12/30/2008 Happy New Year!
Just a reminder that the office will close at 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, and will be closed all day on Thursday, January 1st, 2009.The Mavericks want to wish all of you a safe and happy New Year! We can't wait to see all of you in 2009!
12/22/2008 Safety Reminder!!
Dear University House Residents,
The school year winding to a close is a time of mixed emotions with many distractions. One not only has to deal with finals, school ending, saying good-bye, job/career worries, and least favorite of all… packing and moving. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only one’s that know that this is a stressful, anxious time – there are many opportunistic misfits who kick it in to a higher gear this time of year. This is the reason for this letter – to simply remind you to be careful, alert, and to immediately report any suspicious activity in and around the community to both the local police and management team. As always, in case of emergency, call 9-1-1 first, then, time permitting, call the management office.
Below we’ve listed some basic safety reminders and we strongly recommend that you review the Personal Safety guidelines detailed in your UH Resident Handbook (little black and red handbook issued at move-in), beginning on page 10.
<< REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY>>
• Always lock your doors and windows – use latches and deadbolts
• Never leave a note on your door stating you are not home
• Do not put your name or address on your key ring
• Always use the main property entrance and commonly used, well lit walkways
• After dark, walk with someone whenever possible
• Lock your car doors while driving and when stationed
• Do not leave valuable items in full-view – whether in your car or in your apartment
If you’re moving out, we hope you have a safe transition to your new home, and if you’re staying on with us for another year, thank you for trusting us with your housing needs. You have our promise that we’ll do all we can to ensure you have a great housing experience!
Sincerely,
Your University House Team
12/19/2008 Happy Holidays!!!
Hey Residents! Our office will be closed on Thursday, December 25th as well as on Friday, the 26th. We will re-open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 27th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to be able to assist you as soon as our doors open.
Should you have a maintenance emergency, please call our 24-hour customer service center at (972) 454-5000. Agents will be able to contact the appropriate UH team member to assist.
Happy Holidays! And enjoy the winter break!
12/18/2008 Monthly Maintenance Survey Winner
Our November Maintenance Survey winner, and winner of a $50 Visa Gift Card, was Matt Angell! Matt is a junior, working towards a major in Biology. His favorite thing about Waterview Park is the great costumer service. Fill out your Maintenance Survey cards for your own chance at winning $50!
12/16/2008
Hey guys! It's not too late- we have extended the deadline for earning $250! December 31st is now the last day to earn some extra cash for renewing your lease. Not to mention, you still have time to gather up some friends to sign new leases as well. Your friend will receive $200 and you will receive $100 just for referring them! Hurry in now and beat the rush.
12/12/2008 Stressbusters
Stressbusters really helped our residents relax! We had plenty drinks and candy (lots of Nerds and Smarties) to help our residents fly through their exams. They also enjoyed complimentary massages by our trained massage therapists. Not to mention, we gave out scantrons for those last minute test takers.
Free massages. | 
Stevie loves our snacks. | 
Adrian relaxes. |
How is the pressure? | 
Brian gets a head massage | 
Happy Holidays |
Christian | 
Stress Busters Part Deux | 
Get snacks and free massages |
A resident gets a massage | 
Getting that tension out | 
Stopping by for some drinks |
Drinks make our residents happy | 
Lindsey relaxes | 
Ben enjoys a massage |
Head massage for Ahou | 
That felt good. | 
Misty also relaxes |
12/11/2008 Ten Tips For Surviving Finals Week
Ten Tips for Surviving Finals Week
1. Don’t panic (make too much of the final).
The first thing you should do is to check what the final is worth in each course. Remember, it is only one component of your final grade. If it is worth 20% or less, you probably won't be able to bring your final grade up or down by more than one grade level (e.g., B to B+), unless you perform extremely better or worse than you have on other exams and assignments during the semester.
2. Don’t be too relaxed (make too little of the final).
On the other hand, you should try to do as well on the final as you possibly can. Furthermore, sometimes the final is a big part of your final grade (30% or more), in which case it is more likely to make a significant difference in your final average. It is better not to go into the final with the idea, "I just need to get x number of points to keep my B (or whatever it is) average." It may not be possible to calculate this accurately anyway, since teachers sometimes compute things like participation grades at the very end.
3. Make time for "renewing" activities.
This is NOT the time to stop exercising or doing other things that you find enjoyable. Pace yourself! You will study more effectively if you spread things out and take breaks. But watch the proportions here. Beware of doing 15 minutes of studying followed by a two-hour break to play a video game!
4. Use an effective study method.
The key to effective retention is repetition, and not overloading your brain (it can only absorb so much in an hour).Whatever you do, don’t do it all in one long cramming session. Which brings us to:
5. Get enough sleep.
Don’t pull an "all nighter." You will do better if you are rested, and cramming often leads to a superficial and confused knowledge of the material you have studied.
There is a reason why sleep deprivation is used as torture. Failure to follow #4 and 5 can lead to writing nonsense on exams. Teachers often fall off their chairs laughing at some of the silly statements that appear on finals.
6. Resist the urge to party on "off" days.
Instead, if you have a break in your exam schedule, use it to get a head start on the exams coming up. This can be a time to catch up on missed reading, or to complete Step 1 of "Immediate Preparation" in my study method. REMEMBER: if you party, you will need to recover! And research has shown that people who engage in high-risk drinking deaden their cognitive skills (ability to recall and organize information, etc.)
7. Arrive on time for the exam.
Be especially careful about setting your alarm the night before. Save yourself the anxiety and embarrassment of arriving late. Needless to say, you may also need every minute of the exam period to finish the exam.
8. Follow the rules of good exam taking.
Click here for some tips on taking an essay exam.
9. Don’t worry about others finishing earlier than you.
This could mean ANYTHING. It often means these students have written a mediocre or poor exam. Take the time YOU need.
10. When the exam is over, let it go!
Forget it! Move on to the next one, or go enjoy the break! If you do have major concerns, make an appointment to see your professor at a mutually convenient time.
12/1/2008 New Maverick
Residents, we are excited to announce that we have a new Maverick! Her name is Melanie Yabs, an she enjoys shopping, watching forensic science TV shows, and going to concerts. She is a junior majoring in Biology and hopes to one day become a forensic investigator for the FBI. We are glad to have her on the team and we think you will enjoy her to, so be on the lookout!
