Moving can be a bit nerve wracking especially if you’re doing it alone. Just the thought of packing and organizing all your belongings can be overwhelming. But don’t worry we’ve got some tips to make your upcoming move a breeze!

Early planning equals a smooth move

First things first start planning. Like any life event, moving apartments requires careful preparation. Give yourself plenty of time to sort through your stuff and plan out the logistics so that everything goes smoothly on moving day.

Create a moving to-do list

Creating a checklist is also crucial for a move. This will help keep you organized and ensure that no important tasks slip through the cracks. Your checklist can include things like finding an apartment and notifying your landlord about your move. Anything that’s essential, for a smooth transition.

Gather your packing essentials

Before you begin the moving process it’s important to gather all the packing supplies. Head to your grocery store. Pick up boxes, bubble wrap, and tape to ensure you have everything you need to pack your belongings.

Don’t be afraid to hire a professional

While it may be tempting to handle the move, by yourself it’s highly recommended to seek assistance. Hiring a moving company like SMARTBOX Solutions, Inc. can take care of all aspects of your move from packing your items to transporting them and even handling heavy lifting. This way, you can focus on tasks related to your move.

Strategic packing means easy unpacking

To make the packing process more efficient, adopt an approach. Start with items that you don’t frequently use and gradually move towards packing essentials. Additionally, pack a box with items that you’ll immediately require upon arriving at your new apartment—think toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and valuable possessions.

Furthermore, remember the importance of labeling each box for unpacking.

Declutter and sort your stuff 

Lastly, take advantage of the moving process as an opportunity to declutter. Sort your belongings into three categories:

• Keep. These are the things you should keep after moving as they are important and valuable to you.
• Donate. These are items that you no longer use but can still be useful to others. It’s a way to give back and help someone in need.
• Discard. If there are items that’re beyond repair or no longer usable it’s best to discard them. It will help declutter your space and make room for the things you truly need.

Take care of your utilities

Before you move make sure to take care of setting up your utilities in the apartment. You don’t want any surprises when you arrive, such as water or electricity issues.

Moving can bring about a mix of emotions—both fear and excitement. It’s natural to feel scared about embarking on a chapter in your life, also excited about the possibilities it holds. We understand these feelings well. Our tips and tricks aim to help make your move stress free.

Remember, if needed don’t hesitate to seek assistance, from movers who know how to handle your belongings with care. Allow yourself to step back and embrace this change in your life!

The post From Student to Working Adult: Your Easy Guide for a Stress-Free Graduation Move appeared first on InstantELLA.

Securing Housing

Moving out of the house and into your own place is exciting and a little nerve-wracking. The new freedom is exciting but living on your own can also be intimidating. There’s a lot of things to consider when looking into where to live: location, price, private or shared room, amenities, and even the social atmosphere. 

As a freshman, it’s a good idea to consider student housing. There’s always the option of just renting a traditional apartment, but student housing is convenient and sensible while in college. When renting an apartment, the lease won’t necessarily begin at the beginning of the school year. Student housing is more likely to become available at the right time. If you want a more social college experience, student housing will be full of students your age. Apartments could be filled with people that are a range of different ages.

Choosing Roommates

College is the perfect time to break out and form new relationships, but that doesn’t mean you have to drop all of your old childhood friends. It can be nice to room with old friends – just be careful to establish some expectations on how you live. Try to find roommates who have similar lifestyles as you. Do you both want to throw parties all the time? Are you both morning people? How clean do you like to keep your apartment? These are important conversations to have with your friends before deciding if you can room together.

Picking Classes

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Freshman year most of your classes will be generals. Use your university catalog to find what classes you need to take. Unlike in high school, there will be hundreds of classes to choose from. Choose a class load that will be challenging and fun. You are going to college to learn, so don’t just take all the fun recreational classes. But also remember that college is about experiencing new things so if you want to go ahead and try out that scuba diving class.

Selecting Professors

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Professors can make or break your class experience. Talk with people who have taken your classes and ask which professors they had. Use websites like ratemyprofessors.com to see what people have to say about your professors. You won’t find the perfect professor for every class, but you probably can find a professor that is a fair grader and engaging to listen to.

