Blog Posts

A Guide to Getting Through Finals Week

For many students, the idea of finals week brings a sense of dread. It can easily become something that stops you from enjoying all the fun things about the end of the year. A common way to cope is to spend every minute of the days leading up to your finals studying and living off caffeine to pull all-nighters. However, these tactics don’t tend to pay off. If you want to survive finals week and achieve good grades, you’ll need to change your strategy completely. 1. Start Preparing Early It’s impossible to retain a huge amount of information in a short period of time. To be prepared for your exams, you should start studying long before finals week. Prioritize the material you find the most difficult, even though it’s likely to be the least appealing. 2. Create a Study Schedule To commit to preparing for your finals early, draw up a study schedule. In your calendar, specify what you’ll study at what time. Keeping each session short and covering a few classes each day should help you stay focused. 3. Switch Up Your Study Tactics You’ll need to tailor your approach according to the format of the exam. Some exams may require you to remember facts, whereas others may want you to apply what you’ve learned to new situations or tackle problems in an analytical way. Whatever you decide to do, avoid simply rereading textbooks. Instead, use active learning techniques, such as flashcards, practice questions, study guides, and quizzes. 4. Form a Study Group There’s no need to do all your studying alone. In fact, studying in a group can aid your understanding. Join a group of classmates who you know will be committed to focusing on the material and who won’t use the study group as an opportunity to socialize. Use tactics like asking each other questions — being able to explain concepts to someone else is a great indicator you fully understand. 5. Find the Right Place to Study No matter if you’re studying alone or in a group, you need somewhere you can focus without distractions. This could be the desk in your bedroom, your living room, the campus library, or even a coffee shop. Some people find it easier to study with some background noise, whereas others require silence — you’ll need to figure out what works best for you. It may also be worth changing location occasionally. 6. Figure Out the Logistics for Your Exams You’ll feel less stressed if you know when and where your exams are taking place, as you’ll be able to plan how you’ll reach each one. It’s also important to check your schedule early in case you have multiple exams on the same day. If this happens to you, it can be worth talking to your professors about the option to take one of your exams at a different time. 7. Reward Yourself Between Exams Unless you have another exam soon after the one you’ve just finished, reward yourself with a break instead of going straight back to studying. A simple treat like your favourite lunch or even a nap can help you feel more mentally prepared to continue finals week. You’ll be able to dedicate less time to studying if you make sure every minute counts. To have a quiet place at home where you can focus, you need to move out of student residence. Waterloo students can find a new home at Preston House or Bridgeport House. Both are just steps from campus and provide you with a private bedroom with an en suite bathroom. When you want a change of scenery, you can head to an onsite WiFi study space. Book a tour of the property of your choice.

A Guide to Smart Social Media Use for Students

Up until now, the likelihood is you’ve only used social media to share posts with friends and follow accounts you find interesting. After you graduate, though, social media may play a role in your career. Prospective employees or the admissions team at grad schools may check your profiles to decide whether they want to hire you for a job or accept you on a program. Rather than waiting until later to clean up your social media presence, start now to make more of a difference. 1. Update Your Basic Information Make sure your current profiles reflect what you’re doing now. Update your location, add your university and the program you’re studying, and list any work or volunteering experience you’ve gained. In addition, do a privacy check to ensure only people you know can see more than just your basic information. 2. Follow Interesting People Stop following any accounts that post tasteless content, as this could reflect poorly on you. Instead, find figures in the field you want to enter and related accounts to demonstrate your interests. 3. Remove Old Posts Look through the posts you made in the past and remove any that could give a bad impression of you. Think about how posts may look to someone who doesn’t know you, especially when out of context. Whereas you can set posts to private, it’s better if the content doesn’t exist on social media (at least as far as is possible on the internet). 4. Add New Content Get into the habit of posting content regularly that expresses your ambitions and who you are in a positive light. As well as the projects you’re working on at university, you could talk about other achievements, extracurriculars, internships, and your part-time job. You could also start discussions to share your opinions on important topics. All these ideas can be interesting to the people who follow you, while improving your personal branding. 5. Delete Accounts You No Longer Use Make sure you do the above to all your profiles, including those you made years ago, as they could come up in search results if someone is looking for you. If you’re unsure about whether you have any forgotten profiles, do a Google search for your name to check what appears and delete any accounts you no longer want. 6. Stick with Your Strategy Maintaining a great social media presence is a long-term strategy. Continue being careful about what you post going forward and finding ways to improve your profiles. Another way to be more prepared for life after your degree is to learn to be independent. Living on campus is restrictive and, in many ways, it’s nothing like the real world, but you can start becoming self-sufficient by moving into your own apartment. You can find UWaterloo off-campus housing at Preston House and Bridgeport House. You’ll still be a short walk from campus, but you’ll have your own bedroom and en suite bathroom in an apartment with a spacious living room and fully-equipped kitchen. Book a to ur to see the property of your choice.

