Horizon Residence

  Choosing between electives can be overwhelming if you don’t do your homework. Thinking about what you like, what you’re passionate about and what you want to learn can make the process much more straightforward, maybe even enjoyable. Check out our tips to help streamline your search for electives that you will not only enjoy but that will be of benefit to you and your learning experience, overall.   Remember Your Passions When choosing electives, it's important to consider what it is that you're passionate about. Taking courses in subjects that interest you can make your course load feel lighter and more enjoyable. That said, it doesn't mean you should shy away from trying new things. Courses that challenge or push you outside of your comfort zone could provide motivation and a chance to discover a new talent or interest. Choosing electives is also a prime opportunity to explore subjects you’re interested in but were never able to learn. You might develop a new passio...

Preparing for a career during university can seem like an uphill battle. You may not know what to do, where to turn for information, or even what career you want to pursue after you graduate. On top of that, you might also be contending with the stress of getting ready for final exams and passing your classes. Rather than waiting until the last minute to begin your job search, take a proactive approach and start thinking about your career options as soon as possible. Whether you're just in your first year or a few weeks away from graduation, here are a few tips to help you prepare for a career during university. Consider experience-based learning The first step you can take towards preparing for a career is to look for apprenticeships and internships. Think of them as an opportunity to develop the skills you've learned about in the classroom. Start your search by looking at your university's job board — chances are you'll find several companies in your area loo...

Too broke to buy a house, but too old to stay at your folks’ home: this is the great paradox of a young student. The solution? Rent your own housing. You’re not bound to a long-term commitment, but you’ll still enjoy the thrill of living on your own. Understandably, for many students, this will be their first time renting a house. Here are a few tips for newcomers to ensure everything goes smoothly. Research different neighborhoods Use websites like Trulia, PadMapper, Zillow, and other services to gauge what a neighborhood is like. Find out how far of a commute it is from the apartment to school. Locate any nearby restaurants, grocery stores, laundromats (if necessary), and transportation. The value of a residence is determined greatly by the number of close points of interest. Develop a budget, then a list What is the maximum you’re willing to pay for an apartment, each month? Whatever the number, lower it by $200 so you have some grocery/food spending money. Take off anoth...

Sick of getting study advice that fails? If you're dreading test and exam preparation and are struggling to get the marks you want, the problem could be in your approach to studying. Whereas common study tactics are helpful for some people, they may not do you any good. What you need are methods that are scientifically proven to work! Let's take a look: Test Yourself There’s a reason flashcards are so popular — they work! Flashcards provide you with a quick and easy way to test yourself on facts that you know will be in exams. Find questions at the end of books to use on your flashcards or write down key information as you look over the material you covered in class. This technique is also great for studying as a group. Spread Out Your Studying You’ve probably heard that it’s a bad idea to cram, but maybe you continue to do it anyway. What you need to realize is that it’s impossible to retain a large amount of information the night before your exam. Never feel guilty a...

Making the right decisions when it comes to student rentals can have a big impact on your quality of life. Unlike living in University of Alberta student housing , you’ll need to consider aspects like the condition of the apartment, the terms of the lease, and even who you live with. However, this will definitely be worthwhile, as you’ll have more freedom and space. By drawing up a plan before you start searching, you can ensure that your home life is comfortable and problem free. 1. Create a Budget Decide how much you can afford before you plan any apartment visits. That way, you can rule out anything that is too expensive. Calculate your budget for rent by taking into account how much you’ll receive in income each month and subtracting a portion for food, transportation, and entertainment. If utilities are not included in the cost of rent, add this expense to your calculation. 2. Choose Your Roommates Wisely Closest friends don’t necessarily make for the best roomm...

One of the toughest things about being a college student is that you need to live with people you don’t know. This is true whether you live on campus or opt for a room in an apartment rental Edmonton residents are friendly enough people, but you’ll make the transition even easier if you have a plan in place to avoid disagreements. 1. Meet Each Other Before You Move In If possible, find out who you are going to be sharing with before you move in and take the time to meet your roommate. If you are unable to meet in person, at least communicate online. This will give you the chance to discuss any ground rules you want to set, determine how you’ll share common areas, and even find out what you have in common. 2. Spend Time Together It is surprisingly easy to live with someone and never spend any time together. Put in the effort to socialize with your new roommate, whether in the apartment or out. If you’re going to meet a group of friends or attend an event, why not invite your...

