ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Universities - Victoria => University of Melbourne => Topic started by: charmanderp on January 20, 2014, 06:18:36 pm

Title: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on January 20, 2014, 06:18:36 pm
Thought we might help those poor first year outs.

First things first, check out these amazing blogs (a few of which are written/participated in by friends of mine so admittedly shameless plugging): 
https://airport.unimelb.edu.au/first_year/
http://unimelbadventures.wordpress.com/

They're each really helpful in finding your feet at the University of Melbourne.

Second tip is to make the most of Academic Advice Day and O-Week. Dive into everything and talk to as many people as you can. Make friends! Fun times are to be had. Same goes for when you start classes, just start chatting to the people next to you in lectures and tutes.

Thirdly, if you have any course related questions, check out the website for your respective student centre as your first port of call. In most cases the answer you're looking for can be found there.

Another thing is, don't be intimidated at all by university study. From experience it's really not more difficult or onerous than high school was (and from what friends have told me this applies to all courses), if you're willing to work just as hard. As with anything it's just about setting goals and working towards them, but don't set goals for yourself that are lower than you normally would just because people try to scare you into thinking uni assessment is several steps above high school equivalent - it's not, they know where you're coming from.

Also, y'all should join clubs and societies. Make sure you find the ones that are suited to you.

I'll add more later. Other non-Jaffies, chip in.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Ballerina on January 20, 2014, 07:52:57 pm
Hello jaffies I am going to Parkville and taking all your free food, stationary, and condoms during O-week  :-\ goodbye

P.S. Ask your heart out during the tutorials! After explaining foreign concepts, a tutor will often ask if any students have subsequent questions. Everyone does, but don't vocalize it (other than mature-age students, God bless) and the tutor moves onto the next convoluted topic which so happens to require the deranged logic from the previous topic. Ask! You're not alone.

And re-emphasizing the splendid point charmanderp made about initiating friendship. UoM is a very large institution, with larger class sizes than many other Victorian universities. Many other students will feel equally isolated.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: MelonBar on January 20, 2014, 09:43:48 pm
i will extend a suggestion to join bhakti yoga club for a weekly serve of $1 vegan curry. also comes with delicious semolina
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on January 20, 2014, 11:03:18 pm
Another thing is, don't be intimidated at all by university study. From experience it's really not more difficult or onerous than high school was (and from what friends have told me this applies to all courses), if you're willing to work just as hard. As with anything it's just about setting goals and working towards them, but don't set goals for yourself that are lower than you normally would just because people try to scare you into thinking uni assessment is several steps above high school equivalent - it's not, they know where you're coming from.

Also, y'all should join clubs and societies. Make sure you find the ones that are suited to you.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Shenz0r on January 21, 2014, 12:54:36 am
Another thing is, don't be intimidated at all by university study. From experience it's really not more difficult or onerous than high school was (and from what friends have told me this applies to all courses), if you're willing to work just as hard. As with anything it's just about setting goals and working towards them, but don't set goals for yourself that are lower than you normally would just because people try to scare you into thinking uni assessment is several steps above high school equivalent - it's not, they know where you're coming from.

I don't know, many times of the year I felt way more stressed than I was during VCE. 
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Hancock on January 21, 2014, 12:56:01 am
I heard the best way to pick up chicks it to grab a handful of condoms when they give you a couple, and wink at a group of girls next to you.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: sluu001 on January 21, 2014, 01:34:31 am
I heard the best way to pick up chicks it to grab a handful of condoms when they give you a couple, and wink at a group of girls next to you.

Is that what they teach at engineering school? I thought you guys were problem solvers....



Btw, best coffee = seven seeds. Nuff said.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: alondouek on January 21, 2014, 01:51:05 am
I heard that the best way to make new friends is to start conversations with, "Hey there, what ATAR did you receive?"
I heard the best way to pick up chicks it to grab a handful of condoms when they give you a couple, and wink at a group of girls next to you.

(http://mymememaker.com/media/created/pouwya.jpg)
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Hancock on January 21, 2014, 02:04:49 am
Is that what they teach at engineering school? I thought you guys were problem solvers....

Women: man's greatest puzzle.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on January 21, 2014, 02:23:39 am
i will extend a suggestion to join bhakti yoga club for a weekly serve of $1 vegan curry. also comes with delicious semolina
THERES $1 VEGAN CURRY ON CAMPUS?!?!?! WHAT IS THIS WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT SOONER?! *flipstable*
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on January 21, 2014, 10:31:03 am
I don't know, many times of the year I felt way more stressed than I was during VCE. 
Stress =/= difficulty, or at least not necessarily.

