Blog Posts

What to Do If You Hate Your Major

Whether you have a career path in mind or a certain subject just appealed to you when you started university, there’s always a risk that you’ll discover you actually dislike your chosen major. It may be nothing like you expected, or your ambitions may change during college. Fortunately, there are several things you can do in this situation. The appropriate course of action for you will depend on where you are in your college journey, your goals, and whether your opinion of your major is likely to change wit h time. 1. List Things You Like About Your Major Before you make any drastic decisions, consider if you truly hate your major or if you’re just feeling frustrated. Make a list of all the things you do like about your major — perhaps you like what careers it could lead to or you enjoy what you’re learning but dislike your professors this semester. Determine if the positives are enough to keep you going or the situation is bad enough that it’s not worth continuing. Remember, jumping to the conclusion that your major is not right for you is risky, as you may find this happens again if you switch majors. You could end up trying out several majors before you come to the realization that nothing is going to feel perfect and that all majors have their share of downsides and challenges. 2. Talk to an Advisor Before taking any further action, talk to an advisor. Have a discussion about your possible options and the consequences of each. The advisor will consider your career goals, the credits you’ve already earned, and what will help you make the most of your college education. 3. Change Majors as Soon as Possible Although you can technically change majors at any time, it’s much better to do so as early as possible. That way, you won’t have taken many classes that you’re unable to count toward your degree, wasting money and setting your graduation date back further. 4. Find a Similar Major If you’re already several semesters in before you come to the conclusion that you hate your major and decide you need to switch to something else, research similar majors. Since the first two years of college tend to cover core classes and are the same for several majors, you may find that you have a variety of options. 5. Study a Minor An alternative solution for students who are quite far through college is to add a minor. This should keep you motivated and open up more opportunities after you graduate. This is important because, if you hate your major, you may also find that possible career options are less appealing than you once thought. 6. Take Time Off Rather than the major being the problem, you may be overwhelmed by university as a whole. Taking a semester off can be useful, particularly if you take on a job related to the career you want after you graduate. This can show you if you’re on the right path and if it’s worth sticking with your current major. 7. Switch Direction in Grad School When you’re near the end of your time at university, it makes little sense to change majors. However, if you’re concerned that your major will lead you to a career you’ve realized isn’t right for you, one option could be to continue to grad school and switch direction there. Whereas there will be some restrictions as to what you can major in for your graduate degree, you should find you have a wide range of possibilities. You’ll find it easier to enjoy your major when you have your own bedroom where you can concentrate on your studies without distractions. Since this is difficult to find on campus, it makes sense to search for rooms for rent. Hamilton students can end their search now: West Village Suites has everything you need. As well as a private room in a spacious apartment, you can use the multiple study lounges and other great onsite amenities. Apply now for the floor plan you want.

How to Keep Your Club Active All Semester Long

A major part of the university experience is belonging to clubs. If you hold a leadership position, it’s up to you to ensure your club stays active throughout the semester. There are several ways to do this. 1. Come Up with Ideas at the Start of the Semester Make sure you don’t run out of ideas for activities by having a brainstorming session at your first executive board meeting. Knowing what you’ll be offering will also help you advertise your club to new members. You could hold this executive board meeting right at the start of the semester or even before you return to university over video chat. 2. Ask for Feedback Create a diverse program of activities near the beginning of the semester and ask members for feedback about which they enjoyed the most. You can then continue with more of these types of events. However, don’t just ask for feedback once: reach out to members often to find ways to keep improving. 3. Set Up a Group Chat Stay connected outside of meetings by setting up a group chat for your club. You’ll be able to converse, share things related to the theme of the club, and use icebreakers to get to know each other better. You could even hold the occasional virtual meeting. 4. Use Word-of-Mouth Marketing to Attract More Members The best form of marketing for a club is word of mouth. Whereas you should definitely post flyers around campus, it will help if you also talk a little about your club when handing them out to students. Some of your professors may even allow you to speak for a few minutes about your club in class, particularly if it relates to the subject of your class. 5. Keep Events Fresh Students who join your club when they start university are sure to become bored if the fourth annual event is at the same restaurant as the previous three years or if you keep repeating the same concepts. Just making minor changes will encourage students to keep attending. 6. Be Organized Your meetings will be a disaster if you’re disorganized. Create a file to keep all the paperwork for your club in one place and add important dates to your calendar. 7. Stay Relaxed During Exam Season You obviously don’t want to plan big events around midterms and finals, but it may be best to have a couple weeks without any meetings at all. This will help members feel less stressed — and they’ll be more excited to return when exams are over. As well as holding events on campus, you may like to invite members over to your apartment, such as for executive meetings. However, a dorm room is unlikely to have enough space for everyone. An alternative to McMaster residence is West Village Suites. You can hold meetings in your spacious suite or in the state-of-the-art games room — this is a great way to meet other students who may be interested in joining your club. Apply now for the floor plan of your choice.

