Blog Posts

7 Kitchen Tips for Student Apartments

Cooking more often will help you save money and eat a more balanced diet. However, preparing food does take time — and you need to know what you’re doing to create tasty meals. If you’re unused to being in the kitchen, here are a few tips to bear in mind. 1. Add Flavour with Mayonnaise If you run out of butter and oil or you just want to add more flavour to your meals, grease the frying pan with mayonnaise. This works well for all sorts of meals, both sweet and savoury . 2. Turn Uncooked Ramen into Crackers Instead of adding water, you can fry uncooked ramen and eat it dry. Then, top these ramen crackers with the seasonings or sauces of your choice. 3. Use Ramen Flavouring for Other Meals Having used your ramen as crackers, you’ll have the flavouring packet left. This is useful for adding seasoning to meals like rice, pasta, and eggs. Plus, since you’re not creating a broth, you only need to use a small amount of the packet in each meal. 4. Keep Your Fruit Peels If you eat a lot of fruits, you may be throwing away fruit peels that could be useful. For instance, citrus fruit peel is ideal for deodorizing your drain. Throw it down your garbage disposal to make your kitchen smell fruity. You can also use fruit peels to make tea. Add it to boiling water and leave it for about two minutes to allow the aromas to infuse into the water. You can make your tea more interesting by adding spices and sweetening it with honey. 5. Peel Vegetables with a Spoon There are some vegetables that also need peeling. If you don’t have a vegetable peeler, you can remove the peel from root vegetables and ginger using a spoon. 6. Stop Your Hot Sandwiches from Becoming Soggy A top choice for a packed lunch is a hot sandwich. However, if you store the sandwich immediately after preparing it, the bread will be soggy. This is due to the steam from the sandwich causing water vapour to form, which the bread absorbs. Avoid an unpleasant experience simply by waiting for the sandwich to cool down before you put the lid on the container. 7. Create Patterns in Your Desserts An enjoyable meal is about appearances just as much as it is about taste. Make your desserts visually interesting by adding designs using forks or toothpicks. 8. Cook in Your Coffee Maker Quickly boil a variety of foods by using the carafe of your coffee maker. It’s ideal for everything from rice and vegetables to eggs and ramen. You can also wrap meat and fish in aluminum foil and heat it on the bottom plate. You’ll only be able to take advantage of these kitchen tips if you have an apartment with a proper kitchen. Students looking for housing near Fanshawe College can receive a fully-furnished apartment equipped with a dishwasher, microwave, and other essential appliances at Foundry First. Apply now to secure the lowest rates of the year on our four-, five-, and six-bedroom apartments.

Why College Libraries Are So Important

It used to be obvious why college libraries mattered: they were the main place to find relevant and reliable information. With the internet, it has become possible to search for information from anywhere. Nonetheless, college libraries are still crucial for students for the following reasons. 1. Access Just High-Quality Materials There’s a huge amount of inaccurate information online. Since you’re only able to use reputable sources as references in your assignment, the actual information available to you online may feel quite limited. In your campus library, though, you’re surrounded by only high-quality books, journals, and magazines that are always suitable as reference material. 2. Find What You’re Looking For You can find exactly what you’re looking for at the library because of the support system of librarians and other students. This means that finding materials you can use as references can be faster when you’re at the library than if you rely on internet searches. 3. Read for Pleasure At college, it’s easy to forget that reading is also fun. You may end up spending all your time reading the materials for your classes and neglect other books available to you. Spending time in the library will incentivize you to read due to the presence of books. Something may catch your eye — and before you know it, you’ll have fallen back into the habit of reading for pleasure. 4. Expand Your Knowledge Another side effect of college is that students tend to become absorbed fully in topics related to their classes and end up neglecting everything else. There’s a world of knowledge out there. Expanding your mind will ultimately help you with academics and more. The library is a great reminder of all the other subjects you find interesting and gives you the chance to explore them in your free time. 5. Find Solutions When you have a problem you need to solve, it’s the library that can often provide a solution. Find materials that inspire you and that take your ideas to the next level. Just spending more time in the library will improve your skills at searching for information, which will help you become more innovative when solving problems. 6. There’s No Better Place to Study There’s always a risk that you’ll become sidetracked when you sit down to study, but the risks are much lower when you choose the library. The atmosphere is conducive to studying, meaning you’re more likely to finish reading a text in the time you allocated — and you’re more likely to understand what you read. As a result, you’ll produce papers faster and to a higher quality. 7. Somewhere to Spend Quiet Time You can head to the library for more than just when you want to study: it’s the perfect place to go whenever you want peace and quiet to focus. Whereas many students like to spend their free time socializing, introverts can find this exhausting. The library gives you a place to concentrate on your personal projects and hobbies undisturbed and undistracted. When it’s inconvenient to head to the campus library, the next best place to focus is your private bedroom. Students looking for housing in London, Ontario, can find the ideal apartment at Foundry First. Your bedroom will be your refuge whenever you want to be alone, whereas the communal amenities like the lounge, theatre, and ping pong table are great when you want to be around other students. Apply for a suite now while there are still limited spots available.

