Simple Study Tips for Midterms

 

While midterms are important, some students may end up feeling overly anxious about studying for them. Because these exams only cover half a semester of material, they should be less stressful and require less work than finals. Plus, you can use certain techniques and shortcuts to make studying for midterms even easier. Discover some practical ways to get prepared for these mid-semester exams below.

Systematic Study Sessions

You can avoid having to cram before midterms by beginning the study process a few weeks in advance. Work study sessions into your schedule each week. Not only will this approach alleviate some pressure, but it will also help you retain and recall information. Plus, you’ll still have time to work on other assignments, important tasks, and projects. Just remember to make time for each class.

Regularly Reviewing Material

Reviewing notes, as well class and textbook material, is a fail proof way to retain information. For the best results, review important concepts from this material for just a few minutes each day. You can even rewrite or tidy up your notes for a simple and effective review. Making sense of your notes through rewriting them can serve as a reminder of important information and even help clarify confusing or complex topics. So, when you read and organize your own notes, you’re inadvertently reviewing the material.

Organizing your notes every week should keep you abreast of all the concepts that will most likely be covered on the midterm exam. You should also review material discussed in class and covered in the textbook. Plus, by connecting this material to your lecture or lecture notes, you’ll broaden your understanding of certain topics.

Using Flashcards

Flashcards are one of the most effective study tools used and beloved by students everywhere. Creating and using flashcards makes studying easier, quicker, and perhaps even enjoyable. The visual cues and repetition of flashcards helps you recall information. Moreover, flashcards can be stored and used for quick reference when needed or reviewed just before the exam. You can also use flashcards to hold engaging studying sessions in a group, which brings us to our next tip.

Joining a Study Group

Study groups or study partners help students to share ideas, information, perspectives, and resources. Your classmates can clarify confusing concepts, provide smart study tips, shed light on key information, and keep you on track and immersed in the material. A study group or partner also alleviates some of the stress and pressure associated with studying for a big test. You can review information with your group or partner and quiz each other on key topics. Study groups are found all over campus or in your apartment community, especially if you live in one of the most equipped student rentals Waterloo has to offer, like those provided by King St. Towers.

Reviewing Major Concepts

Major concepts or topics are those that include the material most heavily covered in class, which will therefore make up most of the exam. Unfortunately, they may also be the most complicated to understand and study. Thus, you should review these concepts frequently and thoroughly. If a major concept includes many smaller topics, divide your study time. For example, study each group of connected topics on different days of the week. Eventually, you’ll be able to connect all the smaller topics to the larger concept.

Studying sizable concepts in smaller groups is perhaps the most effective way to retain the material. You can also ask your professors for guidance or information on which major topics will be covered on the exam. If you need additional help studying or understand complex topics, consider visiting your school’s learning centre.

Practical Ways to Bring Your Grades Up

 

Many aspects of university life depend on your ability to maintain your grades. After all, your grades act as the culmination of your academic effort, including attending class, studying, and completing exams and projects. As many students know, however, balancing, social, personal, and academic obligations can make it challenging to maintain good grades or raise them. Fortunately, these simple tips can help you raise your grades without derailing your social or personal life.  

Ask Your Professors for Help

If you’re struggling or your grades are failing, ask your professors for help. In many cases, professors are more than willing to provide extra credit or guidance. All you have to do is voice your concerns and express willingness to improve your performance. If you’re struggling in multiple classes, you might also consider consulting your academic advisor. These individuals can provide tips, support, and resources, including advice for lightening your course load. Moreover, they could also offer guidance on how to practice better time management, since this skill is essential to academic success.

Study Well

Studying is the cornerstone of good academic performance. So, to perform well, you must study well. Here are some smart, effective study techniques to consider:

• Review lecture notes and key concepts daily.
• Study for an exam every day at least a week before that exam.
• Join and contribute to a study group.
• Create and maintain a regular study schedule.
• Use flashcards for fast, effective studying, which makes it easier to retain and recall information.
• Find a quiet, comfortable place to study.
• Highlight key concepts in your notes and textbooks for quick reference.
• Seek tutoring or help with assignments when needed.

Be Active and Practice Effective Notetaking

Actively engaging during class keeps your brain active, flexible, and better capable of memorizing the material. An actively engaged student is one who asks questions, attends every class, participates in discussions, provides constructive feedback, and of course, listens and takes notes. The more active you are, the more you learn (from both your professor and your classmates).

Effective notetaking is also a key component of active engagement. Take notes on the major concepts and important information, but maintain focus on the professor. You don’t have to write down every detail your professor provides, as it would shift your focus away from the lecture, and it’s impossible. Plus, you should leave some space for thinking about intriguing or complex subjects. Use familiar abbreviations and schemes for faster notetaking, and since they will be studied later, make sure your notes are legible.

