One of the best ways of getting to know a college, is talking to people who have experienced life as student there, right? Well, we have asked a few of our students to share their personal experience with you. We took them back to the moment they started their journey with us.
At Algonquin, we want to make sure our students have not only the best education, but also an environment in which they can be themselves. Take a peek at what they have said.
You already personalize so many aspects of your life – the apps on your phone, your specialty coffee, your Instagram feed, your Ultimate Road Trip playlist. So why not customize your college program guide?
Algonquin’s CustomViewbook lets you explore the campuses, programs, and services that interest you. Scroll through the areas of interest to discover which programs stand out, then choose from a list of activities and services to learn about. When you’re all done, your CustomViewbook appears onscreen and in your inbox. Easy peasy.
As you keep exploring your options for school, your interests might change – and that’s why you can even edit your CustomViewbook later.
So whether you want to explore business programs with a side of athletics and financial aid, degrees alongside 2SLGBTQ+ resources, or graduate certificates with mature student resources and academic support — we’ve got you covered. Jump in to create your own.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tired of ending the month with no money? We’ve all been there, and when you are living off a student budget, making money last seems even trickier.
We’ve got some great advice for you from two money experts! They teach accounting at Algonquin College and they’ve watched very closely how students struggle to figure out how to handle money.
Professor Lee-Ann McDougal says she has noticed the line to get coffee in the morning on Campus has gotten shorter since the beginning of the school year. Her guess? Students start the term buying the expensive drinks, but soon realize that they cannot afford them every morning.
Professor Maria Belanger agrees. “I don’t think most students make the connection between the job they have at 15 dollars one hour and how that essentially just buys you two cups of coffee at Starbucks. It took you one hour to get this.”
So, here are some ways they think students can make better use of their money:
Yes, we know people don’t like restrictions, and professor Belanger says that on top of that many people have this theory of “living in the now”. But she warns: planning is needed!
“When you talk about budgeting it is a lot like other issues, like doing exercise and being careful about what you eat because you want your body to last and to be healthy, so, your finances are very similar.”
Don’t know where to start? There are some great tools online that can help you with budgeting but remember that monitoring your budget closely is what will guarantee your success with money.
And remember: The unforeseen should be included in your budget. Things go wrong and you do not want last-minute surprises. “It could be your computer that breaks, your boots start leaking. You don’t know what it is, you just know something is going to happen,” says Belanger.
There are different ways you can save some money on your monthly budget. Many grocery stores offer student discounts and some clothing and technology stores also have student deals.
Saving is important, but the cheapest option is not always the best. For professor McDougal, rent is one example. Living far away from your school because it is cheaper can jeopardize your education. “It becomes demotivating to come for one class.”
Looking for roommates to share the rent is a good option and at the same time, you don’t feel lonely.
If you are good with money, having a credit card helps you build your line of credit, but if you aren’t, stay away from them.
“In terms of what is bad for you, credit cards are at the top of the list because the interest rates,” says Belanger. “The only way you should be touching a credit card is if you can pay it off when it comes in.”
McDougal makes another point: “Do not use it [credit card] as a line of credit, ever.”
You may want to have one credit card for emergencies. But remember to have a clear definition of what an emergency is.
Belanger calls tap and pay the “invisible money”. When you are not watching the cash leave your hands you don’t really realize how much you are spending. And if it becomes harder to see the money going with the use of debit cards, the tap function is even worst. In that case, her advice is carrying cash and taking to school only what you need for that day. This is also a way of knowing exactly how much you are paying for what you eat.
Many of us need to borrow money to afford school. When talking about student line of credits, OSAP is your best choice (especially because you can get a portion of the money in grants). Banks also offer student line of credits, but the offers are different from bank to bank, so shop for the best one.
Here is an example of an expense that we can reduce and save. Data plans can be very costly. If you pay attention, you will realize that most coffee shops, restaurants, and malls have free wi-fi. Inside Colleges, students are also connected for free. Why do you need to get a large data plan, then? Choose a small or extra small, only for emergencies.
We hear them all the time. Stories from students who say college is nothing like what their older brother told them it would be. Hollywood movies that portray college in an exaggerated, comical way. Because of all these stereotypes and false assumptions people make, it’s hard to know exactly what to expect in your first year. We’re here to bust a few of those myths.
