Category Archives: Student Life

Housing Advice, Roommates, Student Life

How to Deal with Roommate Issues

Let’s be honest here:  You and your roommate(s) are never going to see eye to eye on everything.  Whether it is about doing dishes, who’s buying the paper towels, or whether they can have friends over at 12 am on a Tuesday night, things are going to come up that you just won’t agree on.  However, you certainly don’t want to end up in a bickering match or giving each other the silent treatment for the rest of the year.  This is why you need to be prepared before it comes time for you to have a talk.  In an article we read at MSN.com, they gave some tips on how to talk with your roommate when problems arise:

  • Avoid passive aggression.  The sticky note you leave your roommate detailing their wrong doings never goes over well (beware not get yourself on this site!).
  • Emphasize the positive.  Before you talk with your roommate, be sure to make a list of their positive qualities.   This will help to remind you what you like about them, and it will help keep you positive when you talk with them.
  • Consider how you could be contributing to the situation.  Usually issues in a relationship are never black and white.  Maybe your roommate never does the dishes because you never do.  You will want to consider how you could make changes too.
  • Be prepared.  NEVER GO INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS UNPREPARED.  I repeat:  NEVER GO INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS UNPREPARED.  This is perhaps the most important item on this list.  If you go into a situation like this with your roommate and you have not thought about what you are going to say beforehand, a myriad of (not-so-good) things can happen.  However, what will most likely happen is one of two things:  1) you won’t actually say what you meant to say, or 2) you won’t say it right and it will cause more friction between you and your roommate.  Be prepared!  Think about what you want to say and how you want to approach the situation.  You’ll also want to consider their possible reactions and how you will approach their responses.  You may even want to write down some notes and practice what you’ll say beforehand.  You don’t have to be afraid to talk with your roommate; you just have to be prepared.
  • Pick a comfortable location and time to talk.  You want to pick a time and place where both you and your roommate will be relaxed.  You may even want to set up a time with your roommate to talk with them.  This will help to prevent any outside influences (work, school, etc.) from affecting the outcome of your talk.
  • Be tactful, even-tempered, and clear.  Be clear about what you want to change, and make sure there are no “grey” areas.  You want to keep a cool head and be strategic about how you say what you need to say.  At least then one of you will be levelheaded.
  • Use “I” statements versus “you” statements.  Be sure to avoid focusing the discussion on what your roommate is doing wrong.  Instead focus on how the situation and their behavior makes you feel.  This way you’ll prevent them from shutting out what you are saying.
  • Don’t wait too long to talk to them.  Talk to them within a reasonable amount of time.  If your roommate had a party while you were away, you don’t want to wait 3 months after the fact.  Talk to them within a couple days of when you return.  This way it will be fresh in both of your minds, and it will prevent any future incidents.
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Budget-Friendly Ideas, Cooking, Student Life

10 Ramen Noodle Recipes

Photo from ramennoodlerecipess.com

Ramen noodles are the college student’s best friend; they’re cheap, they’re quick to make, and they’re tasty.  However, after a week of ramen noodles for dinner, you may get a little tired of them.  This is why we’ve decided to share some awesomely easy ramen noodle recipes you can try to spice up your meal!

The Ramen Breakfast Burrito

2 cups water

1 (3 ounce) package of ramen noodles

1 egg

¼ cup shredded cheese

1 flour tortilla

hot sauce

Directions:

  1. Boil 2 cups of water.
  2. Crack and beat the egg.
  3. Add the ramen to the boiling water, and then slowly pour in the beaten egg.
  4. Leave on heat for 3 minutes while stirring.
  5. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of water from the pot.
  6. Add the ramen seasoning packet, along with the cheese and your desired amount of hot sauce.
  7. Wrap the mixture in a flour tortilla and enjoy!

Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad

2 packages of ramen noodles

2 boneless chicken breasts

½ cup of croutons

¼ cup of shredded bacon

½ cup of Caesar salad dressing

4 cups of water

Directions:

  1. Pour 2 cups of water into a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add in both ramen noodle packages.
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until noodles are tender and have separated.
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Cook the chicken in a pan until fully cooked.
  6. Remove the chicken from the pan once done and add it to the noodles.
  7. Add croutons, shredded bacon and dressing and then enjoy!

Doritos Ramen Salad

1 package of ramen noodles

1 small bag of Doritos

½ lb. of ground beef

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

taco seasoning (optional)

Directions:

  1. Put 2 cups of water into a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add the package of ramen.
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and separated.
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Place beef in a pan and cook.  Be sure to fully cook!
  6. Once its done, mix together with the noodles.
  7. Place the Doritos around the mixture in a circle, and crumble any chips you have left on top of the mixture.
  8. Add shredded cheese and taco seasoning and enjoy!

Ramen Chicken Parmesan

2 packages of ramen noodles

4 cups of water

2 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)

2 eggs (beaten)

½ cup of milk

1 cup dried bread crumbs

½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup of mozzarella cheese

2 cups of spaghetti sauce

2 tablespoons of olive oil

salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Put 2 cups of water into pot and boil
  2. Once the water is boiling, add in ramen packages
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the noodles are tender and separated
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Mix together milk and eggs
  6. Pound the chicken breast until they are ¼ inch thick
  7. Dip the chicken breasts in the milk and egg mixture, and then dip into the bread crumbs.
  8. Place the olive oil and chicken into a skillet.
  9. Cook until the chicken is brown on both sides and the meet is fully cooked.

10. Remove the chicken from the pan, and add the spaghetti sauce into the skillet where you just cooked the chicken.

11. Once the spaghetti sauce is warmed, add the chicken back onto the skillet.

12. Add the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese to the top of the chicken and heat until melted.

13. Add the ramen to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes in the spaghetti sauce.

14. Remove from the heat and enjoy!

Caramel Ice Cream Ramen

1 package of ramen noodles (crushed)

2 cups of caramel ice cream (or any other flavor)

1/3 cup of vegetable oil

Directions:

  1. While the noodles are still in the package, break the ramen into small pieces.
  2. Put the vegetable oil in a pan and cook until the oil is heated
  3. Put the noodles into the pan with the oil and gently shake the pan as they cook.  Be careful not to burn them.
  4. Once the noodles have browned, you can remove them from the pan.
  5. Put your desired amount of ice cream into a bowl.
  6. Add the fried ramen to the top of the ice cream and enjoy!

Ramen Frittata with Ham and Cheese

2 (3 ounce) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles

1 tablespoon butter

6 eggs

4 thin slices deli-style ham, cut into medium dice

3 green onions, thinly sliced

½ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Follow ramen cooking instructions and cook until noodles are tender.
  3. Strain out the noodles from the water.
  4. Melt butter in a large ovenproof skillet on medium-high heat.  Add ham and green onions and cook until tender (about 3 minutes).
  5. Whisk eggs and 1 packet of the ramen seasonings into a bowl and stir in cooked noodles.
  6. Shake skillet to evenly distribute ham and green onions.  Add egg mixture and sprinkle top with cheese.
  7. Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake until eggs are set and the cheese has melted (about 6-8 minutes).
  8. Serve and enjoy!

Vegan Ramen and Rotel

3 oz package of ramen (any flavor)

10 oz can Rotel mild or original

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons margarine

water

Directions:

  1. Crumble the ramen noodles while still in the package and then pour into a bowl
  2. Sprinkle the nutritional yeast over the crumbled noodles
  3. Open a can of Rotel and pour over noodles.
  4. Add ¼ can of water
  5. Cook in the microwave on high for 6 minutes
  6. Stir in margarine and enjoy!

