Monash 2014 Jaffy Tips & Questions Thread

[Chazef]

Hey I'm going to start computer science next semester after dropping out of engineering this semester and was fortunate enough to be offered a Information Technology Excellence Scholarship by monash I was wondering if there are any major benefits for choosing to have the money taken out of tuition fees rather than having them put it in your bank account (interest is the biggest pro for the bank account I can think of). thanks

[slothpomba]

It's the best loan you'll ever get (well, before Abbott took his razor to the education budget). If you are a current student, you pay no interest in your loans. Under the Abbott changes, if you commence in 2016+, you will pay interest.

Usually the suggestion is its best just to leave it on HECs, invest the money/simply spend it. The obvious pro of not paying your fees now is haivng more money to spend, right now. If you don't need it as much and find the idea of graduating with no debt appealing, i guess you could pay it off. I guess it depends how much you value having a chunk of money right now vs paying off a chunk of money later.

[Hancock]

Given that HECS is currently indexed at the CPI (so it has an effective rate of interest equal to inflation), you are best advised to place the chunk of money in a term deposit of a couple of years (or any substantial amount of time) so it can accrue 'real' interest, which is the difference of the nominal interest rate and the rate of inflation.

Once you finish uni, you would have gathered more interest in your bank account relative to the increase in your HECS debt due to inflation, and therefore will have a net increase if you choose to pay off your HECS then.

TLDR; chuck it in a bank account, and pay off HECS after you finish your degree. You will gain more interest/funds rather than reducing what is essentially a 'zero-interest' debt from your name.

[Chazef]

thanks to both of you, that clears things up a lot 

[Professor Polonsky]

And even when it'll go up according to ten-year gov't bonds, you'll still get a better interest rate from a bank.

[vashappenin]

Hi guys for exams, are we allowed to take our bags in with us and keep them under our desks? Like will we get in trouble if we have notes in our bags, even if we don't use them and it's all under the table? Also, can we just bring in a normal pencil case or are we supposed to bring our stationery in something clear? (clear pencil case, ziplock bag etc.)

[Rohmer]

Hi guys for exams, are we allowed to take our bags in with us and keep them under our desks? Like will we get in trouble if we have notes in our bags, even if we don't use them and it's all under the table? Also, can we just bring in a normal pencil case or are we supposed to bring our stationery in something clear? (clear pencil case, ziplock bag etc.)

Yeah, you can leave bags under desks with notes in them. I'm not sure of the exact rules on pencil cases tbh...they do say that you shouldn't have anything else on your desk, so I usually just bring a few pens. I think you'd be better off just bringing a clear case/ziplock bag, though if you did bring a pencil case the worst that could happen would be that one of the inviligators would tell you to put the case in your bag.

[slothpomba]

Bags are fine, notes are fine. Do not let any slip out or you may wind up in trouble. Do not leave any notes on your person or leave your phone on your person. If you get detected with these, it will be hard to defend against a cheating charge.

As for pencil case, never seen the need, could you just mepty things onto your desk? Long as there are no notes or lose pieces of paper in the pencil case, the worst they will probably do is tell you to put it under the desk. Alternatively, you can put your hand up and just ask the invigilators for advice (do it near the start).

I'd argue in some dimensions the rule are less strict than VCE. Your water bottle doesn't need to be clear and water only for instance. You can bring in as much food as you like, if you really feel the need, you could bring in a bucket of fried chicken. On the other hand, if you are caught cheating/with notes on you, it's a very judicial process (you're allowed to have a lawyer if you're summoned before a committee). It can be very grueling and stressful to deal with. Arguably, the consequences are more severe than VCE as well.

Turn your phone off, disable all alarms. Even if it rings in your bag, under your desk, you still will be fined (happened to an old user here).

[kinslayer]

Does reading time for exams usually start at or before the scheduled time given in WES? (eg. 9.30am)

Might be a silly question, but unless I am recalling incorrectly, the advertised start** was when the actual exam starts and they recommended to arrive 30mins before, and reading time would start 15 mins before.

e: for UoM exams

[slothpomba]

They are not allowed to do anything examination related until after 9:30 AM minimum. No reading time, nothing.

Your reading time will not start until 9:30 AM or later. In my 4 years of experience (6 semesters i guess + this one), this is true. Half the time they usually start *after* the alloted time. No one is as pedantic as VCE, its a bit more fluid and relaxed. It may take more time than anticipated to hand out all the papers, handle queries or something else may be going on.

The 30 minutes before recommendation is more of a buffer zone for late transportation/any other crisis/finding your desk. Also be mindful, public transportation tomorrow is on a public holiday timetable. If you want a bit more sleep/know you'll mess up anyway, you could comfortable come say 20 minutes late (not recommended though).  I think you are allowed in up to half an hour/an hour late (not 100% sure which). This is an automatic entitlement. Later than this and i think it is up to the staff there.

[kinslayer]

Ok thanks, that makes it easy. My exam tomorrow (today) is at Caulfield which is within walking distance, so I just need to wake up on time