How to Make 2023 Your Best Year Yet

It always makes sense to go into the new year with big goals — but you should also avoid being too ambitious. Aim to make 2023 your best year yet by coming up with some attainable resolutions that relate both your academics and personal life. 1. Better Balance School and Your Personal Life Many students find it difficult to strike the right balance between their studies and their other responsibilities. It can help to decide how much time you’d like to spend on each of your main activities and then mark out time on your calendar. This should ensure you devote enough hours each week for tasks like required readings and working on papers but still have plenty of time left for socializing, extracurriculars, and perhaps even a part-time job. 2. Apply for Internships Start thinking ahead to the future and gaining the experience you’ll need for your career by applying to internships. Even going through the interview process will prepare you for the world of work. Whereas internships are a requirement for some majors, they’re beneficial to everyone, as they show you what it would be like to work in a particular field, help you develop useful skills, and increase your contacts. 3. Network Another way to meet useful contacts is at networking events on campus. These offer great opportunities to gain valuable information, express your interest in particular companies, and explore your options. Make sure you set up a LinkedIn profile beforehand to be able to stay in touch with the people you meet. 4. Be Healthier There are multiple things you can do to lead a healthier lifestyle. Pick something you find difficult, whether that’s exercising on a regular basis, eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, or sleeping enough. Many of these things are connected — for instance, regular workouts can help you fall asleep faster and remind you to drink more water. 5. Stop Procrastinating Procrastination isn’t laziness. If you ever put off doing something you know you should start immediately in favour of a more enjoyable task, you’re procrastinating. It doesn’t matter if the task you do instead is also important — procrastination always causes problems eventually. Force yourself to be more disciplined and start working on projects early enough that you won’t run into problems. 6. Join or Form a Study Group If you currently do all your studying on your own, change that this year by joining a study group. If none exist already, set up your own. Whereas study groups are no substitute for studying alone, they can be great for testing your knowledge, such as when you explain concepts to your peers or practice with flashcards. 7. Enjoy the Learning Process It’s easy to become so focused on your grades that you forget to enjoy the learning experience. Although university can be stressful at times, you should be taking mostly classes you find interesting and relevant to your career goals. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and remind yourself of how you’ll use the knowledge in real-life situations after you graduate. One last way to make 2023 your best year yet is to move into a better apartment. You can find Laurier student housing at Preston House and Bridgeport House. Everything you need for a great university experience is on site, including dedicated study spaces, a laundry room, and a fitness centre . Apply now for a spot in your preferred building — our large suites are fully furnished and ready for you to move in.

How to Tap into Your Creativity for 2023

Although we usually think of only certain majors as being creative, the fact is all your classes will involve some degree of creativity. If you’re able to tap into your creativity at university, you’ll be able to produce original papers, apply the concepts you’ve learned to new problems , and find connections between ideas that initially seem unrelated. All this is key to achieving top grades, whatever your major. It’s a myth that some people are creative and others are not. No matter where your creative skills stand today, you can take steps to improve them in 2023. 1. Figure Out When You’re Most Creative Whereas you should be studying at the time of day you’re most productive, the best time for creative thought may be completely different. In fact, whereas you’re most productive when you’re alert and can focus, many people come up with their most creative ideas when they’ve just woken up or are about to go to sleep. Although you may not always be creative at these times, the chances are greater that you’ll come up with a unique idea. 2. Learn to Search for Solutions Despite Constraints A major part of being creative is being able to solve a problem when you only have limited options available to you. Things are easy when you have no restrictions — it’s when you have to work within constraints that your creative skills become important. Start by defining the limiting factors — these could be time, resources, or even the laws of physics. Then you can begin brainstorming ideas. Initially, dismiss nothing, even ideas that seem ridiculous. Once you come to analyze your ideas, you can identify why a particular one is not feasible and make the necessary adjustments to arrive at a solution that does work. 3. Give Your Mind a Break It’s extra difficult to find a creative solution when you’re forcing it. By taking a break to rest or do something else, your mind will still be working on the problem subconsciously. Often, you’ll return to the task only to have the answer pop into your mind immediately . Great ways to use your breaks to enhance creativity include exercising, taking a short stroll around campus, or practicing a completely different creative activity. 4. Draw Your Ideas Another way to access ideas that may be trapped in the depths of your mind is to draw mind maps and diagrams. It’s typically best to do this by hand, but you can also use mind-mapping apps if you want to incorporate colours and pictures with ease. However you approach it, drawing will help you see connections, work out processes, and decide on the best course of action. 5. Record Your Ideas Creative ideas could strike at any time. Make sure you don’t forget (but also avoid taking your attention away from whatever you’re currently working on) by having a method to jot down your ideas. The note-taking app on your phone could be useful, but you may prefer to carry a physical notebook wherever you go. 6. Expose Yourself to More Ideas Creativity is about bringing together existing ideas and turning them into something new. The best way to expose yourself to more ideas is through reading, although watching videos of lectures and listening to podcasts is also beneficial. Furthermore, bear in mind that creativity is not always a solitary activity. Discussions with other people will allow you to share ideas and arrive at solutions you would never have figured out on your own. As a university student, you have opportunities for interesting conversations with other people all the time, including during classes, study groups, and club meetings. To allow your creativity to shine through in your assignments, you need somewhere you can concentrate without distractions. The solution is to move off campus and into student rentals. Waterloo students can find a new home at Preston House or Bridgeport House. Both properties offer large, furnished suites, WiFi study spaces, and common areas where you can meet new people. Book a tour in the building of your choice.

