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How to Use Your Planner to Make College Life More Organized

You have many more responsibilities when you start college, and this can be overwhelming for students who are unused to organizing their time and meeting deadlines. It’s essential you have a system in place to ensure you stay on track and don’t forget anything. A top way to do this is with a planner. As well as keeping track of your assignment dates, a planner allows you to create a study schedule and make note of all your other commitments, such as shifts at work, dates when your clubs are meeting, and upcoming events.

 

However, simply purchasing a planner and hoping for the best is never effective. A planner can be a great tool — but only if you know how to use it. Here are a few practical tips to consider.

 

1. Write Your Name in the Front
Once you’ve purchased your planner, you likely want to dive in and start adding all the important dates. However, there’s one crucial piece of information to add first: your name, perhaps along with your contact information. If you leave your planner somewhere after you’ve filled it in, you’ll feel lost without it. Including some basic contact details will increase the chances it’s returned to you.

 

2. Make a List of Goals
You’re more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Not only does this solidify them, it also means you can refer to them at any time for motivation. Include some goals for the short term, such as for the current semester, and others for the longer term, such as for the whole year.

 

3. Add Major Deadlines to Your Calendar
Use your syllabus to find assignment deadlines and write them in the calendar part of your planner. This will make it easy to see when you need to start preparing assignments and which weeks you need to work extra hard because you have several deadlines close together. Go beyond academics and also add important dates like sports games and other activities.

 

4. Sketch Out a Typical Week
Create a schedule representing a typical week when you have all your regular classes and other activities. You can use this as a template for other weeks; plus, it will help you see when you have free time available for studying and socializing.

 

5. Fill Out Each Week a Day or So Before
Dedicate time on the same day each week (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday might work best) to prepare for the upcoming week. If you prefer, you could do this several weeks in advance, but it tends to be more difficult to know what commitments you’ll have more than two weeks ahead of time. Fill all the sections of the weekly planner as are relevant to you.

 

6. Develop Your Own Style
As you spend more time with your planner, you’ll find you figure out tricks that work for you. This could include using colour coding, adding stickers, or jotting notes to inspire you. Experiment with different ideas until you find a system that helps you feel more organized and in control of your schedule.

 

One thing you shouldn’t need to worry about is finding the perfect housing. In fact, there’s affordable housing apartments for rent waiting for you at Foundry First. Check out our floor plans to see what suites and apartments we have available at the moment.

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7 Ways to Stay Social While Living Off Campus

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Living in a campus dorm allows you to interact and become friends with a lot of people. There’s always someone you can hang out or grab lunch with. Unfortunately, living on campus is not the best option for everyone.  

Some people who want to live independently while taking classes at Fanshawe College have looked for student flats to rent in London. Even if you chose to live in a student apartment, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and gain new friends by doing the following: 

Attending Campus Events

School-sponsored events are a great place to meet other students. Watch the football games if you’re sporty, go to a concert if you’re into music, and attend workshops if you want to learn something new. You can find out about these campus events by going to your school’s official website or social media page. 

It may be intimidating to go to these school events alone at first, but you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to chat up other people at these events once you get over the initial hurdle. Finding a common ground or shared hobbies will definitely make the conversation more interesting and the connection more lasting.

Attending Off-Campus Events

Don’t limit yourself to campus activities. Diversify your network by attending events in the community. You can head over to the local pub, visit the museum, or lounge in a coffee shop to meet people outside of your academic and social circles.        

Joining a Club

Choosing a group of people that have the same interests as you is a great way to start meaningful and lasting friendships. Joining a club allows you to meet like-minded people and gives you opportunities to explore your hobbies further.

Joining a Study Group

Forming a study group allows you to form connections with other students that take the same classes as you. Plus, your grades may thank you. You’ll get to know one another and study the course material in depth at the same time.

Volunteering for a Worth Cause

Spend time in an animal shelter, cleaning up the environment, or caring for the marginalized sector of the community. Just choose a cause you’re passionate about so you can meet charity-minded people who are as socially conscious as you. 

Getting a Part-Time Job

Aside from earning money, a part-time job allows you to meet people from all walks of life. Hit the university bookstore or college newspaper for openings if you want to mingle with people on campus. You can get a glimpse of what corporate life is like through your colleagues, and explore mentorship opportunities with supervisors.

Talking to Professors

You should be actively looking for mentors who can guide you not just through college but in the early years of your professional career. One way to do this is to take advantage of your professors’ office hours to ask questions and get to know them. 

