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[embed]https://www.flickr.com/photos/7174132@N05/3435988774[/embed] Image courtesy of Flickr user Jess Pac through a Creative Commons license. Spring Break is over. WVU students are back, rested and ready (hopefully) to finish this semester strong and prepare for finals week at the end of April. That may seem much closer than it actually is, and can cause some students to panic . Those students may throw all of their energy into studying and neglect other things -- like cleaning their apartments. Whether you tidied up before leaving for Spring Break or your place could use a heavy-duty scrubbing, it’s in your best interests to do some spring cleaning. Believe it or not, cleaning is much more than a chore your parents and roommates expect you to do. It can actually have profound benefits for you. Here are a few of the most noteworthy benefits of taking your spring cleaning seriously: No Mess, No Stress You have enough to stress about as a college student. Why leave a dirty apartment on that list? Psychological studies show that clutter can increase stress , overwhelming your senses and making it seem like the amount of work you have to do is insurmountable. Leaving all that mess can actually increase your levels of the stress hormone cortisol and exacerbate depression and OCD . How are you supposed to study for finals when the state of your room is actively stressing you out? By taking the time to address your mess, you make your work seem much more manageable and make it much easier to focus on what’s important. So think of every room cleaned and each trip to our on-site laundry center as another step toward undistracted living. Better Organization Have you ever panicked while studying because you have no idea where that one handout is, and you’re sure it has the one piece of information you need to make sense of everything that’s on your test tomorrow? These important papers and class resources have a habit of turning up in strange places, especially when your apartment is messy. Your spring cleaning gives you an opportunity to organize your workspace and study materials, so you know where they are when you need them. During your cleaning, don’t forget to give your computer some love! Take this opportunity to declutter your desktop, delete unnecessary files, and scan your system for viruses and other issues. Few things are quite as terrifying as a computer crash just as you’re nearing completion of the longest research paper of the semester. Make sure your computer is able to give its best performance during the stretch to finals. Learn What You Don’t Need One of the biggest benefits of spring cleaning is that it gives you a chance to prioritize your belongings. Instead of packing everything away into every nook and cranny of your apartment, use this as an opportunity to figure out what you don’t actually need . Take this opportunity to donate or sell things you haven’t used in a long while and rethink the purchases you should make in the future. This will make it easier to keep your apartment clean and help you focus on more pressing matters like your studies. What are your spring cleaning strategies? Share your ideas in the comments below!

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Prep Tips to Prevent Finals Week Panic-image

Image courtesy of Pixabay Happy Spring Break, WVU students! You’ve nearly made it through three months of lectures, papers, and presentations. Now you have an entire week to kick back and relax, catch up with your family and friends, or give back to your community. Feel good, rest up, and recharge your batteries so you can come back refreshed for April. You might not want to think about it (or you might not be able to stop thinking about it), but we’re about a month away from final exams. That might sound like no time at all, but it’s by no means a reason to panic. There are countless lists out there with advice about handling finals prep, but most of these lists can be boiled down to a few important tips. Relax This point can never be overstated -- especially since you’re on break! The stress of finals can be intense, making it impossible to focus or work. It can even drive students to take hasty or illegal actions, like the Harvard student who called in a fake bomb threat to get out of an exam. Finals are important, but they are not a reason to panic. Enjoy your Spring Break, but make a point to set time aside for relaxation once you come back. This is much easier to do if you start studying well in advance of your exams and set aside time specifically for fun and relaxation. All too often, students wait until the last minute and cram all of their studying into a few panic-driven sessions. This approach is both ineffective and unhealthy . Instead, study over days and weeks with plenty of time for breaks and decompression. Don’t Go It Alone When wrapped up in finals stress, it can be easy to forget your classmates are likely feeling the same stress as you. It’s possible they gleaned some insight from the course material that you hadn’t considered, or have notes from a session you missed -- or you might have this information for someone else. Consider forming a study group , or, if you prefer to study alone, consider asking around about any topics you don’t quite grasp. Know Your Resources Knowing who can help you study and when you can let your hair down are important, but do you know all the resources available to help you prepare for finals? Your notes and textbooks will serve you well, but there’s always more available to you. WVU’s library has study rooms and additional research resources to help you get the knowledge and quiet you need to succeed. Trust us, the librarians will be your new best friends. In addition to classmates and the library, consider having a chat with your professor or TA . After all, they’re the people teaching this information and the ones making the tests. Your professors would be happy to help you succeed -- especially if you have earnest questions that can be answered by more than “It’s in the syllabus.” Their insights might prevent you from studying irrelevant material, which will help you stick to your study schedule. Relax Seriously, this can’t be said enough. Take a deep breath, pace yourself, and you’ll be golden when it comes time to take your exams. And don’t forget, we have a conference room right downstairs at Pierpont Place that you can reserve for studying!

