6/3/20
As the lone VU student on the forums, I feel like I should give you a bit more background about what student life is like. Firstly, I live off-campus, about 1 hour and 20 minutes by public transport (because I am 95.5 hours short of 120 hours driving experience haha). Plus, I save a lot of money that could have been spent on nearby accommodation. And I don't have a job yet either.
You may also be interested in how the block model works. Having finished two whole weeks of university probably doesn't make me a qualified individual to give you sufficient information, but the way I understand it is:
- In general, three classes that generally run for three hours each, per week.
- Absolutely no pure, traditional lectures. The teaching style isn't too dissimilar to high school. All classes incorporate some form of activities in between the tutor speaking to us. We are encouraged to ask questions.
- No exams/SWOTVAC that I know of (I mean, our uni calendar has no set date for those things, unlike other universities)
- You study one subject at a time over the course of four weeks or so. This is called a block. Then you move on to the next subject, or block, completing four blocks for each semester (this is VU's biggest marketing tool with regards to the block model, I think)
- But assessments within each block still overlap, so you might be juggling multiple assessments, due within a few days of each other. With the limited time to study each unit, there's more pressure.
Whether or not you agree that this very radical approach to education actually makes us better off compared to other universities, I can only speak from my own experience, and I cannot pass judgement on the block model until at least my third year, I think. Then again, being a freshly graduated high school student who has no university experience aside from two weeks, I haven't really experienced anything else haha.
I am assuming the reader is currently attending a non-block model uni or thinking about enrolling in a non-block model uni (i.e. basically every other uni other than VU). What do you think? There is the argument that because there is less time to study each unit under the block model, long-term retention of the content taught will be inferior to other universities, which makes sense. But I like it so far. And at least I am studying something I have an interest in.
To be honest with you, I never, ever, ever feel motivated to do anything. Ever. I just get started somehow, push through the pain, and somehow get the work done. That's my way, don't know about you. Thank you so much for reading this all the way through. I appreciate your time. From my heart to yours, sending love and resilience.