Georgia Universities at a Glance

Many students will be graduating soon and it's never too early to start viewing colleges!

With nearly 200 colleges in the Georgia university system, the state has a lot to offer students: warm weather, affordable tuition, and a diverse selection of schools.

University of Georgia
Located in Athens, GA, The University of Georgia is the oldest public school in the United States. It’s also the largest college in Georgia with over 30,000 students.
Hailed as a “public ivy” — a public university that delivers academic education rivaling famous (and expensive) private ivy league schools — UGA is known for a host of rigorous academic programs. Among them is the journalism program at the school’s Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which hands out the prestigious Peabody Awards.
Watching Georgia Bulldogs football is a favorite pastime in Athens, and participation in the Greek system is strong. Nearly 25 percent of UGA students are in a fraternity or sorority.

Georgia State University
Georgia State University is an urban research university located in downtown Atlanta. One of the biggest metro Atlanta universities, GSU has 30,000 students.
Traditionally a commuter college, Georgia State is known for accommodating adult learners and part time students, offering a wide selection of evening and weekend classes. Its evening law program was one of the first of its kind in the country and is consistently ranked among the best law programs for adults.

Georgia Institute of Technology
Known both for its football rivalry with the University of Georgia and strong engineering programs, Georgia Institute of Technology is another Atlanta college located in the heart of the city. Originally founded in 1885 to contribute to a new, industrialized Southern United States, the school has emphasized science and engineering programs since its inception but also has strong architecture, management, computing, and liberal arts programs.
Because of its roots as a trade school, Georgia Institute of Technology emphasizes the value of internships and cooperative education. The university encourages these real-world work experiences and offers a special five-year program that allows students to alternate semesters of full time study with full time employment.

Emory University
Emory University is one of several major research universities in the United States receiving over $400 million in annual research funds. Located in Atlanta’s Druid Hills area, Emory’s undergraduate student body is made up of about 7,000 students — the most ethnically and religiously diverse student body of any American research university.
While it has a reputation as a good private liberal arts school, Emory University is best known for its business, law, and medical graduate programs. Collaborating with the nearby Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and affiliated with the Emory Healthcare system — the largest healthcare provider in Georgia — Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health is one of the most noted medical schools in the country.

Spelman College
One of three metro Atlanta women’s colleges, Spelman College is a historically black liberal arts school. One of just a few historically black women’s colleges in the country, thousands of students apply to Spelman every year. But the school accepts only a small number, with 2,000 women making up the student body.
Spelman has produced many notable alumni including author Alice Walker and former Surgeon General Audrey F. Manley. The school has a reputation for producing high-achieving alumni with nearly half of Spelman grads going on to get graduate degrees.

Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a small, private liberal arts college in Atlanta. The school’s faculty has a commitment to teaching, not research, and the school emphasizes critical thinking about the changing global society. Oglethorpe University takes a unique approach to undergraduate education with its “Oglethorpe Idea” — a curriculum that requires students to concentrate on courses in “Human Understanding” and “Citizenship.”

Paying For College
If you’re a Georgia resident, attending college is very affordable thanks to the HOPE Scholarship. Funded by the state lottery, this scholarship covers full tuition, some student fees, and a book allowance at public Georgia universities. Students attending private Georgia universities don’t get left out either: they receive flat $3,500 grants annually. As long as you have good grades and stay out of trouble, you can go to college in Georgia without paying a lot.

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Please join us in welcoming our new Relocation Specialist Kristen Jenkins

Hi, I look forward to working here at the Pavillion at Plantation Way! I am a Mercer University Alum, but am currently attending Atlanta Christian College. This is my fourth year living in Macon and I can't wait to be apart of this new community in such a great location! I look forward to meeting all of our residents here so feel free to stop by and meet me anytime.

Sincerely,

Kristen Jenkins

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Apartment Workouts

In this day and age, it can be difficult to find time to get to the gym and maintain a healthy exercise regimen. And it can be challenging trying to fit exercise equipment in the limited space in your apartment. However, there are many ways you can get a workout in your apartment. Here are a few tips from ApartmentGuide.com to keep your heart rate up and your weight down.

