Blog Posts

How to Enjoy a Socially Distanced Winter Break

While everyone is starting to feel pandemic fatigue, you don’t have to let COVID-19 prevent you from enjoying your winter break. After working hard all semester, you don’t need to spend all your time cooped up inside your room. Even though it’s critical to stay safe, there are still plenty of ways to recharge your body, reconnect with your family, and celebrate the season. Here are some activities you can enjoy without compromising your own health or that of your loved ones. Enjoy the outdoors It may be chilly, but you don’t have to retreat indoors for your entire break. If you’re going home to see family, enjoy the cold weather in the backyard and have a snowball fight or make a snowman with your siblings. Go sledding or take a hike with members of your household. Just stay within your bubble when doing these activities and practice social distancing to be safe . Cook and eat Too cold outside? Don’t worry; you’ll never run out of things to do in the kitchen. This is the best time to sharpen your cooking skills so that you can cook your own food when you come back to your Hamilton student housing. Try your hand at cooking popular winter dishes such as soups, stews, and casseroles. Fire up the oven and bake some gingerbread or sugar cookies, or get creative with whatever ingredients you find in the pantry. You can even restart that sourdough project that you might have abandoned in the middle of the pandemic. Or, surprise your family by whipping up a batch of hot cocoa, Irish coffee, or mulled wine to keep them warm. Go virtual Stay connected with the people you love by hosting a Christmas party through Zoom. You can have a happy hour, play virtual Bingo, and sing holiday carols. Of course, a Christmas party isn't complete without playing Secret Santa, so consider organizing a socially distant gift exchange a couple weeks in advance. Get crafty Get into the holiday spirit by making something pretty with your hands. You can make tree decorations, come up with a wreath for your front door, knit scarves and fuzzy socks, or even volunteer to wrap the presents this year. If you’re feeling extra generous, curate a holiday swag bag for your closest friends and mail them before Christmas. Keep in mind that the contents of these holiday boxes need not be expensive. You can send over a box of Christmas cookies or a hot cocoa mix you made from scratch. Indulge in self-care The holidays can be exhausting, and being in the company of other people can be stressful. So learn to say no to activities that you don’t like or may encroach on your “me” time. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions that aren’t usually associated with the ongoing festivities. If you’re feeling a bit sad or down, try not to judge your feelings and practice self-compassion at all times. Make sure to arrange a quiet downtime to do an activity you like. You can spend the day in your pajamas and watch holiday Hallmark movies, cozy up by the fire and read a book, or simply stay in bed to catch up on sleep. You can also use this free time to come up with New Year’s resolutions and plan how you can stick to them for the rest of the school year.