How to Practice Mindfulness at University

Although university is often fun, it can also be stressful. You have a huge number of commitments — from your classes and clubs to all the responsibilities that come with being independent. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, which can cause anxiety, burnout, and even poor physical health. The solution is to practice mindfulness every day. 1. Learn to Meditate When you think of mindfulness, there’s a good chance you think of meditation — and it’s true that this is a big part of mindfulness. There’s a good reason why meditation is becoming so popular: it’s effective. Taking just a few minutes a day to practice mindful meditation will improve your focus, help you retain more information from your classes, and clear your mind. Plus, there’s no need to do anything complicated: simple breathing exercises or listening to calming music can yield plenty of benefits. 2. Join a Mindfulness Program If you’re serious about making mindfulness a big part of your life, find out if there are any clubs or organizations you could join. This includes on campus and in your community. You may be able to start taking yoga classes, attend meditation sessions, or learn tips from the experts about better balancing your life. Having a regular commitment like this can help you see results. You may even like to buddy up with someone and attend the sessions together — that way, you can hold each other accountable. 3. Slow Down When you start university, it can be tempting to take on as much as possible: a full schedule of classes, a large number of extracurriculars, a part-time job, and plenty of social activities. After a few weeks of this, though, you’ll likely find it’s too much. To practice mindfulness, you need to take care of your wellbeing by making your life easier. Learn what your limits are and stick to them. This could mean signing up for fewer classes next semester, choosing only a couple of extracurriculars, or turning down invitations when you’re already tired. 4. Block Time for Activities If a heavy schedule is non-negotiable, work on better managing your time. One of the most effective ways to do this is through time blocking: you dedicate a certain amount of time to a particular activity by blocking out this time on your calendar. When you block time for all your activities, you always know what you need to be doing, meaning you avoid procrastination, never waste time trying to multitask, and don’t leave high-priority activities to the last minute. To make sure this strategy works for you, block time for everything from homework to socializing and self-care. You’ll be able to focus more on mindfulness if you have a comfortable home with your own bedroom. For McMaster off-campus housing, you have West Village Suites. Located just steps from campus, there’s no need to worry about making it to your classes on time and you can easily return home when you have a long break. Better still, whenever you want to unwind, you can head to the fully-equipped fitness centre or state-of-the-art games room. Book your tour now to see how you could make your time at university more enjoyable.

5 Holiday Mocktails to Try This Season

A big part of the holiday season is sampling all sorts of tasty drinks and dishes. The problem with this is it can become unhealthy quite quickly. An easy solution is to stick to mocktails. You can prepare them for all your friends at university — no matter their age — and you’ll feel better both physically and mentally due to the lack of alcohol. Whereas you have a huge number of delicious mocktails to try, some stand out as being top choices for the holiday season. 1. Virgin Espresso Martini If you’re looking for a caffeine fix but you want something more interesting than regular coffee, treat yourself to an espresso martini made with non-alcoholic liquor. All you need to prepare this mocktail is two shots of alcohol-free gin and a little cold brew concentrate, milk, and syrup. You can use regular milk or an alternative like oat milk. Although simple syrup works fine, you can enhance the flavour with vanilla coffee syrup. Put everything in a cocktail shaker with ice and serve in a martini glass . This is ideal for a brunch to celebrate the holidays with friends. 2. Alcohol-Free Gin and Tonic Another way to use that alcohol-free gin is in a virgin gin and tonic. This is simple to make: just mix together two shots of gin and a small can of tonic water. You can also add elderflower syrup and lime juice if you feel it needs something extra. 3. Zero-Alcohol Mezcal Paloma Another mocktail you can prepare in just a couple minutes is a paloma with zero-alcohol mezcal. Use two shots of liquor with some grapefruit juice and lime juice. Your friends will love this one, as it tastes almost exactly the same as the alcoholic version. 4. Virgin Margarita You can also use alcohol-free mezcal for margaritas. Mix together the juice from a freshly-squeezed lime, a splash of orange juice, agave nectar to add just a bit of sweetness (honey or simple syrup also work if you have these around), and sparkling water. Serve the beverages over crushed ice or ice cubes in glasses with a salted rim — run a lime wedge around the rims to make the salt stick. 5. Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz One of the trendiest drinks at the moment is the Aperol Spritz. The good news is it’s just as easy to prepare a mocktail version as it is the alcoholic original. Instead of Prosecco, find a non-alcoholic sparkling white wine, and replace the Aperol liqueur with grapefruit juice to gain a citrusy, bitter flavour . Use equal parts of each and then add a little lemon juice to complete the mocktail. It’s the perfect drink for when you want to relax in the afternoon after you’ve finished your classes for the day. Share these mocktails with friends by hosting a holiday gathering. Whereas a dorm room is too small to invite more than a couple people, you’ll have plenty of space if you live in an apartment. You can find McMaster student rentals at West Village Suites — you’ll not only be able to socialize in your private bedroom or large living area, you’ll also have a fully-equipped kitchen where you can comfortably prepare holiday mocktails and snacks. Contact us to secure a lease in time for the next holiday season.