Get Organized

Being organized alleviates stress and confusion. It can also help you remember assignments, stay on schedule, complete goals, and meet deadlines. Learning organization skills and implementing certain tools can help you become a more organized student. A planner, in particular, is an important tool to consider. Typically, planners are used for scheduling and tracking daily activities, goals, assignments, and obligatory tasks. File folders, binders and organizers, notebooks and labels can also be used to keep hard copies of your assignments separated and organized. You can also use flash drives or storage to back up assignments and organize digital files.

If your grades are suffering, poor organization could be to blame. So, try getting organized as a part of your approach to improving your school performance. Strong organization skills can even extend to other areas of your university life, including navigating the search for the best student housing Waterloo has to offer.

Contact us today for more information on our student housing in Waterloo. 

5 Popular Spring Break Destinations to Consider

Spring break offers reprieve from the long, cold winter, unyielding classes, and stressful exams. It’s a welcome opportunity for university students to relax and cut loose. Spring break getaways are so popular that each year seems to have its own must-see destination. Yet, you can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true mainstays. Below are a few fun, popular locations to consider for this year’s spring break.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, Florida is a popular year-round vacation spot, offering 37 kilometres of beaches, plenty of entertainment, and quick access to other locations and activities, like Universal Studios in Orlando. Of course, it’s also a popular destination for spring breaking. The popular locale allows university students to explore interactive motorsports shows, picturesque beaches, and tons of restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach is another popular Florida spring break destination. In fact, this spot has even been dubbed the “Spring Break Capital of the World.” The location offers over 11 kilometres of white sand beaches adjacent to the Gulf Coast. These beaches are usually filled with spring breakers, as well as local entertainment and hospitality industries offering events and accommodations designed to attract university students. In many cases, resort and vacation packages are especially affordable during this time. Yet, while Panama City Beach is fun, it’s often overrun by spring breakers. If you’re worried about crowds, you can still explore other exciting spring break locations in Florida, including Miami, Clearwater, and Key West.

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios is a fishing village in Jamaica which is becoming an increasingly popular spring break location. Its quaint feel, lush landscape, iridescent waterfalls, and historical legends attract visitors from all over the world. History enthusiasts are drawn to the village’s Columbus Park, which features maritime artifacts and Colonial Spanish architecture to honour Christopher Columbus. In this area, the park is touted as the first place where Columbus landed in the West Indies. Ocho Rios is also known as “the spring break destination in Jamaica.” Spring breakers are often drawn to the nightlife and lively parties at Rick’s Café and Margaritaville. Musical performances and beachfront gatherings are also common sights in Ocho Rios.

Cancun

Cancun, Mexico is perhaps one of the most recognizable names in the spring break arena. Most university students know that Cancun offers a “can’t miss” spring break experience. Here, you’ll find spring breakers from around the world. Like Panama City Beach, FL, the destination is replete with events and accommodations suited to university students. Beach parties, nightclubs, booze cruises, horseback riding, waterparks, and ziplining are just a few of the activities you’ll encounter in Cancun. You can also take in some history by visiting some ancient Mayan sites.

South Padre Island

South Padre Island is a barrier island in Texas and a top spring break destination. The island’s affordability and thriving nightlife make the destination especially popular amongst university students. Plus, the island is brimming with water sports and is even known for its active dolphin population. Spring breakers are also drawn to the island’s quaint appeal. The fun and charm of South Padre Island is comparable to other popular spring break locations in the southern United States, such as New Orleans, Louisiana, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Spring break can make the university experience rich and exciting – but naturally, returning home can feel a bit deflating after such a vibrant vacation. If you’re unhappy in your current accommodations, you might consider looking for different apartments near the University of Waterloo to enjoy a more private living space that will better round out your student life. King Street Towers offers premium off-campus student housing for University of Waterloo students with 24-hour recreation and fitness centres, as well as private bedrooms to give you the space you need when you need it. Contact us to book a tour!

How to Handle a Difficult Roommate

Anyone that has lived in a college residence has ultimately had to deal with a difficult roommate. Even if you haven’t, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the horror stories of roommates locking each other out, stealing each other’s belongings, or bickering before bed.

Don’t end up like one of these stories. Here’s a guide for tactfully dealing with a difficult roommate.

1. Create an agreement early on

You don’t need a physical written contract, but you do need to assign ground rules. Who will do the dishes when they’re dirty? Who will get groceries? Is there a policy for playing music while others are studying or doing homework? It’s important to come to an agreement early on, instead of procrastinating and then arguing later.

