1. Explore the Area

Most university towns have a large number of interesting places to visit, but there’s a good chance you’ve only seen a small fraction of them. Your life during the semester is already packed with activities, but since many of these are on campus or at your friends’ apartments, you may neglect to visit the wider area around you.

Spending a few days to be a tourist in your city will allow you to make the most of your time at university. If you keep putting off visiting landmarks, you may find you graduate having never visited some of the highlights of your city. Plus, exploring may lead you to make interesting discoveries to show your friends when they return to campus in the fall.

2. Meet New People

If none of your current friends will be staying in your university town over the summer, you’ll be in the perfect position to meet new people. Even if you’re at a large university with a diverse group of students, it’s easy to spend all your time with people who are just like you, especially if you know most of your friends from classes and extracurriculars. With fewer people around, you’ll have to broaden your horizons. You can meet people by enrolling in a summer class, striking up a conversation with students in places like your housing and local coffee shop, or by becoming part of a community project, such as through volunteering.

3. Enjoy Your Own Company

You should also embrace the chance to spend time on your own. University life can be hectic — what with classes and socializing, you may find you rarely have time for yourself. The peace of your university town in the summer could be just what you need for catching up with activities you enjoy doing on your own, including art projects, reading, playing an instrument, and other hobbies.

4. Stay in the Right Frame of Mind

Many students find it difficult to readjust to returning to classes in the fall after a long summer break. If you know this tends to be a problem for you, staying near campus over the summer could be a huge help. You’ll be able to visit the library whenever you want to do some reading — whether for your own interest or to prepare yourself for upcoming classes. You could even complete some of the required readings ahead of time to make your semester more relaxed and to give yourself more time for other activities.

Since campus is likely to be closed, you’ll need to find somewhere else to live over the summer. An alternative to Brock University residence is Regent. The suites are ready for you to move in — they come fully furnished and rent is all inclusive, covering heat, water, hydro, and WiFi.

You certainly won’t be lonely: as well as hanging out with your roommates, you’ll be able to meet new people in the community room and onsite gym. Plus, since you’ll be living downtown, you’ll have easy access to a range of great amenities. Sign a lease now to secure your spot for the summer.