Small vs. Large Universities: What to Consider

There are many factors to consider when choosing your university, one of which is whether you’d prefer to go to a small or large school. This will help you narrow down your options considerably . However, it’s important to first understand the differences between small and large universities, as well as why someone may prefer one over the other. Advantages of Small Universities Small universities have a maximum of 5,000 students, which creates a community feel. Whereas there are usually too many people for you to know everyone, you will find that many faces quickly become familiar. Students often develop personal relationships with their professors and gain personalized advice from faculty members. There is an emphasis on teaching and students receive individual attention in small classes. Many students choose small universities for the chance to create their own majors (as opposed to following a program the school has designed). Some also like the opportunity to stand out and gain leadership skills. Disadvantages of Small Universities Although you may be able to create your own major, you’ll have less choice of classes to begin with. If there’s something specific you want to study, you may need to go to a large university. The same goes for if you need access to modern resources, such as research facilities. In addition, you’ll have less choice in terms of social activities at a small university, and you’ll likely find the sports teams receive less funding. Lastly, many small universities are in rural areas, where you may feel quite isol ated. Advantages of Large Universities With typically more than 15,000 students, large universities give you the chance to meet many new people. You’ll often find a more diverse range of students, which means a higher likelihood of finding people with similar passions to you — particularly if you have some niche interests. There also tend to be more opportunities for both academics and extracurricular activities. Not only do large universities have more space for additional students, they tend to have a greater range of facilities. This may include research materials and well-funded sports programs. These facilities attract faculty members who are top in their fields — you may even have the chance to collaborate with these professors on their research, which will be invaluable if you intend to continue on to graduate school. Disadvantages of Large Universities The main disadvantage of large universities is the lack of individual attention. Classes may have more than a hundred students, making it difficult to stand out. For the same reason, it’s up to you to make sure you find opportunities for yourself. You’re less likely to have a mentor who will let you know when something becomes available that could be perfect for you. It will be up to you to advocate for yourself and seek resources. Another problem is that the large amount of social activities can be distracting. It’s easy to become involved in too much and start neglecting your academics. In addition, large universities can be more bureaucratic. This means it may take more effort to switch majors, as you’ll need to gain approval from more people. These downsides are less of an issue if you are relatively sure about what you want to do and motivated to achieve your goals. Medium-Sized Universities Of course, there’s also an option in between: medium-sized universities, which have between 5,000 and 15,000 students. As these have a mixture of the advantages and disadvantages of both small and large universities, it’s important to assess each individually to see if it has the features that matter to you. If you decide a large university is for you, McMaster University is a great option — not least because you have some great choices for housing. Instead of living in McMaster residence, you can rent a room at West Village Suites. All the suites have updated furniture, there’s fast WiFi throughout the building, and you’ll even have access to a self-checkout grocery market on site. Book a tour to take a look for yourself.

What’s the Best Time to Tour a University?

You can learn plenty about a university by visiting its website, finding out what majors, sports, and activities it offers, and reading accounts from former and present students. However, it’s difficult to know if you’ll enjoy spending your days at a particular university unless you pay the campus a visit. There are certain days of the week and times of the year when a tour of a university is ideal. Before You Send Applications The first tour you take should be before the deadline to apply. This will ensure you don’t end up applying to any universities that you later decide you don’t like. You may find some schools just don’t resonate with you ( perhaps for no reason you can identify ), whereas you’ll likely feel a connection to others straight away. Visiting on a Weekday To gain a feel for what it would be like to study at a particular university, it’s best to go during the week when classes are taking place. Monday to Thursday is better than Friday, as faculty and students are more likely to be busy on Friday afternoons, preparing for their social activities. Ideally, you should try to attend on a day when your high school has a holiday but university classes are taking place as normal. This will mean there’s no need to skip a day of school. Spring, Summer, or Winter You may like to visit in the spring while you are still in Grade 11, especially if you need to apply early for any reason. However, most high school students wait until right before they start Grade 12 and visit in early September. You may prefer to wait longer, though, and take a tour in early winter when you already have a better idea of what schools you are interested in. Taking a Second Visit When a university sends you an acceptance letter, you may also receive an invitation to visit the campus again. This will give you the chance to ask more questions and help you come to a final decision. It’s best not to rely on these visits alone, as you’ll only have a short period of time to take the tours before you need to reply. Worst Times to Go Never make any assumptions that a particular day is fine to visit a university. Always call in advance or check the calendar on the university’s website to ensure the date is suitable. The last thing you want is to arrive only to find it’s a holiday for the university, exams are taking place, or it’s reading week. Bear in mind that universities won’t be in session over Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Thanksgiving, Labour Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Civic Holiday, and any floater days. Plus, you may be unable to talk with admission officers if you come in April or May, as they’ll be reviewing applications. Finally, you should find out when winter and spring breaks take place and only visit over summer break if you know that the university holds a summer session. Touring a university is also the perfect time to check out accommodation. If you’re looking at apartments near McMaster, make sure you check out West Village Suites. At walking distance from campus, the student housing offers everything you need on site, including WiFi , study spaces, and a games room. Book your tour to coincide with your visit to McMaster University.