Vegetarian Pad Thai Ramen

2 ramen packages

1 16oz package of extra firm tofu

1 bag frozen stir fry vegetables

soy sauce

sesame oil

peanut sauce

Directions:

  1. Drain tofu and slice or cube into bite-sized pieces
  2. Place into a bowl and add 1 ramen flavor packet with soy sauce.
  3. Shake in sesame oil and allow tofu to marinate for 1 to 2 hours
  4. Cook ramen noodles according to instructions on the package.
  5. Cook frozen vegetables by stir-frying until done.
  6. Add tofu with enough of the remaining liquid to pan and continue to heat.  Stir gently until heated.
  7. Add ramen noodles and mix well.  Allow noodles to absorb remaining liquid in the pan.
  8. Remove from the pan, season with more sesame oil and peanut sauce and enjoy!

Girl Scout Thin Mint Ramen on a Stick

4 packages of uncooked ramen

1 16oz bag of dark chocolate chips

14 drops of peppermint extract

2 drops of spearmint extract

2 drops of wintergreen extract

24 lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks

½ teaspoon butter (optional)

Directions:

  1. Empty package of ramen into a bowl and crush until it has the consistency of bulky oatmeal or rice crispies.  Do not crush finer as the recipe will not set.
  2. Lay out wax paper.
  3. In a saucepan, melt chocolate chips until they become smooth and creamy.
  4. If desired, add butter.
  5. Slowly add mint extracts to the chocolate, and stir for 1 minute.
  6. Quickly pour over crushed ramen and stir vigorously until completely covered.
  7. Immediately spoon mixture in tablespoons onto wax paper to form round cookie shapes.  Mixture should flatten and spread considerably, so be sure to leave plenty of space in between.
  8. Place a lollipop or popsicle stick into each cookie before it harden.
  9. Allow to cool completely for about an hour and then enjoy!

Taco Ramen Salad

1 package beef ramen noodles

½ lb ground beef

1 small tomato, chopped

½ cup onion, chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Thousand Island dressing

Directions:

  1. Cook noodles according to instructions listed on package.
  2. Cook beef in a pan until fully cooked and browned.
  3. Drain beef.
  4. Stir in ½ seasoning packet.
  5. Stir in onion, tomato, cheddar cheese, and noodles.
  6. Add dressing and enjoy!

If you’d like to find out more about where we found these recipes, just click on the recipe title!

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Roommates, Student Life

Choosing Your College Roommate: Why Rooming with Your Best Friend May Not be the Best Idea

When you head off to college, it is one of the scariest times in your life; you’re away from most of the people you know, you are living away from home, and you’re starting a whole new chapter in your life, all at once.  This may also be the first time you’ll be sharing a room with someone, and it can be an incredibly scary to think that you’ll be sharing a room with someone whom you don’t know.  You will immediately ask yourself “Who do I know that I could room with?”

In an article we read by Julie and Lindsey Mayfield on U.S. News and World Report, they explain that while it may be tempting, your first choice shouldn’t be your best friend.  While you feel like it may take a lot of the pressure off the situation, you may actually be putting more stress on the relationship.  This is because when you move away for school, you are not only trying to get used to living with someone else, but you are also just trying to get used to being away at school.  Considering all of this, it can end disastrously.

In another article we read by University Language Services, they explain that besides the fact that you may lose your best friend, there’s a myriad of other problems you can encounter.  First, your social life can take hit because you are often less likely to push yourself to make new friends.  Second, you may miss out on new experiences.  By choosing to room with your best friend you are less likely to seek out new friendships, and are therefore less likely to experience new people and new things. Third, your old habits will be harder to break.  When you live with your best friend you are more likely to hold onto your old habits and your more likely to stick to your old routine.  By living with new people, you could introduce yourself to new things that you might not otherwise have tried.  Lastly, your work ethic (and your bank account) are sure to suffer.  If you live with your best friend, you may end up spending more time socializing than you do on your schoolwork, as your room will double as a study and social area on a daily basis.   You will also most likely be going out more often, and so your wallet will suffer too.

Alternatively, many suggest that living with a friend (rather than a best friend), or even living with a stranger are better options than living with your best friend.  Not only will this experience expose you to new people and new things, but you friendships will remain in tact.