Searching for a place to live is always a struggle for college and university students. There are plenty of rooms for rent in Edmonton , but only some will be suitable for your needs. To ensure you end up with a great place to live, you need to know what you’re looking for and how to find it. 1. Start Your Search Early The sooner you can begin looking for housing the better. If you start your search early, you’ll be able to visit a greater number of places and you’ll have a clearer idea of what is available. You’ll also increase your chances of landing the perfect apartment — remember, you’re competing with other students in Edmonton. 2. View Several Places You may love the very first place you visit. Still, it is best if you view at least a couple more apartments before you make a final decision. The landlord should never pressure you into agreeing to rent a property on the spot. In fact, a pushy landlord is a red flag. Once you’ve searched for a while, narrow dow...

There’s a huge number of benefits to living off campus. For instance, housing costs less and you have more freedom in terms of who you live with, what you eat, and who you invite over. Plus, you gain greater privacy, which becomes extra important after your freshman year — your workload will increase and you’ll need your own quiet place to study. Still, not all off-campus housing is created equal. You need to ensure that you pick well. 1. Distance from Campus Only look at apartments near University of Alberta . Living farther away may seem appealing for the lower costs, but it will ultimately cost you more in time and effort. Whether you plan to walk, bike, drive, or take public transit, the journey should be simple and take no more than a few minutes. Anything longer and you risk being late to classes or becoming exhausted by your daily journey. 2. Quality of the Building Depending on your budget, you may have to settle for something less than the best. However, you should n...

Your student housing is where you’ll spend the majority of your time. It is essential that you are comfortable and happy there. If this is your first time living away from your parents, choosing the right University of Alberta residence may feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. By taking just a few simple tips into account, you can find the perfect home. 1. Figure Out How Much You Can Afford To calculate how much you will have to spend each month, subtract what you need for food, essentials, and fun. It is best to overestimate how much you’ll spend, as it’s always better to have money left over than to go short. Also consider that you need to have an emergency fund at all times. The amount that is left is your budget for housing. 2. Decide How You’ll Get to School If you’re planning to walk or bike to school, your apartment will need to be quite close to campus. Think about how the journey will feel in the winter months. A car gives you more freedom in terms of dis...

Choosing between electives can be overwhelming if you don’t do your homework. Thinking about what you like, what you’re passionate about and what you want to learn can make the process much more straightforward, maybe even enjoyable. Check out our tips to help streamline your search for electives that you will not only enjoy but that will be of benefit to you and your learning experience, overall.   Remember Your Passions When choosing electives, it's important to consider what it is that you're passionate about. Taking courses in subjects that interest you can make your course load feel lighter and more enjoyable. That said, it doesn't mean you should shy away from trying new things. Courses that challenge or push you outside of your comfort zone could provide motivation and a chance to discover a new talent or interest. Choosing electives is also a prime opportunity to explore subjects you’re interested in but were never able to learn. You might develop a new p...

For students, the future is paved with possibilities, but you will need academic prowess and certain skills to reach your full potential. A college degree and even a strong resume isn’t always enough to impress employers. You will need to demonstrate or prove that you can demonstrate the skills of a stellar employee. Things like strong leadership, self-discipline, good teamwork, excellent communication and organization, are all skills that employers look for and value. Plus, the stronger your skills, the stronger your performance. Here's how new graduates or those who will soon be graduating can demonstrate these skills to potential employers. Demonstrating Strong Leadership Truthfully, employers want their employees to succeed. And the most successful employees are those who are strong leaders. Not only do leaders make the best employees, they also help take pressure off management and are generally strong assets to a company. If you’re a leader, you will eventually be given...