2. Stay objective

In any situation, try to remove yourself from the problem so you can look at it objectively. When you take things personally, your mind is clouded, and you’re only focused on attacking the other person (in this case, your roommate). If any problem were to arise, approach it as you would a lawyer or a detective: focus on the facts.

3. Spot early signs

Roommates don’t just flip out at any given moment (most of the time). Many will exhibit signs leading up to a potential major conflict, so it’s important to keep an eye out. These may include not doing their share of chores, passive aggressive remarks, or just general apathy or disrespect. Don’t let these go. Address them as soon as possible.

 4. Confront directly

Don’t hide behind an RA or a friend. Don’t send text messages or voicemails explaining your issue. Instead, seat your roommate down when they aren’t busy, and be honest about the situation. If something they do is making you unhappy, let them know. Many times we aren’t even aware of what we do wrong, so being direct with your roommate could help open their eyes.

5. Consult help

If the steps above have been ineffective for mitigating conflict, you’ll need to get outside help to mediate the conversation. You may want an RA’s advice on how to handle the situation, or a mutual friend’s opinion. Finally, if you cannot resolve the issue amicably within a few months, it may be time to ask for a transfer to a different dorm or apartment, or even look into other student apartments for rent so you can live on your own.

Living with a roommate can be an incredible experience, or it can be exhausting. At times, the pressure of simply living so closely with other students can spark disagreements. Check out some off-campus student housing to find a new environment for you and your roommate, if needed.

Is Residence or an Apartment Right for You?

One of the biggest decisions to make before you head off to university is where to live. Many students decide to spend at least their first year in residence, but others find this uncomfortable and prefer to live in apartment rentals in Waterloo. Waterloo students are lucky, as there are plenty of options whatever you choose — you just need to figure out what would better suit your needs.

Cost of Living

Living in residence is almost always more expensive than renting an apartment. You pay for the convenience of being on campus, receiving a meal plan, and having a furnished space.

However, the total costs could be lower, as you’ll only pay for eight months rather than 12 months. This could be convenient if you want to go home over the summer, but it will be an additional complication if you want to stay in Waterloo for a job or internship.

Meet New People

A major reason why many students opt to live in residence for their first year is because they have no friends at university yet. When you live on campus, you meet a huge number of people in a short period of time. Beyond just being around other people, you can attend organized events that are designed to help you make friends.

Privacy and Freedom

A downside to living on campus is the lack of privacy. You’ll be sharing a room with another person, which means you’ll rarely be alone. Plus, you’ll have to share a bathroom with even more students.

You’ll also have less freedom. In residence, you need to stick to the rules about who you are allowed to bring to your room and stay quiet during exams. At other times of the year, you may find the dorms quite loud, which could make it difficult to study.

If you live in your own apartment, you’ll most likely have your own room and share common spaces with fewer people. Plus, you can set your own rules.

Commute

The last factor to consider is your commute. Living in residence means that you’re already close to everything and rarely need to think about transportation. If you have an apartment, however, you will need to think about how you’ll get to class.

It is possible to have the best of both worlds. With Waterloo student housing rentals like King Street Towers, you’ll be around other students and live near campus, but you can enjoy freedom and privacy. Plus, the suites are much more affordable than living in residence, even though rooms are furnished.

Questions You Should Ask When Renting Housing in University

Moving into off-campus housing is a big step. Initially, you’ll probably feel excited about your newfound freedom. All the same, the search for the perfect home can quickly turn stressful. Asking the right questions is key to ensuring you choose the best place to live and to preventing problems in the future.

1. How Does the Lease Work?

If the landlord will provide you with a single lease, this is ideal. You could be in trouble if one of your roommates fails to pay the rent on time and decides to move out early. When you know and trust everyone you will be sharing with, this is unlikely to be a problem. However, if some of your roommates are friends of friends, you need to be prepared that, should the living situation change, you may need to pay an extra share of rent and utilities.

Ideally, the landlord will be able to give each of you an individual lease. That way, if someone does leave, there will be no rush to find a replacement roommate.

2. What Does the Rent Include?

Sometimes, rent includes utilities. In other cases, tenants are expected to pay for everything. It is crucial to ask exactly what the rent includes when considering an apartment — otherwise, it’s impossible to compare places.

If the rent will not include utilities, find out how much you can expect to pay. Ask the landlord for average monthly payments. It is best if you can see evidence of what the previous tenant was paying. This will ensure that the landlord is not underestimating. Also bear in mind that some tenants may be less careful about how much they spend on things like electricity and heating — you may be able to reduce these expenses.

3. Who Is Responsible for Maintenance?

Some affordable housing for students is not the newest. There is always the chance that something could break — and you may need it fixed as soon as possible. Most of the time, landlords take responsibility for maintenance and offer a timely service. Clarify that this is the case before signing a lease.