Exercise videos
Made big during the 80s, exercise videos are a great way to get a structured exercise routine going. Today, workout options available have gone far beyond the Jane Fonda workout. You can find exercise videos that include aspects of dance, yoga or martial arts. Get a few different ones and you can vary your workouts to keep from getting bored.

Exercise bands and balls
While you may not have room for big, bulky exercise equipment in your place, you can still get a great workout using exercise bands and an exercise ball, also known as a Swiss ball.
Exercise bands use the principle of resistance to help build and tone muscle. In as little as 10 minutes you can undergo a moderately intense workout.

The abdominal muscles and back muscles are the focus of exercise ball fitness programs. You can even get a workout by sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair while working at a computer or watching TV, since this position requires you to engage the abdominal and back muscles and maintain proper posture to remain balanced on the ball.

Video games that get you moving
Video game consoles have moved from providing sedentary entertainment that wasted hours to immersive systems that encourage you to get up and off your couch and moving around.

The latest illustration of this is the revolutionary Nintendo Wii. It uses a unique control system that requires you to swing your arms around, mimicking the motion in real life that’s required in the game. With a game that’s active enough, such as Wii Sports, you can get a respectable aerobic workout. The Wii Fit balance board takes exercising while gaming a step further with games designed to increase your strength, fitness and flexibility.

Another good option for video game based activity is Dance Dance Revolution. In Dance Dance Revolution, a player must move his or her feet to a set pattern, stepping in time to the general rhythm or beat of a song. The more steps you hit, the higher your score, and generally the more intense your workout. Playing this game can result in some serious exercise if done for extended periods.

Move it and lose it
When you’re home, just remember to keep moving. Stand in the doorway and do leg kicks while dinner’s cooking, or stretch and do crunches/leg lifts/handweights in reps during commercials on TV. Buy some dance music and dance around your apartment. Anything that gets the heart rate up will burn calories.

Around your apartment community
If working out inside your apartment just isn’t doing it for you, there are probably other options for activity in your apartment community. Many apartment communities have small gyms or weight rooms on the grounds or offer discounts for gyms nearby. Check in with your leasing office to see what they offer. Some communities have pools or tennis courts residents can use to get in some activity. You can also walk around your apartment community or building.


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Meeting the Neighbors

Congratulations! All (or at least some) of the boxes are unpacked, the utilities are turned on, and you’re settled into your new place. Now you want to take advantage of living in an apartment: all those new neighbors who could become potential friends. The trick is getting to know them in a way that keeps them, and you, comfortable. Here are some tips for turning strangers into conversation partners and making your apartment community your friendly neighborhood.

Say hi
First, go ahead and say hello. This is especially true for your immediate neighbors when you first move in — they’ll see all the boxes going back and forth, and naturally be curious. You can keep the chat light and simple; try asking for the recommendations as to the nearest grocery store, dry cleaners, or place to get good furniture cheaply. (Another advantage of this approach is that you get to talk to your neighbors before you have to bang on their door to get them to turn their music down — or they on yours.)


Apartment community events
Another possibility in many larger apartment communities is to meet people at community-sponsored gatherings. If your community has a weekly social hour or hosts a Saturday morning brunch, you get the benefit of both free food and an opportunity to socialize.

Use your amenities
Taking advantage of the common facilities — the pool, the exercise room, the laundry room — will also put you in contact with your neighbors. You don’t have to make gregarious conversation every time, but a smile and a “Hi” at first meeting will make it easier when you do feel more sociable. If there’s a place to put notices (say, a bulletin board in the laundry room), check it every so often; you might get word of interesting events that your neighbors plan to attend.

Safety first
While meeting people can be fun and interesting, there is one thing to keep in mind: Pavilion at Plantation Way do credit checks of potential renters, and also background checks. That is to say, your new neighbors will be perfectly law-abiding citizens.


Start a group
Finally, try starting your own group: post notices for a group dog-walking, book club, prayer circle, or cooking class. Have a friend join in and see how many people you can attract. You’ll be guaranteed to have something in common with them, and they might be grateful that you took the initiative to get something organized.

Meeting people can feel risky, but you might be surprised at the rewards.