When you’re encountering any situation with a roommate, it’s always a good idea to set out a list of ground rules and expectations for the room beforehand.  In a previous post to our blog, we gave you a list of topics that may be useful to discuss with your roommate.  According to the Mayfields, you just have to realize sharing can get tricky, and that you have to open and honest when problems do arise. While you don’t have to be best friends, it is in the best interest of both of you to ensure that you can get along for at least the next year.

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Events, Student Life

10 COOL THINGS TO DO IN NEW YORK THIS SUMMER

Just moved to New York?  Travelling to NYC this summer?  Or are you just disconnected from what is going on?  Well have no fear!  We’ve come up with 10 cool things to do around NYC this summer that may tickle your fancy.

1.    The 4Knots Music Festival

Where:  South Street Seaport, Pier 17, NYC

When:  July 14

The 4Knots Music Festival features emerging artists from the indie scene.  Previous acts have included The Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, and Yeasayer.  This year’s festival will feature Archers of Loaf, The Drums, the Crocodiles, Hospitality, Bleached, Nick Waterhouse, Team Spirit, Doldrums, Devin and more TBA.

Website:  http://microapp.villagevoice.com/4knots/2012/

2.    Beer Here:  Brewing New York’s History

Where:  The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, NYC

When:  Now-September 2

Beer Here is a historical exhibit at The New-York Historical Society that reviews the history of production and consumption of beer, ale, and porter in New York since the 17th century.  At the conclusion of the exhibit, get a chance to taste a selection of some of the finest New York artisanal beers.

Website:  http://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/beer-here

3.    HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

Where:  Bryant Park, NYC

When:  Every Monday between now and August 20

Every Monday night at dusk, watch free outdoor film screenings of some of the most renowned films in U.S. cinema.  Films this year include Pyscho, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Wizard of Oz, Roman Holiday, Rebel Without a Cause, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Website:  http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/filmfestival.html

4.    The Hester Street Fair

Where:  Hester and Essex Streets, NYC

When:  Every Saturday from now until October 27

Harkening back to the days of the pushcart market held on Hester Street, The Hester Street Fair is an open-air market that offers vintage finds, artisan creations, and delicious food.

Website:  http://www.hesterstreetfair.com/

5.    Museum Mile Festival

Where:  Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 105th Streets, NYC

When:  June 12

Officially named the Museum Mile, Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 105th streets features some of the most renowned museums in the nation.  This year, the Museum of African Art, El Museo Del Barrio, the Museum of the City of New York, the Smithsonian, The National Academy Museum & School, the Guggenheim, Neue Galerie, the Goethe Institute, and the Museum of Modern Art will open their doors to the public for free.  This event also includes a block party all along the Mile with free music, street performers, and more.

Website:  http://museummilefestival.org/

6.    Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

Where:  Surf Ave, Brooklyn

When:  July 4

The task:  eat as many hot dogs as you can in 10 minutes.  The challengers:  some of the most skilled eaters you’ve ever seen.

Website:  http://nathansfamous.com/PageFetch/getpage.php?pgid=38

7.    Northside Festival

Where:  Brooklyn

When:  June 14-21

Crowned “NYC’s largest and most accessible discovery festival,” the Northside Festival features bands, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, and innovators from around the world.  This year artists like Questlove and Of Montreal are set to play.  Along with bands, over 60 films will be screened this year, including Take This Waltz, which stars Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen.  Entrepreneurial panelists set to attend include Kellan Elliot-McCrea of Etsy, Anand Giridharads of the New York Times, GZA of the Wu-Tang Clain, and Dennis Crowley of Foursquare.

Website:  http://www.northsidefestival.com/

 8.    Prospect Park Food Truck Rally at Grand Army Plaza

Where:  Flatbush Ave and Prospect Park West at Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn

When:  Third Sunday of the Month from now until October

Like food on the go?  Then you’ll love NY’s Food Truck Rally featuring some of NY’s finest food trucks.