A good alternative to apartments for rent near University of Waterloo is a place like King Street Towers. This accommodation is designed just for students, but it is still off-campus housing Waterloo, Students each receive a furnished suite in clean, modern facilities — utilities and maintenance are included. Although you’ll have roommates, you’ll only be responsible for your own rent payment.

Rental Tips for Students

Many students are concerned about living off campus simply because of potential problems. After all, you’ll need to take extra steps to stay safe and avoid disputes with your landlord. However, these are minor challenges to overcome, especially when you consider all the advantages of living in student rentals in Waterloo. In fact, with the right planning, there is no reason you should experience any issues at all.

1. Avoid Becoming a Target for a Break-In

Take measures to prevent your home from becoming appealing to thieves. When you go out, draw the curtains of any windows with a street view or at least keep valuables out of sight. Always confirm that windows and doors are securely fastened — including when you are in the house.

2. Stay Alert

Be on the lookout for anyone in your neighbourhood acting suspiciously. Take extra care when arriving home late in the evening.

3. Never Hide Keys

Leaving a key under the doormat or elsewhere in the entranceway is all but inviting thieves into your home. If you worry about getting locked out, give a spare key to a trusted neighbour.

4. Prevent Fires

Check your smoke alarm on a regular basis. Avoid accidents by never leaving the oven or dryer on when you leave home, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Unplug items like hair straighteners as soon as you’ve finished with them.

5. Report Maintenance Needs

Confirm what your responsibilities are and what are the responsibilities of your landlord by reading your lease. For instance, you may be required to shovel snow and keep the yard in good condition. However, your landlord should carry out repairs to appliances and fixtures. If you need any maintenance, inform your landlord as soon as possible.

6. Take Out the Garbage

It is crucial that you take out the trash regularly. Letting it build up will attract pests ranging from flies to rats, which could cause damage to your unit.

7. Be Respectful

If you are renting a room in your landlord’s apartment, go a step further. Keep common areas clean, avoid making too much noise, and obey the rules of the house.

You can eliminate the headaches that come with renting off-campus University of Waterloo housing by staying in a student rental like King Street Towers. Staff are on call 24 hours a day to resolve any problem you may face, only people who live in the building are allowed to enter unattended, and you have no need to worry about repairs — simply submit a maintenance request for whatever you need.

Tips for Keeping Your Student Housing Clean

When you lived at home with your parents, you most likely did at least some light cleaning. Still, nothing can prepare you for maintaining an entire apartment. The situation only becomes more complicated if you live with roommates, as you’ll need to ensure that everyone contributes their fair share. By having a plan in place (that you all agree to stick to), you can ensure that your home stays organized and clean.

1. Clean Up in the Moment

Mess always starts with one neglected chore. If you notice that something needs cleaning, do it as soon as possible. Of course, there will be times that a chore has to wait, such as when you’re rushing to class or you arrive home late and are too exhausted to do anything. However, these occasions need to be the exception.

Put things away when you’re done with them, wash dishes right away when you’ve finished eating (you can even wash some as you cook to make clearing up your meal easier), and just strive to be tidy in general. Not only will this speed up how much time it takes to clean, it could even help you avoid problems like pest infestations, stains, and other damage — repairs for which will come out of your security deposit.

2. Replace Cleaning Supplies Immediately

You won’t be able to clean if you run out of supplies. If you notice that a cleaning product is running low, add it to your shopping list. Then, once you have everything you need, store supplies in logical places. The last thing you want is to become frustrated when you are unable to find the cleaning equipment you need.

3. Designate Different Areas for Different Activities

Spreading activities around your apartment is a great way to create mess. Prevent such disorganization by always eating at the kitchen table, studying at your desk, and relaxing on your couch. In particular, avoid using your bed for multiple purposes. Otherwise, you’ll likely find random items strewn on the floor around your bed.

Student apartments in Waterloo are a challenge to keep clean, as they have many common areas and it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for what. For this reason, a better option may be a room for rent in Waterloo. Off-campus housing like King Street Towers is especially ideal, as you are only responsible for keeping your area of the suite clean and there is no need to worry about maintenance.

How to Be a Successful Student

With your newfound freedom, a heavy workload, and plenty to distract you, it can be difficult to be a successful student at college or university. It is important that you have a game plan if you are going to ace your exams and graduate on time.

1. Organize Your Time

Dedicate certain times of the day to schoolwork. During these periods, turn off your phone notifications and don’t allow yourself to do anything unrelated to your studies.

2. Focus on One Thing

Pick a single activity and give it your undivided attention. You may believe that you can multitask, but if you try to do more than one thing at once, the quality of your work will suffer.

