Blog Posts

7 Ways to Get Around on Campus

When you’re studying at a large university, your classes and other commitments may be quite a distance from each other. To avoid being late when you have a packed schedule, it helps to have some means of transport to get around campus. Luckily, you have a variety of options, including some unique ideas you may not have considered. 1. Bike As a student, it’s helpful to have a bike anyway, as it’s cheaper than maintaining a car (not to mention, there’s no need to pay for parking). Plus, you can use it to get all around your university town as well as campus. When choosing a bike, think about what you’ll use it for. Do you need speed or will you want something to go off-road during weekend trips? Will you ever need to carry it up steps? If so, make sure you pick something with a lightweight frame. Finally, try out the saddle to find one that yo u’ll be able to use for extended periods without discomfort. 2. Hoverboard A particularly compact means of transport is a hoverboard. The models available today are safe, making them a great option for campus. Start in slow mode to learn how to control yours — you’ll be racing around in no time. 3. Longboard For a means of transport you can just pick up and carry with you, nothing beats a longboard. If you’ve never skated before, it’s a better alternative to a skateboard, as you’ll find it easier to balance. 4. Inline Skates Another way to skate around campus is using inlines . These are one of the fastest ways to move, since you can keep moving even when people are around. You may find that other students are already using inline skates at your campus — or you could be the person who sets a new trend. The only disadvantage is that you’ll need to stop and take off the skates whenever you encounter stairs. 5. Foldable Scooter With the rise in electrical scooter rentals, regular scooters have come back into fashion — if they ever went out of fashion, that is. Foldable scooters are the best of all, as you can store one under your desk during class. 6. Electric Scooter Of course, you could also invest in an electric scooter. These are great for when you’re running out of energy and you have limited time. Some electric scooters even have seats and baskets where you can store all your belongings. 7. Heelys You may have had Heelys when you were a child and have been missing them ever since. The good news is that they’re back and are now available for adults. You can find them in a variety of styles to suit any outfit. They’re ideal for when you need just a little boost in speed to make it to where you’re going on time. You’ll also need to figure out how to get to campus from your student housing. To make your life easier, search close to campus for student apartments. Ottawa students can live at 1Eleven. You’ll be within walking distance from the University of Ottawa and a short bus ride from Carleton University. Book a video tour to see all the facilities for yourself.

How to Tell When a Class Isn’t Right for You

One of the most difficult decisions you’ll need to face at university is whether to stick with a class or drop it while there’s still time to withdraw. The first thing to know is that dropping an occasional class is normal — most students will at some point. Still, this doesn’t mean it’s a decision to take lightly. A few things can help you determine if a class isn’t right for you. 1. You Hate Attending The clearest sign that a class isn’t right for you is that you never attend or the thought of going fills you with dread. It may not even be the material you dislike: it could be that you find the professor doesn’t align with your learning style, the assignments are tedious, or trying to arrive to class on time is stressful. In the most extreme cases, your class may be negatively affecting your mental health. Whether you’re staying up all night trying to complete papers, you only understand a fraction of th e readings, or thinking about the class is filling you with anxiety, you probably need to drop the class from your schedule. 2. You’re Failing A mistake such as missing a crucial test or misunderstanding the requirements for a paper could lead to a failing grade. If it’s impossible to recover, your best option is to drop the class. 3. It Will Hurt Your GPA In other cases, you may not be failing, but your grades are low and continuing will hurt your GPA. This is a good sign that the class is not resonating with you — and the consequences mean it’s not worth sticking it out. 4. You No Longer Need the Class You may have signed up for a difficult class because it was a requirement before you switched majors. Alternatively, you could have discovered that there’s another way to meet your graduation requirements — or perhaps you were mistaken and you never needed the class at all. If any of these are the case for you, there’s no point struggling with a challenging class you don’t enjoy. 5. Others Recommend Dropping It Your situation may not be as extreme as any of the above: you may simply dislike a class and are considering dropping it. It’s worth talking to other people who can provide useful insights, including the professor, students who have already taken the class, and, most importantly, your academic advisor. You may find out that the class becomes much harder as it progresses — or the opposite could be true. It may be notoriously difficult to gain a good grade — or your professor may offer opportunities for extra credit. It’s important to consider all of these factors to make an informed decision. You’ll also face some classes that you dislike but can’t drop because they’re requirements to graduate. To push through, you’ll need to study hard and try to stay motivated. It always helps to have a quiet place where you can focus, which is easier to find when you’re in off-campus student living. Ottawa students can move into 1Eleven. As well as having a private bedroom, or even your own bachelor apartment, you’ll be able to use the dedicated study spaces. Plus, there’s a fitness centre and games rooms on site, which are ideal for blowing off steam. Book a video tour to check out your new space.