Website:  http://www.prospectpark.org/calendar/event/food-truck-rally

9.    Shakespeare in the Park

Where:  Delacorte Theater, mid-park at 80th St, NYC

When:  June 5-30, July 23-August 25

One of NYC’s most beloved summertime traditions, Shakespeare in the Park will bring As You Like It and Into the Woods to the public as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of these free performances.

Website:  http://shakespeareinthepark.org/

10. Ignite the Night:  Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks

Where:  Hudson River, NYC

When:  July 4th

America’s largest 4th of July celebration, Ignite the Night features over 40,000 firework shells launched from 6 barges between West 24th and West 50th Streets.  Performers this year are Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney.

Website:  http://social.macys.com/fireworks/?cm_mmc=VanityUrl-_-fireworks-_-n-_-n

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Events, Student Life

10 Cool Things to do in Massachusetts this Summer

While there are a ton of things to do in Massachusetts (Boston alone has everything you could ever need), we’ve put together a list of cool things to do that are either major attractions you just HAVE to see or are things that may be slightly “off the beaten path.”

1.    Food Truck Festival of New England     

Where:  Boston, Charlestown, Worcester, Brighton, Falmouth, Lowell, East Boston, Hingham, Framingham

When:  Jun 10, 16, Jul 14, 28, Aug 25, Sept 8, 22, 29, Oct. 6, 20

This isn’t that dinky little ice cream truck that used to drive around your neighborhood.  This is eating in style, but just with wheels.  This year, the Food Truck Festival will travel throughout Massachusetts to various locations, and will feature over 50 different food trucks from across the northeast.

Website:  http://foodtruckfestivalsofne.com/

2.    Chowderfest                                                                                    

Where:  City Hall Plaza, Boston

When:  July 1

Also know by the locals as “Chowdahfest,” it is one of the main events of Boston Harborfest and features chowder from various restaurants across Boston.  Get a chance to sample each kind, and vote on your favorite.

Website:  http://www.bostonharborfest.com/chowderfest.html

3.    JawsFest:  The Tribute                                                                  

Where:  Martha’s Vineyard

When:  August 9-12

A little strange, we know, but actually sounds kind of awesome at the same time.  JawsFest in Martha’s Vineyard includes discussions about the making of JAWS, live scene re-enactments, a museum-quality display of JAWS memorabilia, JAWS trivia, and learn about the real predators behind the film.

Website:  http://www.jawstribute.com/

4.    Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular                                         

Where:  The Esplanade in Boston

When:  July 4

Watch the Boston Pops Play along with a huge fireworks display on the nation’s independence day.

Website:  http://www.july4th.org/

5.    SoWa Open Market                                    

Where:  500 Harrison Ave, Boston

When:   Every Sunday May 6-October 28

The SoWa Open Market is a trendy open market featuring original art, food trucks, indie designer clothing, ceramics, glass, photography, jewelry, handbags, house wares, baked goods, and local produce.

Website:  http://www.sowaopenmarket.com/

6.    Freedom Crawl Pub Crawl                                                                      

Where:  Fanueil Hall, Boston

When:  July 21

A huge pub crawl that loosely follows the Freedom Trail in Boston to 11 or 12 different renowned bars and pubs in the Fanueil Hall area.

Website:  http://freedomcrawl.com/

7.    Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party                                          

Where:  City Hall Plaza, Boston

When:  June 22

One of the premiere rib fests in the U.S., the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party features barbecue teams from around the world.  The event also features beer gardens, sand, music, and even a Ferris wheel!

Website:  http://bbq.phantomgourmet.com/

8.    Samuel Adam Brewery

Where:  30 Germania Street, Boston

When:  Monday-Thursday 10 am -3 pm

Ever wondered how they do it?  Well wonder no more!  All you 21+s can take a tour of one of America’s most famous breweries and get a chance to taste some of what they make.

Website:  http://www.samueladams.com/share-passion/tours.aspx

9.    Skywalk Observatory

Where: 800 Boylston Street, Boston

When:  Every day 10 am – 10 pm

Get a bird’s eye of all of Boston from atop the Prudential Building.  This is probably one of the most expansive views in the entire city.