Buying Textbooks

Textbooks are expensive. Probably more expensive than you expect. Honestly, there’s no need to go and buy a brand new textbook for each of your classes – especially while you are taking generals. Look for used and less expensive textbooks at your university’s bookstore. Compare your university bookstore’s prices with prices on Amazon or other websites that sell textbooks. Many universities even have Facebook pages dedicated to buying and selling textbooks. Look around before you buy that brand new textbook you only need for one semester.

Freshman year is an exciting time and you’re bound to make a lot of fun memories. Just remember to sort out some of the logistics, like housing and professors, before you get to campus this fall.

The post Preparing for Your Freshman Year appeared first on InstantELLA.

Starting college is like starting a new adventure, one that will only change your life for the better.

Now it might seem intimidating to have to start at the bottom of the totem pole again, but college is a totally different story, and being a freshman comes with its own perks.

Going to College? No?

Freshman year of college is full of amazing opportunities to figure out your passions, make new friends, and have so much fun.

Here are seven other awesome things about being a college freshman that will have you packing your bags and ready to leave tomorrow.

Great social opportunities

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From clubs to sports to just your normal classes, college is full of a ton of opportunities to meet new people and make lifelong friends.

Even your college freshman housing can be a way to make a new connection because most of the time you will be set up with a roommate that’s most likely someone you’ve never met before.

A chance to try new things

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Being on your own means that you have to make your own decisions, which also means an opportunity to try things you have never tried before.

There will likely be so many different people from so many different places all with different upbringings and lives different from your own. Not to mention the fact that you will probably be living in a new city, perhaps even in a different state, which can also expose you to new things to try.

The place to find your passion

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High school was about doing the things you need to do to get to college, whereas college is where you learn to find your passion.

You can take all kinds of different classes to find out what really moves you and what you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life.

Time to learn life skills

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Laundry? Clean room? Prepare dinner? Those are all things that you are in charge of doing for yourself now, which can be overwhelming sometimes, but it’s just a few of the life skills you learn going to college.

But it can also be fun, and even in your college freshman housing you can band together with all the other freshman and make doing all your adulting into a fun game or a time to spend together bonding over this new experience.

To learn to live on your own

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Along with life skills, college is the place to learn to live on your own without relying on your parents or even people you grew up with.

Self-reliance is so important, especially in the years after college and on into adulthood.

How to be disciplined

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Between class, work, social life and everything else going on, learning to juggle it all might be difficult at first. But over time you will find out that one of the awesome things about college is that you learn to be more disciplined and make it all work in your favor.

It may not be easy, but it will be worth it and something you will be always grateful for.

Finally, to have some fun

And last but certainly not least, one of the most awesome and greatest parts about college is all the fun you will have at college!

Although there are a lot of serious, adult-type benefits, one of the best is that you are free to have so much fun in your new experiences in this new place and while learning so many new things about yourself.

The post 7 Awesome Things about Being a College Freshman appeared first on InstantELLA.

An apartment should be a home; a place where you can escape the world. It should be a place of safety and comfort. Many student living apartments provide an experience that is wonderful, others not so much.

What makes the difference. I would say it is what the apartment owners do to make it feel like home, and to show you that you matter. There are many ways this could be done, but here are a couple of my thoughts from my experience.

Updates/Improvements

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No apartment is perfect. Everyone should understand that. Most students are also okay with the fact that their apartments are not going to be the nicest or fanciest out there. That doesn’t stop students from wanting a nice, clean place to live.

A good tenant will look for ways to update or improve their apartments, whether it is replacing furniture, renovating the apartment, getting wifi for apartment, or simply adding homey elements like lamps and coffee tables.

This shows that the apartment owners care about your experience. Apartments that are willing to do this for their tenants usually can be trusted to go the extra mile and treat you right

Maintenance

Does your apartment take 700 business days to respond to the request to fix your sink? The fulfillment of maintenance requests is seemingly one of the biggest complaints I have ever seen from apartment tenants.

It makes sense. No one asked for a brand-new, five-star place to live in. We pay rent to stay in an apartment, and if something breaks it should get promptly fixed.

When I was living in student apartments I never waited longer than a few days to have something fixed or replaced. It made me feel cared for, and I knew that the management was going to do their best to take care of their tenants. It felt very much like home.