Hancock does engineering, he's probably never even met a girl before.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Hancock on January 21, 2014, 10:48:59 am
Lel, seriously 4 girls in my Mech class out of 30. I keep up with female interaction from high school mates / girlfriend.
Or I could take the whole "Gender studies" breadth class thing.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on January 21, 2014, 11:45:40 am
I heard that the best way to make new friends is to start conversations with, "Hey there, what ATAR did you receive?"
In all seriousness though, no one do this. Don't even approach the topic of ATARs. No one could care less and everyone really just wants to leave all thought of VCE behind. It's okay to speak about them self-deprecatingly but for the most part bringing it up makes you sound like an ass and will alienate everyone from you.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 12, 2014, 01:23:25 am
So this is still a thing.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Starlight on February 12, 2014, 09:45:55 am
And do you have to be part of a club to get free food? Because I heard something about SSS doing free bbq on Thursdays...

Worth signing up to the arts and science clubs $5 each for the year but barbeques for both and lower prices for different science/arts events
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 12, 2014, 03:38:21 pm
everyone lives in different areas and starts at different times so it's pretty hard to say. i live in carlton, so it's a 10-15 minute walk to class depending on which part of campus i need to be at. back when i lived in burwood, it'd take well over an hour to get in by tram due to peak hour traffic (but about 50 minutes to get back) and when i lived in mitcham it took about 45 minutes.
LOL how long does it take if you don't actively avoid ringwood? :P XDXD ringwood's not thaaaat bad! :P

i heard that everyone has a lot of fun on biomed camp! though quite a lot of nasty rumors emanated from last year's one as well. :\
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Stick on February 12, 2014, 04:08:12 pm
Yeah, I had eventually convinced myself to go to the camp (basically a party novice and a non-drinker here) but the accounts of some of last year's group made me reconsider my decision.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Oilerian on February 12, 2014, 04:13:57 pm
Oh I want to ask, how does the O-Week works actually? Do you need to join a particular group or is the group assigned to you? What kind of activities are there?

Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 12, 2014, 04:37:23 pm
haha it *is* awesome, though paying rent + electricity + internet is not! :P
oh LOL i thought you were trying to avoid ringwood because it's such a ratty station. though i always seem to find ringwood station dramas lightly entertaining

mm, unfortunately at first year, many people still aren't mature enough to not talk shit about others. zzzz

a group should be assigned to you and you should get an email about it. your o week host may or may not send you a text as well. if you're not assigned a group, there should be a meeting area on the morning for you and you'll be placed in a group on the spot. no cue about the activities though, i missed out last year because i had to be at work. :\ But I imagine it'll be a tour of the university + tips and commentary from your host. and then afterwards you're left to wander around by yourself. there'll be heaps of stalls giving out free pens and stuff like that and clubs trying to recruit new members.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 12, 2014, 05:20:38 pm
XD haha dw, there will be other sober people there. ^^

haha lifts do sound appealing with 8am starts. (what sounds more appealing is not going to 8am classes but shhhh, i should not try and corrupt you cuties so soon)

im pretty sure the groups are organised by degree. i think it makes it easier to give you relevant information that way. though once the groups split, youre free to run amok and meet whoever you want. :) the group thing is only for the first day of o week anyhow, you have another 4 days to meet everyone ^^
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: NoticeMeSenpai on February 12, 2014, 08:48:31 pm
what kind of rumours?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 12, 2014, 09:00:54 pm
just your typical nasty high school drama type. i have no desire to spread them further.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 12, 2014, 09:11:54 pm
I heard it's like schoolies part 2
I heard they did car commercials...in Japan.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 12, 2014, 09:34:18 pm
no comprendo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDKwlDHIg-Q&t=00m16s
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 12, 2014, 09:41:21 pm
in year 9, a bunch of girls in the year below me actually tried to model themselves after the plastics. they made a burn book and everything. it was pretty hilarious/sad.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: xenial on February 12, 2014, 10:19:26 pm
Yeah, I had eventually convinced myself to go to the camp (basically a party novice and a non-drinker here) but the accounts of some of last year's group made me reconsider my decision.

Wait could you elucidate a little bit? What did they say about the camp?

And there's nothing wrong with being a non-drinker! I don't mean to stereotype a cohort.. but it's biomedicine. I'm sure they're not that bad. My friend at Monash med said most people there didn't drink socially, or started to do so on med camp.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 12, 2014, 10:33:07 pm
Omg ninwa has been reading this thread.