8 Benefits of Living Off-Campus

Whether you want to live on or off-campus is one of the major decisions you’ll have to make as a university student. Of course, on-campus housing has its own set of pros and cons. But for most university and college students, living off-campus is the best option . Off-campus housing provides students with many facilities at affordable prices. Besides being cheaper, off-campus student apartments offer an array of benefits. Here are eight benefits of living in an off-campus student housing property: 1. Roommate-Matching Services When it comes to university dorms, you don’t always get the freedom to choose your own roommates. But many McMaster off-campus housing properties offer roommate matching services. You can use the service to choose who you want to live with. Roommate-matching services allow students to choose their roommates based on shared interests, lifestyle, personal preferences, habits, and more. It helps prevent many problems and ensures students live in a friendly and harmonious environment. 2. More Space Most dormitories and even on-campus university student housing properties are small and crowded. As such, you can’t live in comfort or get the freedom to live as you want. On the other hand, student apartment buildings are designed to house many students, so space is not a problem in these facilities. Most of these buildings have suites or apartments with multiple bedrooms and a shared kitchen and living area. Not only is this great for anyone looking to have a social life, but it is also generally more affordable as many people share the rent. 3. Furnished Apartments Most off-campus student apartments are fully furnished and luxurious. But you might also get the option to choose an unfurnished unit. Living in a fully furnished unit means you save the money you may otherwise spend on furnishing your bedroom and apartment. Sure, unfurnished spaces allow you to get creative with your interior design, but it can be a hassle for most students. You can save time and money by choosing an already furnished student housing property. 4. More Storage Space If you have a lot of belongings, you will require more storage space. On-campus rooms are pretty small, which makes storage a real issue. With off-campus housing, you can choose the size of your bedroom, depending on how much space you’ll need. 5. Ideally Located Near Campus Contrary to popular belief, off-campus housing does not actually drastically increase commute time and create travel expenses. Most of the properties are within walking distance or a few minutes’ drive away from campus. Also, living a little distance away from campus can add more freedom to your life. 6. More Privacy Off-campus student apartments offer more privacy because they don’t have resident assistants to watch your every move. Also, you get separate apartments, bedrooms, and living spaces. This makes sharing an apartment much easier for everyone because it allows everyone to find their own space. 7. Bring Your Pet On-campus student housing facilities rarely ever allow students to bring in their pets. On the other hand, many off-campus student housing facilities allow you to keep your furry babies with you. 8. Long-Term Contracts Unlike on-campus residences, you don’t have to move out of your off-campus apartment at the end of the school year. Off-campus residencies offer year-long housing contracts that are easily renewable. That means you can live in the same apartment until college ends, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of moving. Final Thoughts Sure, both on and off-campus housing facilities have their own set of pros and cons. But it is also true that off-campus student apartments offer many benefits that you may not find in on-campus residences. Ultimately, an off-campus housing facility allows you to enjoy more freedom and facilities at a lower cost. The best part: most of these residences are located close to campus, so you don’t have to worry about commuting.