At the end of the day, the best way to meet people is where you are right now. Be approachable, establish eye contact, and make small talk whenever the opportunity rises. It’s also important that you not just look for a friend, but be a friend to the people you meet. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Health Tips for College Students

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Between classes and active social lives, many college students forget to keep themselves healthy. Indeed, the distractions of student life can make it easy to overlook healthy habits. But prioritizing wellness means you’ll be better able to keep stress at bay, as healthy students can attend all of their classes and accomplish more work. While it might seem difficult to engage in a healthy lifestyle while at college, there are a few simple habits you can start right now.

Clean and Tidy Up

Whether you live in a dorm or Fanshawe College student housing, cleaning your living space is a good habit to get into that will keep you healthy. One simple yet effective way to eliminate illness-causing germs is to clean your surfaces, doorknobs, and keyboards. Your bathroom and bedsheets should also be cleaned regularly as well, since a lot of germs accumulate in these areas, too.

Decluttering is also a great way to reduce stress. Most people feel anxious in cluttered areas, so cleaning will help you take a break from assignments. As an added bonus, you’ll be doing something beneficial for yourself and your roommates.

Get Sleep

You’ve probably heard it hundreds of times by now, but it’s especially true for overworked college students: sleep is important. Sleep quality affects nearly all aspects of our lives, including how we function on a day-to-day basis. If you’ve ever gone to class on limited sleep, you’ve likely seen firsthand how hard it is to retain any information. Getting quality sleep is absolutely critical to your success in college, so try going to bed around the same time every night to get into a regular schedule.

Exercise

Staying active should be part of your regular routine at college. Many students struggle to find time to exercise every day, but even just walking to class instead of taking the bus, and using the stairs instead of the elevator, can help to increase your daily activity levels. These small choices add up, and can even contribute to a better night’s sleep and increased cognitive performance. Exercise can also keep your immune system healthy so that you can fight off colds and infections more effectively.

Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

College students tend to reach for unhealthy snacks, especially when they’re staying up late to finish a paper; however, these snacks can make you feel worse in the long run and often contribute to weight-gain. Diet and nutrition are important for your overall performance in college, along with your emotional and physical wellbeing.

Also, if you find yourself sipping on lots of energy drinks throughout the day, it might be time to switch to water. It’s a simple fact: your body needs water to function properly, and caffeine has undesirable side effects like jitters and sleep disturbances. Drinking water may not be the first thing on your mind when you’re running late to class, but try to bring a bottle of H2O with you wherever you go.

Take a Break

If you’re really not feeling well, know that it’s okay to miss class for the day or study a little less until you’re feeling better. You should never ignore the signs of getting sick because doing so can often make it worse. In most cases, professors will be understanding about a missed class due to illness and will tell you to get the notes you missed from a classmate.

You should also take a break whenever you are feeling overly stressed. While you should never miss a class when you are physically able to make it, you can take breaks from your homework and essays to enjoy college life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break and ask your roommate if they want to go for a walk. This will refresh you so that you can go back to homework with a clear head.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Benefits of Living Off-Campus

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Moving off-campus and out of the dorms can be a challenging choice to make. Dorms provide comfort and convenience, and are a common choice among many first-year students. But college is a transitional phase perfect for exploring adulthood and living on your own. Consider these compelling advantages when deciding whether to move into off-campus student housing near Fanshawe College.

Added Space

Dorm rooms are known for being one thing: small. Sharing a room with one or more roommates can be cramped and difficult, especially in the limited space provided in a dorm. As you mature and accumulate more items that make your space feel more like home, you’ll want to consider getting a space of your own. Even if you choose to rent a room instead of an apartment to yourself, you can expect a space of your own that’s typically larger than the average dorm room.

Apartments also come with a kitchen, living area, and storage to make your life easier. Even if you have a roommate or two, the larger space will provide you with everything you need to live together comfortably.

An Opportunity for Life Experiences

An apartment means new responsibility, which can help to set you up for a successful future. After college, you’ll most likely be living on your own with no significant financial support from your parents. Having this responsibility will give you the small push towards adulthood that you’ll need after college ends. You’ll be able to fully experience new aspects of adulthood which you wouldn’t get in a dorm, such as budgeting, cleaning a larger space, and grocery shopping on your own.

Don’t forget that renting off-campus is also a great way to build credit and establish a rental history. If you’re a good tenant, it will show on your rental history and make finding an apartment or home to rent in the future much easier.