College is definitely not cheap, but it’s a worthwhile investment that is affordable with the right budgeting and financial aid resources. Last year, over 60% of our students had part- or full-time employment. Many programs also offer co-op which allow you to get paid to work while you study. Other forms of financial assistance include on-campus jobs, scholarships, bursaries and OSAP. Lastly, there are tons of discounts and deals available to students if you know where to find them (like 10% off at Loblaws, located right next to our Ottawa campus!) And if after all of this you still want to eat KD or ramen noodles for every meal, we won’t judge you.
With more than 19,000 full-time students across our three campuses last year, 23% were over the age of 25. In a previous survey, we found that half of all our first-year students came from either time off, part- or full-time employment, or other reasons. If you are a mature student who is nervous about returning to school or stepping foot in the classroom for the first time, know that you certainly won’t be alone.
The truth is, the majority of our students live off campus — even in first year. Although residence can certainly enhance your college experience, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to meet new people in your classes, at events or around campus, even if you live further away.
Being waitlisted just means that the program you have applied for received more qualified applicants than there were seats in the program. Some individuals receive multiple offers but can only accept one. Once they decline their remaining offers, then additional seats become available and we contact applicants according to their position on the waitlist. This means that even if you don’t get accepted into your program right away, there is still a chance that you will be given an offer. That being said, we still encourage waitlisted applicants to keep their options open by applying to other similar programs or foundation programs if they have not already done so. Check out this helpful FAQ for more information on the waitlist process.
The stress of classes, deadlines and a new environment can certainly lead to some unhealthy habits, but there are tons of ways to keep off the infamous freshman 15 while on campus. For starters, we offer tons of healthy dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner with nutritional refreshments and snacks. Students from our Perth, Pembroke and Ottawa campuses also have access to state-of-the-art fitness facilities. To give you an idea, at our largest campus in Ottawa we have 44 cardio machines, 40 resistance machines, dry saunas, certified personal trainers, aerobics, and much more.
As the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, we are able to grant diplomas and degrees approved by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. We also have collaborative degrees delivered in partnership with universities. Lastly, we offer graduate certificates and apprenticeship programs.
Yes, you heard right. Discounts! As a student, saving money can be hard, but believe us, there are ways to do it! Here is a list of a few tips for you:
Who doesn’t like to save some money on food? Get your student ID ready (or your AC Card if you are an Algonquin student) and browse through this list.
Metro – every Tuesday, 10% on select days on select stores in Ottawa.
Bulk Barn – If you like to shop in bulk, Bulk Barn offers 10% discount for students every Wednesday.
Independent – Some Independent stores offer student discounts on select dates. Check if the store near you is one of them.
Sobeys – Usually, Sobeys that are located close to colleges and universities also offer a 10% discount on select days. Ask the cashier next time you go grocery shopping.
And here is an extra tip: Use the Flipp app to help you meal plan using what’s on sale.
The Bytowne (cinema) – Do you love independent and international films? This cool movie theater built in 1946 offers students discount on their annually membership. You will pay 6 dollars when you buy a movie ticket if you are a member and 12 dollars for the regular price.
Ottawa tourism events – Ottawa tourism website has a section of free or nearly free events in the city throughout the year. Check it out and mark them in your calendar!
Visit a public library: Ottawa has 33 public libraries and in case the textbook you need is only available in another branch, you can request that textbook to be brought to a library that is closer to you! And they also let you borrow video games, eBooks, AudioBooks, Cookbooks and so much more! Get your hands on a card and browse the collection online.
Check out your school’s bookstore: Many college bookstores have great deals on textbooks. At Algonquin College, for example, students can purchase textbooks and eTextbooks (which can be a lot cheaper) at Connections: The Campus Store. The Campus Store also offers used books. Used books can save a student 25% of the cost of a new book and used books are GST exempt! You can also sell your textbooks back to the store (even if it’s a used copy) and you may receive up to 50% of the current new selling price for your book.
SPC membership – It will cost you 10 dollars per year to get a membership card. There are over 450 brands involved and discounts can go be up to 30 %. Whether you want to say money when you eat out or when you go shopping for a new computer, there are many deals to take advantage of.
ISIC Canada Card: The International student discount card will get you discounts not only in Canada but also if you travel abroad. Over 100 countries accept the ISIC card. From visiting museums around the world to taking a Via rail train in Canada, there are many ways to save your money.
We’ve all been to Kijiji once or twice (or even more times). The truth is that you can find good deals on buy and sell websites, and the number of website options has increased in the past years. Other than Kijiji, some other popular websites are: ebay, Amazon and Best Buy. You can also sell or buy used products by clicking on the marketplace icon on Facebook.