Tenant Appreciation

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Some apartments will do little things to show that they appreciate you living there. Sometimes they through parties, do raffles, or host a movie night.

Not many apartments do things like that. Nor would you go into an apartment expecting them to. The fact is you pay rent and they provide a place for you to live. That is all that is required, but for an apartment complex to go above and beyond like that really makes them more appealing to students.

Free Stuff

The average college student had no money. Everyone is poor and just trying to get by. One of the best things an apartment can do is offer things to you for free. The word free will get a student’s attention faster that just about anything.

Laundry is a perfect example. First of all, the thought of paying for the privilege of wearing clean clothes is a little ridiculous. I understand that utilities are being used but still, come on. The best apartments offer free services like laundry, or if you have the best of apartments, parking. Some places “calculate it into the cost” of rent, and some don’t charge at all. A huge thing to consider when looking for housing.

Amenities

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Amenities are king. Grills, pools, lounges, weight rooms, study rooms, and theater rooms are all examples of great amenities.

Amenities are just nice. They show that the apartment was willing to spare no expense in making the living experience a great one. They are also convenient because you don’t have to leave the apartment to workout, soak in the hot tub, or host a party or game night.

I was recently impressed to see something I consider to put apartments in the top tier. Not only do they provide amenities, but also put in effort to ensure they are up to par.

American Avenue Apartments in Rexburg, Idaho did some updates to their lounge areas, improving the student experience. Think about it, they provided a common area that they weren’t required to, and not only maintained it, but updated it to make for an even better living experience. Hats off to them.

Conclusion

Apartments are a big deal. They will be the pace you call home through the formative and challenging years of school, and likely for a while after. Find a good one, an apartment that cares about you and your experience. Just because you are a student, doesn’t mean you have to settle.

The post 5 Qualities of Great Student Apartments appeared first on InstantELLA.

Is it when you graduate college? Rent your first apartment? Or have a steady job?

How to Combine Working and Studying While You Are in College?

Even if you are 25 or 35 you can sometimes still feel unsure if you are actually doing this adult thing right, because it’s not like they give you any type of certificate or training course in it.

Adulting is hard. If you are still feeling confused and unsure, here are four things you can do to feel more like an actual adult, and know that even if you don’t necessarily feel like one most people probably think you are.

Having a planner

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One way to feel like a grown-up is to have a planner in which you put you plans!

But seriously the reason this will make you feel super adultish is because you will be able to know when and where you need to be at all times, and also, your life will feel a lot more well-organized and less chaotic.

Plus you can say things like, “I’ll add it to my calendar” which sounds super grown-up and mature.

Eating well-balanced meals

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Long gone are the days of 3 a.m. Denny’s runs with your friends or pizza for breakfast, or at least they should be.

To be an adult and do adult things your body needs the proper fuel, and eating well-balanced meals filled with actual fruits and veggies will make your body feel better and also make you feel grown-up.

If you want to take it to the next adult level you could even plan all your healthy meals in advance and cook some of them in advance too, and more adult points if you use a crockpot or pressure cooker.

Go to your doctor

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Nothing will make you feel like more of an adult than actually taking the time to make appointments with your doctor, dentist, or any other type of healthcare provider that you may need.

When you reach a certain age, no one is really going to force you to go get your teeth cleaned or go in for your yearly health screen, so it is going to be up to you to do it.

So, visit www.grovecitydentalofblackfoot.com or call your doctor’s office to schedule an appointment, and after you are done you will feel like a bonified adult who is taking care of themselves.

Doing laundry every week

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This is two-fold because nothing is more adult-like than having piles of laundry to do, but the thing that will make you really feel like you are actually being a responsible adult is actually doing the laundry every week.

Making sure to wash your sheets and pillowcases every week as well. It is not only a lot healthier but part of being a responsible grown-up human being.

The post 4 Things You Can Do to Feel More like an Actual Adult appeared first on InstantELLA.

High school is done and as you reflect back you probably think of all the fun times you had with your friends, all the football games and activities you went to, the dances, and just all your teachers and classes.

For some these are very fond memories, maybe some of the best so far, and for others, let’s just say they were very excited and eager to leave those years behind.