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Pierpont Place Q A-image

Questions are a part of daily life. They arise constantly and confuse us hourly. “Where do I go?” “What am I doing?” “How do I do this?” The questions might seem simple but the answers aren’t always quite so simple. Where do you go when you have a question? To the experts of course! When you’re looking to quench your Pierpont Place perplexity, we’ve got you covered with all the answers you need. Are these just your average college apartments? Pierpont Place Apartments are far from the norm when it comes to college apartments. Since they’ve been recently remodeled, you won’t find any outdated decor or appliances in your new home. Each apartment comes fully furnished so you won’t have to struggle with dragging your dresser and bed from your parents’ house. With big XL twin sized mattresses (full sized in certain units), you’ll never feel cramped or crushed by the space. The large windows allow the light to pour in and brighten your day and your mood. From the moment you set foot inside Pierpont, you’ll feel right at home and comfortable. I love my roommates, but will there be places for me to escape from them for a while? We know how it can be: you chose to move in with your pals but sometimes you just need to enjoy some solitude. Thankfully, we put locks on all of our bedroom doors at Pierpont. You can hole up in your room and pretend like you can’t hear your roommates on the other side of the door. If the sound of them stomping around the rest of the apartment is still too much, we offer a reservable conference/study room. You’ll be able to really get down to it and focus on that paper you have to write without your roommate breathing down your neck. If that’s too stuffy for you, our outdoor courtyard is a great place to get some fresh air and get some work done. We understand that you love your roommates but you need some alone time too! We’ve covered all the bases for you. We know you probably have a ton of questions so if there are ever any that can’t be answered by the website, fire them at us on Facebook and Twitter .

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Think Spring Break-image

March is finally here, which means Spring Break is right on the horizon! Spring Break is a great escape from the world of textbooks, professors and endless tests. Taking a week to get away can clear your mind and rejuvenate you for the rest of the semester. However, with student loans and part time jobs, it can be hard to find the money and time to get away even for a week. Instead of heading somewhere extravagant and expensive, why not pick somewhere a little closer that won’t result in you emptying out your piggy bank. You’ll get the same feeling of rejuvenation without forking over hundreds of dollars. If you’re looking for a getaway but still want an engaging experience Washington DC is the perfect destination. With all of its history and museums, DC is practically bursting with things to do. You can visit the city without stopping at a couple of museums. One of the best museums to visit is the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. With 1.5 million square feet of space you have plenty of room to roam about and explore so make sure you leave a good chunk of time to devote to this museum! Since we’re trying to keep the trip cheap, the National Zoo is an obvious choice since it’s free! The new baby Giant Panda Bei Bei is out and about in his habitat waiting to meet you. With the money you saved on admission, you’ll have a little to spend on the new grilled cheese food truck that makes its rounds through the zoo. To learn more about the animals and exhibits at the zoo, check here . There are so many exciting and engaging things to experience in Washington DC that you’ll want to return for a whole month! For a really cheap getaway that doesn’t require much other than a tent and some hiking boots, take yourself to the Monongahela National Forest. You can reach the main portion of the forest in around 2 and a half hours from Pierpont Place Apartments . With its ridges and high elevations it makes for great hiking so make sure you have sturdy shoes with you. If you have a keen eye and quiet steps you might just glimpse some of the wildlife that calls the Monongahela National Forest its home. Stay overnight in one of the campsites and enjoy the forest after dark. It will certainly be a relaxing weekend that you’ll thank yourself for once you’ve gotten back to the hustle and bustle of classes. To find out more about the forest and learn how you can help out head here . The best thing you can do for yourself for Spring Break though is to schedule yourself a tour at Pierpont Place Apartments. This month we’re running a contest that could get you $500! Imagine what you can do with $500. You can put it towards student loan debt… or you can spend it on a real vacation! All you have to do is schedule a tour with us and prove that you like our Facebook page in order to enter. The deadline for entering the contest is March 15 so get to scheduling! Spring Break doesn’t have to be an extravagant getaway. It can be lowkey and cheap as long as you’re enjoying yourself with your friends or family. What are your Spring Break plans?