How to Create a Productive Morning Routine

It’s no secret that a productive morning routine can fill your entire day with positive feelings. But how can you begin your morning the right way? Most successful people have morning habits that boost their performance throughout the day. And certain morning activities offer many benefits to students more than anyone else. Let’s look at what morning activities you can do as a student to succeed in your time at university as well as later in life: Wake Up Early Starting your day early is the number one way to make your day productive. Of course, getting into the habit of waking up early may not be fun at the start. But as you stick to this routine, you’ll actually start enjoying it! Most successful people agree that the early hours of the day are the most productive ones. Also, as a student, time management is important because you have to do many different tasks each day. The best part of waking up early is that it helps you manage your time. So, avoid lounging in bed till noon. Instead, wake up early and use this time to take a shower, eat breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee, plan your tasks for the day, exercise, or even do some pre-reading. Of course, if you oversleep, you won't have enough time to complete your work. So, just push yourself out of your comfort zone and start your day. It is a simple fix, but it sure is an effective one. Keep Yourself Hydrated Drinking water each morning comes with many health benefits. For example, water regulates body temperature, lubricates the joints, improves blood circulation, and keeps your organs healthy. Hydration is also good for your mental health as it keeps you in a good mood and reduces stress. An excellent way to get that early morning fix is by drinking a glass of room temperature water with a few drops of lemon. It’s also crucial to hydrate your body during the day, so try your best to drink about three litres of water every day. Make Your Bed This may sound unnecessary, but making your bed is super helpful for anyone looking to develop a morning routine. It sets the tone for a productive day and helps you start off on the right foot before you even leave your room. A freshly made and neat bed will improve your mood because it is refreshing and aesthetically pleasing. On the contrary, a messy space only suppresses productivity and clutters the mind. A clutter-free environment will help you think clearly and focus on your day-to-day work in a more organized manner. Plan Your Day Ahead While most people plan their day before going to bed, you can also do it in the morning. It’s a good idea to wake up early and make a to-do list for the day. This morning habit will keep you organized and focused and improve your overall productivity. University life can be overwhelming, and it’s understandable if you forget about deadlines, appointments, meetings, and more. But when you have everything on paper, you’ll have a checklist to remind yourself of the tasks you have to complete. You can even use an organization or planning app to plan your tasks. Download an app of your preference and use it to boost your productivity. Remember that the most successful students are typically the most organized ones! Start Your Day With a Good Breakfast Your gut plays an integral role in ensuring that you are healthy overall. A good morning routine should include a good and healthy breakfast. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day with an energizing meal packed with enough protein to keep you fueled throughout the day. Final Thoughts Whether you’re a student or a professional, a productive morning routine is the secret to success for everyone. When living in student apartments, Hamilton area students can invite their roommates to join them in a productive morning routine. That way, you can keep each other accountable and really stick to your new schedule.

7 Winter Essentials for University Students

When you’re packing for university in the fall, it’s easy to forget how cold the winter can be. Fortunately, you can still stay warm by purchasing the following basic essentials . 1. Thermal Gloves Having the right gloves can make a huge difference in your comfort level while walking outside. Basic fabric gloves allow the cold in and take long to dry if they get wet. Thermal gloves, however, keep you warm in any temperature due to the layers of material. They are particularly useful if you need to use your hands outdoors, such as when working or playing sports. Plus, many types work with a touchscreen, meaning you can continue to use your phone without needing to remove them. 2. A Waterproof Jacket or Coat An important piece of outerwear is a waterproof jacket — or even a long coat, which can be great in particularly bad weather , as your thighs will stay covered as well. Choose one you can roll up and keep in your backpack to put over your regular jacket whenever the weather is wet. Many styles come with plenty of big pockets, which may even save you from needing to take a bag with you to university at all. 3. A Scarf The great thing about a scarf is it’s a fashion item and it keeps you warm. It’s worth having several scarves to match different outfits. 4. Thick Socks Don’t forget about your feet when shopping for winter clothing. After all, it’s hard to focus in class if your feet are frozen from the snow. When it comes to socks, the thicker and the fluffier, the better. Best of all, since they’ll be hidden in your shoes most of the time, you can choose wild colours and patterns for a little extra fun. 5. A Hat Now that you’re all wrapped up, just your head is exposed. Cold weather can give you a headache and cover your head in snow, meaning you’ll be wet and uncomfortable once you make it inside. For this reason, a hat is a necessity even for times when you’ll be outside only a few minutes. Choose one that covers your ears to stop them from freezing. 6. Hand Warmers A solution other than clothing to fight the cold is hand warmers. They’re great if you’ll be outside for an extended period of time. Heat them up by shaking them and then put them in your pockets or gloves to keep your hands warm for up to 10 hours. It’s worth keeping a pack with you at all times, as you never know when you may need one. 7. Hot Cocoa When you return home at the end of the day, nothing is more comforting than a drink of hot cocoa. Keep a supply in your kitchen for when you need it — the friends you invite over will definitely appreciate this! For a real treat, have some marshmallows on hand, too. One of the worst things about the winter is the cold trek to campus, especially if you live some distance away or need to wait at a bus stop. For students who live at West Village Suites, though, this is not an issue: our McMaster student housing is less than 5 minutes from campus. Plus, utilities are included in your rent, meaning there’s no need to worry about an expensive heating bill. Take one of our virtual tours to check out the facilities.