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.

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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.

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

12 Fun Fall Activities for College Students

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.

It may seem like yesterday you were taking them home from the hospital, but the reality is that the tomorrow of taking them on their first day of preschool education in Montgomeryville, PA, or wherever in the world you may be, is fast approaching.

Part of your anxiety may stem from thinking about your baby leaving you for the first time, but probably another big part of that anxious feeling stems from the fact that you are not sure if you have done everything you can to prepare them properly.

Whether it is a year, a few months, or a week away there are actual several easy ways that you can begin to prepare your little one for that next big step – heading to preschool. It may seem overwhelming, but getting your little guy or girl ready for school is a lot easier than you think.

Here are six of things that you can do from home that will leave both you and your child pretty confident when it comes time for the first day of school.

Read books about school

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Books are a great way to introduce a topic to a child and to help them learn about it in a gradual and non-overwhelming way.

There are plenty of books out there most likely featuring characters your child is familiar with and showing them on their first day of school or going to school.

Read and discuss regularly with your child the characters in the books who are going to school and how they will go to school and likely do the same things your child will do. This will get them excited for when their time comes and help it seem a lot less intimidating.

Teach them to be independent

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Teaching your child little tasks each day to make them feel more independent will be a great way to help them prepare for a school where they will be doing a lot more independent tasks.

Ask them to help you to do little tasks throughout the day, and as time goes on make those tasks a little bigger and a little bit more difficult.

Let them figure it out on their own at first, then take the time to teach them how to do it, and then stand back and let them complete it.

Adjust your routine

If you know which preschool your child is going to go to, find out their schedule. And if you can, learn how their day-to-day is run and match your at-home schedule to it.

Adjusting your daily schedule to match theirs will help your child to adjust easier once school time runs around, such as getting up earlier than they normally do, taking a nap at a different time, and eating their meals at certain times.

Talk to them

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One of the best things to do with your little one is to be open and honest and allow them to express their feelings about going to school and being without you most of the day.

Talk about how you will have to leave them, but that they will have their teachers and friends there with them so they won’t feel alone or won’t have someone to help them.

If they are nervous or scared let them express it or be observant and watch for abnormal behaviors that could have to do with their anxiety and try to help them with it to the best of your ability.

Buy school supplies

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A fun way for you and your child to prepare for school is to go out together and gather the supplies they will need for a school, such as a backpack, Branded Notebooks, pencils, and paper.

Let them pick out what they want and help them to know what they will be using it for.

Show them how they will pack everything and how they can write their name on it so they will know which is theirs versus their friends.

Find the place that fits both of your needs

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This step is as much to prepare you as it is your child but look for a place that fits both your needs and the needs of your little one.

If you work for example and need both a daycare and a preschool, look up places such as loloschildcare.com which is both a quality preschool and daycare. Or if you want one that is just a preschool, drive around or look online for one that fits that criteria in your area.

Ask around and see what friends with your kid’s same age are doing and discuss possibly sending your kids to the same school.

The post 6 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool 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.