How to get around at University

How to get around at University

Students do not always have the luxury of living right next to a university of their choice. Therefore it is important for students to make a decision with regards to transport. Students need to get from A to B and this can be achieved in many ways. Students that live in Res might need to go home to their parents every now and then and this might be far away. Not all students can afford to have a motor vehicle and will therefore need alternative solutions. Profgrad would like to discuss the various options available to students who have certain transportation requirements.

If you live within a few kilometres of the university you are studying at, the cheapest solution to your travelling conundrum could be a bicycle. A bicycle does not require much maintenance; it is an easy way to get from A to B. You will not need to fill it with fuel and it is an excellent way to keep in shape. By driving to and from University, depending on how far you stay, you will be able to get some daily exercise. One of the very few maintenance requirements on a bicycle is a puncture repair kit. This is not expensive and easy to be performed at home by you. If you are working on a tight budget, a pre-owned bicycle may not be a bad idea. For new and pre owned bicycles, see link below:

http://cyclefactory.co.za/

Students understand financial pressure. Earning a salary usually only starts once you have completed your studies. Money is usually spent on student loans and living expenses. It is not common for students to be driving the latest BMW or Mercedes and therefore finding a second hand car is usually your best solution to purchasing a vehicle. Choosing a motor vehicle is an important decision. They say that it is the second biggest financial decision a person can make after purchasing a house. Many factors need to be considered when choosing an automobile. Distance is most probably the most important consideration. A few things to consider might be how often it needs to be serviced, how much fuel it uses and the costs involved with insuring the vehicle. For affordable cars, see link below:

http://www.mycars.co.za/  

If you study within Gauteng, the Gautrain is a good option. It has busses which can pick you up and drop you off close to your desired location. To view the different Universities in Gauteng see http://profgrad.co.za/institution.html.  There are also regular trains and the inconvenience of sitting and waiting for a train is minimised. The Gautrain runs close to nearly all the major universities in Gauteng. If you use the train often, certain discounted rates and plans are available to help with the costing. To see this option and view the train stations, see the link below:

http://www.gautrain.co.za/

There are many other means of transport. If you plan on going home over the weekend or holidays the option of a lift club is also available. Make friends with people who might take the same route as you. This can be an affordable option for both the driver and you as fuel and other costs can be split. If this option is not available to you, you can always ride the bus. To see the costs involved with riding the bus as well as the different destinations the bus goes to, see the link below:

https://www.greyhound.co.za/

Which mode of transport suits you best?

Should Students have pets at University?

Should students have pets at University?

Being a student can be lonesome when you are used to staying at your parents where there is always someone to talk to. To fulfill this need, some students choose to have a companion in the form of a pet. This can be a cat, dog, fish, budgie, mouse snake or even a tortoise. When choosing the pet you want as your companion you need to take a few things into consideration. Profgrad will explore the different options and determine if it is viable to keep pets whilst you are at university.

As a student you normally do not have a full time job and therefore you might not earn an income. Having a pet is an on-going cost. Whilst a pet is still young, usually you would need to take your pets to visit the veterinarian on a regular basis. This cost can be quite large for a student and will most definitely put you back. Aside from the visits to the vet, pets need to eat on a regular basis. This is probably going to be the largest cost throughout your pet’s life. Some pets will also need additional products for example a fish will need a pump in its tank, a cat will need a litter box, a dog might need toys and a snake might need a heating pad. For more information, see link below: http://petpep.ava.com.au/different_animals_different_needs

Choosing the right pet is important as you need a pet that will not only fit in with your lifestyle but one that will suite your personality. If you are a very active person you might want to choose a pet that will be able to exercise with you. In this case a fish would probably not be the way to go. If you are studying towards a degree that requires a vast amount of time, you will need a pet that will fit in with those requirements. There are many things to take into account. Visit the link below to see which pet suites your personality.  http://animal-world.com/encyclo/information/types-of-pets.php

As a student you do not own your own home. When it is time for holidays, you might have to go home to your parents. It is important to make sure that the pet you choose will be able to travel with you or you will need someone to feed it while you are not there. If you are renting, your contract term might end and you will need to find alternative accommodation. If this is the case a pet could limit the options available as many places do not allow pets. Before you make the decision to get a pet, you need to take all of the above into consideration and not make a hasty decision as this will affect the next few years of your life.

What pet would you get?

What Profgrad is all about - Part 3

What Profgrad is all about – Part 3

Last week Profgrad gave great insight into the possibilities available to students who would like to study in South Africa. There are many career choices and paths students can follow, Health, Law, Commerce……What about a career in the Arts, Sport or Hospitality.  http://profgrad.co.za/proffesion.html . Students need to follow their passion and choose a field that they think will bring them happiness. Once you have decided which career path you would like to choose, there are a few questions that need to be addressed; How long will the degree take, where can I study that degree, do I have a community service commitment? Profgrad has sourced all this relevant crucial information and provided it to you on www.profgrad.com . It is important for students in South Africa to know the information set out in this website before they begin their journey as students and study towards a certain career. Profgrad has a significant amount of information available to these students in order for them to plan their future. This website will be able to answer a lot of the questions you might have.

When you leave school you might have a very good idea of the line of work you would like to enter. It is then important to determine where in the country this degree is offered. If for instance you would like to become a veterinary physician, the most important thing to realize is that the degree is offered at the University of Pretoria. Therefore, if you are not residing in Pretoria, you might have a logistical nightmare.  http://profgrad.co.za/proffesion/vet/VETERINARY%20PHYSICIAN.html   Profgrad has linked your chosen occupation\professions to the various universities that offer the degree.  

How many years will you have to study to become a recipe developer?  http://profgrad.co.za/proffesion/food/RECIPE%20DEVELOPER.html .Time is critical and therefore Profgrad has added duration of study to its content. Profgrad aims at the undergraduate level. It is important to note that you might need to study for more years than indicated on this website as you might want to choose postgraduate courses.  

Community service has an impact on your profession choice. It is important to realise that it goes hand in hand with your chosen degree. Before you qualify, you will first have to do community service\internship\apprenticeship \pupillage or any other form of service before you are recognised in your particular profession. Many students set their sights on leaving the country once they have acquired their degree. It is important to make sure if the qualification is recognised abroad when the service requirements locally have not been met. Community service plays a critical part in not only the community, but in your own level of experience and skills. You might learn and see things which you have never been exposed to or never will be exposed to. It is a good learning curve for any graduate and must not be taken lightly. It is important to realise that this will add on time before you are recognised in your profession.

Once you become a professional, you usually belong or have to be recognised by a professional institution. Some professions have to register at two or more professional institutions. If you would like to become a civil engineer, you would need to be registered with The Engineering Council of South Africa. http://profgrad.co.za/proffesion/engineering/CIVIL%20ENGINEER.html . It is important to understand what the professional institutions stand for and what your obligations are toward them. The more regulations that are placed upon professions, the more need there is for these professional institutions. You ideally do not want a civil engineer who is not competent or has not attained the correct level of qualification. These professional institutions keep a high level of standard in an industry which protects members of the community.

What career do you want to follow?