Blog Posts

Simple Student Decorating Ideas to Try

When you move into your new student apartment, it can take a while for the space to feel like it’s your own. This is especially likely to be the case if you’ve lived in the same house with your family for several years and had the chance to accumulate many things that express your personality. To start feeling at home at university sooner, try some of these simple decorating tips. 1. A Peg Board If you find that your desk quickly becomes cluttered, a peg board may be a better alternative than shelves. You can hang up all sorts of small items within easy reach — it’s convenient and it adds to the aesthetics of your room. 2. Fairy Lights Create ambience without making your room too bright with fairy lights. These are ideal to use with a desk lamp while studying, or on their own when you want to relax, listen to music, or hang out with friends. 3. LED Strips You may prefer to use LED strips instead of fairy lights. They come in various colours as well as white and produce a completely different effect. For the best results, install them around the edge of a board. 4. A Star Projector One more option for lighting is to set up a star projector. This is particularly ideal for your bedroom, as it will help you relax in the evening and fall asleep more easily. 5. Posters Bare walls always look boring. Posters are an inexpensive way to display your interests and add some colour . You could find posters of your favourite albums, movies, or TV shows or even just with a design you like. 6. An Area Rug Keep the floor warm and make it more visually appealing with an area rug. As long as the rug complements the rest of your decor reasonably well , you can use this as a chance to be adventurous: go bright, fluffy, or contemporary. 7. A Tapestry You can be even more vibrant than with a rug by hanging a tapestry on your wall. Find a design you love and instantly transform the room. 8. Indoor Plants Freshen the air in your apartment with a few indoor plants. It’s best to find some low-maintenance plants that will be easy to keep alive, especially if you’ve never cared for plants before. 9. Thrift Store Decor Pick up some unique items for your apartment by checking out local thrift stores and garage sales. This is great for giving the space a vintage theme. 10. Photo Collages Print out some of your best photos and stick them together as a collage. You may like to use pictures of friends from high school, hobbies, pets, or something else that reminds you of home. Of course, you’ll only be able to make your apartment inviting if you find comfortable student housing in the first place. Living on campus means sharing a cramped space you can barely call your own — a better option is to find a student rental. St. Catharines students have Foundry Lofts, which has several types of furnished and unfurnished suites to choose from. Contact us now for a lease before all the units are taken.

12 Quick & Easy Gifts for Your Friends’ Graduation

If some of your friends will be graduating soon, you need to start thinking about gifts. You want something special, but you also need to stay within your budget — especially if several friends will be graduating at the same time. The good news is you have plenty of options for gifts you can pick up easily for a decent price. 1. A Candle A scented candle is great as a personalized gift, as you can choose different fragrances for each friend according to their preferences. Your friends will be able to burn the candles when they move into their new homes — and think of you. 2. A Mirror Another option that doubles up well as a housewarming present is a mirror. Mirrors are less expensive than other decor, and you can find ones with trendy frames or in interesting shapes to suit your friends’ tastes. 3. A Planner For friends who need to improve their organizational skills, there’s no better gift than a planner. They can also use the planner to make a note of the goals they want to achieve after graduating. 4. Hydrating Masks Encourage your friends to take some time to relax after all that hard work by gifting them a couple hydrating face masks. This could be just what they need to feel prepared for an interview or the first day at a new job. 5. A Long-Lasting Tote Bag Most tote bags are not made to last: you use them a few times and they start to tear or look tattered. One that’s both durable and stylish makes a great gift. 6. A Photo Album Give your friends somewhere to store memories of their time at university with a photo album. You could even start the album with a few polaroids or prints of your own. 7. A Journal If you have friends who love to journal — or would like to start — gift them an attractive notebook where they can jot down their thoughts. This will feel much more special than using a spiral notebook. 8. Sunglasses You can never have too many shades! Pick out some that will allow your friends to graduate in style. 9. A Desk Organizer Any friend who will be working a desk job can benefit from an organizer. It’s ideal for keeping clutter in check. 10. A Personalized Mug Mugs are inexpensive and can make totally unique gifts. Find a service that allows you to print your own design and choose something different for each friend. For instance, you could use an inside joke, a few words of motivation, or a favourite photo from your time at university. 11. A Coffee Tumbler For friends who need to drink their coffee on the go, a tumbler could be a better option than a mug. Search for a tumbler with a meaningful design, such as something related to the city where you’re studying or perhaps your university logo. 12. A Graduation Card If you’re particularly strapped for cash and you have a large number of friends you want to congratulate, a card could be enough. Spend one weekend creating handmade cards for each friend or order some funny cards. Another way to save money while you’re at university is to move into off-campus student housing. St. Catharines students have Foundry Lofts. Our apartments provide you with a comfortable place to live in a great location at an affordable price. Sign a lease now to secure our lowest rates.

