By Claire Liu
When you first arrive at APU, there is a lot of information to take in, and yet there are still many questions left unanswered. All of this can be quite overwhelming, but if you know where to look then there is nothing to be anxious about. In fact, there are many resources out there...and one of these indispensable tools is, yes you know it, Facebook.
In this article, we will introduce the five main Facebook groups you need to have under your belt in order to make your life at APU easier.
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1. Mini Share + (AP-Share, Ladies Mini Share APU)
The place to go if you want to buy and sell second-hand items
Before you go ahead to buy furniture and textbooks from amazon, make sure to check out Mini Share first. Mini Share is a second-hand buying and selling Facebook group and is a must-join for APU students. Most of the time, you will find what you are looking for at a great bargain. From furniture to books, clothing to cars, electronics to concert tickets, you will be surprised at what you can find on Mini Share. Of course, it goes the other way as well. Anything you don’t need, go ahead and put it up for sale. You will be surprised at how many people out there are in need of what you don’t.
Along with Mini Share, there are two alternative Facebook markets: AP-Share and Ladies Mini-Share APU. In general, most items for sale in AP-Share will also be in Mini Share, but it never hurts to broaden your scope. Ladies Mini-share APU on the other hand, like the name suggests, is the place to go for cosmetic, clothing, shoes, etc.
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A peer-review group where student review APU courses.
We’ve all been there; our first course registration. APU offers so many courses that it can be pretty overwhelming. Most of the time, your best bet is to ask your senpai for advice regarding what classes to take, but there is a limit to how much a few senpai might know.
This is an issue every student faces, hence the birth of APU Course Review. Here, people can openly ask about other student’s experience with classes they want to take and get a better understanding of whether or not the class is suitable for themselves. It has become a routine for most students to consult APU Course Review before course registration.
Another function of APU COurse Review is for exchanging classes during the course correction period. There are times when you might not be unable to get the classes you need, and if you are lucky enough, you may find someone who happens to want to swap that exact class. APU Course Review is the place to go for this.
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3. APU Baito
A job forum for finding part-time jobs in Beppu and Oita
For most students, once they settle down in Beppu they need to start thinking about earning for their living. However, it can be quite intimidating looking for work at an unfamiliar place abroad.
APU Baito has you covered. APU students have built themselves a presence in the part-time job sphere at downtown Beppu. This is why many shops ranging from convenience stores to restaurants are used to hiring international students. There is usually always some sort of job opening available and many senpai reach out to the community through APU Baito. There are a lot of job postings especially during the vacation break, as many students go back home and need people to take over.
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For students looking for available rooms, apartments or roommates
All international students are required to live in AP House when they first arrive, and eventually, all students will have to move out. APU Downtown Residence is the Facebook group for both students moving-in and moving-out, with posts of room openings and available apartments for students.
Living alone downtown also tends to be expensive, which is why a lot of students opt for sharing apartments. This is why you will often see people seeking new roommates at very affordable prices. This is also a great option if you are looking for a shared room to cut costs. In the same way, APU Downtown Residence is also very convenient for when you have to move-out in order to find someone to take over your room.
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A student forum for lost and found items
No matter how careful you are, there will be times when you forget or misplace something. It isn’t much of a problem the misplaced item is something small like a cheap umbrella. But when you misplace your wallet, ID or other valuables, that becomes a different story.
Thankfully, APU Lost and Found consists of the student committee who post about items found and lost. When you lose a valuable, it is always helpful to check out and post in APU Lost and Found as well as going to the police. There is always a possibility that someone has picked it up and is kind enough to publish online. Of course, if you find someone’s valuables, it would do the community a huge favour if you post on APU Lost and Found as well.
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And lastly, we have a special mention:
The unofficial APU student union where anyone can share their opinion
APU does not have an official student committee, but that doesn’t mean there is no platform for you to reach out to when you have something to say. In fact, APU Student Voice Committee is a useful place to go when you have certain university-related topics you want to discuss and seek the opinion from other fellow students.
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That’s it for the essential guide to APU Facegroup groups, but keep in mind this list is by no means inclusive and that there are a lot more groups out there for you to find. We wish you all the best for your time at APU and start joining these group right away!