3. Set Realistic Goals

As a rule, projects take longer than you would expect. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need to complete the work. In addition, plan to work for reasonable amounts of time. Spending too long studying will only make you exhausted, and you’ll be unable to absorb all the information.

4. Take Breaks

Include breaks in your schedule. It’s best if you can use your breaks to be productive. For instance, regular exercise will make it easier to concentrate.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Another way to give your brain a break is to sleep enough at night. Figure out how many hours you need and make sure you never sleep less than that.

6. Create a Study Space

Assign a space just for studying. This needs to be away from the view of the TV and other things that may distract you. It should also feature a comfortable seat. Use the space just for your schoolwork — this will help put you in the right mindset.

7. Study with Others

Studying with others will keep you motivated. It also gives you the opportunity to discuss any material you are struggling with and to explain concepts to others — if you are able to explain something, you definitely understand it.

It is impossible to be a successful student if you lack a quality Waterloo student living space. You’ll be able to focus much better on your studies if you move off campus and seek out Waterloo student housing rentals. Your best option is a place like King Street Towers. Designed just for students, the rooms are furnished suites with comfortable beds. On site, you’ll find lounges for group study, a fitness centre, and a recreational centre where you can relax with friends.

Reasons You May Want to Consider Getting a Part-Time Job in University

Many people work while at university. Still, it’s no easy choice to make. The time you spend working is time you could be studying. At the same time, though, working does have a number of benefits. Before you decide to start a job search, consider the top reasons to seek employment while still at university to figure out if it’s the right decision for you.

1. Have Greater Financial Freedom

The main reason for working is, of course, to earn money. If you are struggling to stay within your budget, you are worried about paying off your student debt, or you just want to be able to do more, a part-time job could be ideal. You’ll owe less when you graduate and you’ll be able to afford extras now, like eating out or going to events.

2. Experience the World of Work

If you’ve never had a job before, it can be difficult to know what you excel at and where your passions lie. Trying out a job related to your field of study will show you if you’re on the right path. You may even realize that you want to pursue a different career.

3. Develop Contacts

In the case you’re lucky enough to find a job you like and you decide to continue working in the same industry after graduation, your part-time job will provide you with your first contacts. Even if you take a completely different route, the likelihood is that you’ll meet plenty of new people during the time you’re working. The more you can expand your network, the more chances you have at connecting with someone influential.

4. Graduate with Experience on Your Resume

Graduates with no experience often struggle to find work straight out of university. A part-time job while studying gives you something to put on your resume and shows employers that you possess the key skills needed in the world of work. You will also be able to provide references from employers, rather than just professors.

You may decide that working part-time would be too much on top of studying (especially if you want to have time to socialize). If your main motivation is to save money, an alternative option is to move from University of Waterloo housing to an off-campus apartment. Student rentals in Waterloo tend to be far less expensive than on-campus rooms and they’re much more comfortable.

Exam Study Tips for University Students

There’s only one thing worse than taking exams: studying for them! Luckily, it is possible to remove some of the pain of studying — all you need to do is learn study tips that work.

1. Create a Study Routine

Create a study plan not just for a single day but for every day leading up to exams. Stick to a routine where you study at the same time of day and same day of the week. This will enable you to create a schedule that fits with your classes and other activities while keeping you motivated.

When drawing up your schedule, there are a few things to take into account. First, your schedule needs to include how much time you’ll spend on each subject. It’s a good idea to switch to something easier right after you study something hard. Second, include breaks and rewards in your schedule. Lastly, when you finish studying for the day, decide which topics require more focus and program them for next time.

2. Have a Plan to Prevent Procrastination

During study time, don’t allow yourself to do anything else. This means ignoring alerts on your phone and quashing the temptation to check social media. If you can’t seem to stay focused, aim to study for a shorter period. Over time, you can build up to longer amounts.

3. Find a Place to Study

Surrounded by noise and distractions, it can be difficult to concentrate in your room if you live on campus. A better option is to use the library or another place designated for study. You’ll likely have an easier time if you live in student apartments in Waterloo. Students who live off campus can choose between studying at home or heading to the university library. Either way, you should find a quiet environment.

4. Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy

It is extra difficult to study when you’re in poor health. Figure out how much sleep you need and make sure you get enough. It is not worth staying up late to study, especially right before exams — you’ll be too tired to focus properly. You can also keep your mind fresh by taking care of your body. This means exercising and eating well.

Prepare for the exam season ahead of time by seeking a room for rent in Waterloo. Students can find premium housing at King Street Towers. Here, you can study for exams in your suite or in one of the group study lounges — whatever you find more comfortable.