The Dos and Don’ts of Sending Emails to Professors

Although email is a popular method of communication, students often have minimal experience using it. They’re much more used to texting — where it tends to be unnecessary to pay attention to grammar and punctuation and it’s common to add emojis. When you start university, though, you’ll need to learn to use email in certain circumstances, including for communication with your professors. If you’re not used to writing emails, there are a few things to keep in mind that you should and shouldn’t do. Do: Send Emails from Your University Account When you start university, you’ll receive an email address to use for all communication related to your academics. To ensure your professors see and open your messages, you should always use this account rather than your personal email. Emails coming from a personal address may end up in junk or never receive a reply. Don’t : Expect an Immediate Response Professors are busy people; it may take them a couple days or more to respond to your emails. If your query is urgent — such as if it relates to an assignment that’s due soon or if you’re unable to keep working on a paper until you have an answer — it’s reasonable to send a followup email if you don’t hear anything after two business days. Otherwise, you should wait a week before reaching out again. Do: Add an Descriptive Subject Line Let your professor know what the email is about from the start by adding a descriptive subject line. This will tell your professor how urgent the email is likely to be — plus, it will look more professional. Don’t : Send Unnecessary Emails It can be tempting to send your professor an email as soon as you realize you have a doubt. However, it’s worth seeking the answer elsewhere first when possible. For instance, you may find the solution in your syllabus or a previous email from your professor. Alternatively, a friend who is also taking the class may know the answer. Your relationship with your professors is formal — the salutation in your emails should reflect this. Something like “Dear” or “Good morning” followed by the professor’s name is ideal. If you know how your professor prefers to be addressed, use this. Otherwise, “Professor [surname]” is fine. Don’t : Write Extra-Long Emails A second way emails can waste your professor’s time is when the message is much longer than it needs to be. Make sure you quickly get to the point and only include necessary information. If you need several paragraphs to explain the issue, it would be better to talk to your professor in person during office hours. Do: Visit Your Campus Writing Centre for Support If you have an especially important email to send, it’s worth paying your university’s writing center a visit. The staff can give you advice on striking the right tone, including all the relevant information, and structuring your email in a way that best presents your argument. They can also help you to proofread your email to find any mistakes you’ve overlooked. Another way to learn to be more professional in preparation for life after education is to live independently in a room for rent. Waterloo students have the choice of Preston House and Bridgeport House. All the suites have five private bedrooms (each with an en suite bathroom), a large living room for entertaining , and a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. Book a tour of the property of your choice now.

5 Unique Skills to Put on Your Resume

Gaining a degree will open doors for a variety of jobs. However, employers will want to see you have more to offer than just a credential: they need to know you are capable of everything the position entails. Although you may have limited experience after you graduate, you do have qualities that make you a top candidate. Consider which of the following unique skills you can bring to the company — and make sure you highlight them on your resume. 1. Tech Skills Employers today need workers who understand technology — and they often find these workers in younger candidates. Knowing how to use standard software is useful for a huge number of positions, whereas specialist skills like coding are especially beneficial for digital jobs. 2. Social Media Most students spend a large amount of time on social media as a way to connect with friends, share updates about their life, and stay current with the news and trends. All these uses of social media are actually teaching you valuable skills. For example, you may know what makes an engaging post, have top-quality content creation skills, or be aware of how to brand yourself online. Businesses often need employees who can help them with their social media presence. If you have a good understanding of many of the major platforms, this may be something you can offer. 3. Volunteering There are numerous ways to volunteer while you’re at university, including by belonging to a campus organization or participating in community projects. You’ll have gained many skills from the experience — especially if you hold an elected position — including leadership and organizational skills. Make sure to emphasize what you’ve learned on your resume when applying to a job that requires managing a team, meeting deadlines, or taking initiative. 4. Improv If you had the chance to practice improv (such as through a group on campus or by taking a theater or performance elective), mention it on your resume. The skills you gain by doing improv are useful in numerous situations; for instance, you learn to react appropriately in unfamiliar scenarios, work with different personalities, and navigate challenging conversations. 5. Foreign Languages Whether you took language classes at university or studied a semester abroad, include it on your resume — even when the job doesn’t require you to speak other languages. Globalization has made knowledge of other languages more important than ever, meaning even basic language skills can be an asset. Furthermore, if you improved your language skills by spending time in another country, you’ll have developed important skills like adaptability and have gained an understanding of other cultures. Boosting your GPA and participating in plenty of extracurriculars will also help your resume stand out when you come to apply for jobs. This means you need to study hard and live near campus. Whereas living in a dorm may seem like the obvious choice, it’s difficult to study without distractions when you live in student residence. Waterloo students can move to Preston House or Bridgeport House. You’ll have a private bedroom with an en suite bathroom in a student community within walking distance of campus. B ook a tour of the property of your choice.