6 Ways to Become a Morning Person at University

Starting university is all about becoming independent and making your own lifestyle choices. One thing you may like to do is become a morning person. You’ll be able to take advantage of the quiet time when most students are still asleep, you won’t struggle to make it to your morning classes, and you’ll likely find that you’re more productive early in the day than at night. However, you can’t just will yourself to become a morning person — there are a few things you need to do to make the change. 1. Use Your Phone to Prepare for Sleep It’s important to stop looking at screens for at least an hour before bed to ensure you fall asleep quickly. A sleep app will remind you to put your phone away at the right time, tell you it’s bedtime, and wake you up with soothing sounds. 2. Sleep with the Curtains Open You’ll find it easier to wake up if sunlight is already entering your room. Instead of blocking all light when you go to sleep, keep your curtains open. This will help your brain register when it’s morning and time to wake up. 3. Reward Yourself If you’re able to get up without hitting the snooze button even once, give yourself a reward, such as a latte or refreshing smoothie. Use the idea of a reward as an incentive to climb straight out of bed when your alarm goes off. 4. Start the Day with a Glass of Water Before you reach for the caffeine (or perhaps even instead of a morning coffee), drink a large glass of cold water . Keeping a carafe in your fridge is a great way to ensure the water is icy cold for the greatest impact. You’ll immediately feel energized and ready to take on the day. 5. Head to the Gym Continue to wake up your body by exercising first thing in the morning. Sign up for a fitness class on campus or work out on your own — just make sure you choose something you enjoy and will look forward to doing. 6. Favour Morning Classes Whenever you have the choice, pick a morning class over one in the afternoon or at night. In particular, try to find classes you’ll be excited to attend, such as those with a charismatic professor or a small class size where you’ll be able to participate . An added advantage of a small class is that it will be obvious if you don’t attend — which should motivate you to arrive on time. When you’re sharing a room, sometimes you have no option about when to sleep, as your roommate may be waking you up at all hours. For this reason, the first step toward becoming a morning person at university has to be to move into off-campus housing. Ottawa students can find a new home at 1Eleven. You can choose between a private bedroom in a suite or your own one-bedroom apartment. All the floor plans are fully furnished and residents have access to great onsite amenities, like a fitness centre , games roo m, and grocery market. Book a video tour to check out the facilities.

The Most Common Challenges for First-Time Students

Although starting university will definitely mean many fun adventures, it’s also a challenging time. Your whole life will have changed: where you live, the people you spend time with, and what you do during the day. The transition can be difficult in multiple ways, but some challenges are the most common of all for first-time students. Here are a few to prepare for. 1. Increase in Academic Difficulty There’s a big jump from high school to university. It’s even likely that the grades you receive will be lower than what you were achieving in high school, at least for the first couple weeks. This is due a combination of the material being much more difficult and the stricter requirements you need to meet. Instead of worrying that you’ll never be a top student, bear in mind that there’s a learning curve and you may need to adapt how you study to gain the grades you want. 2. Financial Responsibilities For the first time in your life, you’ll be fully responsible for your finances. You’ll need to budget carefully to ensure you have enough for food, rent, and other essentials. This may mean you need to occasionally turn down invitations to go out or wait until later to make a purchase. Think about whether it’s worth finding a part-time job to give yourself some more spending money (and possibly to pay some of your tuition costs now). 3. Living with Roommates Whereas you’ll have been living with family members before, you’ll find it’s a completely different experience to share a living space with strangers. If you live on campus, you’ll likely be randomly assigned a roommate and will need to share your bedroom — meaning little to no privacy. Plus, you’ll share other common areas with a large number of people. It’s more comfortable to live in off-campus housing, as you’ll usually have your own bedroom and possibly also your own bathroom. If you’d prefer to have a space entirely to yourself, you can even search for a one-bedroom apartment. 4. New and Old Friendships For most people, heading off to university means leaving friends and family behind. You’ll be surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and it’s normal to feel lonely at first. Although it could take a while to find a group of close friends, you’ll constantly have opportunities to meet new people. Make sure to take advantage of this by attending many events and striking up conversations with your classmates. At the same time, it may become more difficult to maintain old friendships, as both you and your old friends will be busy adjusting to a new life. However, the people you’ve known for years can be a great support system — don’t forget to reach out to them if you’re ever feeling stressed or if you just want to find out how they’re doing. 5. Mental Health All the above challenges can put a strain on your mental health. Whereas it’s common to have periods where you feel down, you should seek help if you ever feel overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious. Your university likely has a variety of resources to support you, including affordable counsellors and academic advisors. You can also learn to cope by practicing self-care, such as by finding time to relax every day. Make your time at university less challenging and more fun by moving into a comfortable apartment. Your best option for uOttawa off-campus housing is 1Eleven. You’ll be living just steps from campus in a large, fully-furnished suite. Plus, there are great amenities on site, including a 24-hour fitness centre , games rooms, a grocery market, and study spaces. Book a video tour to see why living here will enhance your university experience.

