for future students

The AC bucket list for first year students

You’ve accepted your offer and now you’re waiting for the fall to come so you can take the next leap towards your future – congrats! This is a huge deal, and while you may not know it yet, your life is about to change.

Despite the worries that you may have about the studying, assignments and exams, there are tons of experiences that are worth looking forward to.

Here’s a list of activities that you should take advantage of once you join us on Campus:

1. Take part in AC Day 1

The first thing to check off your bucket list is AC Day 1. The event is for incoming full-time, first year Fall students, and as the name entails, this is your first day of school. Don’t miss out on one of our biggest days of the year where the campuses comes alive with tons of fun activities, free entertainment, games and more.

2. Compete in Open Mic, Trivia Night or Dirty Bingo at the Observatory

The Observatory (or as most call it – “the Ob”) is the go-to place on the Ottawa Campus for a fun night out where you can enjoy excellent house-made food and drinks on a student budget. During the school year, they regularly put on events including Open Mic, Pub Trivia Night, and the ever-popular Dirty Bingo (what’s better than Drag Queens and fun prizes?)

3. Cheer on the Algonquin Thunder at one of several varsity games

Our men’s and women’s varsity teams compete province-wide in a variety of sports, including basketball, rugby, soccer, cricket, volleyball and even loggersports at our Pembroke campus. Whatever your jam is, come out and show support for your team at one of their many matches at our Woodroffe campus!

4. Give back and branch out by volunteering

Not only does volunteering help you meet new people, cultivate leadership skills and provide you with a meaningful experience, it’s also looks great on your resume! Our Volunteer Centre in the AC Hub is constantly updating their database with fun, local opportunities like Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival and larger, global projects in places like Kenya and Guatemala. Eligible activities can also be applied to your Co-Curricular Record to recognize the work you’ve done and increase your employment opportunities.

5. Get pampered at the Salon, Spa and Boutique

One of the perks of having Esthetician and Hairstyling programs at Algonquin College is that you get to take advantage of deals like $15 for an express mani-pedi, $20 women’s haircut and blow-dry, and $10 men’s cuts. The Salon, Spa and Boutique is open to everyone and is operated by senior students alongside industry certified instructors.

6. Join an intramural team

Intramural sports are the perfect way to keep off that freshman 15 and meet a bunch of new people. Our Ottawa and Pembroke campuses offers a wide variety of leagues, tournaments and off-campus activities throughout the academic year. Registration starts in September so keep your eyes peeled for sign-ups!

Algonquin Perth Campus students can enjoy free yoga, ice hockey, basketball and swimming available at local facilities.

7. Treat yourself at Restaurant International

Chef with culinary students around fiery frying pan

Guys’ night, girls’ night, date night, solo night – whatever the occasion, consider spending it at Restaurant International at Ottawa Campus. Chow down on a delicious three course meal for less than $25, provided by students and faculty from our School of Hospitality and Tourism.

8. Enjoy a show at the Algonquin Commons Theatre

Instead of scrolling through Netflix for hours trying to decide what to watch, head over to the ACT. Open to the entire community, the Algonquin Commons Theatre is home to our beautiful 700+ seat auditorium that hosts a variety of events including comedy shows, popular Broadway performances, live concerts, celebrity meet & greets, free movie nights and more.

9. Join one of over 100 clubs and communities – or make your own!

Whether you’re into dance, e-sports, coding, we’ve got a club or community for just about every interest. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and make fast friends. And if by some off-chance that you don’t find one that you like, you can start your own!

Essential Tips for Online Learners

How many times a day do you think you check your phone? 50? 100? 200? With the countless distractions and notifications that are constantly popping-up, staying focused on your work and classes requires a lot of self-regulation. This is especially true if you are an online learner. Without anyone around to keep you accountable, it’s a challenge to avoid going down the internet rabbit hole. We’ve got some helpful tricks and tips to help you succeed as an online student.

Establish a schedule

While taking College classes online allows you to have a very flexible schedule, this unstructured time can lead to many challenges. To make things easier, try creating a weekly timetable for yourself like you would have in a real classroom setting. Dedicate certain days to specific classes and budget at least one hour of homework for every hour of class time. Try to spread out activities so you don’t get overwhelmed, and make sure you leave enough room in between for downtime.

Here’s a template you can download to make your timetable and instructions on how to create a weekly schedule using software like Google Calendar or Outlook.

Set blackout periods

Studies show that you can lose up to 40% of your productivity by task-switching. To prevent this, turn phone on Do Not Disturb mode and block distracting websites on your browser to avoid temptations for set periods of time throughout the day. Make sure to be realistic when you set your blackout periods so that you can actually stay committed. For example, tell yourself that after every three hours of studying you will reward yourself with one episode of your favourite Netflix show. If you are too strict with your rules, you are bound to crack and break them.