(http://i.imgur.com/SW1b0Tl.jpg)
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Stick on February 12, 2014, 10:39:09 pm
Wait could you elucidate a little bit? What did they say about the camp?

And there's nothing wrong with being a non-drinker! I don't mean to stereotype a cohort.. but it's biomedicine. I'm sure they're not that bad. My friend at Monash med said most people there didn't drink socially, or started to do so on med camp.

As previously said, it's probably not wise to spread rumours around, but general high school antics which I'm extremely keen to move on from.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Russ on February 12, 2014, 10:42:01 pm
There will be high school antics for a while yet. People don't suddenly change who they are because three months ago they were at high school and now they're at university. Camps are very party/debauchery focused but you're not going to be made to do anything you don't want to do.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 12, 2014, 10:51:16 pm
There will be high school antics for a while yet. People don't suddenly change who they are because three months ago they were at high school and now they're at university. Camps are very party/debauchery focused but you're not going to be made to do anything you don't want to do.
University students will try to act cooler/more maturely than they did as high schoolers but as Russ said the difference is certainly not that great in party-style atmospheres, and certainly not in first year.

That being said the O-Camps are usually quite great, and everyone knows not to go too far - or at least Science and Arts are. Have heard dodgy things about the Engineering/Biomed camps.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Shenz0r on February 12, 2014, 10:53:23 pm
Biomed cAMP seems to be way more tame than the other faculties from what I've heard lol.

(and you might bump into some people from AN)
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: MelonBar on February 12, 2014, 11:06:37 pm
Hey guys btw is it true that $20 gift cards are given out by co-op during oweek?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: xenial on February 12, 2014, 11:12:49 pm
I heard science students in 2012 were made to strip and run naked into a lake.. that's tf for me.
I still think the camp will be good for making friends Stick! I imagine it to be one of the only times the cohort is forced to socialise with each other..
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Ballerina on February 13, 2014, 09:15:15 am
I heard there's only one toilet cubicle for each faculty, and they make you all go at once
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Starlight on February 13, 2014, 12:06:17 pm
Hey guys btw is it true that $20 gift cards are given out by co-op during oweek?

This occurred last year, not sure if it was a one-time thing.
The trick was that you had to be a co-op member (which costs around $20) to use the gift card on stationary etc.
But last year I was able to sign up to be a coop member with the gift card
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Edward21 on February 13, 2014, 11:05:31 pm
Can anyone that is doing/has done biomed give me the low-down on textbooks, and whether I need to buy all the ones that are listed in the handbook, or like what ones I need to buy and where to get them from? I don't really want to spend more than I have to..

I'm doing Maths for Biomed, Biomolecules and Cells, Chem for Biomed, and also Italian 5.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Shenz0r on February 13, 2014, 11:36:33 pm
Can anyone that is doing/has done biomed give me the low-down on textbooks, and whether I need to buy all the ones that are listed in the handbook, or like what ones I need to buy and where to get them from? I don't really want to spend more than I have to..

I'm doing Maths for Biomed, Biomolecules and Cells, Chem for Biomed, and also Italian 5.

You don't use a textbook for Maths. You will just rely on exercise sheets uploaded to the LMS.

Biology cores use the textbook Life by Sadava, don't need to buy it as it's a really heavy book and it's unlikely you're going to read it all the time, so either borrow from uni library when you do actually need it or alternatively find an online pdf. Same applies for Chemistry textbooks.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 13, 2014, 11:47:29 pm
I heard science students in 2012 were made to strip and run naked into a lake.. that's tf for me.
Nah they don't make you do it - it's an optional thing for anyone who wants to haha. And done at like 3 am.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Edward21 on February 14, 2014, 12:07:12 am
You don't use a textbook for Maths. You will just rely on exercise sheets uploaded to the LMS.

Biology cores use the textbook Life by Sadava, don't need to buy it as it's a really heavy book and it's unlikely you're going to read it all the time, so either borrow from uni library when you do actually need it or alternatively find an online pdf. Same applies for Chemistry textbooks.
So maths is all online stuff.
And for bio and chem, the textbooks are quite big, just borrow from the library and/or use the online pdf of it.
Does that mean for those 3 subjects I could potentially not buy ANY textbooks? (I know I will probably have to for Italian haha)

Thanks so much for your help! :D
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: lzxnl on February 14, 2014, 09:42:05 am
So maths is all online stuff.
And for bio and chem, the textbooks are quite big, just borrow from the library and/or use the online pdf of it.
Does that mean for those 3 subjects I could potentially not buy ANY textbooks? (I know I will probably have to for Italian haha)