The Best College for the Best You

Whatever feelings you had about high school the good news is that for pretty much everyone, starting college and the things you will see and do will trump anything you experienced in high school. You will make some of the best memories of your life.

Here are four reasons why college is going to be the best time of your life and a time to grow and change into the best version of yourself.

You get to leave home

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For some, this may sound scary and overwhelming and it definitely might be at first, but you will find over time that leaving home is probably the best thing you ever did to let yourself grow and to become the independent person you always wanted to be.

Whether it’s a couple hours away or clear across the country, leaving home is one of the big steps of the college experience but one that teaches you self-reliance and how to make your own choices based on what you want and not anyone else like your parents, teachers, or siblings.

You get to live on your own

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Part of leaving home means you get to live on your own whether that means a dorm room or an apartment.

But the good news is that you usually aren’t completely alone and have roommates and friends around to keep you company.

And the best thing about living in a dorm or student apartments is that you can make the place your own and make it comfortable and do fun things like game nights, all-night study sessions, or movie nights with your friends.

You can choose what you want to learn

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Remember all those boring or super hard classes in high school that you had to take?

Well, the great thing about college is although there will be some general education classes that you will be required to take the rest will all be classes that you get to choose, including the major you want to eventually focus on.

Fun Things To Do For College Students this Fall

That means if you’ve always wanted to learn about art history, or anatomy, or sociology you can! And if you have no idea what you want to study you can take a bunch of random classes and find something you like.

You can even take fun classes like guitar, dance, or slam poetry; basically whatever sounds good to you.

You can find your tribe

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One of the best parts of college is that you are now in a place with thousands of intelligent people who are around your age and many of them interested in a lot of the things you are. Whether it’s bonding over a shared love for doom pedals in a music club, attending poetry readings and writing, joining the dance club and enjoying dancing the night away at campus events or immersing yourself in the theater scene, there’s a group for every passion. Dive in, and you’ll soon realize that your tribe is just waiting to be found.

Most colleges have so many groups and organizations that you can be a part of that help you to find out more about yourself as well as connect with like-minded people.

And a lot of these people will turn into some of your best, lifelong friends.

The post 4 Reasons Why College Is Going to Be the Best Time of Your Life appeared first on InstantELLA.

If you’re not sure where to start on your journey of fun, here are some activities that you can do in the fall in most college towns.

Bonfires

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Whether it’s for the homecoming football game, or just a small group of friends at some nearby sand dunes, go! Enjoy listening to good music, roasting hot dogs, dancing with friends and having a good time. This is a great time to forget about your classes for a while and just take a break from your everyday stresses.

Straw Maze

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It’s fall, so there’s bound to be some fall-related activities nearby that you and your friends can carpool to. Find a straw maze or corn maze near by. MazePlay has a great corn maze locator if you’re not sure where to start.

Get lost in the maze, have a race to the finish, or just have fun socializing away from school.

Campus Activities

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Most universities have a range of activities and workshops to participate in throughout the week and on the weekends. These are great ways to meet new people or to learn something new with your friends. Take a yoga class, learn some dance moves, participate in a karaoke night, or whatever activities sound appealing to you. Just look at your school’s activities calendar and you’re sure to find something fun to fill up your spare time.

Haunted House

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Halloween is growing near, so there are bound to be some haunted houses nearby that you can your friends can go scare each other at. Whether they are haunted attractions or an abandoned ghost town, you can make some great memories and get a much needed break from classes during one of these adventures.

Parties

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This doesn’t have to be a large scale frat party, even just hosting a fun game night in your apartments at The Landing or another school housing complex can be a good time. Go in with your roommates on some drinks and snacks, and have everyone bring their favorite game or movie and just enjoy a night relaxing and talking with friends.

5k Runs

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College towns are all about fun runs. Whether it’s a color run or a costume run, there will probably be something taking place in your town soon. So check out community and school calendars to see when the next fun run takes place and sign up with a group of friends. Plan out a crazy outfit, meet up with friends, and it won’t even feel like exercise (until about halfway through).

Don’t be bored this fall when you finish your homework, and don’t resort to Netflix binges on the weekends. Get out and do something fun. Make the most of your college experience!

The post Fun Things To Do For College Students this Fall appeared first on InstantELLA.