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The Day of Unplugging-image

Image courtesy of Pexels Being on the go 24/7 can be draining. Dealing with your schoolwork, part time jobs, clubs, meetings and social life: it can be stressful. With your head buried in your cell phone constantly you can forget to lift your head up and take a look around you. This week, in honor of the Day of Unplugging, take a step away from your electronics for awhile. Whether it’s for a day, a couple of hours or just half an hour, you’ll get a brand new perspective on life after your time away from your phone, tablet or laptop. Instead of reaching for your phone and scrolling through Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Tumblr, head outdoors (if weather permits). Krepps Park is a great place to explore. The fresh air will clear your head and the beautiful scenery will help you forget all about your cell phone itching in your pocket. If the weather is kind enough, you might even be able to throw down a blanket and have a little early spring picnic. If you need to get your dog fix, Krepps also has a dog park that you can visit. Watch dogs romp around and have fun with other pups in the grass and you’ll forget all of your troubles, we promise. Krepps Park is only a 5 minute drive away from Pierpont Place or a 20 minute walk if you’re interested in getting outside a little extra. A great way to keep your mind off of your cell phone is to keep your body occupied. Exercise will get you up and out of the house and keep your face out of your phone. Crossfit Morgantown will push you to your limits and get your blood pumping. The trainers will guide you through the process and make sure you feel comfortable while at the same time challenging you and pushing you harder. By the end of the session, you won’t even remember you had a phone. Nothing takes your mind off of things quite like a sweat session at the gym. To find out more about Crossfit Morgantown and how to sign up for classes, head to their website here. One of the best ways to help you ignore your phone is to spend time with your friends. Being with the people who you’re always talking to through your phone removes that barrier and makes things a lot easier! Think of how many times you’ve looked at your phone while texting a friend and wished they were with you? Well make it happen! The Day of Unplugging might be just one day but you can follow through with it anytime you want. Some weekend or small period of time is all you need to escape from the digital world. Do you enjoy spending time disconnected or do you prefer to always have your phone on hand? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.

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First apartment Tips for success-image

Moving from your comfy nest at your parents’ house to your first college dorm room can be exciting, stressful, eye-opening and frightening. But moving to your very first college apartment after a dorm is even more so. Going into it without any previous knowledge can make the whole process a little more difficult. If you’re moving into your very first college apartment this year at Pierpont Place , we have some tips to help smooth the transition a bit. Make sure you know your roommates If you’re moving into an apartment with a bunch of friends, you’re golden. The first time any problems arise, you’ll know who is the most adept at handling them and you’ll know who you can count on to be reliable in a bind. If you’re moving into a brand new apartment without already knowing your roommates, you’d better get to knowing them! Strangers most likely won’t be looking out for you, they’ll be looking out for themselves and their roommates. So make sure you have a good group of people living with you. 2. Buy in bulk It can be tempting to just walk into the nearest grocery store and buy what you need in that exact moment. Cereal? Grab it. Toilet paper? Got it. But it can save you a lot of money in the long run to shop at places like Sam’s Club where you can buy in large quantities. You’re going to end up using it all anyways so you might as well pay less for it. 3. Be mindful Just because you’re not living in a dorm anymore with RA’s and CA’s keeping you under their thumb doesn’t mean you can go wild! You still have neighbors who might keep different schedules than you and like to get their beauty rest. You’re probably guilty of a few daytime naps in between classes too. Imagine how you’d feel being woken up when you only have a short amount of time! Be respectful of the shared space and mind your neighbors. 4. Take advantage of your apartment You’ve just moved into your first college apartment and it’s got a few perks. You’re paying money to live in this fabulous place so you might as well get your use out of it! Utilize the state of the art fitness center and avoid everyone at the campus gym. You can also take advantage of the 24 hour cyber lounge and the clubhouse with WiFi. Take your laptop there and get some work done in relative peace. It will feel stressful to strike out on your very own college apartment but you’ll enjoy it much more than being confined to the dorms. What are you most excited for in your brand new apartment?

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