Your college or university years are exciting, full of new experiences and challenges. Living away from home for the first time, learning new skills and meeting new people are just some of the many things you're set to experience, but they all come with a price tag. There's no doubting it, post-secondary can be expensive, and so learning how to budget your money will be key. Take a look at some of the proven tips you can put into practice as a student this year:   Minimize Dining Out Eating out on a regular basis can add up quickly and may not be the healthiest choice. Purchase a meal plan if you live in residence, or prepare your own meals in your off-campus apartment or home. Learn some quick, simple recipes, create a meal plan, prep or cook in advance, and freeze your leftovers. Travel with snacks to avoid splurging at vending machines or purchasing fast food, and be sure to purchase your groceries at actual grocery stores, as they’re much more affordable th...

College and university come with a lot of new responsibilities, including academic and financial demands. For many students, working while attending school is a necessity, but failing to manage or to find a good balance between school and work can negatively affect academic performance and even mental health. Finding ways to balance school and work will not only leave you feeling less stressed and in a better position academically, but happier overall, as well. Below are a few tips that can help you strike and maintain this balance. Get a Flexible Work Schedule Many employers offer flexible positions and work schedules to college and university students. Some of these positions can be found at restaurants, retail shops, grocery stores and your own college or university. Flexible work schedules can be created around your course schedule, and it’s often as simple as attending school in the mornings and afternoons and working in the evening or on the weekend. Work/study pro...

A big decision before heading off to university is whether or not you should bring a car. Your choice will influence factors like where you can live, how you get around, and how much you’ll spend. To make sure you choose right, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. Do You Need a Car? A car may make traveling between home and school much easier, especially if you live in off-campus University of Alberta housing . Owning a car may also be necessary if you want an off-campus job or internship. Can You Afford a Car? When you evaluate how much it will cost to have a car, be sure to take gas, parking, registration, and repairs all into account. If it’s not strictly necessary to have a car, you will be able to use that saved money for other activities. Even if you need to take public transportation sometimes, this will likely be cheaper than maintaining a car. Will a Car Be a Help or a Hindrance? It may seem like having a car could only help yo...

Moving away to school is exciting and comes with many new responsibilities and experiences. Choosing where you will live is one of these new responsibilities, and it's something that you will want to give a great deal of consideration to. Where you live can have a big influence on how well you do in school and your happiness overall. If you haven't already, you will soon discover that you have many options for student housing. While some students prefer to be on campus, like in a University of Alberta residence , others prefer the freedom that comes with living off-campus. Another major decision is whether you will live in a furnished or unfurnished apartment. There are pros and cons for either choice - let's take a look: Unfurnished Apartments at a Glance Some students can't wait to move into an apartment and to decorate it according to their style. Being able to choose your colour scheme, the furniture and kitchen essentials that you will want and need can ...

Heading off to college or university usually means you’ll no longer live with your family. Instead, most students choose to live with friends in furnished apartments in Edmonton . They quickly find, however, that not all friends make great roommates. Picking the right people to live with will make a huge difference to your life. For this reason, it’s critical to get this choice right. 1. Think About Your Habits Your temperament and habits need to match those of your roommates for you to be a good fit. For instance, if you are organized, it will be difficult to live with friends who are messy. If you value quiet time, friends who like to socialize regularly and throw parties may be a poor fit. 2. Consider What Irritates You Without being over-the-top, think about things your friends do that irritate you. Imagine living with that. If you decide that a behaviour is too annoying, consider another friend. Similarly, think about what you do that may irritate others. 3. Decid...

College can be a rite of passage. Unfortunately, it can also be a rite of passage that’s often rife with obstacles, confusion and stress. For most students, stress and confusion begins as soon as the first semester or classes begin. However, there are some ways you can alleviate this stress and confusion. Doing this, will give you a head start and help make you a successful student in the future. To start your first school year successfully: •           Find a Nice, Quiet Place to Study •           Research Your Classes and Professors •           Track Your Assignments and Exams Find a Nice, Quiet Place to Study It doesn’t matter if you live in a residence hall or in University of Alberta off campus housing , you should explore your new environment to find potential places to study. The most obvious and common study areas include the l...