You Need To Know WHO HAS THE BEST COFFEE ON CAMPUS (As Chosen By You!)

Over the summertime, I decided to conduct a survey. Its goal – to debunk the age-old mystery that haunts York’s coffee-lovers each morning: who are the keepers of quality coffee on campus?

Where should you get that morning cup of jo? At a place like York University, where there are food and drink options virtually everywhere you turn, it’s sometimes hard to decide. Especially if you’re like me, and you can barely think – let alone function – without having had your coffee yet. 

So I decided to ask the York Community where they prefer to get coffee on campus. The target group was a total of 66 people from various year levels and programs. Here were the results from the survey…

23 people said Starbucks,

18 people said Tim Horton’s,

12 people said Second Cup,

6 people said La Prep, 

3 people said Treats,

and 1 person said Falafel Hut. 

There are a number of other places on campus to get coffee, though. The Great Canadian Bagel (located in York Lanes), Timothy’s (located in Schulich), and the many ARAMARK cafeterias located around campus (Central Square, Winters College, Stong College, Osgoode, etc) all have great coffee as well!

So there you have it – the best places to get coffee on campus, as chosen by you!

What are MY top 3 favourite coffees on campus, you ask? Make sure to check out my blog tomorrow to find out!

Until then, I’ll be getting coffee.

~ Christopher Ford

My friends and I at the Buffalo Bills game in Toronto, 2011

You Need to know MY TOP REASONS FOR TRAVELLING WITH GO TRANSIT

An Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-decker bus belonging to GO Transit. Seen at York University in the northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not sure whether or not you should take GO Transit to get to school at York? If there is a GO stop or station in your area, I would strongly recommend it – here’s why!

It’s Comfortable…

Comfy Seats… Not too much more to be said there

It’s Reliable…

From my experience with GO Transit, the busses and trains are always punctual, and get me to school (or wherever else I need to go) in a timely manner. It’s also very easy to plan out your trip with GO Transit by using their online trip planner.

I can GO virtually anywhere…

GO has 240 train routes and 2,061 bus routes running daily, so whether you’re travelling to York from Barrie, or Meadowvale, or Markham (like me), you can get here via GO Transit.

It’s Accessible…

Check out this video from the GO website about the accessibility of GO Transit 

If you’re a regular rider, you can save $$$…

Check out my post from yesterday that talks about how to save when travelling with GO!

The staff are very personable…

Get ready to meet some of the coolest bus drivers ever!

Now I’d like to hear from you – Why do you travel with GO Transit? Comment below with the reasons why you take GO Transit – and if you don’t, let me know how you get to school!

You Need to Know About TAKING A BREAK

You Need to Know About TAKING A BREAK

I had the opportunity to go on a well-deserved camping/cottage trip a few weekends ago, and I must say that I have sorely missed swimming in the lake and sitting in front of the campfire with some great friends. It was definitely an unforgettable weekend.

Me, sitting on the deck

When I came back though, I was ready to get right back to the RED Zone; I was ready to return to my second home here at York University. However, I am certain that I needed the break, and I am really glad that I took the weekend to get away and relax.
So this is what I think you need to know – although school is demanding, and although at times you may think that you cannot take any time for yourself, it is really important to get away from it all, and to relax when you feel the need to.

In a presentation by Peer Health Education Coordinator Danielle Stein in April, I was told all about Self-Care, and how simply looking after your physical health is not the only prerequisite to staying healthy. You must also look after your mental and emotional well-being, which definitely includes taking some time to relax and de-stress every so often.

So let’s talk options: what can you do to take a break from the everyday stresses of class and homework? Here are some of the things I like to do whenever I need to take a break: Give them a try!

• Take a trip
  It doesn’t have to be a week-long tropical vacation; why not try taking a trip to Montréal or Mont Tremblant through your college? All the colleges put on trips and events all year round, and they are all super cheap! The York Federation of Students, as well as many clubs, also run various trips during the year for their members, and they are usually very cheap as well. If you don’t get the chance to take that family vacation this year, why not travel with your new family here at York University? 
• Be Active
  For me, going to the gym or playing intramural sports is a great way to take a break from the stresses of school. There are over 25 intramural sports available for you to play for free through your college – join a team as an individual, or make up a team of your friends, and play a sport that you love! Additionally, all York University students can get a membership to all of the fitness facilities at the Tait Mackenzie centre (Weight room, gymnasiums, squash courts & tennis courts, track, pool, etc) for only $15 for the whole year. Memberships begin going on sale in August, so pick up yours, and use it to relax, stay fit, and have fun!
• Join Clubs
  On York University’s co-curricular hub online, YU Connect, the current number of organizations (as of today) is 504 – that’s 504 different clubs and organizations for you to get involved in! Whatever interest you may have, whether academic, religious, athletic, cultural, hobby-related, or just simply something you’ve always wanted to try, York University has a club for it. And even if we don’t, all it takes is 15 people (including yourself) to start a club – basically, whatever you’d like to do outside of the classroom, you can, and you can use clubs as a great way to spend your time outside of the classroom. What’s better than escaping the stresses of school by doing something that you enjoy? Truly, nothing that I can think of. 
• Attend Events
  There are always events going on at York University. Whether put on by your college, by the York Federation of Students, or by various clubs on campus, attending events on campus can be fun, rewarding, and a great way to relax and take a break. 
• Do What You Love
  This isn’t necessarily referring to something at York University. If what you love is at York University, than all power to you! For me, when I am really stressed out about school or about something in my personal life, there is nothing I enjoy more than picking up a good book and getting lost beneath the pages. Whatever you love to do, treat yourself once in a while when you really need a break!
• Reset Yourself
  I have spoken about this in a blog post a few weeks back; you can find a bit more about it there. But this practice is great for assessing whether or not you need a break. You can sit back, look at how your week went, see what you need to accomplish for the next week, and then decide how and when to take your well-deserved break. The great thing about resetting yourself as well is that you can, temporarily separate yourself from your stressors – it is an opportunity to look from the outside in upon your life at present, and you can take a ‘break’ in this way without even taking an actual break.