A Student’s Winter Bucket List

You need to take full advantage of the winter break while you’re a university student. As you have several weeks off from classes and many of your friends have no responsibilities, this is the perfect opportunity to try a variety of activities that are only available to you at this time of year. When you’re writing up your winter bucket list, make sure to include the following. 1. Ice Skate at Your Local Rink Find out when your local ice rink is open to the public and go skating with some friends. This can be a great way to stay active over the winter. There may even be nights when the entry price is discounted for university students, making it an affordable activity. 2. Go Sledding in the Park All you need to go sledding is a steep, snow-covered hill and some kind of sled. You can make a DIY sled out of items you already have, including the lid of a storage container, a cookie sheet, or even a piece of sturdy cardboard wrapped in a trash bag. 3. Hold a Festive Movie Marathon Invite friends over for a movie night with a twist: you’ll only watch films that have a festive theme. You could rewatch old favourites or search for new movies that none of you have watched yet — there’s always an influx of seasonal films on streaming services during this time of year. 4. Check Out the Christmas Lights If driving around your neighbourhood to see the Christmas light displays is not already one of your holiday traditions, it’s time to change that. Visit homes known for their extravagance and search for inspiration for your own decorations. 5. Decorate Your Apartment Make putting up seasonal decorations more fun by setting a time to do it with your roommates — this can be a great bonding activity. String up fairy lights, hang ornaments, and buy a small tree. If you want to save money, you could even make your own decorations. 6. Host a Holiday Party A major aspect of university is attending parties. If you haven’t yet hosted a party yourself, invite friends along to one with a holiday theme. You could have an ugly Christmas sweater competition, ask everyone to come wearing Santa hats, or sing karaoke to classic hits. 7. Have a Secret Santa Exchange If you’re worried about having enough in your budget to buy gifts for all your friends, a Secret Santa could be a great alternative. It means that each of you only needs to purchase one present and you can set a budget to ensure no one in the group feels pressured to spend too much. 8. Volunteer at a Fundraiser Embrace the season of giving by volunteering in your community. You should find there are many opportunities to join a fundraiser through campus organizations. 9. Bake Cookies A comforting activity for a lazy weekend is to bake cookies. Experiment with a few different recipes — you could even try putting your own spin on a classic. If you share your creations with friends or family the next day, you’re sure to be popular. 10. Contribute to a Holiday Meal If you don’t already know how to prepare some of the fixtures for a holiday meal, now’s the time to learn. You could host a potluck with friends before you leave for winter break or you could offer to make or more of the dishes for your big family meal. You’ll be able to check off more items on your winter bucket list if you have your own apartment where you can host all the above indoor winter activities. For apartments near McMaster University, look no further than West Village Suites. You’ll have your own bedroom in a spacious suite complete with upgraded furniture. Book a tour to see where you could be living in the new year.

5 Tips for Establishing Your Worth in the Job Market

After you graduate from university, you may be competing for jobs with people who already have several years’ experience. It can be difficult to feel you have the high worth of these candidates — but showing you feel this way when interviewing could mean you end up losing out on a position or accepting something lower than you deserve. It’s important to remember that you’ve learned valuable skills during your time at university and through other experience , including internships, volunteering, and part-time jobs. There are several things you can do to make sure potential employers fully recognize your value. 1. Show Off Your Knowledge People who have been in the field a while may have forgotten some of what they learned in university, whereas all this knowledge is still fresh in your mind. Use this to your advantage instead of seeing your new-grad status as a limitation. Take every opportunity during your interviews to show you understand concepts, are familiar with terminology, and have solutions to hypothetical situations. 2. Know That You Belong Feign confidence even if you feel intimidated during your interview. Talk as if you know you’ll do great in the position and ask for things you want rather than just waiting to see what the employer thinks is fair. Remember that after all the hard work you’ve put in to make it this far, you do deserve a shot. 3. Find a Mentor If you’re struggling with self-confidence, it can help to receive guidance from someone who was once in your position. A mentor can help you realize your strengths, work on your weaknesses, and figure out how to meet your goals. 4. Continue Actively Looking for Jobs Even if you’re happy with the first job you find, it makes sense to keep looking for new opportunities. You may find that you’re being underpaid or overworked. There’s no need to necessarily change jobs, but receiving an offer at another company can be great leverage in a negotiation. 5. Set Healthy Boundaries Establishing a work–life balance and upholding your values will garner you respect and remind you of your self-worth. For instance, you should avoid working overtime unless desired, taking every extra project your boss offers, and answering work emails from home. This will only lead to burnout — and your employer may start taking you for granted. 6. Avoid Jobs That Expect You to Prove Your Worth Some companies target university students by offering them jobs they say will increase in pay after employees have proved their worth. Since you’ve already earned a degree, you deserve better than this. Avoid these employers in favour of those who will treat you fairly from the start. Another way to recognize your own worth is to realize you deserve better than on-campus housing. Move out of your current McMaster residence and into West Village Suites. The apartments are fully furnished, rent includes all utilities and WiFi , and you’ll be within walking distance from campus. You’ll be much more comfortable than in dorms, as you’ll have your own room and access to some great amenities, including a yoga studio, fitness facilities, and study spaces. Book a tour to see how living here would improve your university experience.