’s out of this world. It will all help you gain a better understanding of the universe.

 

9. Chemistry

 

Your university may offer various majors in chemistry — all of which are among the most challenging choices. General chemistry looks at how matter functions and behaves, including how different types react with each other and the energy involved in these reactions. You will take specialist classes along with your general chemistry courses if you decide to major in something like chemical engineering or biochemistry.

 

To succeed with one of these challenging majors, you’ll need a place to study where you’re able to focus — and you won’t find that living on campus. At Foundry First, we’re offering student accommodation with a modern twist. Like living on campus, you’ll be surrounded by other students. However, you’ll have your own private room in a furnished suite as well as use of our onsite parking, theatre, gym, and much more. Check out the floor plans to apply for the one you want.

The payoffs of having a degree can be huge. The problem is you need to find money to pay for college now, which often means taking out student loans and being saddled with debt after you graduate. However, there are many alternatives to loans, including some particularly creative strategies.

 

1. Find Multiple Sources of Aid

 

Many sources of financial aid exist — you just need to find them. Be aware that this will take a large amount of time and effort. After all, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. You’ll need to spend your free time searching for any scholarships and grants that could be relevant to your situation and then crafting compelling applications to stand out from other candidates.

 

2. Start at Community College

 

Although community college is not free in Canada, it is less expensive than university. You can use it as a way to start your post-secondary education and then continue to university if you want to pursue a full degree. You may even prefer this route for other reasons, such as the smaller jump from high school to college and the chance to belong to a more intimate group of students and faculty where almost everyone knows each other.

 

3. Work Freelance or Gig Jobs

 

Finding a part-time job can mean your tuition fees become more manageable; plus, you’ll have spending money available to enjoy more aspects of the college experience. Many students search for jobs on campus to have an employer who is understanding of their schedule and commitments. However, a great alternative can be to work freelance or gigs. You’ll be able to pick up work whenever you have time and stop whenever you’re too busy, such as during the midterm season.

 

There are countless options available, including driving, graphic design, childcare, and photography. You should be able to find something you’re good at and enjoy.

 

4. Sell Custom Clothing

 

Most students are proud to belong to their universities and like to have at least one piece of clothing that shows off the fact that they are part of the institution. In other words, you are surrounded by potential customers if you decide to make clothing that represents your college.

 

If you have artistic tendencies, you should find that creating designs is nothing difficult. Alternatively, if you’re majoring in business studies, you could form a partnership with someone who has design skills and handle just the management side of the business. Keep sales consistent throughout the year by creating new pieces of clothing each time there’s an event — from a sports game to a big party. Since students will want to have something to remember the event, you’ll be able to build up a strong base of repeat customers.

 

5. Set Up a Franchise

 

Starting your own business from scratch can be intimidating — starting a franchise, though, may feel more accessible. Whereas some franchises have high startup costs and require you to work full-time to see success, something like a food cart is inexpensive and can lead to big returns. Plus, it’s transportable, allowing you to go wherever students are. Pick either food that’s easy to prepare or beverages like coffee or smoothies. Not only will these will be popular with students, but you’ll also be able to sell products quickly and in large quantities.

 

Just because you need to stick to a budget shouldn’t mean you need to live in subpar housing. Students looking for rooms to rent at an affordable price can find a home at Foundry First. We have several different floor plans, all of which give you a private bedroom in a fully-furnished suite. Apply now while there are still spaces available.

The change of lifestyle that comes with going away to college often comes as a shock to students. Living in a different city and being away from friends and family is difficult for everyone. However, these tactics can help you adjust and feel at home much sooner.

 

1. Go to All Your Classes

 

Many students use their newfound freedom to skip classes when they start college. However, this can quickly backfire, as you’ll find you lack an understanding of the course material. Besides, classes are a great way to start meeting people, develop a routine for your time at college, and make the most of your education.

 

2. Learn the Proper Way to Study

 

You may have coasted through high school without putting in much effort. It’s unlikely to be that way in college, though, no matter how intelligent you are. You’ll need to learn how to study, which includes thinking deeply about the material you’re learning, expressing concepts in your own words, and tying ideas together.