Thanks so much for your help! :D

Arguably not worth it if it's just for one subject as it is with chemistry and physics.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Shenz0r on February 14, 2014, 10:08:05 am
So maths is all online stuff.
And for bio and chem, the textbooks are quite big, just borrow from the library and/or use the online pdf of it.
Does that mean for those 3 subjects I could potentially not buy ANY textbooks? (I know I will probably have to for Italian haha)

Thanks so much for your help! :D

Yeah, you don't have to buy any of them. Too expensive and not worth it imo
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Oilerian on February 14, 2014, 10:20:33 am
For subjects that require lab work like physics, where can I buy the necessary supplies i.e lab coats, safety googles etc?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Stick on February 14, 2014, 10:22:02 am
You don't use a textbook for Maths. You will just rely on exercise sheets uploaded to the LMS.

Biology cores use the textbook Life by Sadava, don't need to buy it as it's a really heavy book and it's unlikely you're going to read it all the time, so either borrow from uni library when you do actually need it or alternatively find an online pdf. Same applies for Chemistry textbooks.

The Chemistry text has changed for us, and it's unbelievably difficult to purchase *cough*. lol
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 14, 2014, 10:35:03 am
For subjects that require lab work like physics, where can I buy the necessary supplies i.e lab coats, safety googles etc?

you can buy everything you need from the co-op bookstore.
the chemistry building also sells labcoats and glasses. Enter through the monash road side and it's to your left.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Oilerian on February 14, 2014, 10:59:35 am
you can buy everything you need from the co-op bookstore.
the chemistry building also sells labcoats and glasses. Enter through the monash road side and it's to your left.

Ah ok thanks! I see there are two co-op stores location in the university area, are they more or less the same?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: scribble on February 14, 2014, 11:13:09 am
go to the one next to baileiu. the other one sells med related stuff like stethoscopes.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: availn on February 14, 2014, 11:56:44 am
If we get a yearly student subscription to a newspaper (Age, Herald Sun), where on campus are we able to pick it up?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Oilerian on February 14, 2014, 12:08:11 pm
If we get a yearly student subscription to a newspaper (Age, Herald Sun), where on campus are we able to pick it up?

I didn't know students have special subscription offer for papers? Where can I get it?

go to the one next to baileiu. the other one sells med related stuff like stethoscopes.

Thanks will visit it someday.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: charmanderp on February 14, 2014, 12:15:42 pm
If we get a yearly student subscription to a newspaper (Age, Herald Sun), where on campus are we able to pick it up?
If the Age you can get home delivery on Sat+Sun for $40 a year.

If the Herald Sun, it can be conveniently picked up from your local garbage tip.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: xenial on February 14, 2014, 01:26:10 pm
Hahaha ^. Okay turns out I'm really confused about the camps - what's the difference between O-week camp and BSS camp? Do bbmed students usually just go on the latter?
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Edward21 on February 15, 2014, 05:59:55 pm
The Chemistry text has changed for us, and it's unbelievably difficult to purchase *cough*. lol
No pdfs in sight? :'(
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Stick on February 15, 2014, 06:18:54 pm
Nope. And I've asked people who have had the text as part of their list in prior years too. :/
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: Edward21 on February 15, 2014, 06:43:19 pm
Nope. And I've asked people who have had the text as part of their list in prior years too. :/
Damn. :(
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: xenial on February 16, 2014, 01:09:45 am
I thought each faculty (the ones with undergrad degrees) had their own camp, and BSS camp was the biomed one?

Well there's this:
http://sssonline.org.au/o-camp/

Which is the science students' society camp, which is for people in any course
Quote
Orientation camp is open to all 1st year students of ANY course. The camp lasts 3 days from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th

And there's the BSS camp
http://www.bssunimelb.com/camp-2014/

Quote
TICKETS ARE ON SALE 25TH FEBRUARY IN THE MED FOYER

And that one's from the 28th.
I guess I'll sign up to that one...

It does say though
Quote
Make sure you bring: Completed camp forms
And I don't have those lol
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: djsandals on February 16, 2014, 05:59:19 pm
1. Don't talk about ATARs.
2. Don't ask people what school they went to.
3. Don't order cider at the bar.
Title: Re: UoM 2014 Jaffy Tips Thread
Post by: hobbitle on February 16, 2014, 06:36:21 pm

3. Don't order cider at the bar.

Don't listen to this. Order whatever the f you want. :-P