Money Savings

Believe it or not, off-campus apartments can be more affordable than living in dorms — as long as you know where to look. Spend plenty of time doing research to find an option that’s close to your college, but cost-effective.

Since you’ll also keep a closer eye on your finances when you rent, you’ll be more likely to scout out deals elsewhere, too. For example, you might get creative with savings opportunities when it comes to books, transportation, and groceries.

Independence

From curfews to guest restrictions, most dorms are known for having strict rules. As you become more mature, you’ll want to live in a place with fewer rules so that you can maintain your own schedule and freedom. Keep in mind that apartments do have general rules about pets, noise levels, amenities, and occupancy; however, these rules are very easy to follow, and you can still enjoy a night on the town without anyone policing you.

Access to Amenities

On-campus living is typically restricted to the campus itself and its surrounding areas. When you choose to live off-campus, a whole new world of amenities opens up. Many complexes offer free Wi-Fi, a study lounge, and a gym. You’re also closer to key attractions like parks, shops, and other hot spots that you normally couldn’t walk to from your dorm room.

For more information on the awesome suites at Foundry First, contact us![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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How to Look at Time Management Differently

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Every college student and hard worker understands the value of time management, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Of course, while there are many ways to manage your time effectively, not everyone is organized enough to practice them. Ultimately, what helps one person manage their time may not work for another. Thus, it’s important to consider all the different time management options when seeking ways to be more productive. Here are a few less-common—yet highly effective—practices for better time management.

Apply the 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 Rule is all about prioritizing. Also known as the Pareto Principle, this rule suggests that 20% of your effort will account for 80% of your results. For example, if you have a to-do list of ten items, two of those items should be worth the other eight combined.

Have you ever attempted to do too many things at once, and realized that some tasks are far easier than others? That’s the Pareto Principle at work. Most people tackle the easiest tasks first, but when it comes to time management, this is actually the worst thing you can do.

Everyone is guilty of procrastinating every now and then—especially students. However, by doing the easy tasks first and putting off larger assignments (term papers, for example), you’re actually putting yourself at a huge disadvantage. The most important things get pushed to the last minute, robbing them of the time needed to reach their full potential.

To apply the 80/20 Rule in your life, schedule the 20% of your work consisting of larger assignments and tasks first. This way, you can dedicate your best effort and ample time to the most important tasks. In doing so, you’ll accomplish 80% of output in less time you would spend if you had put the other 80% first.

View Time Management as Energy Management

Let’s say you have a big exam to study for, but you also have other tasks to complete, such as laundry or cleaning your Fanshawe off campus housing unit. You may feel like getting the small projects out of the way first. Yet, all of these tasks add up, using certain amount of energy and leaving you with less energy for the larger, more complicated tasks. This is called inefficient energy management.

Instead of focusing on the least demanding tasks first, always start with the hardest, most energy-consuming things first in the morning. That way, you’ll still have the energy to finish up the smaller tasks later. Ultimately, this will help you maximize your productivity and reduce stress levels at night.

Become More Proactive

Being proactive is the best way to manage your time. Just because you have a clearly outlined to-do list doesn’t mean that you’re properly managing your time. By being proactive and not pushing off important tasks like studying or writing essays, you’ll be more prepared for school assignments while still allowing for a full night’s rest.

By thinking about your future, you can easily organize your time and start acting earlier. For instance, if you know you have an exam or a paper due on Friday, start the initial phases of the task at the beginning of the week. Even doing a little work each day will help you take a proactive approach, thereby reducing the need to pull all-nighters.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Making the Most of Your Time Off in the Summer

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Summer is the season most college students dream of all year long. Plans for summer are sometimes made well in advance, while others develop last-minute. But with so much excitement surrounding this time of year, it’s easy to overlook some of the ways you can make the most of your time off with enriching, memorable experiences. Remember, summer is more than just playtime; your break is also the perfect opportunity for gaining valuable experience for your future career. Here are a few suggestions for maximizing your time off between semesters.

Travel

Some students are fortunate enough to have the means to travel during the summer break. If you have such an opportunity, don’t let it pass you by! Traveling with friends allows you to immerse yourself in different environments and learn about other communities. You can also catch up with friends who may attend colleges far away. Moreover, your trip doesn’t even have to be expensive—it can be as simple as putting together a road trip with a few sight-seeing stops along the way. Summer is the time to make memories, so pack your suitcase and join your friends on a trip that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Nurture Your Hobby

Oftentimes, demanding class work and job responsibilities force college students to put their hobbies on hold during the semester. Luckily, it’s easy to jump back in to your favorite pastimes once summer arrives. You might even consider indulging in a new hobby that you never had time to try during the school year. Now that your schedule is more flexible, look for a hobby that brings you joy, and consider trying something you’ve never done before.

