UoM General Chat

[Belgarion]

To all non jaffys,

If we're not allowed to bring backpacks into the examination room (@ Royal Exhibition Building) how did you guys carry your stuff with you to the venue?
Did you just hold your pens, ruler, calculator, drink bottle, etc. in your pockets?

I don't mind doing that but just wondering if there were any better alternatives. (Public transport is the only option of getting there for me)

Also is it true that it's really cold in the building? XD

Thanks

You can put your stationary in any kind of clear bag, like a zip lock lunch bag or even a plastic pocket you normally put sheets of paper in. Can not bring in any pencil cases at all though, even if clear.

And it was absolutely freezing last year. I had on 4 layers and it wasnt enough. My Chem exam was on the morning where it happened to be one of the coldest mornings in the past decade....could not feel my fingers

[Muuru]

Hey everybody! An update from me.

As some of you may remember, I landed an ongoing, full-time position in a metropolitan school while in my final semester of the MTeach at Melbourne last year. I am now teaching Preps and have already seen some terrific strides in my students' learning. For anyone considering the MTeach at Melbourne, do it! It provides a comprehension preparation for life as a teacher.

I was disappointed to find out that my ~86 WAM was not enough to get onto the Dean's honours list though. From what I knew of that cohort, I doubt that I missed by much. Oh well. Having a close family member pass away in Semester 2 and being extremely sick in Semester 3 probably didn't help that cause.

In any case, since I have research ambitions, I have decided to undertake the Master of Education (MEd) part-time next semester while still engaging in my teaching commitments. The plan is to undertake one subject next semester, a 25-point subject in January during my break, and another subject in Semester 1 next year. If I achieve a H2A average, I will be permitted to pursue the research thesis. I will keep you all updated on how that goes.

Take care, and keep on working on those high WAMs/GPAs, guys!

[yearningforsimplicity]

Hey everybody! An update from me.

As some of you may remember, I landed an ongoing, full-time position in a metropolitan school while in my final semester of the MTeach at Melbourne last year. I am now teaching Preps and have already seen some terrific strides in my students' learning. For anyone considering the MTeach at Melbourne, do it! It provides a comprehension preparation for life as a teacher.

I was disappointed to find out that my ~86 WAM was not enough to get onto the Dean's honours list though. Oh well. Having a close family member pass away in Semester 2 and being extremely sick in Semester 3 probably didn't help that cause much.

In any case, since I have research ambitions, I have decided to undertake the Master of Education (MEd) part-time next semester while still engaging in my teaching commitments. The plan is to undertake one subject next semester, a 25-point subject in January during my break, and another subject in Semester 1 next year. If I achieve a H2A average, I will be permitted to pursue the research thesis. I will keep you all updated on how that goes.

Take care, and keep on working on those high WAMs/GPAs, guys!

Congratulations!! How exciting! I'm also planning to do the MTeach next year in the Secondary stream - so excited but a bit scared too coz I've heard the workload is crazy! But it'll be good to finally get a taste of placements (all my other friends doing education started their placements like ages ago >.<). Great to know that you're finding it to be rewarding All the best for your MEd!!

[Muuru]

The MTeach is a tough course, but if you have the passion then you'll cope fine.

If you can, try to prepare for the course now by volunteering. Places like Melbourne Museum and homework clubs are always looking for volunteers and are great places for getting involved with children. You'll also make it easier on yourself when you start applying for jobs; volunteering stands out on a CV.

Best of luck!

[simpak]

I'm really hungover and now I have assessments and an 11 hour day at PDI tomorrow 3:

Also someone from my lab recorded me making a fool of myself completing a 'singing challenge' and sent it to my supervisor.
She did not reply... ):

[90ATAR]

I want to go to Melbourne Arts but I don't really understand what ATAR requirement is expected.

Please correct me if I'm wrong - The Clearly-in-Rank for 2014 was 92.35 ATAR which was the minimum that students were accepted before SEAS students. I'm not eligible for SEAS and the ATAR for it is most likely to go up for 2015 entrance but on the website it says 'Minimum ATAR 2015
85.00 Guide only.' Should that be taken with a grain of salt and be expect a 93+ or what? If I were to get like a 91 at best should I just drop the idea of Melbourne and settle for Monash?

Thanks.

[pink0829]

Does anyone know the difference between Breadth and Free Points?