Website:  http://www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop_detail.php?id=64

10. Institute of Contemporary Art

Where:  100 Northern Ave, Boston

When:  Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am-5pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 5pm

Situated in one of probably the coolest buildings in Boston, the Institute of Contemporary Art features some of the most significant national and international pieces.  The exhibits highlight all types of media, including visual art, music, film, video, and performance art.

Website:  http://www.icaboston.org/

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Events, Student Life

10 Cool Things to do in Rhode Island this Summer

Just moved to RI, or just have no clue what there is to do when you don’t have to go to class?  Here’s a list of 10 suggestions (in no particular order) of things that you might enjoy this summer:

1.    Providence Waterfire              

Where:    Downtown Providence

When:  Jun 9 & 23, Jul 21, Aug 18, Sept 15, and 29th

Waterfire is probably one of coolest events Providence has to offer. If you’ve haven’t seen it yet, it’s quite an unusual sight.  Ever year since 1994, bonfires (in the water) are lit all the way down the Providence River.  It’s quite an attraction, and pretty cool to see, especially when you get to the basin.   This is definitely something worth seeing.

Website:  http://www.waterfire.org/

2.    Newport Folk Festival 

Where:    Fort Adams State Park, Newport

When:  July 28 and 29

It was this festival that saw Bob Dylan go electric for the first time, the national debut of Joan Baez and Kris Krisofferson, and the first time the Pixies went acoustic.  Since 1959, the Newport Folk Festival has been marked in musical history as one of the most influential festivals in U.S. history.  This year’s event at Fort Adams State Park in Newport boasts acts like My Morning Jacket, Iron & Wine, Dawes, Deer Tick, Jackson Brown, and Tom Morello’s solo project, the Nightwatchman.

Website:  www.newportfolkfest.net

3.    Charlestown Seafood Festival                                                      

Where:  Ninigret Park, Charlestown

When:  August 3-5

If you like seafood, look no further.  The Charlestown Seafood Festival features Rhode Island’s best seafood including lobsters, steamers, chowder, fish and chips, clam cakes, corn on the cob, and a raw bar.  The event includes other attractions (other than the food) like arts and crafts, amusement rides, a rock-climbing wall, a car show, a kite exhibition, bungee jumping, a petting zoo, and more!

http://www.charlestownrichamber.com/seafoodfestival.html for more info.

4.    Rhode Island International Film Festival                                  

Where:  All Around RI

When:  August 7-12

Like indie films?  Then you’ll like the RI International Film Festival (RIIFF).  Filmmakers from around the world are given a chance to feature their independent films, from a wide array of genres to the public.  Last year’s event saw over 204 works!

Website:  http://www.film-festival.org/

5.    South County Hot Air Balloon Festival                                     

Where:  URI Athletic Fields, Kingston

When:  July 20-22

Well, you can obviously guess that there will be balloons at this event.  But along with a ton of balloons, this event hosts a wide array of other attractions including a BBQ Competition, a carnival, kite flying, fireworks, and a performance by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.

Website:  http://www.southcountyballoonfest.com/festivalinfo

6.    Newport Jazz Festival                                                                    

Where:  Fort Adams State Park, Newport

When:  August 3-5

It was the first annual jazz festival in the United States and has hosted legendary performers like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis.  This year’s Festival will also host a wide array of historical acts like Dr. John & The Lower 911, The Jack DeJohnette All-Starts, and Kurt Elling.

Website:  http://newportjazzfest.net/

7.    Urban Dare Providence                                                                            

Where:  Ri Ra Irish Pub, Providence

When:  July 7

Ever want to be on Amazing Race?  Well, this is just the shortened version!  It’s a one-day event that includes a bit of running, a bit of answering questions, and a bit of just finding your way around Providence.

Website:  http://www.urbandare.com/

8.    Design the Night                  

Where:  RISD Museum, Providence

When:  every third Thursday in June, July and August

This is an event that includes just a little bit of everything.  RISD’s Design the Night features live music, films, hands-on art making, artist demonstrations, discussions, and all of the best RI food trucks.

