Blog Posts

6 Vacation Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

The long summers you have while you’re a student are perfect for travelling. The problem is your budget may be limited — and prices tend to be at their highest during the summer. However, there are still many destinations to choose from that won’t break the bank and will give you everything you want from a summer vacation. Here are a few top spots to consider. 1. Yellowstone National Park Spend the summer hiking through Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho — Yellowstone National Park spans all three states. You’ll only need to pay $35 for a vehicle or $20 for each person on foot for a stay of up to seven days. As you explore the hiking trails, you’ll encounter stunning scenery consisting of mountains, lakes, and geysers with thermal basins. You may also see roaming bison and other wildlife, making this an ideal spot for nature lovers. 2. Glacier National Park, Montana Another option for outdoor adventures is Glacier National Park in Montana. Again, the cost per vehicle is just $35 for seven days. Camping is also affordable — at between $10 and $23 a night. Summer is the best time of year to go because it’s warm enough to swim in Lake McDonald and the views along Going-to-the-Sun Road are at their best. 3. Niagara Falls If you’ve never visited Niagara Falls, use this summer to change that. This is a surprisingly-affordable destination, especially if you book in advance. To make the most of your time, visit other attractions and take tours (some are self-guided) — purchasing these in a bundle will save you money. 4. Vancouver If you’re more into city destinations, consider Vancouver. There is plenty to do for free, the food is world class, and there are great opportunities for shopping, particularly on Granville Island. Whether you want to go swimming at the beach, biking in the park, or wandering around art galleries, there’s something for you. 5. Outer Banks, North Carolina A top choice for a beach destination you may not have considered is Outer Banks, North Carolina. If you book in advance, you may be able to find a good deal on a hotel for the summer. Tourists come to these barrier islands from all over to enjoy the expansive sandy beaches. Plus, there are other free attractions, including a couple state parks and shipwreck diving sites. 6. Aruba If you want an island destination a bit farther afield, you may like Aruba. Summer is the offseason, meaning prices for accommodation and flights are lower and you won’t find crowds on the beach. The reason it’s the low season is the heat — but you’ll be comfortable if you’re spending most of the daytime in the ocean or a pool. The good thing is the island is outside the hurricane belt, making it a safe choice for the Caribbean in the summer. If you’re concerned about having enough spending money when you’re back at university, a useful way to spend the summer (while you’re not on vacation) is looking for an affordable room for rent. Edmonton students should look no further than 1TEN on Whyte. We have apartments to suit all budgets — from bachelor suites to four-bedroom apartments — all of which come fully furnished. Apply now to move in after summer break.

Internship vs. Paid Job: Which Is a Better Way to Spend Your Summer?

If you’re looking to gain work experience over your summer break, you have two main options: an internship or a paid job. Which is the better option for you will depend on the following factors. 1. Pay A job will pay an hourly wage or a salary, either of which will be at least minimum wage. Internships are often unpaid, although some companies offer paid positions, especially if candidates need to have relevant experience. 2. Temporary vs Permanent Positions Internships last for a set period of time , which may be several weeks or a couple months. However, it’s not uncommon for students to receive a job offer after their internship finishes, particularly if they’re about to graduate. Jobs for the summer are likely to be seasonal, meaning they’ll also be for a set amount of time. However, you may be able to work the same job again the following summer. If you choose a permanent position, you may be able to continue working part time when you return to university. 3. Qualification Requirements You may be limited in what kinds of positions you’re able to apply for depending on the qualifications you have. Internships are often only open to students who have almost completed their degree. Seasonal and part-time jobs may want you to have certifications to prove your expertise in a particular skill. 4. Skills Development Both internships and jobs help you develop skills and gain valuable experience for your resume. However, if you’re looking to gain experience in a particular area, one may be more valuable than the other. For instance, an internship is more likely to give you experience in the field you want to enter after graduation, whereas a job may teach you transferable skills that are suitable for any field. 5. Explore a Particular Career If you’re still unsure about what you want to do after you graduate, trying out some possible options may help you come to a decision. An internship is ideal for seeing what it would be like to work in a particular position or company. You may be able to find a paid job in an industry you’d like to explore further, but it’s less likely you’ll be able to find something directly related to your career goals. 6. Gain Credit If you want to use your summer to earn more credit to count toward your degree, an internship may be ideal. In fact, it may be a graduation requirement for your major, meaning you will need to take an internship at some point. Bear in mind, though, you can also gain credit over the summer while working a paid job: by taking summer classes. It may be a good idea to find an internship or job near your school, as this will leave open the possibility of continuing to work at the same company in the fall semester. If you’re currently living on campus, this means searching for an apartment. You’ll find rooms for rent near University of Alberta at 1TEN on Whyte. You’ll have a fully-furnished apartment located just 1 kilometre from campus in an area with many restaurants and stores. Contact us for a lease.