Get a Summer Job or Internship

Of course, summer isn’t just for relaxing; it’s also the perfect time to do something productive, like finding a job or an internship. Some students are successful in finding jobs related to their field of study, while others take any position available to make ends meet. No matter which route you go, summer is a great time to make some extra money that you can use to get through the school year. Even if you take on an unpaid internship, you’ll develop new skills and have experience for your resume—both of which employers look for when hiring.

Continue Learning

While summer typically brings a break from studies, some students choose to continue with their courses. If your school offers summer courses, taking one or two will still allow you freedom to relax, but you’ll also get a leg up on the next semester. With that said, you don’t have to take a course on campus to continue learning. You can use online courses and free apps to develop unique skills or learn a new language to enhance your future career prospects. Plus, learning something new will keep you busy, even when you can’t find anything to watch on Netflix.

This summer, take a tour and book your room at some of the best student rentals London, Ontario has to offer. Call Foundry First to book your tour today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Tips to Kick Off Your First Year of College

You have your classes scheduled, your bags packed, and your schools supplies ready, but you may still have a lot of unanswered questions about what to expect from your first year. This is something many college and university freshmen experience. Ensure your first year gets off to the best possible start with these tips:

Scout Out Your New Surroundings

If you’re new to the campus, and new to the area, make sure you have ample time to check out your new home and campus. Mark the locations of your classes, potential study spots, and any important shopping locations. Early scouting could help you save time and avoid stress later.

Bring or Purchase the Things You Will Need

While some residences will provide students with basic items, there are some things you may need to bring from home or purchase around or off campus. It’s a good idea to ask for a list of what’s provided before moving to your room or apartment, but some of the items you will likely need to bring include:

  • A bedside lamp

  • A small toolkit

  • A small trash can

  • Bedding, pillows, collapsible laundry basket, towels (bathroom and kitchen)

  • Laundry, laundry detergent and bleach, a mini sewing kit, and a lint brush

  • Storage bins, including under-the-bed storage trays

  • A fan

  • A desk lamp

  • Push pins for your bulletin board

  • A wall calendar

  • A dry erase board

  • Removable wall hooks or double-sided tape

  • Office and desk supplies

Whether you need to bring your own furniture will depend on the type of housing you’ve chosen. For instance, at our student rental, London students only need to bring clothing and personal items to decorate their rooms and suites. Our suites are furnished and fully equipped!

Check Add and Drop Dates

Surprisingly, missing the drop deadlines or attempting to drop courses after the deadlines are mistakes many freshmen make. Once you’re settled and ready to start your classes, check the add and drop dates for your institution. This will prevent you from getting stuck in a course you don’t like or that was added to your schedule by mistake. Moreover, if a course is too difficult, conflicts with others on your schedule, or just isn’t a good fit, dropping it before the deadlines passes could prevent a great deal of stress.

Learn Your Student Number

This tip may seem pretty unimportant, but knowing the number off by heart can save you time and hassle. You may need it to purchase textbooks, find your grades in the school’s system, and more. Plus, your professors and administrators will ask for the number occasionally as well.

Do Some Academic Planning

One of the best ways to prepare and avoid stress during the busiest times of the semester is to create a chart for your assignment due dates and upcoming tests or exams. Sharing comprehensive notes with classmates, joining a study group, or finding a study buddy are other ways to start the school year well and stay ahead. Finally, find a quiet, comfortable, relaxed place to complete assignments and study. Without a quiet place to study, you might find it hard to focus.

Now’s the time to start thinking about the upcoming school year and what you can do to prepare for a great first year!

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Guide to Choosing Great Electives

General or free electives give college or university students the opportunity to take classes that spark and satisfy their interests. Whether these electives are additional courses in your degree program or some other area of interest, such as music or art, these slots can be filled with electives that push you outside your comfort zone and open you up to new experiences. For example, you could take a theatre arts course to help with shyness, self-esteem issues, or social anxiety.