Tips for Living Off Campus

For many college and university students, there’s little more exciting than living off campus. It offers freedom, independence and an introduction to adulthood. But in some cases, little is more stressful and confusing than living off campus. Taking on so much responsibility can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks to help any student survive this experience. Below are a few of these tips and tricks.

Figure Out the Bills

Living in your own apartment (even if you live with roommates) means paying the bills. While paying bills is synonymous with adulthood, it’s also one of the most stressful parts of adulthood. And this stress is only compounded when you don’t know how to pay the bills. Unbeknownst to many, the secret to low-stress bill paying is creating and maintaining a monthly budget. This budget should include your rent, utilities (gas, electricity, cable, etc.), mobile phone bill, groceries, household products, and entertainment (if applicable). Of course, bills become more affordable and budgeting may become easier when you live with roommates. However, you won’t have to worry about the cost of utilities if you move into Waterloo student housing rentals like those offered by King Street Towers, as their rentals are all-inclusive.

Plan to Clean

Not much cleaning or cleaning expertise is required when you live in a single room. Most college and university students go from living in a room at home to living in a room on campus. So, having to clean an entire apartment can be shocking. But, creating a chore list and/or cleaning plan can help reduce some of its shock value. Just remember to buy plenty of cleaning supplies, and invest in a good broom, vacuum, duster and mop. Additionally, buy plenty of laundry supplies, including detergent, fabric softener, bleach, collapsible laundry baskets (for easy handling, transporting and space-saving capabilities), hangers, a garment bag and more. Make sure your room and the main living area is cleaned and organized every day (e.g. make your bed, vacuum, remove clothing from floor, etc.), wash or place the dishes in the dishwasher after every meal (always put them away too) and clean the entire bathroom and do the laundry at least once a week.

Move Close to Campus

Although off-campus Waterloo student living can offer immense freedom and independence, you should remain as close to campus as possible. Proximity to campus can decrease your commute to class, the campus library, etc., help you stay connected to the school and your peers, and help you save money on transportation. If you move to off-campus student housing like King Street Towers, you’ll have these conveniences and more. In fact, their properties are so close to the University of Waterloo that you could walk to class every day.

Common Pitfalls for University and College Students — and How to Avoid Them

Starting college or university can be a difficult adjustment. A major reason for this is that students are prone to making a few common mistakes. Being aware of these pitfalls will help you avoid them, increasing the chances that your college experience is a positive one.

Missing Class

Before university, there were immediate consequences of skipping class. Now, it’s down to you to be disciplined; if you’re not, you may fail. Resist the temptation to stay out late when you have an early class the next day — or even hold off partying entirely until the weekend. If you know that you’ll likely struggle to make it to school early, opt for classes that with later start times, whenever possible.

Falling Behind

Even if you do make it to all your classes (and on time), there is still the possibility that you may fall behind. This is because simply attending class is not enough: you also need to study in your own time. If you find it hard to stay focused when you’re on your own, form a study group. If, after this, you are still finding it difficult to keep up, consider hiring a tutor.

Rushing Into Your Housing Decision

With so many choices to make related to your education, it may seem simpler to just opt for University of Waterloo housing instead of shopping around. Some students are happy living on campus, but many find it more comfortable to rent an apartment, as living in independent housing gives you the chance to choose your roommates, provides you with more space, and makes it easier to study well.

Trying to Do Too Much

There’s no way to avoid the homesickness at the beginning of your first semester — it’s a natural consequence of being away from family and friends. Instead of filling all your time with activities to distract yourself, accept how you feel. Give yourself time to settle in and to relax by yourself. Decide how many classes you can reasonably expect to manage, and limit yourself to no more than one or two clubs or sports teams in your first year.

Most of the above pitfalls involve just simple fixes, the exception being finding the right housing. If you believe that you’ll be happier living off campus, start your search early for student rentals in Waterloo. University students have it easy — they can find a home at King Street Towers.

Best Ways to Save Money As a Student

Becoming a student comes with a lot of freedom. However, if you’re not used to managing your finances, this can be a difficult adjustment. The likelihood is that you’ll only be working part time (if at all), which means you’ll need to be careful to save money. Luckily, with a simple plan in place, you can ensure that you never exceed your budget.

Spend Sensibly

It may be tempting to purchase something that catches your eye or throw a few treats in the shopping cart when out grocery shopping. Always think twice before you buy anything — this includes eating out when you planned to cook. For big purchases, wait a while before buying or at least shop around to see if you can find a better price.

Monitor Your Buying Habits

It’s impossible to know that you’re staying within your budget if you fail to keep track of purchases. Write down everything you pay to see where your money is going. Then, you can decide how much you can afford to designate to each activity. In addition, make sure that you frequently check how much you have in the bank, just to confirm that you’re not overspending.