What to Look For in a Summer Internship

All sorts of companies offer students the chance to take summer internships. If you know exactly what you’d like to do after you graduate or what company you’d like to work for, it may be obvious what type of internship is right for you. However, if you’re still exploring your options, it can be particularly difficult to know what to look for. Whatever your goals, there are certain characteristics you should always search for in an internship. 1. Something That Will Strengthen Your Resume Think about what kind of internship you would like to be able to list on your resume when applying for jobs and talking to potential employers at a careers fair. The experience should gain you relevant skills that mean you’re better qualified for the kind of position you want after you graduate. 2. The Chance to Explore Your Options Depending on how well defined your career goals are, you may like to find an internship in a particular role or just in a certain industry. You may like to search for something that resembles your dream job or discover one of several possibilities for after you graduate. Whatever you pick, make sure your internship gives you plenty of opportunities to work on real projects and gives you a taste of what it would be like to work permanently in a similar position. 3. Great Contacts Internships can sometimes lead to full-time jobs in the organization after you graduate. However, even if you decide to look elsewhere for work, the internship should provide you with useful contacts in the industry. These people may be able to recommend you other opportunities, provide you with references, or even become your mentors. To gain the most valuable contacts possible, search for internships where you’ll be in direct contact with executives at the company. 4. An Enjoyable Experience Ideally, you’ll enjoy your internship. The type of work you’ll be doing will have a big impact , but you should also search for an organization that has a positive work culture where other people enjoy their jobs. This can have benefits beyond providing you with a great experience over the summer: it will also show you what the world of work can be like and help you make better decisions about what you’re willing to settle for later in life. 5. Work You Care About The internship will be more meaningful to you — and look more impressive when you’re applying for jobs — if you work on projects that have an impact in the real world. Often, the best way to find out what the internship is likely to involve is to research what work interns did in previous years. A final consideration is where you’ll live during your summer internship. Many students choose to stay near their university and find an apartment where they can continue to live when the fall semester starts. For Brock University off-campus housing, there’s Foundry Lofts. You’ll be able to stay connected with WiFi throughout the building, relax in your private bedroom in your spacious suite, and meet other students in places like the TV lounge, game room, and movie theatre. Apply now while there are still a few places left.

Should You Take Night Classes?

While night classes are most popular with students who also have a full-time job, they’re actually open to everyone. Whether there’s a class you’d like to take that’s happening at night, you’re considering taking night classes just for the experience, or you’d like to free up some time during the day, it's important to know the pros and cons before coming to a decision. Pro: Hear Different Perspectives Since it’s mainly mature students who take night classes, you’ll hear completely different viewpoints. This can lead to engaging discussions in the classroom and can enrich group projects. Since some students may already have jobs in a related field, you’ll also gain insights into what it’s like to work in particular industries . Con: A Restricted Social Life Mature students and others working full time will often be less available to socialize. Plus, your classes may take place at the same time as other activities on campus, meaning you could miss out on some other opportunities. Pro: Free Up Your Schedule When taking classes at night, it’s up to you how to use your time during the day. It can be particularly useful to study: doing homework right before a night class can be helpful for remembering more details, meaning you’ll be able to participate more in class. It can also be useful for reminding you that you need to ask the professor any questions you may have. Alternatively, night classes could increase your availability for shifts, which will mean you’re able to work more hours and increase your income. Con: Reduced Access to Campus Services Services like the financial aid office, careers services, writing centre , and perhaps even dining and the campus library may only be open during the day. If you’re taking night classes to be able to work, you may need to request time off to access these services. Pro: Expand Your Network You’re likely to meet students at night classes whom you would otherwise never have met. This is great for developing a network of people who could be useful contacts after you graduate. In addition, you’ll often find that adjunct professors are teaching night classes. They often come from more diverse backgrounds than tenured professors and may have more real-world experience. Con: Long Hours Combining night classes with morning and afternoon classes can lead to long days. You’ll need to be disciplined enough to ensure you use your time between classes productively and avoid distractions like social media. If you want to take just night classes for the chance to work during the day, you may find that you become exhausted, which will make it more difficult to concentrate in class. If you do decide to take night classes, it will be extra important to live near campus. For Brock off-campus living, there’s Foundry Lofts. At just one kilometre from campus, it’s a 10-minute walk, six minutes by bike, and three minutes by bus. Plus, you’ll have a range of great amenities on site, including a fitness centre , study lounge, and in-suite washer and dryer. Apply now to secure a unit for next semester.

How Much Will You Need to Spend on College Supplies?