Find a dedicated study area

Whether it’s a coffee shop, your local library, a home office, or your kitchen table, it’s important to have a designated study area where you feel comfortable with limited distractions and a strong internet connection. Although it is tempting to do work in your bed or on your couch, your “quick power naps” can very easily turn into hour-long slumbers. Instead, pick one room or area to study in and stick with it. Over time, you will get used to the space and you’ll have less new stimuli for your brain to process.

Use a notepad

Taking notes by hand can seem cumbersome, especially when all your courses are on your computer anyways. But just because you can type faster than you can write, doesn’t mean it’s the best alternative. In fact, you will be more likely to absorb the material when you are taking notes by hand and summarizing as you go, rather than typing 100 words a minute and retaining none of it. Studying your handwritten notes can also help reduce the eye strain that results from too much screen time.

Socialize with peers

Just because you are studying online doesn’t mean that you should do it alone. To avoid isolation, try to participate in online discussion groups with other students who are in the same course or program as you. Make a conscious effort to plan activities and get-togethers with friends throughout the week. Socializing will help your brain engage in new ideas and can help reduce stress levels.

More resources

Check out more resources for online learners including our program guide and upcoming info sessions.

5 TED Talks Every Student Needs to Watch ASAP

From stories of the Instant Gratification Monkey to multipotentialite superpowers, these TED Talks will teach students ways to lead a more positive, productive and empathetic life.

1. Inside the mind of a master procrastinator by Tim Urban

If you ever find yourself thinking “meh… I’ll do this tomorrow”; and then tomorrow turns into the next day, and then the next week, and then the next month… You may have a procrastinating problem. But you’re not alone. According to this speaker, we’re all procrastinators. Listen to how Tim Urban explains his problem and how it can affect your life.

2. The power of introverts by Susan Cain

Introverts have long been misunderstood. Seen by extroverts as being standoff-ish or anti-social, in reality introverts are just deeper thinkers and listen more than they speak. Understanding how different people think and share ideas is important for dealing with other students in group projects or living in residence. In this TED Talk, Susan Cain explains why the world needs introverts and how the loudest person in the room isn’t always the one with the best ideas.

3. The danger of hiding who you are by Morgana Bailey

At some point in all of our lives we have been scared to be ourselves – out of fear of being ridiculed or punished. In college and after graduating, you will encounter hundreds of people, each with a different story to tell and set of challenges they face. What’s most important is that we try not to judge others. In this brave TED Talk, Morgana Bailey makes the decision to finally reveal who she really is and why she urges everyone to take the leap of being more authentic.

4. The happy secret to better work by Shawn Anchor

In this hilarious and fast-paced talk, Shawn Anchor unveils the truth about our brains and how positive thinking is the secret to being a more productive and creative worker. Rather than thinking that once you are rich and successful then you will be happy, Shawn argues that instead you should focus on the reverse. Once your brain is able to think more positively, then you are able to be achieve far more.

5. Why some of us don’t have one true calling by Emilie Wapnick

Whether you are someone who tried university but it just wasn’t your jam or you’ve been working for a couple years in a job you don’t love, college is the perfect opportunity for you to follow a new dream. In this inspiring talk, Emilie Wapnick challenges society’s attempt to pigeonhole people into their “one true calling”. She encourages you to embrace your many passions and to pursue as many new interests as possible, as each one is a lesson that will help you on your next adventure.

Studying Tips: How To Do It Right

Studying is the key to success but man is it hard. It takes discipline and focus to actually commit to the task. Or does it? These super, duper helpful tips will make studying a little less painful. You’ll be doing it like a pro in no time!

Learn to study

Find a good study spot

You don’t always have to camp out in the library. Find a spot that you feel comfortable in. Whether this is your bedroom, a coffee shop, or your mom’s couch; it works if you’re comfy. This will put your mind it as ease. You retain information more easily when you’re relaxed. That’s what studying is all about.

Find what works for you.

Learning habits

Now that you’ve found a good spot, you need to find a good method. If furiously jotting down notes and memorizing them is your thing, cool. If that technique is getting stale, maybe switch it up a little. Changing things around keeps your brain from getting bored.

Take how you learn into consideration. You know what learning habits work best for you. If you’re a visual learner, draw some pictures, and make it a game. If you’re more an auditory learner, try writing a song or poem to help you memorize things better. Make things more interesting for yourself.

New stuff

Your brain likes shiny, bright colours, the smell of ink on paper, the sound a notebook makes when you crack it open for the first time. Keep this in mind when you’re studying. New stuff is refreshing and you will want to use them. You can check out Connections for any on campus deals.