Website:  http://risdmuseum.org/uploadedFiles/Museum_of_Art/About/Press_Releases/RISD_Museum-Design_the_Night_press_release.pdf

9.    Newport Blues and BBQ Festival                                             

Where:  Newport Yachting Center

When:  August 18

This year marks the first EVER Newport Blues and BBQ Festival features local and national blues acts like John Lee Hooker, Jr., and Marcia Ball.  The menu includes a variety of specialty BBQ and a full bar with cold brews and cocktails. Website:  http://www.newportwaterfrontevents.com/newport-waterfront-blues-bbq-festival/

10. Rhode Island Local Food Fest                                                     

Where:  Castle Hill Inn, Newport

When:  August 7

Like eating locally grown foods?  The RI Local Food Fest will feature 2 dozen local farmers and producers with restaurants from across the state.  The event will include local wines, beers, live music, and a silent auction.

Website:  http://www.farmfreshri.org/about/localfoodfest.php

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Housing Advice, Student Life

How to decide between on or off campus housing

We know it’s a big decision to make whether or not to live off campus, and we hope to be able to guide you through the decision process.  There are a few major questions to ask yourself when you are looking at the two options and seeing which is right for you.

First you have to look at the costs associated with both.  If cost is important to your decision (which for a lot of people it is) you have to make a list of all the costs that both options would entail.  For on campus housing you would need to look at the cost of the actual housing, meal plans if you would need one, and any other board fees associated with being on campus.  For off campus housing, you need to consider the actual rent (this is going to involve some research, rents vary greatly between areas), the utilities (if they are not included) and other costs such as furniture, internet, cable, parking, groceries, and transportation costs to get to campus, etc.  Once you are able to estimate the costs of both options, you will have a better feel for which option will be more viable for you.

Other things to consider when looking at the two options are what you are getting for your money.  If you are getting a tiny room in a dorm and you have to share with a roommate, compared to a larger room to yourself in an apartment that can influence your decision.  Or if you are able to get a really nice on campus townhouse style suite then it might not be that bad of a deal to stay on campus.  Also, you should consider factors associated with meal plans, like if you feel you do not eat in the dining hall enough for a meal plan to be worth it, then maybe grocery shopping for yourself in an apartment would be a cheaper option.  But on the other side, if you typically eat your parent’s out of house and home, then maybe an all-you-can-eat dining hall would end up being cheaper in the long run.

Once you have weighed the costs of both options and how they compare with each other, there are other things to consider with both options.  Convenience is another big thing to look at.  For example, an article discussing Boston University’s off campus housing discusses how off campus housing is often way more convenient for students.  (Read the full article here). The article talked about how for some students it is easier to live off campus because of scheduling, study abroad, and other reasons.  For some, because of classes or other activities, it is more practical to live on campus. Like if you have all of your classes spread out throughout the day, and would have to drive back and forth to campus a couple of times a day it might not be worth it to live off.  For others, it is more convenient to live off campus, like if you would otherwise always miss dining hall hours because of a late activity that runs through dinner then maybe it is easier to live off campus and cook for yourself when you need to.

Either way you decide to go, as long as you make sure you plan ahead and do your research, you’re going to have a great school year with your friends and hopefully JumpOffCampus made the process a little bit easier for you all.

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Student Life

Why do students move off-campus?

At JumpOffCampus we know that every campus is different went it comes to housing. Some schools have housing for their students, some do not, and there are others in between.  But why do students want to move off-campus when their school offers housing on-campus?

In an article by RedandBlack.com (http://redandblack.com/2012/04/24/rising-sophomores-choose-between-on-and-off-campus-housing/), we got an idea on how to answer this question.  According to the article, 67% of freshmen students at the University of Georgia live on campus, while only 18% of sophomores and even fewer juniors and seniors actually live in the dorms.  However, one of the University’s biggest issues with keeping students on campus is space.  According to Carla Dennis, the Assistant to the Executive Director of University Housing, “The majority of our residence halls on-campus are filled with first year students because we have a commitment to first year students as part of the first year live on requirement . . . Unfortunately we don’t have the space to house all of the students who want to live on-campus after their first year.”

