Biology OR Philosophy?

[paulsterio]

I did the 1/2, and audited 3/4. Was going to do it in year 12 initially, but VCAA banned me from doing it...

Woahh, what's auditing? :S

[Christiano]

Double post

[Christiano]

I would recommend Biology, as you comprehend that we are not truly the centre of the universe, but that we are the product of billions of years of evolution and you gain insight as to how complex and beautiful nature is. If you keep that at the back of your mind as you learn biology, it is extremely fascinating. You become more appreciative of life and how fragile we are.

Biology is just as humbling as philosophy, if not more so. Not to mention that biology has a wide range of resources to draw upon in terms of preparation for SAC's and exams. Some difficult parts of the course like the nervous system also complements psychology.

[dinosaurs]

I did the 1/2, and audited 3/4. Was going to do it in year 12 initially, but VCAA banned me from doing it...

Woahh, what's auditing? :S

It's an external assessment. I believe, because he had taken part in auditing the VCAA deemed it to be an unfair advantage - because he had a heads-up on how it's assessed and any future material. 

[paulsterio]

It's an external assessment. I believe, because he had taken part in auditing the VCAA deemed it to be an unfair advantage - because he had a heads-up on how it's assessed and any future material. 

So it's like you're looking at the VCAA course and that? :S
Fair enough then, I guess it's kinda like how you can't teach if you're on the exam setting panel

[EvangelionZeta]

Errrrr, it actually just means I sat in on the classes in year 12 without taking it :p

[dinosaurs]

Errrrr, it actually just means I sat in on the classes in year 12 without taking it :p

Well, the phrase is coined as a pretty much a review. So I don't see how practically repeating a subject would be banned by the VCAA? I thought you could repeat subjects...

[EvangelionZeta]

I was banned because there was some weird ruling that year that you weren't allowed to do both the Monash Philosophy course and the Year 12 one simultaneously, because they were too similar or something.  In retrospect I think it's bullshit, considering that the only real overlap was Descartes...

[Spheniscidaphile]

Well, the phrase is coined as a pretty much a review.

it's been a longstanding option for university courses, that you can audit them. from the latin, meaning 'he listens'. 
so you attend lectures, but not tutes.  you're generally not assessed and don't receive any official credit for the course.
it's usually cheaper to audit than to be assessed.
you can do the same with vce courses by enrolling, but not registering the subject with vcaa.

[paulsterio]

Errrrr, it actually just means I sat in on the classes in year 12 without taking it :p

And how did the VCAA know that you were sitting in these classes? haha!

[burbs]

Errrrr, it actually just means I sat in on the classes in year 12 without taking it :p

And how did the VCAA know that you were sitting in these classes? haha!

I was banned because there was some weird ruling that year that you weren't allowed to do both the Monash Philosophy course and the Year 12 one simultaneously, because they were too similar or something.  In retrospect I think it's bullshit, considering that the only real overlap was Descartes...

[slothpomba]

Philosophy and Biology are my two largest passions in life so i thought i would chime in here.

You can do philosophy outside of school, by yourself, relatively easily. You'll still be able to learn rather well just buying books and reading them. You might miss out on the discussions you would get in class and writing about it but you can just hit up a forum or two and practice it out there.

Biology would be much harder to learn on your own i think.

To be honest, i chose biology randomly in year 10. I needed one extra subject to "fill up" the 6th spot i had. It was either biology or geography. I ended up choosing biology, it was one of the best decisions of my life. I really came to appreciate and love the subject. I didn't think i would like it at all but my mind slowly changed. It totally changed the direction i was going to take in life and its just plain so damn amazing.

So, just on that basis, i think you should pick up biology over philosophy.

If you got any questions (or anyone else) feel free to ask me here or in PM.

(Note: I didn't undertake VCE philosophy. I did study it in my spare time and later pick it up at uni but i don't have much experience in the VCE course. I did undertake VCE bio though.)

[frebbb]

That's a very good point - definitely something to think about.
Thank you so much