After this year I'll have done 25 points of Level 1 Breadth, but if I was to do one more Level 1 would it restrict my choice of free subjects? Just a bit confused here   

Free subjects here means that those 25 points can be used for either breadth or Environments subjects. But you have a limit on how many breadths you can do at level 1 (37.5 points = 3 subjects usually). If you do one more level 1 breadth you will reach that limit so to fill up your free subject slots you have to choose from '2nd or 3rd level breadths' and/or 'environments subjects from any level'. That level 1 breadth could be in the 50 point slot for breadths instead of your 25 point free subjects slot. So yes, your choices of subjects for that 25 points will be limited i.e. you can pick anything but a level 1 breadth to fill up that slot.

I hope that was clear!

[charmanderp]

I want to go to Melbourne Arts but I don't really understand what ATAR requirement is expected.

Please correct me if I'm wrong - The Clearly-in-Rank for 2014 was 92.35 ATAR which was the minimum that students were accepted before SEAS students. I'm not eligible for SEAS and the ATAR for it is most likely to go up for 2015 entrance but on the website it says 'Minimum ATAR 2015
85.00 Guide only.' Should that be taken with a grain of salt and be expect a 93+ or what? If I were to get like a 91 at best should I just drop the idea of Melbourne and settle for Monash?

Thanks.

The minimum ATAR is like the name suggests the minimum score the uni will accept i.e. even if there are 2000 non-Access spots in the course available if only 1500 applicants score above the minimum only 1500 will be taken in. In the event that more than 2000 applying students do score above the minimum the Clearly-In represents the student with the lowest score (the 2000th score) to be accepted before the Access round.

It is likely that the Clearly-In will be the same as it was last year, if not higher. But with the way that the preference system works you would never want to 'give up' even if your ATAR is lower than last year's CI, because there's always the chance it will drop in which case you'd want to have the Unimelb BA as your #1 preference.

[Belgarion]

Thanks 

I'm wondering whether I should save a level 1 breadth for 3rd year to alleviate some of the studio contact hour madness!

A lot of us in biomed save two level 1 breadths for our third year. But i dont have to do any breadths next year since ive done a summer subject and am doing a winter subject, which is also another possibility

[litaluta]

Is it normal that I still have no idea what am I majoring in? Just realised all my friends know what they r doing and I am still swimming in handbook  :- s

[simpak]

It's normal.  I didn't even decide to major in MIIM until December 2012...so two months before I commenced my major.
You have plenty of time!

[pink0829]

Thanks 

I'm wondering whether I should save a level 1 breadth for 3rd year to alleviate some of the studio contact hour madness!

That's good you are thinking ahead! I used up all my 1st year breadths in my first 3 semesters but I found some really interesting second year breadths like Painting Techniques, Gamelan in Modern Indonesia and those uni breadth subjects to do this year 

So if you were looking for a breadth subject that is pretty chill to do in 3rd year there are a couple of subjects that may interest you in the handbook.

[jinny1]

That's good you are thinking ahead! I used up all my 1st year breadths in my first 3 semesters but I found some really interesting second year breadths like Painting Techniques, Gamelan in Modern Indonesia and those uni breadth subjects to do this year 

So if you were looking for a breadth subject that is pretty chill to do in 3rd year there are a couple of subjects that may interest you in the handbook.

It won't make too much of a difference for many. Level 1 and Level 2 breadth difficulty overlaps a lot depending on the subject.

I've had more successes in level 2 breadths than level 1s lol

[Ballerina]

omg Muuru, you get to teach teeny tiny preps? ;w;


Yeah lvl 1 and lvl 2 breadths can definitely be of similar difficulty. Genetics, Health and Society is lvl 2 and is easier than the lvl 1 breadth I've taken, Critical Thinking With Data.

Belgarion's suggestion is gooooood, a lot of people take Painting Techniques over either the summer or winter, and it's the funnest H1 class ever imo. Being able to focus on just 3 classes per a semester in third year will probably be amazing.

It's all group work, but the assessment is individual except for a couple of online activities which don't count for much.

Thank you! Hmm...30% exam...but group work. 30% exam...but...group...work...

[Hancock]

omg Muuru, you get to teach teeny tiny preps? ;w;


Yeah lvl 1 and lvl 2 breadths can definitely be of similar difficulty. Genetics, Health and Society is lvl 2 and is easier than the lvl 1 breadth I've taken, Critical Thinking With Data.

Belgarion's suggestion is gooooood, a lot of people take Painting Techniques over either the summer or winter, and it's the funnest H1 class ever imo. Being able to focus on just 3 classes per a semester in third year will probably be amazing.


Thank you! Hmm...30% exam...but group work. 30% exam...but...group...work...

Because of overloading in 2nd year, and a summer class over 1st - 2nd year, I only have 2 classes in 3rd year, sem 2. Dat free time