Try some of these practices, and just remember that sometimes the best medicine is a break with a little bit of R&R – rest & relaxation!

Investing In Your Future | York’s RED Zone

Check out this great video about paying for school by York’s RED Zone!

Financial Assistance Options that YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

It’s no secret that school is expensive – especially in Ontario. In a recent report by Stats Canada, undergraduate students studying in Ontario paid an average of $7,180 in tuition during 2012-2013 – more than in any other province in Canada.

However, this doesn’t mean you will be stuck in a financial rut. With the pricey tuition also comes various forms of financial assistance, such as OSAP, the 30% Ontario Tuition Grant, other government loans and grant, and various awards, grants, and bursaries offered through York University.

**IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OSAP APPLICANTS**
If you applied for OSAP and/or the 30% Ontario Tuition Grant before June 30, you are guaranteed to receive your money by the beginning of September. However, if you applied after that date, you may not receive it by this time. If you have not applied for OSAP already and you plan to, make sure to do it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – remember, the sooner you apply, the sooner you should get your money in the fall.

If you are a permanent resident in Canada, there may be a form of financial assistance through the government that you are eligible for. For Ontario students specifically, OSAP and the 30% Ontario Tuition grant are both available for you to apply for. You should be elegible to get 30% off your tuition at York if you are a full-time student, if it has been less than four years since you left high school, if you are in an undergraduate program, and if your parent(s)’ gross income is $160 000 or less – to find if you are elegible, as well as to see if you are elegible for OSAP, visit osap.gov.on.ca. The best part about OSAP: you don’t start accumulating interest, and you don’t have to pay it back, until after you graduate. 

If you are a permanent resident in a province or territory other than Ontario, go on the York Univeristy Student Financial Services website to find some information about government assistance that you are eligible to apply for.

If you are not a permanent resident of Canada, there still may be forms of financial aid available to you as a student abroad. Students from the United States are encouraged to find out if they are elegible for student loans from the American government – visit sfs.yorku.ca/aid/usloans for more information, and to find out if you are elegible. Similarly, international students can try visiting the Global Education Website and clicking on Student Loans, in order to find various loans that might be available for them.

There are also many ways to receive financial aid through York University – York has millions to give away to those who demonstrate financial need, but also to those who demonstrate academic excellence. Any money you receive, you don’t have to pay back! Whether it is through a renewable entrance scholarship, through the York Tuition grant, or through the York University Student Access Guarantee (which will help make up the difference between the cost of school and the OSAP received by a student demonstrating financial need), there are financial aid options available to you, especially if you demonstrate financial need. 

The first and most important step, if you are looking to receive any award or bursary through York University, is to fill out the STUDENT FINANCIAL PROFILE. The SFP is an online module which usually takes about 15 minutes to complete. Upon completion, your information will be used to see if you are eligible to receive financial aid – whether that may be a scholarship, an award, a bursary, or a grant! It is not yet available to be filled out for the  2013-2014 Fall/winter session, however check back at the end of August, and make sure you fill it out – keep in mind that you should re-submit the SFP at the beginning of every academic session.

Still not sure if there is a financial aid option that is right for you? Make sure to visit the Student Financial Services website to find out more about grants, bursaries, scholarships, awards, and even on-campus jobs to further help you in funding your education.

You Need to Know: PEN & PAPER, OR LAPTOP?

Inspired by a question that was asked on my other blog, check out this brief Pro-Con list that I made, comparing note taking using a laptop or using a good ole’ pen & paper!

