ATAR Notes: Forum
Uni Stuff => Universities - Victoria => University of Melbourne => Topic started by: mc1316 on January 26, 2013, 12:37:32 pm
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With the risk of sounding like a 'noob' (for lack of a better word) what is orientation week (not its purpose)? Is it actually exactly 7 days, up-till 4th March this year. What happens in it. Where do I go? Are there any compulsory events during it? Are there things I should definitely check out? What should I not do? I have read some stuff on it (like on unimelb website), but its too vague. Can someone please provide me some details and specificity about it.
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Most detailed description I've seen:
O-week
Don't miss this. You'll be assigned groups of about a dozen, who will be joined by a student host (ie a 2nd year or above, usually from your course). There are activities to do, some fun and some...less fun, which will show you the campus and help you get to know people. Be nice to your student host and ask them lots of questions about 1st year so you can get some insider tips on what to do/not to do. There will be literally thousands of first years wandering around with a lost look on their face; if you see one then go up to them and introduce yourself. You run into people you saw six months ago with scary regularity.
There will be a lot of free stuff. Free food, free drinks, free stationary, free red bull etc. Get a bag, put everything you can into it and sort it out later. If you play your cards right, you won't need to buy pens/pencils ever again. Try to get around the whole campus, because I can guarantee you that you'll have tutes (especially for breadth) in places that you've never seen before.
There are a lot of clubs on campus and thus there's a day when they'll all have stands at Union House and showcase themselves. The one piece of advice I can give you is this: don't join every club that looks semi interesting. Ask yourself if you're really going to be attending regular meetings and taking part or if you just like the idea of a club dedicated to chocolate or juggling or llamas.
In terms of joining the student union, I think it's a very good idea. They do a lot of work behind the scenes and need money to keep doing that. The bonuses you get from the membership (access to the Rowden White Library, the members lounge etc.) are nice but probably aren't worth $99 unless you use them regularly.
Quote from: rustic_metal
It's definitely worth it [joining the student union]! Clubs are generally around $2 if you have a union membership and up to $10-15 without it, so you'll save at least $25 just in o-week from joining clubs. You'll also get (unlimited!) free sausages, veggie burgers and drinks (soft drinks, water, beer, cider, etc) every Tuesday at the union bbq, so that's your lunch sorted for 24 days a year (5 weeks worth of uni lunches). Then there's social events, where being a member of the union will get you $10 tickets to cocktail party, rather than $25 (there are dozens of night events like this which are awesome to go to).
Oh and you'll get free easy access to cheap printing and PCs/macs at any time in union house without the hassle of having to run around the uni to find a computer that's connected to a printer. The Rowden White is useless unless you want to sleep (they have beanbags!), but the members lounge is an absolute pain if you aren't a member, since you can't go in to talk to your friends if they're in there (it's right in the middle of union house). And yes, they check cards all the time.
I reckon I made back a few hundred dollars worth of savings, which isn't even counting all the free food and drink you'll get from clubs pretty much every Tuesday through Wednesday (and sometimes Monday and Friday too, but those are usually the dead days).
On that note, if you're looking to get a day off, make it Monday or Friday. When you're creating your timetable, the best times to schedule a break for are Tuesday 12-2 (this is a common break anyway, the uni must have decided to make sure everybody will have at least one chance to see their friends), Wednesday 12-2 (preferably get the entire afternoon off if you can) and Thursday 12-2 (...okay so I just realised these are all 12-2 haha). Wednesday is the day where all the big events occur, so do your best to get the whole afternoon off. Kegs n Sun (SSS - science), Beer n Chips (MUESC - the engies), More Beer events (Including Fort Beer) are just some of them. Also most night events are held on Wednesday, so groups of people tend to meet up a few hours before on South Lawn for pre drinks and to get ready before heading off.
That's all the formal uni stuff. O Week is also a great time for celebrating...something. There are going to be plenty of events happening during O Week, even if none of them are major. Lots of free BBQs for you to meet people at, pub tours of Carlton and introductions to the uni lifestyle. The uni bar is never more busy than during O-week so head over there if you're lost and you can always grab a drink with randoms.
nb, there are quite a few people on here who are student hosts, if you want to know if you got one of us then post your name/course closer to O week.
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^ I read that, but wasn't satisfied enough.
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Very good summary above, but some of Russ' info is a bit outdated.
A few corrections I'd like to make:
-Student Union membership is now COMPULSORY and costs about $238 via the SSAF (Student Services and Amenities Fee). Therefore, all the Student Union features such as the Rowden White Library, Members Lounge, and cheaper club/society memberships are available to everyone. On the downside, $238!
- Tuesdays do indeed have Union BBQs in North Court, but nowadays Mondays do as well. Both days (especially Tuesday) regularly have bands playing. Some of them are quite good - last year Stonefield, Washington, Jinja Safari, Evermore and BARBARION performed.
All of the other info in Russ' summary is more or less accurate.