To work out a budget for your time at college, you need to know how much you’re likely to spend on supplies. Whereas this depends on a variety of factors, including where you’ll be studying, your major, and where you purchase supplies, it is possible to make a reasonably accurate estimate. What Supplies Will You Need? Tuition accounts for around one-third of college-related costs, housing about 40 percent, and food about 15 percent. After this, your biggest expense is likely to be course materials. The supplies you’ll need include textbooks, lab books, notebooks, and stationery. Depending on what classes you take, you may also need things like a calculator, art supplies, and specialist software — you can find out what expenses you’ll incur by reading more about your class requirements. All this adds up to an average of a bout $800 per year. However, costs do vary quite considerably for students taking different majors. Typically, though, the most expensive majors in terms of course materials are business, criminology, and psychology. In contrast, the least expensive majors are computer science, math, and music. Other Expenses Many college students already have a laptop when they start classes. If you don’t (or if your laptop lacks the capabilities you need for your classes), this will be another expense. You can purchase a basic laptop for a few hundred dollars, but if you need a particular model, you may need to spend up to a couple thousand dollars. How to Reduce Costs Whatever supplies you need, there are strategies you can use to reduce costs. Buy Second Hand Usually, there’s no need to buy new books. Since students who have completed a class often have no more use for their books, there tend to be many second-hand course materials available for purchase at the end of the semester. As well as buying from students at your college, you can find used books for sale online. Rent Your Books An alternative to purchasing books is to rent them. Just make sure you won’t need to refer to a book later and that you can keep it in good condition. Use Your College Computer Lab If you’re struggling to afford a laptop, software, or tech equipment, you may be able to find what you need at your college computer lab. Often, the equipment is available to use 24 hours a day. Avoid Wasting Supplies Prevent the need to purchase all new stationery and notebooks each year by keeping everything organized. If you need to move out of your housing at the end of the year, pack up your supplies to reuse them instead of throwing them out. Pick Up Items from Free Bins It’s common for colleges to set up free bins at the end of the year. Here, students can dispose of items like stationery and clothing that others may want. You’ll also spend less if you live in off-campus housing rather than in a dorm. An alternative to Niagara College residence is Foundry Lofts. We have four- and five-bedroom suites available, both furnished and unfurnished. Book an in-person or virtual tour to check out the facilities.

7 Reasons to Move Off Campus

Living on campus is often the default when you start college — but most students quickly realize that it’s far from ideal. Typically, staying in a dorm means sharing a small room with a stranger (and other areas of your housing with a large number of students), adhering to strict rules, and being stuck with a meal plan. If you’re wondering whether you should move off campus, the answer is probably yes for a few main reasons. 1. Save Money Even though you don’t receive much more than a simple room when you live on campus, dorms tend to be much more expensive than renting your own apartment. This is because you’re paying extra to be close to your classes and to receive meals. As a result, though, more of your budget goes to housing and less to enjoying student life. You can find housing to fit virtually any budget when you live off campus. To spend as little as possible, find an apartment where utilities are included and that has many bedrooms to split costs with a large number of roommates. 2. Choose Your Neighbourhood Proximity to classes does have its advantages, particularly if you’re taking many morning classes. However, there’s often no need to live on campus — you’ll find it’s just as convenient to be a short commute away. The added advantage is that you are able to choose from a variety of neighbourhoods to find somewhere safe and close to the kinds of services you want, whether that’s grocery stores, restaurants, nightlife, or your part-time job. 3. More Freedom You likely started college with ideas about how much freedom and independence you would have, only to find out that living on campus can often resemble being at your parents’ house. There are many rules to follow, including periods of quiet during the lead-up to exams and perhaps even a curfew. There are far fewer rules when you live off campus — you just need to be respectful of your neighbours and keep the apartment in good condition to avoid losing your security deposit. 4. Great Amenities College dorms are scarce in terms of amenities. For instance, you usually don’t have more than a mini fridge and a microwave. In off-campus housing, a full-size kitchen is standard. Plus, you’ll share a bathroom with far fewer people. Some buildings even have extra perks , including a gym, study areas, and lounges where you can meet other residents. 5. The Option to Have a Car It can be difficult to have your own car when you live on campus. Often, there are no reserved spaces, which is a big problem when there’s insufficient parking for everyone. When you live off campus, you may be able to request a space on site or at least find parking nearby. 6. Privacy and Personal Space Many students find making the adjustment to being around other people almost all the time quite exhausting. Plus, your personal space is extremely limited. Moving off campus will allow you to maintain an active social life, but you can also spend time alone whenever you choose. 7. Stay Over the Summer It may be more convenient to continue living in your college town over the summer, such as if you want to take summer classes, continue working, or find an internship nearby. You’ll likely need to find off-campus housing if you want to do any of these things, as dorms tend to shut for the summer. In fact, even if you want to spend all or some of your summer at your parents’ home, it will be more comfortable to leave most of your belongings behind to avoid another big move in the fall. You can find Niagara College student housing at Foundry Lofts. Receive your own bedroom in a spacious suite equipped with stainless steel appliances. In addition, you’ll have access to exclusive amenities, including fitness facilities, a games room, and a movie theatre. Sign a lease now to take advantage of the lowest rates of the year.