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Top Kitchen Safety Tips

Keep small appliances unplugged
If you start to clean an appliance like your food processor or can opener, for instance, and accidentally hit a button you won’t be in danger of losing a finger — only if it’s unplugged. Likewise, curious children (and pets) are less likely to be injured when they poke around.


Turn pot handles away from yourself
Pot handles that jut out over the edge of the stove are a kitchen safety hazard. Avoid dangerous spills and burns by turning pot handles away from yourself when you cook — either towards the back of the stove or towards the kitchen counters.

Use potholders
Don’t try to pick up a hot pot or cookie sheet without potholders — that’s the quickest way to get a nasty burn. And when you aren’t using your potholders, keep them away from open flames.


Kitchen safety and food contamination:

Disinfect regularly:
Dirty kitchen surfaces and utensils are a big kitchen safety hazard. Regularly disinfect surfaces like refrigerator shelves, kitchen counters, and kitchen cabinets to keep stored food safe. And wash your utensils in warm, soapy water. Don’t forget about cutting boards, a common bacteria breeding ground. Disinfect boards regularly with diluted bleach solution and replace them when they are worn.

Wash your hands before and during food prep:
Most people know to wash their hands before preparing food, but many forget about washing their hands during cooking. If you touch your cell phone or another bacteria-ridden surface while you’re cooking, you could pass that bacteria on to the food you’re making.

Pay attention to clothing:
Loose or dangling clothing poses a kitchen safety hazard: it can contaminate your food, get stuck in appliances, or catch on fire. Tie back long hair, wear short sleeves, and take off any dangling jewelry before you cook.

Wear gloves over wounds:
A wound — whether big or small — can contaminate your food. Keep food safe by wearing a glove over a band-aid when you have a cut or wound on your hand.

Use proper food storage techniques:
Even if you’re scrupulously clean when you prepare food, it can go bad quickly if you don’t use proper food storage methods.

Dealing with kitchen fires

Get a fire extinguisher:
Having a fire extinguisher on hand will help you avert disaster. Just make sure you know how to use it so that you’ll be quick in a high-pressure situation. And be sure to store the fire extinguisher in an area away from the stove — the most likely kitchen fire culprit — so you’ll be able to grab it safely.

Don’t put water on a grease fire:
Pouring water on a grease fire will only make the grease splash and the fire spread. Use your fire extinguisher or baking soda to put out this type of kitchen fire if you can’t put a lid on the flames. And whatever you do, don’t carry a flaming pot outside — you’ll risk turning a kitchen fire into a house fire.

Keep your face clear of alcohol flames:
Before you pour alcohol on any pan, move the pan off the heat and keep your face clear.

Don’t leave pots unattended:
Unattended pots are the number one cause of kitchen fires.

Avoiding common kitchen injuries

Sharpen knives regularly:
Dull knives actually cause more injuries. The duller a knife is, the more force you’ll have to use to get through an object. You have less chance of cutting yourself if you use a sharp knife that cuts easily.

Store knives away from children:
Drawers or magnetic strips far from the reach of small arms are the best knife storage options.

Exercise caution with peppers: Wear gloves when working with hot peppers and avoid touching your face. This way you’ll keep capsaicin — the burning chemical in peppers — from causing you discomfort.

Kitchen safety is mainly common sense. Keep these tips in mind, and keep yourself from being one of the million people who head to the emergency room with kitchen-related injuries each year.


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Learn How to Beat Stress

Learning some simple stress reduction techniques can help you stay focused and healthy when your stress levels are high.

Stress becomes dangerous when you experience it too often or for long periods of time. Prolonged stress has been linked to a host of physical ailments including headaches, stomachaches, pain, insomnia, and weakened immune systems. Stress can also affect your mood, making you anxious or depressed.

Luckily, you can ward off these harmful symptoms with some easy stress reduction techniques.

Exercise to relieve stress
Exercise is one of the most effective stress reduction techniques because it affects your nervous system by releasing mood-enhancing chemicals. Studies have shown that regular exercise makes people think more clearly, have better morale, and be more productive. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity three times per week is all it takes to reap these benefits.

Can’t think of a way to fit 30 minutes of exercise into your day?
Try these ideas:
Hit the workout room in your apartment community before or after work

Sneak in some exercise at your desk

Take a brisk walk around the parking lot on your lunch break

Purchase a yoga or Tai Chi DVD

While a single bout of exercise can lift your mood for several hours, the most effective way to use exercise for stress management is to make it a habit.