 

3. Join Study Groups

 

Collaborating with other students who are taking the same classes is a great way to study. For instance, you can work through the most difficult parts of course material together to ensure you have a good understanding before tests and assignments.

 

4. Embrace New Opportunities

 

College is not just about academics: it’s also a chance to meet new people from all kinds of different backgrounds and to learn more about yourself. A great way to do this is to take advantage of all the activities on offer. Explore new passions by joining clubs and expand your group of friends by attending a variety of events.

 

5. Check In with Old Friends

 

Avoid homesickness by staying in touch with friends from your hometown. In addition to sending quick messages throughout the day, it can be comforting to set up a regular time to have a video call.

 

6. Chat with Your Roommate

 

Another way to stop feeling lonely is to talk to the people around you. Since you’re already living together, it makes sense to get to know your roommate. Even if you don’t end up becoming close friends, you’ll at least always have someone to chat with. Plus, developing a good relationship early on will mean you’re much less likely to have problems later.

 

7. Stick to a Budget

 

It’s easy to overspend in college, especially if the friends you make always want to go out. You’re already paying a large amount in tuition — the last thing you want is to rack up debt due to poor financial decisions. Use a spreadsheet to organize your finances and make sure you stay within your budget.

 

8. Set Goals for Your Time at College

 

Stay motivated by working toward goals. These can be related to any aspect of your life. Just make sure you write them down and create an action plan to ensure you’re able to meet your targets.

 

One last thing you need to learn is how to find affordable housing. This is often a particularly challenging aspect of being a college student, but we can make it easy for you. Foundry First is not just affordable; it’s also comfortable, convenient, and modern — everything you want in student housing. Best of all, it’s just steps away from Fanshawe College. Schedule a tour to check out the suites and onsite amenities.

Staying on track with your studies can be hard at times, especially when you have other commitments, like extracurriculars or a part-time job. To make matters worse, professors often set assignments with due dates far in the future, making it easy to forget about an assignment entirely. It is extremely stressful to realize you don’t have enough time to complete an assignment, especially if you’re worried this could impact your final grade. Instead of panicking, there are a few things you can do to resolve the situation.

 

1. Let Your Professor Know

 

As soon as you realize that you’ll be unable to submit the assignment on time, contact your professor. Don’t wait until the day before the due date, as this shows you didn’t think ahead. If possible, meet with your professor in person, such as during office hours.

 

If meeting in person is not a possibility, an email will have to suffice. Address your professor formally, be polite, and remember to apologize. Keep the email to no more than a few lines to avoid including unnecessary information or repeating yourself and ask if it would be possible to extend the deadline. Finally, make sure you include your contact information and student number.

 

2. Explain Your Situation

 

Be honest with your reasons for missing the deadline. Your professor wants you to succeed and may be able to help you overcome any problems you are facing with submitting assignments on time — but this is only possible if you’re truthful about why you messed up. Besides, there’s a good chance your professor will catch on if you’re not being entirely honest about the situation.

 

In addition, make it clear you understand that it’s your responsibility to meet due dates — your professor won’t appreciate it if you try to lay the blame on someone else. For instance, if your workload is too heavy, don’t complain about not having enough time to complete all your coursework. Instead, admit that you’ve taken on more than you can handle and that you may need to adjust your schedule.

 

3. Submit Something

 

Your professor may ask you to submit whatever you have by the due date just to help you receive something higher than a zero. Alternatively, you may receive an extension — although it’s unlikely that this will be for much more than a few days. Whatever the case, put in the effort to submit the best work you can in this short timeframe.

 

4. Commit to Doing Better Next Time

 

Don’t expect more than one second chance at university. This is not high school and the consequences for missing due dates are much more severe. Professors expect you to act like an adult and meet your deadlines, just like you would have to do at work. Keep track of your due dates and create a schedule for completing assignments around them. If you have a few assignments due around the same time, work on them well in advance. This is good practice anyway, since you never know if you’ll face a major problem, such as a medical emergency, power outage, or broken laptop.