6 Benefits of Meditation for University Students

There’s no better time than university to start practicing meditation. If you’ve never meditated before, you may have the wrong idea of what it involves. It’s not a passive activity where you attempt to think about nothing — it’s about paying attention to your thoughts and sensations to improve concentration and decrease anxiety. This can have the following significant benefits for students. 1. Improve Your Concentration Meditating will teach you to control where you focus your attention, which leads to better concentration. It also helps you to ignore distractions, including thoughts that pop into your head and stop you from absorbing what you’re reading. This will help you stay focused on tasks longer and improve your productivity. 2. Reduce Stress Many people who meditate on a regular basis find they suffer from less stress. In addition, they are more resilient, meaning they are able to cope better when stressful situations do arise. For students, this may mean being able to complete a big project by the due date without becoming overwhelmed or feeling less anxious before a difficult exam. 3. Decrease Negative Emotions Meditation can reduce negativity in general. When your mind is wandering, you are often dwelling on unhappy memories or worries about the future. When your focus is on the present, you experience more positive emotions. 4. Higher Self-Esteem The emphasis on self-awareness in meditation can give you a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. This results in higher self-esteem, which can have multiple positive effects on your student experience. For instance, it can help with your social life, make you more willing to participate in class, and give you the confidence to try new activities. 5. Improved Social Interactions As well as giving you the confidence to seek out more social activities, practicing meditation can result in better social interactions. There are several reasons for this. One is that you’ll bring the positivity you gain from meditation to your interactions with others. Another is that students who meditate are more likely to be trusting, empathetic, and compassionate — all qualities that lead to stronger friendships. 6. Better Academic Performance Meditation can help develop some cognitive functions. Although these effects are less pronounced than some of the other benefits of meditation, they are still significant. Besides, anything you can do to improve your academic performance is worthwhile. One way meditation can help you study is by improving your working memory — this is the information you hold in your mind for a short time . Improving your working memory helps you learn new information and solve problems. It can also help with response inhibition: the ability to control your initial impulses. This is particularly useful if you are prone to making mistakes on quizzes because you fail to take the time to read the question fully. You can practice meditation at home — provided you have somewhere to sit in peace, away from interruptions. This can be difficult when you live on campus, but it’s easy when you have your own bedroom. You can find University of Alberta off-campus housing where you’ll have the privacy to meditate whenever you want at 1Ten on Whyte. Apply now for the floor plan of your choice.

How to Respond When Asked Why You Deserve an Internship

Although every internship interview will involve different questions, there are a few favourites interviewers often use to determine if someone is a good candidate for the position. One in particular that comes up often is why you feel you deserve the internship. Students find this especially difficult to answer, as they’re not typically used to singing their own praises. Furthermore, “deserve” is a difficult word — you don’t want to sound like you feel entitled to the internship. However, if you stop to think about what the question is actually asking, you can come up with an answer in advance that will improve your chances of landing the position. Here are some tips to guide you. 1. Think About What It Means to Deserve an Internship The word “deserve” has a complex meaning. In terms of why the company should offer you the internship, think of it as meaning why you’re qualified for the position. 2. Decide What Qualities You’ll Mention When you consider everything you’ve achieved at university, during your work experience, and in other areas of your life, you’ll likely find you have numerous accomplishments you could mention in the interview. However, you should stick to just merits that are relevant to the internship. Decide what you most want the interviewer to know about you and what helps you stand out from other candidates. A good way to approach this is to make a list of all your top skills, qualities, and qualifications. For instance, you may have helped a company achieve great results during a past internship or job. Alternatively, a particular class may have prepared you well for the internship — maybe you even won an award or gained an especially high grade on a project. Lastly, you may have taught yourself skills that will be relevant for the position. Once you have a list of possible qualities , rank them. Build the top one to three into your answer about why you deserve an internship. 3. Explain What You Can Bring to the Company A final way to show you deserve an internship without coming across as entitled is to talk about how you’ll be valuable to the company. Briefly mention your work ethic (with an example to back up your word) and express that you’re passionate about the position. Making it clear you’re grateful the employer is considering you for the internship — such as by thanking the interviewer at the end — will also emphasize this. During your internship, it’s extra important to have a place you can call home. You may be working long days and have other commitments in addition to your internship, such as classes. It’s crucial for you to be able to relax and feel comfortable in your student housing. Edmonton has the ideal student rentals at 1Ten on Whyte. You’ll be living in the main arts and entertainment district in Edmonton, where you can find many top internship opportunities. You’ll also be able to meet other students in places li ke the games room and fit in a daily workout at the onsite gym. Book a tour to check out all the facilities for yourself.