Most colleges and universities offer a huge number of electives, so narrowing your list of options may be a little overwhelming. Streamline your search with some of the tips below:

Formally or Informally Audit Potential Classes

This is a tip that only works during or after the first semester, but it’s still a viable strategy for choosing electives. If you’re curious but unsure about an elective, you could audit the course – formally or informally. To formally audit a course, you must apply with your college or university. Upon approval, you will be able to ‘sit in’ on, and even participate in, the class. You decide when to attend the course lectures and how much time to spend in the class or on coursework. Formally audited courses will also appear on your transcript with no bearing on your grade point average (GPA). To perform an informal audit, ask a professor privately to ‘sit in’ on their lectures. Most will be welcoming and allow this form of auditing. The entire process can be looked at like touring an off-campus apartment, such as Fanshawe College housing, before moving in.

Consider Your Interests and Major

For ideas on electives to take, look at your own interests and your major. For example, if you’re interested in the solar system, consider taking an astronomy course. Classes that match your interests offer major benefits, including providing relief from your normal academic schedule. You should also look for courses that fit your major or components of your major or future career. Most majors are multi-faceted and offer interesting and exciting courses that can be taken as electives. In fact, some electives are tailored for certain majors. It could also be beneficial to take electives that can help you build ‘soft’ skills for your future career. Humanities courses are advantageous to business majors, while statistics courses are advantageous to social science majors.

Choose Your Electives Early

The best electives will go quickly, so be decisive and choose your electives as early as possible. If you don’t, you will have to choose from the ‘leftovers.’ Leftover courses are those most students don’t want to take because they’re notoriously mundane or difficult. Don’t let this happen to you. Choose courses that match your interests or that are highly recommended. For advice, check out online student forums, chat with former students or current upperclassmen, and ask your academic advisor for recommendations. Most academic advisors know which electives are popular or what will work well with your schedule. Besides, choosing your courses well before the semester begins leaves plenty of time to switch to others if your interests change.

If you’re getting organized for the upcoming school year but have yet to reserve your place in Fanshawe College housing, now’s the time to book a tour of our off-campus residence. Contact us today!

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Getting Off to the Best Start in Your First Year of College

There’s no doubt that your first year of college will be exciting, but moving away from home for the first time and having greater independence and a whole host of new responsibilities will probably be a little intimidating, too.

Learn how to successfully navigate the academic and social worlds of college with some useful tips that include: striving to get along with your roommate, being flexible, taking your coursework seriously, creating and following a schedule, and getting involved with student activities.

Strive to Get Along with Your Roommate

Especially in their first year, most students will live with a roommate and, often times, it’s an individual they don’t know beforehand. While some roommate pairings seem to be totally natural right from the beginning, others  take a little work to establish a friendship or at least a good system for sharing a living space.

At our off-campus Fanshawe College residence, we provide a roommate matching service that is an effective way to ensure you’re paired with other students who suit your personality and share some of your lifestyle preferences.

No matter where you choose to live, one of the easiest ways to create ‘roommate harmony’ is to establish some rules. This list should include how you want to approach sharing food or other items, study time, having guests (especially overnight guests), going to bed, and more.

Be Flexible

Being flexible can keep you open to, and ready for, change. Since post-secondary is a new adventure and a major adjustment, you will need this flexibility. Flexibility and openness will also come in handy when meeting people from different backgrounds with different values, personalities, etc. The more flexible and open you are, the easier it will be to understand, investigate, and accept these differences. Flexibility can also help you with course selection. If you’re open-minded and looking to explore new areas, you can find plenty of interesting and unique courses.

Unique activities and experiences also await students who are willing to try them. Knowing that change is inevitable can make you accepting and less anxious when it happens. Don’t panic if your interests change or if you begin to disconnect with old friends or even members of your family. It’s a part of growing up, especially as you learn new things, meet new people, travel to new places, and have new experiences.

Take Your Coursework Seriously

There are lots of opportunities for fun, but your primary goal is to learn and not to party. Learning at the collegiate level is much different than learning at the high school level. Your professor won’t hold your hand by making sure you’ve completed reading assignments, are taking notes, or will turn your assignments in on time.