Travel Cheaper

Whenever you can, walk or bike. It’s cheaper and it gives you exercise. If you’ll need to travel farther, see if public transport is an option. You may be able to avoid bringing a car to college entirely.

Buy Second-Hand Books

There’s no need to buy all your books new — a better option is to purchase them from former students. If you keep the books in good condition, you can even sell them once you graduate and regain what you spent.

Avoid Late Payment Charges

When any bills arrive, pay them immediately, or at least as soon as possible. This will prevent you from needing to pay late charges, which often adds a large amount to the total.

Live Off Campus

You may be able to find significant cost savings by searching for apartments near University of Waterloo. Typically, you can pay less living off campus, even when you add in the cost of utilities.

A great option for high-quality yet affordable Waterloo student living is King Street Towers. It’s almost as close to University of Waterloo as living on campus, but costs a fraction of the price. Best of all, the apartments are all inclusive, meaning you won’t need to worry about budgeting for bills nor paying for a gym membership.

Should You Live with a Roommate in University?

The fact is: some people prefer living alone whereas others prefer to live with a roommate. When you’re heading off to university, you need to decide which category you fall into. This will help you determine whether you’d be more comfortable living on campus or in off-campus student housing. It can be difficult to know if you’ve never lived with a roommate before, but thinking about your personality and habits can help you figure it out.

Will You Be Lonely?

Some people feel lonely living alone. Even when your roommate is only an acquaintance, having someone around to talk to at the end of the day can help you avoid feeling homesick.

Do You Value Your Privacy?

On the other hand, if you enjoy spending long periods of time alone, you may struggle to adapt to living with someone else, particularly in such close quarters.

Are You a Neat Freak or Very Messy?

People of either extreme tend to find it difficult to live with someone else if their habits don’t match their roommate’s lifestyle. Consider if you’d be willing to make an effort to change or be more adaptable.

Do You Know Someone You Want to Share With?

If it’s your first year of university, the likelihood is that you know no one yet, meaning that if you choose to live on campus, you’ll be assigned someone at random. There is the chance that you’ll end up being the best of friends with your roommate, but there is also the risk that you’ll find your roommate difficult to live with. For instance, this may be the case if one of you likes to stay up late to socialize whereas the other wants the room to be quiet for studying and likes to go to bed early.

If, however, you already have friends at the university, you may be able to pick someone to share with. Choose carefully, though — not all friends make great roommates, especially if you have distinct lifestyles.

It is possible to have the best of both worlds: you can have your own space and still be around other people with a suite in student housing. The Waterloo rental apartments at King Street Towers provide you with a space to share with just a few other students. Better still, if you don’t know anyone yet, you’ll be matched with people who have similar interests. Plus, you can have your own room or share a bedroom — whatever you prefer.

Finding an Apartment That’s the Right Fit

Looking for the right student apartment could be very challenging, especially when one decides to study outside their hometown and move to an unfamiliar city. Planning is essential in order to find an apartment that fits one’s lifestyle, as well as using effective means to finding student housing options. One way to do so is by turning to student focused property management companies which can provide a short list of housing rentals that would fit one’s needs and preferences.

When choosing among student housing options, there are a few things to consider to ensure that you are making the best decision:

Convenient Location

One of the most important considerations when looking for off campus residences is location. Living near the university grounds makes things much easier for college students, eliminating the need to commute back and forth to school every day. It is also ideal to choose off campus communities, such as Waterloo student housing rentals, that are located near other establishments, like grocery and retail stores, so you spend time going to these places and use your time doing more important things.

Student Friendly Area

When looking for rooms for rent in Waterloo University, students are better off choosing rentals that are within student housing areas, so you are able to collaborate on projects and hang out with your peers more easily. This also ensures that you avoid any issues with non-university neighbors, who might complain of noise from time to time. Being in a student friendly community provides the support you need, and it allows you to be yourself and feel comfortable as you go about your everyday life as a university student.

Safe Neighbourhood

Safety should also be one of your priorities. When moving to an off campus student housing, you need to make sure that you are living in a safe community. Do your own research and inspect the neighborhood before deciding to enter into a lease contract. Aside from choosing a neighborhood with low crime rates, you also want to choose a housing rental that offers security, such as 24/7 on call staff, individual locks, and CCTV cameras.

The Right Atmosphere

Not all students are alike, and so are student housing communities. While some may prefer to live in a more casual setting, where the residents are free to have their friends over, some students may want to stay somewhere quiet. Take a tour of your off campus student housing options and get a feel of the place. Check if there are separate facilities for binding with peers and for study, and choose the one where you know you would feel comfortable.