What to Do When You Forget an Assignment

Staying on track with your studies can be hard at times, especially when you have other commitments, like extracurriculars or a part-time job. To make matters worse, professors often set assignments with due dates far in the future, making it easy to forget about an assignment entirely. It is extremely stressful to realize you don’t have enough time to complete an assignment, especially if you’re worried this could impact your final grade. Instead of panicking, there are a few things you can do to resolve t he situation. 1. Let Your Professor Know As soon as you realize that you’ll be unable to submit the assignment on time, contact your professor. Don’t wait until the day before the due date, as this shows you didn’t think ahead. If possible, meet with your professor in person, such as during office hours. If meeting in person is not a possibility, an email will have to suffice. Address your professor formally, be polite, and remember to apologize. Keep the email to no more than a few lines to avoid including unnecessary information or repeating yourself and ask if it would be possible to extend the deadline. Finally, make sure you include your contact information and student number. 2. Explain Your Situation Be honest with your reasons for missing the deadline. Your professor wants you to succeed and may be able to help you overcome any problems you are facing with submitting assignments on time — but this is only possible if you’re truthful about why you messed up. Besides, there’s a good chance your professor will catch on if you’re not being entirely honest about the situation. In addition, make it clear you understand that it’s your responsibility to meet due dates — your professor won’t appreciate it if you try to lay the blame on someone else. For instance, if your workload is too heavy, don’t complain about not having enough time to complete all your coursework. Instead, admit that you’ve taken on more than you can handle and that you may need to adjust your schedule. 3. Submit Something Your professor may ask you to submit whatever you have by the due date just to help you receive something higher than a zero. Alternatively, you may receive an extension — although it’s unlikely that this will be for much more than a few days. Whatever the case, put in the effort to submit the best work you can in this short timeframe . 4. Commit to Doing Better Next Time Don’t expect more than one second chance at university. This is not high school and the consequences for missing due dates are much more severe. Professors expect you to act like an adult and meet your deadlines, just like you would have to do at work. Keep track of your due dates and create a schedule for completing assignments around them. If you have a few assignments due around the same time, work on them well in advance. This is good practice anyway, since you never know if you’ll face a major problem, such as a medical emergency, power outage, or broken laptop. It’s easier to stay organized when you have a great place to study. Students looking for housing can find the privacy, comfort, and convenience they need to develop great study habits at Foundry First. We offer spacious furnished suites and great onsite amenities just steps away from Fanshawe College. Schedule a tour to see all the facilities for yourself.

8 Practical Safety Tips for Students

College should be a fun experience — and it usually is. However, you can’t escape the fact there are dangers, both on campus and beyond. It’s important to take steps to ensure your safety by avoiding situations that could put you at risk, staying alert, and being prepared for anything. 1. Always Lock Your Doors Locking your doors may feel like effort, especially when you live in a safe area of town. However, it takes mere seconds and significantly improves your safety. Lock your doors whenever you return home and always check them again before you go to sleep. 2. Avoid Becoming Distracted When Out and About Looking at your phone takes your attention away from your surroundings. It’s more dangerous still if you’re listening to music, as you may be unable to hear what’s happening around you. Although it may be boring, it’s sometimes necessary to go technology free, such as when you’re walking around or waiting for someone in an area that’s mostly deserted. 3. Use a Buddy System at Night Always try to find someone who can accompany you when you need to go somewhere at night, even if it’s only a short walk. For instance, if you need to stay on campus late, call some friends to see if they can walk you back to your housing. If you need to make a run to the grocery store at night, find out if one of your roommates also needs something and would be willing to accompany you. 4. Only Go to Parties with At Least One Friend Present Whereas it’s fine to go to campus events on your own, you should only go to parties when people you know are also attending. If all your friends decide to leave, you should, too — even if it’s early and you’re having a good time . 5. Familiarize Yourself with Campus Take the time to familiarize yourself with all the areas of campus. You’ll likely receive a guided tour when you start college, but you should also take a walk with your roommates or friends to explore fully. Locate landmarks that will allow you to orient yourself. 6. Learn About the Emergency Systems on Campus It’s likely your campus has emergency features like call buttons and phones. Find out where these are in advance of needing them. 7. Learn Self-Defense Learning self-defense will mean you can protect yourself in a dangerous situation. Plus, being aware of proper tactics will give you the confidence to stand up for yourself. Find out if you can take classes at college — they may even form an exercise elective. 8. Store Emergency Contacts on Your Phone If you’re in an accident and are admitted to hospital, the medical staff will check your phone for emergency contacts — these are accessible without unlocking your phone. You may also like to write your emergency contacts in your planner. Where you live can make a big difference to your safety at college. Students looking for housing in London, Ontario, can find a safe place at Foundry First. Located just 49 steps from campus, you’ll be able to walk to and from your classes and extracurriculars. You’ll also be able to have your own transportation for traveling farther afield — you can store your bike in our bicycle room and leave your car in our covered or uncovered parking. Finally, we have management on site to help you in the case you hav e any concerns. Apply now for a private room in a three-, four-, or five-bedroom apartment.