Massage the stress away
Massage is a great relaxation technique that can also be a useful part of your regular stress management plan.

Massage relieves stress by triggering what’s known as relaxation response: a state of rest that brings your body back into balance. During relaxation response breathing deepens, production of stress hormones decreases, heart rate and blood pressure slow down, and muscles relax. Relaxation response also affects the mind, increasing energy and focus and boosting your motivation.

If you want to get the best stress-reducing benefit from a massage, schedule an appointment with a professional. Look for massage therapists who offer Swedish or Shiatsu massages since these two types promote overall relaxation.

Calm your mind with meditation
As a stress reduction technique, meditation is one of the easiest to carry out: it’s free, doesn’t involve any special equipment, and can be learned easily.

Meditation relieves stress by training your brain to stay calm. To make meditation work for you, all you have to do is find a quiet, comfortable place and take five to 20 minutes to concentrate on “mindfulness” — a state of being in which you focus on living in the present moment without overanalyzing the experience. The more you practice meditation, the easier it will be for you to remain calm when life gets crazy.

If you’re new to meditation, try the “body scan” technique: focus your attention on various body parts, starting with the feet and progressing up to your head. Take a few moments to concentrate on how each body part feels without labeling the sensations as “good” or “bad.”

Music for stress management
Scientific research shows that listening to music can be a powerful stress reduction technique. Soothing music calms overactive brainwaves, lowers breathing and heart rate, and creates a positive mood.

Music therapists often suggest nature sounds and New Age music to relieve stress. However, experts caution that if you do not enjoy a certain type of music, it can actually cause you stress. The key to using music as a stress reduction technique is to choose something you like that has a slower tempo.

Once you’ve chosen the right music, you can use it in a number of ways: promote focus as you meditate, create a relaxing feeling at your work desk, or ward off the stress of your commute while you’re stuck in traffic.

No matter what stress reduction technique you favor, the key is to deal with your stress before you get overwhelmed. When things get hectic, taking just a few minutes to focus on your well-being will help you avoid dangerous stress levels that can lead to health problems.


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Prepare Your Car for Winter

Driving in cold weather can put both car and driver to the test, so don’t be caught unprepared when temperatures drop. Before the chill is on, make sure that you’ve prepared yourself and your car for the winter weather ahead.

Tune it up
Breaking down in the summer is no fun, but having car trouble in seriously low winter temperatures puts a whole new element in the picture: namely, the weather! Be sure to have any nagging problems, such as occasional stalling, taken care of now. Also have routine car maintenance performed to check and correct:

Tire pressure (check monthly)

Tire tread

Battery — cold weather drains power and also requires more starting power

Antifreeze

Heating and cooling system

Any leaks

Wipers

Washer fluid — keep it filled

Rear defroster

Accessorize for winter
You might want to add a few things to your car to equip it for inclement weather. A block heater, for instance, can be handy in extremely cold climates. It is a small electric heater that plugs into your house current and gets your engine ready to start even on the most frigid Minnesota morning. It will also give you instant heat once the car is started.

Chains or snow tires will be required for any extended driving in the snow. Be sure to practice putting on the chains before you need them, so you won’t have to have your first run-through in the dark, by the side of a road.


Emergency kit
You never know if a winter storm, an accident on an icy road or garden variety car trouble will leave you stranded indefinitely in your vehicle. Always be sure to carry the following with you in your car during winter months:

Fully charged phone
Jumper cables
Gloves
Ice scraper
Shovel
Flares
Sand or cat litter for traction
Flashlight
Boots
Spare tire
Jack
Spare bulbs/fuses
Water and energy bars

Winter car tips
As a driver, you will also need to make some adjustments to your winter routine. The most important thing you can do is slow down!

It also helps to learn everything about your car, such as the type of brakes, tires and drive it has (rear, front, four-wheel) and how those variations react in snowy or icy conditions.

Winter doesn’t have to put the freeze on your driving. With a little preparation and adjustment, you and your car will be ready to take on whatever Jack Frost has to offer.


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