7 Tips for Reducing Your Screen Time

Staring at a screen for several hours a day is unavoidable when you’re a student. However, the likelihood is you’re using your devices far more than is essential for your studies and staying in touch with friends. Most people look at their phones as soon as they receive a notification and whenever they have nothing else to do. The problem with this habit is it has multiple negative effects, including stress, feelings of loneliness, and depression. The good news is there are simple things you can do to reduc e your screen time. Here are some tips to try. 1. Be Conscious of Your Phone Usage Stop mindlessly opening social media or a gaming app when you’re bored. Find something more productive to do or even just listen to your thoughts. You’ll be amazed at how much screen time this cuts from your day. 2. Set Screen Time Limits In your phone settings, you can set time limits for individual apps that are wasting the most time. This will shut you out of apps once you’ve reached your daily limit. It may be worth checking how much time you currently spend on particular apps and using this to create reasonable limits. You could even implement stricter limits in the future as you develop better habits. 3. Set Your Phone to Greyscale Bright colours are one of the big reasons your phone feels addictive. If you switch to greyscale, your phone will feel less appealing when you look at it — which can remind you to do something else instead. You can change your phone to greyscale in the settings or set a shortcut to switch between grey and colour whenever you want. 4. Keep Screens Out of Reach at Bedtime Leave your devices behind when you go to bed. It can be tempting to wind down by scrolling through social media or watching videos, but this is actually the worst time to be looking at a screen. The blue light your screen emits will wake you up, making it more difficult to fall asleep and lowering your sleep quality. In fact, you should put screens away two hours before bedtime. It’s much better to relax with an activity that doesn’t require screens, such as reading a book. 5. Turn Off Notifications Be selective about which apps send you notifications. Keeping notifications to a minimum will mean your phone alerts you less often, so you’ll be less likely to pick it up. In fact, the majority of notifications you receive don’t even need your immediate attention. 6. Delete Apps If you find it impossible to stop giving in to the temptation to use certain apps, delete them. This is a particularly good idea during exam seasons when you need to be focusing more on your studies. Another way to reduce screen time is to find more activities that don’t require screens. For instance, you could work out in the gym, play games like ping pong and pool, or just spend time with other students. All these things are possible when you choose 1TEN on Whyte for your room for rent. Edmonton students can have a bachelor suite to themselves or share an apartment with up to three roommates. Rent includes furnishings, utilities, and access to a number of common spaces. Apply now.

A Guide to Giving Your Student Apartment a Spring Refresh

Spring is a great time of year: the weather is warm, the days are longer, and everything feels more cheerful. Plus, when you’re a student, you have spring break to enjoy. A great way to bring a sense of spring into your life is to give your apartment a refresh. There are several things in particular you should do to prepare your student housing for the change of seasons. 1. Do a Deep Clean Go beyond your regular chores by giving your apartment a deep clean. Pay attention to every room — you may like to designate a day to cleaning and involve your roommates in the undertaking. In addition to cleaning the places you normally neglect (such as the windows, underneath furniture, and inside kitchen appliances), make sure to declutter. You’ll be amazed how much junk you’ve accumulated over the last few months. For instance, you may have old papers, magazines, freebies from events, and clothes you’ll never wear again. All this will be taking up space and making your apartment look messy. 2. Redecorate for Spring Once your apartment is completely clean and decluttered, you can think about how to decorate to remind yourself spring is here. There’s no need for this to be anything dramatic. For instance, you may like to frame photos of new friends you’ve made and the adventures you’ve had over the last couple semesters . Buy some cheap frames and paint them to bring extra colour to your walls. Another option is to purchase potted plants — nothing says spring better than greenery. Finally, you could create a tassel banne r for your bedroom or living room. All your need for this is paper tissue and ribbons. 3. Change Your Bedding The heavy comforter you had on your bed for winter is no longer necessary. Switch to something that will keep your cool during warmer nights, such as linen sheets and a lightweight quilt. If you need to purchase bedding, consider the colour palette you’ve created with your new decorations. 4. Create a Spring Soundtrack You’re mentally in a different place in the spring than you were during winter. Reflect this by creating a spring playlist you can listen to when you return home after classes. Include songs for relaxing on your own and with friends, studying, and cleaning ( after all, chores are never done). 5. Prepare for Entertaining Talking about being with friends, you may like to set up your apartment to make it better for entertaining guests over the spring. Check you have enough glasses and increase the seating with a beanbag chair. If your housing still feels cramped, uncomfortable, or dreary after your spring refresh, it may be that you need a better apartment. You can find rooms for rent near University of Alberta at 1TEN on Whyte. Our fully-furnished student rentals come with everything you need to feel at home, including plenty of storage, a three-piece bathroom, a brand-new double bed, and roller blinds on all the windows. Book a tour to visit us before you sign a lease.