Taking notes

Taking notes is a great idea, but it’s easy to miss something important if you aren’t paying attention. Try taking point form notes and expanding after class is done. If you summarize your notes later, you’ll spend more time listening in class. Active listening is great way to properly retain information.

You can easily improve your active listening skills in a few different ways. Try facing the speaker and making eye contact. You don’t have to stare them down (that’s weird). Eye contact is a good way to focus on what the speaker is saying. Pretend you’re having an interesting conversation with them. Don’t understand something? Ask pertinent questions. Not only will this show the speaker that you were listening, you’ll also get the answers you need.

When you’re jotting something down, make it count. Cater your note-taking to your learning style. If you’re a visual learner, quickly sketching something you can refer to when studying may work for you. Pictures are an easy way to remember something. You don’t need to be an artist either. Use the sketch as a reminder.

Need some help practicing these tips? The Student Learning Centre holds workshops on study skills and more!

Explain it

If you want to test if you were really listening, try summarize the lecture after class to a friend or family member. Not only will be sure to thoroughly understand what you just learned, you’ll know what to ask about if there are gaps.

Try explaining the lesson to yourself or some friends from class. You should have them explain it to you, too. If all of you are vague on a subject it will be worth bringing it up to the instructor for them to revisit.

Practice

It takes a while for something to become a habit. Studying is no exception. If you need an extra hand, Algonquin College is here to help. There’s a ton of Student Support Services you can take advantage of. This includes studying workshops, tutoring, and lots of other things. You’ll go through a lot of trial and error before you find the right method for your learning habits. Don’t give up. You’re killin’ it, friend! I believe in you.

How to decide between living on or off campus

Moving is tricky. Deciding where to move is trickier. That’s why we wanna help.

It’s your first year of post-secondary education and you’re not sure whether to live on or off campus? That’s a tough call. Good thing we weighed the pros and cons for you! Check out this list if you’re feeling a little torn.

Getting to know your new hood

Moving away from home can be overwhelming. Staying on campus can offer some peace of mind. By the end of your second week, you’ll know the campus like the back of your hand; being close to something you’re familiar with can be really comforting. This means you know how long it takes you to walk to class (meaning you might even be able to sleep in).

Living off campus means exploring a whole new life and neighbourhood. Living in uncharted territory is an adventure. You might have to commute to get to campus but that’s just another excuse to discover something you might have otherwise missed.

Social Butterfly

Living on campus means you’ll be close to your best buds at all times. It means you’ll never be alone and even if you are, you’ll never be lonely. Residence staff match like-minded students to support positive cohabitation. It’s easy to make friends! On campus residence is the greatest thing to ever happen to a social butterfly with events and leadership opportunities planned throughout the year. Whether you’re a bit more reserved or like being around people, this might be the place for you.

Living off campus means fending for yourself. Sure, you’ll get to know people in your hood, new classmates or roommates, but for the most part, everyone around you keeps to themselves. It’s a bit harder to make friends when you don’t already share a common living space. However, this lifestyle might be easier for you to study and reduce stress if you’re not used to a slightly busier lifestyle.

All in?

Some students seek housing in all-inclusive, off campus apartments like this one or this one. Rather than paying various bills, these guys come as a package deal. From communal kitchens, to lounge and study areas, all-inclusive housing is appealing. It’s got many of the advantages of living on campus, despite not actually being on campus.

Residence is also all-inclusive. At Algonquin College, you only pay for your room from September to April so you won’t be locked into a 12-month lease – but if you’re there for a 12-month program, you can stay through the summer too. Enjoy an array of great food options with nine food locations on campus (35thStreet Market Café located right inside Residence has some great grab-and-go items). On-campus Residence also offers spacious rooms and a variety of common spaces, including a games room, movie lounge and fitness room.

If you aren’t living in an all-inclusive apartment, you’ll have a lot more responsibilities. You’ll have to decide whether you want to live with roommates or on your own. You’ll need to figure out how to get to and from school (luckily all full-time Algonquin College students are eligible for a U-Pass). You’ll likely be paying various bills at once. First steps in #adulting. Consider the cost of rent, heating, hydro, gas, parking, laundry, furniture, cable, and Wi-Fi. We promise, we’re not trying to scare you. With cost sharing between roommates, this option is surprisingly most often the cheaper lifestyle.

We know it’s a hard decision to make. There are so many different things to consider. Just know that, regardless of where you end up living, you’re going to be just fine. This is a whole new adventure so start exploring, friend!

Chelsie McHugh is a third-year Algonquin College – Advertising and Marketing Communications student. She’s a funny, fiery redhead with a passion for writing.

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