What to Do If You’re Doubting Your Major Choice

You may have chosen your major with a particular career goal in mind or due a love for a certain subject. Alternatively, you may have been unsure what major to pick and settled on whatever you figured you’d do best at. Whatever your situation, it’s not uncommon to doubt your choice of major at some point, especially when times get tough. Before coming to a final decision about what to do, here are some tips to help you assess your situation carefully. Determine Whether It’s Really Your Major That’s the Problem Perhaps it’s not the major itself that’s a problem — completing a degree is difficult. You need to be prepared for a big step up from high school and realize that any major will require hard work . At times, it may seem like friends taking other majors have less homework, face fewer exams, or find it easier to gain good grades. However, it’s more than likely that their classes are just as challenging as yours at other times. Besides, it’s more important that your major leads to a job you find fulfilling than you have an easy ride at university. Accept You Won’t Love Everything About Your Major There may be times when you love your major and other times when you can’t stand it. Often, this will come down to the classes you’re taking, particularly if a certain class is not relevant or interesting to you. Whenever this happens, try to push through and find enjoyment wherever you can — whether that comes from discussing ideas with classmates, interacting with your professors, or finding new ways to apply your knowledge. Joining a study group or finding a tutor can be especially helpful. Keep the Big Picture in Mind When you’re struggling to stay motivated, avoid thinking about what you dislike at the moment and focus on your long-term goals. Remember why you chose your major and how you hope to use your education after you graduate. If you can, take action to start working toward your goals now. For instance, you could search for a part-time job in your field of interest, apply for an internship, or attend networking events. Switch Majors Your major may simply not be what you expected. Perhaps you discover your passions lie elsewhere, none of the classes resonate with you, or you decide you’d prefer to pursue a different career path. In any of these cases, your best option may be to switch majors. This is less problematic if you’ve only recently started university — if you’re further along, you may need to choose something related to avoid losing too much credit. If the main problem is that your major is difficult, the solution is to make studying easier. You can’t expect to be able to focus when you’re sharing a room and constantly facing distractions. Your best option is to move into off-campus housing. Ottawa students can find a new home at 1Eleven. You’ll be living just steps from campus, meaning you’ll be able to make it to your classes easily. Plus, as well as studying in your fully-furnished suite, you can use our dedicated study spaces. Book a tour to check out all our modern amenities.

6 Ways to Relax on Exam Day

Feeling a bit anxious on exam day is a good sign, as it shows you want to do your best . However, being nervous can also be detrimental if this stops you from performing to your full abilities. To keep your anxiety in check, here are some steps you can take to relax on exam day. 1. Stay Positive It’s up to you what you think about before your exam. You could worry about the parts of the material you’re still struggling with, the facts you’re unsure you’ll remember, or the odds you don’t gain the grade you want. However, this is counterproductive. Since exam day is now here, there’s nothing more you can do to tackle the things you find difficult. It’s better to think positive thoughts, such as reminding yourself of all the hard work you’ve put in to get this far. Maintain this positive thinking throughout the exam, including if you encounter a question you’re unsure how to answer. It’s normal to feel stumped by a question or two — this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll do poorly overall. If it’s a multiple choice question, make a guess. If the question requires a written answer, provide as many points as you can and move on. 2. Take Care of Your Physical Health Sleep enough the day before the exam to ensure you wake up feeling well rested. Fuel your body with healthy food and fit a short workout in before your exam, if possible. 3. Practice Breathing Exercises Right before the exam, calm yourself with some breathing exercises. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Try to clear your mind of intrusive thoughts as you do so. 4. Organize Your Time Check the clock at regular intervals during the exam to make sure you won’t run out of time. If you’re finding a particular question extra difficult, avoid spending too long on it — this will only make you feel stressed. It’s often better to move on to questions you feel confident about answering and return to the challenging ones at the end. 5. Write Notes Before Answering a Question Questions that require you to write an essay or long answer can be especially intimidating. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Underline the keywords and write some ideas about how you could answer the question. You should find it much easier to approach the question once you have some notes. 6. Ignore Everyone Else Checking what the people around you are doing will only make you feel more anxious. Plus, this is a waste of time because it doesn’t matter. Whereas some students may be writing furiously, there are sure to be others who aren’t . It’s best to ignore everything happening around you (as well as any thoughts that pop into your head that are unrelated to the exam) and just focus on answering the questions in front of you. It’s important to have somewhere you can mentally prepare for your exams — and where you can return when it’s all over to relax. You can find the perfect home at 1Eleven. Our UOttawa off-campus housing can provide you with a comfortable bedroom in a large, fully-furnished suite or your own bachelor apartment. Plus, you’ll have access to all the common areas : you can study for your exams in our WiFi study spaces or let off steam in our fitness and yoga studio. Book a video tour to see the facilities for your self.