Take the learning process seriously. Here’s how:

  • Take notes in a structured and efficient manner – during lectures and reading assignments

  • Get plenty of rest to ensure you’re alert during class

  • Stay as focused as possible on the professor and classroom activity

  • Engage in classroom discussions and ask questions

  • Use flashcards and other engaging shortcuts as study aids

  • Ask for help from your professor, other students and/or visit the tutoring centre or other learning centres when needed, or join a study group

  • Write a personal mission statement and stick to it

  • Study in a quiet area and visit the library often

  • Take study breaks

  • Mark your assignments and projects in your calendar

Create and Follow a Schedule

A comprehensive schedule is a must-have for all students, as they help you keep track of important tasks and assignments. You can create a schedule using your smartphone calendar, a calendar app, or a physical planner. This schedule doesn’t have to include your course schedule, but it should include:

  • Daily activities, including attending classes

  • Pertinent tasks, such as completing assignments and personal obligations

  • Your work schedule

  • Weekly and monthly academic and personal goals

  • Space for leisure activities

Follow your plan carefully and refer to it when needed. Additionally, only write your schedule in pencil or erasable ink, as this makes it easier to change some things or delete them from your plans.

Get Involved with Student Activities

Joining a club, volunteering, or playing sports can promote school pride. It can also promote personal pride and confidence, raise self-esteem and self-awareness, and make you feel like you’re a part of the school. Involvement in activities is also an excellent cure for loneliness and a way to exercise your talents or feed your interests.

Last but not least, one of the best ways to ensure a great first year at school is to find awesome student housing. Foundry First is an off-campus Fanshawe College residence and your source for a fun and comfortable living environment. Contact us today for more information.

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How to Sell Yourself in a Job Interview

Whether you’re still in school or you are just finishing college, finding a job may be pretty high on your list of things to do. There’s a lot of work involved in finding a job, whether it’s a full-time career or a short-term job for the summer, but the feeling of getting the job can make it all worthwhile.

Before you get the job, you’ve got to nail the interview. In fact, the interview may be the most important part of the job application process. A good job interview takes research and preparation. This means learning as much as you can about the company and position you’re applying for and practicing for the interview itself.

Here are some great interview tips to keep in mind, whether you’re trying to get a part-time position for the summer months or whether you are looking for a full-time career.

Practice Interview and Conversation Skills

If you want a successful interview and the chance to impress a future employer, you must learn and practice some interview skills. These skills include:

  • Being professional while being yourself

  • Being attentive while not oversharing or speaking too much

  • Asking professional, relevant questions

  • Using appropriate ‘professional’ language (i.e. no slang)

  • Practicing good non-verbal communication during the interview (i.e. not fidgeting, making eye contact, and maintaining proper posture)

Obviously, your conversations skills also matter during an interview. Be concise and sincere about your skills and interests while actively engaging with the interviewer. Additionally, stay relevant and on topic, steer clear of rambling and needless jargon, and avoid hot-button issues like politics and religion. Remember to also speak clearly and at an appropriate volume while maintaining eye contact.

Do Some Research Before the Interview

Doing research is actually the first step in the interview process. Before the interview, research the specifics of the position you’re applying for, as well as the company you will be working with. First, check out their social media profiles and their website. Then, search for press releases and any news articles that feature them. Some employers may ask specific questions about your position and their organization to test if you’ve done your homework.

Knowledge about the company or certain subjects could impress a potential employer. However, don’t go overboard with the information that you present and wait for the interviewer to ask you questions. If you’re attending a job fair, research the participating organizations. This information can be vital to your success, give you a leg up on the competition, and streamline the application process by helping you narrow down your options. Plus, employers often conduct on-the-spot interviews at these types of events.

Dress the Part

It’s well known that you should dress appropriately for an interview. Ideally, you should wear ‘smart’ casual clothing. This is clothing that’s not too dressy or too casual. You don’t need to wear a formal suit or dress, but it’s wholly inappropriate to wear sweats or a casual t-shirt and jeans. That said, the appropriate style of dress could also depend on the type of position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a position in construction, your employer would probably be impressed by cargo pants and work boots.

Create an Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is basically a brief sales pitch designed to ‘sell’ you to your potential employer. Begin every interview with this type of pitch but keep it short and succinct. In a brief statement (approximately 30 seconds) tell the interviewer who you are and what you have to offer their organization. Be passionate, professional, and sincere. This little speech serves as your first impression and could set the tone of your interview. Just don’t forget to express how you fit in with the company while standing out as an employee. Practice your pitch with family, friends, or even a professor or two before the interview. Help from others could provide you with some valuable feedback and help you create the most compelling pitch possible.

Follow Up with the Employer

Most people believe it’s the potential employer’s job to make the first move after an interview, but this isn’t entirely true. In fact, asking how and when to follow up is a great way to show an employer how serious you are about getting the job.

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