While space may be a consideration for some students, it is not the only thing drawing students to off-campus housing.  Other students interviewed at the University of Georgia suggested that the promise of independence, greater privacy, and more affordable living were especially appealing to students looking at off-campus housing options.  In another article in the Princeton Review (http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/05/16/30980/), they added that students also are enticed by greater accommodations, more recreational opportunities, and more “bang for your buck” when they make the decision to move off-campus.  While there are some disadvantages to living off-campus, such as inconvenience in the commute to campus and parking, it appears that students seem to identify more of a benefit to this style of living.  So while it may be tough finding a parking spot or taking public transportation to campus every day, for many it seems to be well worth it.

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JumpOffCampus, Student Life

Stop the Spam!!! You heard us.

As with other established apartment listing sites & services, we’ve finally graduated to a new level of popularity… as a target for scammers. Sometimes it’s a realtor misrepresenting themselves or one of their properties. Other times, it’s someone posing as a student asking about the apartment, or even less legit, about you.

Yes, it’s unfortunate, but we’ve taken several measures to educate our users and also implemented functionality to more quickly identify potential spammers and block them from causing any more havoc.

SO…. how do we do it? We created functionality where messages received on the site can be marked as spam.  Once a message is marked as spam, it is put into a queue where we look at the messages and block users, if necessary. Often times, blocking is unnecessary as the message is actually from a student and an overzealous, click-happy landlord decided to lay down the law, but better to be safe then sorry!!!

Here are a couple more “pro” tips on how to avoid scams, and also what to do if you do encounter one:

  1. Make sure any messages you reply to are legitimate.  Use common sense. Detailed descriptions of who they are often help but could be signals that they’re hiding something. If they look like they are covering up something, then they most likely are.
  2. If a listing looks too good to be true, then it probably is.  If there is a brand new super nice apartment in an awesome area for significantly less rent then usual in the area, it could be someone trying to grab your attention with a fake apartment listing so that they have your contact information for other listings. We call this a “bait and switch.”
  3. Don’t EVER send anyone money without proper due diligence.  If someone says they have a money order and want you to cash it and send a portion of the money back, it’s NOT legit. Scammers often send fake money orders, have you cash them and send them a portion of the money back before you realize you never actually got any money in the first place because the money order was fake.
  4. Do not give out any information.  There is no reason any landlords or sub-lessors should be asking for identifying information such as a social security number or bank account information. If you are being asked for this information, it is likely not legit.
  5. Mark any suspicious activity as spam using our new feature.  You can even do this directly from the email alerts you are sent.
  6. Contact us if you feel there is something we should know about. We welcome your feedback and want to make the site the best resource for students out there.  The only way we know how to make improvements is from feedback from our users.  We’re always looking for ways to make improvements so send us any questions, feedback or concerns to help@jumpoffcampus.com. We’re looking forward to them!

Alas! The goal of this post isn’t to scare you, rather we want to educate our users on the issue and how to best handle the situation. Believe us, there are PLENTY of awesome apartments and really good deals on our site, but it’s good practice to be careful!

Check out a previous blog entry of ours for more spam info & stories.

As always, let us know if you have any feedback. And to all that have graduated this past week or so, best of luck to all of you! (P.S. don’t forget to like our Facebook page, and also check out our contest ending at the end of May!  You don’t want to miss out on chances at free TVs for next semester’s apartment)!

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JumpOffCampus, Student Life

And the award for Best Sublet posting goes to…

I wanted to highlight a hilarious sublet posted by one of the Brown students on our site. The pictures are obviously flyers he made, and I can only hope that Providence and Brown campus are covered in them:

http://jumpoffcampus.com/map#show=3096

For this noble pursuit, he certainly deserves some more interest. Somebody sublet this place!

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