But now one big question comes to mind: where will you live? On campus or off campus is the question, which one is the best option for you? Should you choose on-campus housing or off campus? And what does that even mean?1

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Here are a few pros and cons for housing on campus and off campus from some student apartments for BYU-I housing, which can hopefully make the decision process a little easier.

On-Campus

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The definition of on-campus housing is that the housing is considered to be on the actual campus, the most well-known type of on-campus housing being dorms.

Pros

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There are many pros to living on campus, especially if you are new to college and this is your first semester. Also, a lot of on-campus housing includes a meal plan, meaning you won’t have to worry about cooking.

The first pro is that you are on campus, meaning you are close to all the amenities that campus offers such as the school cafeteria or gym.

Another is that you most likely won’t need a car because you will be within walking distance for most parts of the campus.

Cons

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One con that many attribute to on-campus housing are that the people who tend to live there are mostly first or second semester students, so there isn’t a lot of variety in age and experience.

Also, some may find concentrating a little more difficult due to a large amount of activity in or outside the rooms.

Another con is that most of the on-campus housing means having more roommates than some of the off-campus housing.

Off-campus

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Off-campus housing is most apartment complexes that are around or very near the school but are technically not in school housing. Some colleges even have an approved housing list, which differs from just the community housing for that city.

Pros

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The off-campus housing means a little more independence and freedom, which can give the student more opportunity to learn responsibility and accountability.

Off-campus housing can also offer a little more variety of students, as well as more freedom for activities and such.

Another benefit of off-campus housing is that it can sometimes offer the student more privacy than on-campus housing can, with opportunities for private instead of shared rooms.

Also, there are instances where off-campus housing can be a little more cost-effective than on-campus housing just because there are more price options to choose from.

Cons

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One of the cons of off-campus housing is that depending on where you live it can be more of a commute to campus and may even require a car.

Sometimes with off-campus housing, you may need to make a little more effort to get involved in social activities on campus.

Also, there may be times off-campus where the tenants may be more rambunctious and noisier than on-campus housing.

Even though there are pros and cons for both on-campus and off-campus housing, either way, there is a great option for you and your needs.

The post Off-Campus Versus On Campus: The Pros And Cons of Choosing Student Housing appeared first on InstantELLA.

Seeking help or personal improvement?

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In as much as students always hope for the best grades and in which case, qualify for admission to higher levels of learning, writing end term papers has been quite an impediment among those whose skills fall below par. Apart from seeking help from third parties, it should also be understood that there is room for improvement for the poor writer who hardly gets any good grades.  This can be achieved in a number of ways. It is either one embarks of rigorous training if he or she wants to make improvements or look for someone who can adequately answer to a question of who can help me do my math homework perfectly.

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This post focuses on top hacks that will make a difference in one’s approach to literary composition and consequently beget better grades. Note that the tips discussed hereafter are time tested and also full proofed by experts.

Mind Topic and Thesis

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To write a great academic research paper, essay or thesis, one of the things that every student must factor in is the need for a strong, original and relevant topic. While a good number of students always find it challenging to come up with the best, one thing that is for sure is that this can be approached in many different and productive ways.

Rely on Experts to Help You Express Yourself

For instance, group discussions, research on topic prompts and brainstorming have never disappointed.  This is one bit that custom research paper writers always take into serious consideration in order to meet students’ expectations.

Own Voice To Reach The Audience

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Originality is an important aspect in academic paper writing. It is all about being unique in the sound and feels readers get from a piece of composition.  This is all about translating own voice unto a piece of writing to enrich readers with new style and knowledge.

Cut & Proofread

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One of the mistakes students make when it comes to writing term papers is handing in their papers without going through them to identify mistakes and make necessary corrections. In fact, failing to check on this has been a reason why marks are deducted on a piece of composition.  There are many word processing tools and programs that can help with grammar check. Take care not to use those which at worst, do article spinning even when hiring assignment help online.

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In concluding, there shouldn’t be a reason why students out to complain all the time whenever writing tasks are assigned. With so many experts tips published on the blogosphere and including practises that one can make a habit, it is only a matter of days before one becomes a top-notch essayist.

The post Three Hacks To Writing A Term Paper appeared first on InstantELLA.