TYPING ON A LAPTOP

• PROs

1. For some people, typing is faster
2. If you have vision issues, you can pull up lectures slides right on your own screen (if they are posted online)
3. There are a number of really great note-taking apps & programs available for laptops that can help you keep track of your notes

• CONs

1. HUGE DISTRACTION
2. If you can’t type fast, it will slow you down
3. You can’t draw diagrams, unless you have that option in your note-taking program
4. When you’re looking at your screen and typing, you may not be paying attention to what’s being said in lectures
5. The bright light from the screen can be distracting to others – especially if you’re watching a video or something and not typing notes
6. If you forgot your charger at home or can’t find a usable plug in class, you might not be able to use your computer

WRITING WITH A PEN AND PAPER

• PROs

1. Studies have shown that writing with a pen and paper can help you to retain more of what you are learning
2. You are able to draw diagrams, if needed
3. Less distraction (unless you’re a doodler, like me)
4. If you write faster, you can take down the information quicker
5. You don’t have to check on the battery life of your pen and paper!

• CONs

1. If you do not have your notes organized in a binder or folder, it becomes very easy to lose a whole day’s worth (or even a semester’s worth) of notes
2. If you are a slow writer, you won’t be able to write down as much
3. Good luck reading your work once some coffee/water has been spilled on it…but I guess the same goes for a laptop

You Need to Know MY TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED

Want a good reason to get involved at York? How about 10!

These are my top ten reasons to get involved on campus!

1. Explore & Experience
   By joining clubs, or playing intramurals, or by getting involved in the many other possible ways, you can explore and experience new things – Whether it’s archery, or martial arts, or charity work, Get Involved, and try something new!
2. Learn new skills
   Through being involved, you have the ability to learn something new, and thereby gain some new skills (or even build upon some old ones!). Don’t just let class be your only teacher – Get involved, and learn things that will stay with you for the rest of your life!
3. Make Friends
   Finding people with similar interests as you is simple when you’re a part of the same club, council, charity, or team. Getting involved is a great way to make friends for life!
4. Network
   Looking to build on your professional networks? Once again, getting involved is a great way to meet people with the same interests and in the same fields as you! Could your career begin within a club at York? Absolutely!
5. Have a Place to Hang Out
   Many groups on campus have offices/lounges for members to spend time in – being an active member of a group certainly has its perks!
6. Make a Change
   Want to make an actual change in the York community? How about a change around the globe? Many organizations on campus do amazing things both at York, around Canada, and around the globe – United for Parity, a club at York dedicated to “providing relief to the least privileged families in Kibera, Kenya,” is but one of many student groups at York making changes for a better York, a better Canada, and a better world!
7. Build your Co-Curricular Record
   Remember that CCR I talked about yesterday? Being involved on campus is how you can begin to build it! It is your co-curricular resumé, and great for applying to graduate school and/or for jobs on and off campus!
8. Relieve Stress
   I can tell you from experience – when you are involved and have your mind occupied by things you love, stress seems to melt away as quicker than it takes to say York. Get involved, and not only gain friends and life experiences, but also an outlet for your stresses!
9. Improve Time Management
   You may think that you don’t have time for getting involved – however, committing to being involved on campus is a great way to give your schedule structure and balance between work and play!
10. Have Fun
    I think this last one speaks for itself – do you really need to be convinced?

So get involved! With almost 500 different clubs, councils, charities, teams, and organizations, you’re bound to find something that fits what you’re looking for!

**Feel free to submit YOUR top 10 reasons for getting involved to The New York-er!

You Need to Know About HAVING A PLAN

Take a moment and think — what is your biggest fear as a student? 

For me, I am constantly worrying about whether I am taking the right courses. I fear that one day very soon, when I am a stone’s-throw away from graduating, I will find out that I messed up and am missing some required courses, and therefore will have to delay my graduation.

However, I have found a very simple solution. Have a Plan.

In my first year, I didn’t just pick my courses. I tried to come up with an idea of what I wanted to get out of my university experience. I looked at the list of the hundreds of courses offered at York, and I tried to found some, from 1000 level to 4000 level, that I could see myself finding interesting. I tried to map out a rough sketch of my degree, taking into consideration how many credits I wanted to take each year, as well as adding in my General Education and Required courses. After a few days (off and on) of checking, I had finally come up with a plan — a rough plan, but a plan.

Frankly, that is all that it takes. If you would like to avoid having thoughts about whether or not you are going to graduate on time because of the courses you have chosen, create a plan at the beginning of your degree, and at the end of each year, re-evaluate that plan and see if it is still in line with your interests. Simultaneously, make sure that your plan is adequate enough that there will be no surprises right before graduation.

You Need to Know About SPENDING TIME ON CAMPUS

Vari Hall Rotunda

For the many commuter students at York University, I have one piece of advice that is probably the most important tidbit I can ever share with you.

Two words: BE HERE.

Before I came to York, I had a number of friends who’s siblings were current and/or former York students, and they all spoke about how there was little to do on campus, and how there is nothing here at York but concrete.

However, this is NOT the case. And the reason why this misconception is still passed around is simply because many commuter students do not spend time on campus, and therefore are not exposed to the rich campus life and many services that York has to offer.

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You Need to Know About EMAIL | COMPUTING @ YORK U

Just found out how to set up my York E-mail on my mac and iTouch! Follow this link for instructions!

If it doesn’t work, you can set up your YorkMail account so that it forwards all it’s e-mails to another account