 

It’s easier to stay organized when you have a great place to study. Students looking for housing can find the privacy, comfort, and convenience they need to develop great study habits at Foundry First. We offer spacious furnished suites and great onsite amenities just steps away from Fanshawe College. Schedule a tour to see all the facilities for yourself.

Visiting universities is a great way to narrow down your list of potential schools to a shortlist of favourites. It will allow you to consider more than just whether the college offers the major and extracurriculars you want. For instance, you can chat with other students to see how they feel about the university. Plus, you can ask the following questions to assess your own feelings about the school.

 

1. Would I Be Happy at This School?

 

The most important question is one you should ask yourself: Would you be happy at the university? Imagine yourself on campus and decide if you’re excited by the prospect. You may visit a school you originally thought was your top choice only to find that something doesn’t feel quite right when you arrive. There’s no need to put the reason into words — the crucial thing is to go with your gut.

 

2. What Are Things You Like and Dislike About the School?

 

If you’ll be visiting many colleges, it’s easy to forget the small details. Right after your tour, make a note about a few features that stood out. Try to identify three things you liked the most, perhaps including the facilities or buildings. In addition, write down three things you either disliked or liked less than at other schools you visited. You’ll find this information useful when you come to compare your options later.

 

3. Questions to Ask Your Guide

 

The exact questions you should ask your guide will depend on what matters to you most. Use these questions for inspiration:
What’s your major? (If it’s the same as yours, follow this up by asking about what classes the student has enjoyed the most. If it’s completely different to yours, you could ask about the best electives.)

• Is it easy to find an internship?
• How do the professors make their classes engaging? Do they use interactive learning activities? Are there more opportunities to interact with your professors?
• Have you had the chance to take field trips or attend talks by guest lecturers?
• What are the food options like?
• How do you spend your weekends? What kinds of social activities are on offer?
• Why did you choose this college? What types of students does this school attract?

 

4. How Do the Students Seem?

 

Finally, consider the attitudes of the other students you meet. When you talk to them (or even just observe them), do they seem excited — or do they seem stressed? Do they praise the school and speak about their classes with enthusiasm — or do they talk about feeling overwhelmed? What do they think about the extracurriculars, student organizations, and other opportunities available?

 

Another way to gain the most out of your university tours is to spend some time looking for student accommodation. If you’re considering Fanshawe College, pay a visit to Foundry First. Our off-campus housing is just steps away from campus and gives you the chance to socialize with other students in places like our onsite gym, lounge, and theatre. Schedule a tour for the same day as your university visit or just drop by.

A challenging aspect of starting a semester in new housing is learning to live with new roommates. If you live on campus, the likelihood is you’ll share a room with at least one other person, meaning you’ll have no private space. This can be quite the adjustment. However, with the right strategy, you can prevent serious disagreements and other problems.

 

1. Reach Out to Your Roommate in Advance

 

Some colleges tell students who they’ll be sharing with ahead of time. If you only have a name, you’ll need to search on social media. If you’re lucky, though, your school will provide you with your roommates’ email addresses. Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know them. This will make things much more comfortable when move-in day comes around.

 

Don’t feel intimidated about reaching out to your roommates. In fact, if they don’t reach out first, it’s most likely because they feel just as anxious as you. Start with some small talk, such as asking about where your roommates live at the moment or what they think of the university. Try to keep the conversation going by finding out if you have any interests in common.

 

It’s best of all if you move away from text messages and have a brief video chat instead.  Alternatively, if you live near each other, see if you can arrange to meet up.

 

2. Set Some Ground Rules

 

Your roommates will immediately dislike you if you start reeling off a list of rules you expect them to follow. Nonetheless, it’s essential that you communicate any basic expectations you have. For instance, you may need to set standards for cleanliness, decide how you’ll divide the space, and agree to when each of you can have guests over.