Exploring Study Abroad Opportunities: Broadening Your Horizons

College is a time in your life when you’ll have many new experiences — but it’s important to seek out these new experiences rather than waiting for them to come to you. One opportunity to take advantage of is studying abroad. This will broaden your horizons in a number of ways that staying in your home country never could. Here are some examples. 1. Learn About Another Culture The only way to truly understand another culture is to live in the country yourself for an extended period of time. This will show you how people live, including their values, customs, and traditions. As a result, you’ll improve your understanding of the world, develop empathy, and improve your ability to communicate with people from other cultures. 2. Gain Useful Skills You’ll develop all sorts of skills by living abroad that employers want to see in candidates. For instance, studying abroad demonstrates global citizenship, independence, adaptability, and the ability to problem solve. 3. Travel During your time studying abroad, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to go farther afield. Student organizations at your college may offer excursions to nearby sites of interest, whereas you’ll be able to use your weekends and longer breaks to visit other cities. 4. Become More Resilient Living abroad means you’ll face challenges you would never need to deal with in your home country. These may be due to language barriers or just from learning how things in daily life work. Although this will push you out of your comfort zone and it won’t be fun at times, you’ll ultimately find they’re some of your most rewarding experiences. For one thing, they’ll show you that you’re capable of much more than you ever imagined. 5. Sign Up for Unique Classes Some students choose where to study abroad according to the academic offerings of institutions in other countries, as these mean they’re able to take classes that would never be possible in their home countries. You’ll be able to count the credit toward your major or general education to make the investment worthwhile. This may be particularly useful if you want to take a language or cultural class related to the country. 6. Take Advantage of Scholarships The college or institution you want to attend may offer scholarships specifically for students who want to study abroad. These may be available based on your academic achievements or financial need. In either case, they’ll make living abroad much more affordable. Canada is one of the top destinations for study abroad opportunities for students of all nationalities, although it’s especially ideal for those who want to improve their English or French. Students looking for rooms to rent in London, Ontario, can find the perfect place to stay at Foundry First. You’ll be living around other students, who you can meet in places like the movie theatre, fitness centre , and common area lounge. Leases are for 12 months, but you’re welcome to sublet your room for the time you d on’t need it if you’ll be studying in Canada for less than a year. Contact us for more details.

How to Earn an Extra Income as a Student with Freelancing

Many students would like to earn an income while they study, but they’re worried this will take too much time away from their academics and other activities. The solution is to freelance. This allows you to set your own schedule and terms to ensure you always have enough time and enjoy the work. To be successful with freelancing, here are a few key things you can do. 1. Find Your Niche You may feel like you can’t afford to be picky when you’re starting out and that you need to apply for any freelancing work you think you can handle. The problem with this is it will be clear that you’re not an expert in any field, which will mean clients have no reason to choose you over anyone else. Plus, you’ll be stuck taking the lowest-paying jobs. A better way forward is to choose a niche, develop your skills in this area, and market yourself as an expert. You’ll have fewer competitors and be able to charge higher rates. 2. Learn Useful Skills It may be that you don’t have adequate skills to sell your services just yet. If this is the case, think about what you already do well and where you could improve to get to the point where you are able to freelance. Spend time developing your skills, whether that’s through watching how-to videos on YouTube, reading articles, taking short courses, or finding opportunities at college to learn, such as at clubs or through electives. In fact, it’s worth improving your skills even if you are ready to start freelancing now. The higher quality you’re able to offer, the more likely you are to find work — and receive higher pay. 3. Know Your Limits Never agree to more than you know you’re capable of. The last thing you want is to disappoint a client, as this will result in a bad review and make it more difficult to find work in the future. Be clear about what you’re able (and willing) to offer and only accept work that meets your criteria. 4. Create a Portfolio Just telling clients you’re able to do a particular kind of work is not enough: you need to be able to demonstrate you have the expertise to follow through. A portfolio is perfect for this. You may like to set up an entire website for your portfolio or it may be enough to use a freelancing platform to present some of your best work to your clients. 5. Decide on Your Rate Never expect clients to dictate the pricing. Some may have a budget or an idea of how much they want to pay, but you need to have the final word. If someone is offering far more than you feel you’re worth, this could be an indication that the client expects a higher quality than you’re able to provide. If someone is offering too low, don’t be afraid to turn the offer down. 6. Spend Time on Your Pitches Often, the difference between landing a job and losing out to a competitor comes down to your pitch. When you’re reaching out to a new client or responding to a message you receive asking about your availability to work on a project, you need to put in the effort to ensure you come across as the top option . Make sure you understand what the project involves (and ask questions if there’s anything you’re unsure about), research the company, and provide details about what you’ll do to ensure the project will b e a success. If you need to earn an income because you’re finding college too expensive, another solution is to reduce your expenses. The biggest cost to cut is housing. Students looking for housing near Fanshawe College have an affordable option at Foundry First. Even though the rooms are available at a great price, they’re only 49 steps from campus, you’ll have access to unbeatable amenities, and all the apartments are fully furnished. Apply now for a lease before next semester.