Looking for a student apartment can be an ordeal, but it’s one that you definitely need to plan for so you can find the right place for you, so take note of these helpful tips. Always remember that aside from having a place to stay after your classes, this is going to be your home away from home, so you need to make sure that the decision you make is the best one. 

Reasons Students Choose to Move into Residence or Off-Campus Apartments

Many students choose to live in residence during their first year of university to meet new people and make friends. Others, however, prefer to find a room or local apartment to save money and maintain privacy. As both options have their share of benefits, you’ll need to decide what is most important to you.

Moving into Residence

If you live in a University of Waterloo residence, you’ll immediately meet plenty of people. It will be easy to make friends, as you’ll be around people of a similar age who are in the same situation as you. This can help reduce any feeling of homesickness.

Another major benefit is convenience. You’ll be back home straight after class and you can sleep in the morning almost right up until you need to go to class. Plus, everything you need will be in one place, including study resources, food, and activities to take part in.

Finally, you’ll have almost as much freedom as living off campus. You’ll still have your own space and, for the most part, you can do whatever you want. There will be some rules, but no curfews or anything too strict.

Choosing an Off-Campus Apartment

The main advantage of an off-campus apartment is improved privacy and a lack of distractions. This gives you the chance to socialize only when you want to. The rest of the time, you can enjoy peace and quiet. You’ll also avoid sharing a bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen with too many people. It will be much more comfortable having your own — and far less frustrating.

Another advantage is that you’ll likely spend less. Off-campus apartments tend to be cheaper, but you’ll also see monetary savings by buying groceries and preparing your own food. Plus, you’ll eat better meals and start learning how to take care of yourself.

Lastly, there are fewer rules with an apartment than on campus. For instance, there’s no need to be silent when exams are taking place and there are no restrictions as to who can stay over.

If you want all the above — to meet new people, save money, maintain a sense of privacy, and easily reach school — your best option is student apartments for rent near University of Waterloo. Student housing at King Street Towers, for instance, gives you the opportunity to meet other students in places like the onsite fitness center, recreation center, and group study lounges. At the same time, you can be on your own and focus on your studies whenever you want.

A Quick Guide to Moving to University

Starting university can be stressful, frightening and confusing. In fact, much of the stress and confusion begins with the moving process. Most freshman don’t know what to pack, how much to pack, what to expect, what to do or where to go. However, there are some basic tips that can help every freshman successfully move to university. For example, you could use social media to connect with your roommates before the school year begins. You could also inquire about what furniture, household or other items the university provides, such as a toaster, a microwave or storage items. But the most important steps to take are the simplest ones, including packing, organizing and moving in.

Packing for University

Packing is one of the most laborious steps in the moving process – one that many young students don’t know how to or want to do. Plus, packing for university can be a bit of a science. You must pack the essentials, but bringing too much can be overwhelming, counterproductive and lead to major storage issues. Before packing, consider the storage provided by your university, as well as any items they might provide. Additionally, make sure your packing process is as organized as possible. First, declutter, then organize your belongings into “keep,” “throw away” and “donate” categories. Next, throw away and/or donate all unwanted items. Finally, pack the things you’ll be taking with you. Remember to use a “to-do list,” scratch off items as you complete them and label your boxes accordingly. For the sake of space, only take the essentials, including:

•                    A manageable amount of clothing and shoes

•                    Books

•                    A laptop and/or tablet

•                    School supplies (if applicable)

•                    Bed linens and accessories

•                    Hygiene products, e.g. soaps, shampoos and conditioners, deodorants, toothpaste and toothbrushes and haircare and skincare products

•                    Towels

•                    Basic kitchen utensils and dishes

Organise Your Move

Organisation is the key to making your move as smooth as possible. First, organize the packing process, taking care not to overstuff the boxes and storing your boxes in an easily accessible area. Next, arrange to have your things moved in a small truck or sizeable vehicle. Most likely, a small vehicle won’t be sufficient for moving all your boxes. Finally, schedule your move for at least a week before classes begin. Therefore, you’ll have plenty of time to unpack, organize your belongings, meet your roommates and/or dormmates, get settled and decompress before the first semester. This is especially important if you’re moving into Waterloo off campus housing, which may require you to arrange furniture, decorate and more.

Introduce Yourself

Whether you’re moving into a residence hall or one of the rooms for rent Waterloo has to offer, you’ll need to be introduced and become familiar with your new surroundings. Introduce yourself to your new roommate(s) soon after you arrive. Then, take a tour of and get a feel for your new living space. After the tour, unpack and arrange your space to fit your comfort level and style. You should also take this time to set and discuss rules with your roommate(s). If you’re moving into a residence hall, be sure to meet the resident advisor (RA), take a tour of the housing facility, get briefed on the rules and regulations of the dorm and much more.