 

It may happen that one roommate bothers the others without realizing it — for example, by keeping the light on too late at night, listening to music without headphones, or even hitting the snooze button repeatedly in the morning. Instead of silently stewing and growing resentful, it’s important to address such issues politely when they crop up.

 

3. Spend Time Together

 

Doing activities together as roommates will help you develop a bond. This is important because you can’t just expect to bond naturally — it’s possible to live with someone an entire semester or more and still feel like strangers. In those first few days, you may like to decorate your room, tour the campus and its surroundings, or attend events together to start meeting new people.

 

4. Don’t Expect to Be Best Friends

 

It’s rare for randomly-assigned roommates to become best friends. In fact, it’s great if you can become more than just mere acquaintances. Make sure you still put in the effort to meet plenty of other people, such as at clubs and organizations where you can find friends who share your passions.

 

One way to avoid roommate problems is by renting an apartment for college students instead of living on campus. Although you will still share some living spaces, you’ll at least have your own private bedroom. At Foundry First, you’ll receive a suite that you’ll share with just three or four other people. Plus, we’ll match you with roommates who have similar interests and lifestyles to reduce any risk of conflict. Schedule a tour to check out our student housing for yourself.

Taking classes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. may suit most students, but this traditional schedule is inconvenient for many others. For instance, you may need to work at the same time as studying to be able to afford your education. However, it’s more difficult to find a job if you’re taking classes during the day. A solution may be to take night classes — but you should consider both the pros and cons before you decide this is the right route for you.

 

Pro: More Flexibility
With night classes, it’s possible to work full time and still fit in your studies. Plus, unlike with a traditional schedule, classes tend to last around 2.5 hours and take place twice a week. This means you’ll have three weekdays free to pick up evening shifts.

 

Alternatively, you could use the opportunity to find a part-time job and also work an internship or fit your other responsibilities and activities in your schedule — perhaps activities that will improve your chances of employment once you graduate.

 

Con: Longer Days
Fitting night classes around a job or internship means your days will be much longer. This can be stressful, or it may mean you’re unable to find as much time for fun.

 

Pro: Many Students Focus Better at Night
Whereas some people can wake up at dawn feeling alert and focused, others naturally have higher energy levels later in the day. If you know that you fall into the second category, you may do better in college if you take night classes. Depending on your other commitments, you may even be able to wake up at a time that’s comfortable for you and go to bed later.

 

Con: Difficulty Focusing
Of course, if you’re not the kind of person who’s alert later in the day, you’ll likely find night classes more difficult than sticking to a traditional schedule. If you’re already tired from a long day of work, you may struggle to concentrate or lack motivation, making you more prone to distractions.

 

Pro: Arrive to Class Prepared
As a college student, it’s up to you to do most of your studies on your own time. Many students prefer preparing for classes a few hours before, as everything is fresh in their minds. Plus, taking night classes may allow you to spend the day on independent study, meaning you’ll have fewer nights spent frantically trying to study when you’re tired and unable to concentrate.

 

Con: Less Time to Sleep
If you’re unable to wake up late (if your job starts early, for instance), you may end up with less time to sleep. In addition, if your job takes up a great deal of your time, you may need to use the time after your night classes to study, which will cut down on your sleep even more.

 

Pro: Meet a Different Group of People
The kinds of people who take night classes tend to differ from traditional college students. Many will be using classes to advance in their careers or change profession. It can be interesting to meet such a diverse range of students — not to mention it gives you the chance to grow your network.

 

Con: It’s More Difficult to Socialize
The people you meet at night classes are also less likely to have free time to socialize. This means it can be more difficult to make friends. Plus, you may be unable to attend college activities that take place in the evenings because they clash with your classes.

 

Students looking for housing in London, Ontario — regardless of whether they’re taking daytime or night classes — can find off-campus apartments that meet their needs and match their lifestyle at Foundry First. Here, you’ll have the chance to meet a wide range of students from all kinds of backgrounds and plenty of opportunities to socialize. Schedule a tour to check out our suites and onsite amenities.