UoM General Chat

[litaluta]

I always travel to REB from Melbourne central station,then take tram to queensberry then walk there! Its the worst way to go there but my brain is usually dead on the day of exam! so yeah...dont try my way

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

Any students in Music Psych this semester?
I have a question about the essay word count. For part a,b,c it is assigned 300, 1200, 500 words respectively with the 10% rule for the 2000 words but I was wondering if I would be able to do 450, 1200, 500? (still within the 10% rule).

Thanks a lot!

[charmanderp]

Any students in Music Psych this semester?
I have a question about the essay word count. For part a,b,c it is assigned 300, 1200, 500 words respectively with the 10% rule for the 2000 words but I was wondering if I would be able to do 450, 1200, 500? (still within the 10% rule).

Thanks a lot!

I'm not doing that subject but going off my experience with other subjects I'd say that you probably have to adhere to the 10% rule for each section i.e. the reason they've given you 300 words for one section is because they want to see how well you can construct an answer without going more than 10% over (or under) the limit.

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

What's the subject like? Sounds pretty interesting

It's 40% online weekly quizzes and a 60% final essay. I found it pretty easy, the quizzes but I'm struggling with the final essay (that is where most the marks go!). Hopefully I can manage to scrape a H1 though :OO

[Jono_CP]

Hi UoM students,

Obviously to get into this university (something which I aspire towards but question myself everyday) you had to be not just intelligent but very committed and diligent with your studies. Whilst I am a hard worker, I am certainly not the "sharpest" in terms of knowledge, in fact my family never went to university (genetics are against me).

As well as this, I do suffer from an illness but I have a SEAS to compensate for this. But even then I don't want to be relying on this and it only adds like 2-3 points on the ATAR which is not that great and just a recognition of hardship. Doesn't guarantee anything in terms of courses, which frustrates me to be honest.

At the moment I am failing Further Maths (22%), Economics + Aus. Politics (80+%) and English + Business Management (+90%). So if I don't get 40's in English and Business Management, my dreams and ambitions for the Arts course is effectively done and Economics and Politics I need about mid 30's which is going to be INCREDIBLY difficult to get, as there are very witty students in these subjects. I got a 36 study score for Revolutions even though I missed heaps of classes, but even then I was still getting 80's but only got a B+ on the exam (I found it very hard especially the Chinese Revolution, too many years etc...)

In your successful Year 12 VCE year, how did you cope with adversity and continue to strive for top marks? There are some days where I feel like I'll get a negative ATAR and others where I think I have a slight chance of getting over 80. I am aware that you need a +85 ATAR to be considered as a bare minimum for the Arts Course, and I am striving very very very hard to get this (e.g. no social media, facebook) however I do admit that I use YouTube sometimes for various subjects and just general searching and go to the local libraries almost everyday. What sacrifices did you have to make, to ensure that you had the best chance of a really good ATAR for Melbourne?

Also could anyone just recommend me apart from Melbourne, some Arts-like courses available. I am aware of quite a few, but I thought if anyone has the time to recommend me some (even if they are ones I already know) than that would be handy as assurance and confirmation.

Not sure if I can get to Melbourne despite the hard work I am putting in, which makes me feel quite upset.

Advice would be much appreciated,

Thank you!

[chysim]

In your successful Year 12 VCE year, how did you cope with adversity and continue to strive for top marks? There are some days where I feel like I'll get a negative ATAR and others where I think I have a slight chance of getting over 80. I am aware that you need a +85 ATAR to be considered as a bare minimum for the Arts Course, and I am striving very very very hard to get this (e.g. no social media, facebook) however I do admit that I use YouTube sometimes for various subjects and just general searching and go to the local libraries almost everyday. What sacrifices did you have to make, to ensure that you had the best chance of a really good ATAR for Melbourne?

I'm a fairly even-keeled sort of guy, and I barely even thought about my ATAR throughout year 12. Have a goal for sure, but make sure it's within the bounds of reality and don't let it take over your life.

Unless you require a high amount of discipline and routine, you shouldn't have to cut out things like social media and youtube. Year 12 is far more of a marathon than a sprint, and you sometimes need distractions and other interests to maintain your sanity. If you try to be work, work, work the entire year, you might find you're burnt out by the time exams come around. I don't know about you, but I find I'm less productive when I have a singular focus over a long period (I don't really use it, but google "pomodoro technique" to see what I'm talking about).

I think the one thing I have really improved since year 12 that I'd recommended to basically all students is organisation. It seems obvious enough, but if you take some time to make an ad hoc to-do list (nothing overly formal – and especially not a pre-determined timetable – just a list of things you need to complete by a certain date) it gives you an understanding what you need to do and by when, and can prevent you from time wasting and faffing about.

I definitely wouldn't say I made any "sacrifices" specifically to get into Melbourne. I understood my capacity and aptitudes and worked accordingly. It's different for everyone, but don't get too down on yourself when you have some struggles.

Also could anyone just recommend me apart from Melbourne, some Arts-like courses available. I am aware of quite a few, but I thought if anyone has the time to recommend me some (even if they are ones I already know) than that would be handy as assurance and confirmation.

Literally every university has a Bachelor of Arts course that is the basic equivalent to Melbourne. Arts is a really vague (or, to be more accurate, broad) field, and what the Melbourne Model condenses into essentially one degree with a host of majors and sub-majors can be found elsewhere in a bevy of other degrees. Deakin, La Trobe, RMIT, Swinburne etc. They're all good institutions that cater for a huge range of disciplines, despite the fact that they may not carry the prestige of Melbourne.

Good luck, and be cool... like Fonzie.

[Ballerina]

Hi UoM students,

Obviously to get into this university (something which I aspire towards but question myself everyday) you had to be not just intelligent but very committed and diligent with your studies. Whilst I am a hard worker, I am certainly not the "sharpest" in terms of knowledge, in fact my family never went to university (genetics are against me).

As well as this, I do suffer from an illness but I have a SEAS to compensate for this. But even then I don't want to be relying on this and it only adds like 2-3 points on the ATAR which is not that great and just a recognition of hardship. Doesn't guarantee anything in terms of courses, which frustrates me to be honest.

Do you qualify for disadvantaged financial background? Which essentially just means, do you receive Youth Allowance or other Centrelink payments? If so, you could qualify for guaranteed entry with that + an ATAR of 78 or above. https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/access_melbourne_and_equity_programs/access-melbourne/guaranteed-entry-for-access-melbourne-applicants

And genetics mean nothing~

[Belgarion]

Hi UoM students,

Obviously to get into this university (something which I aspire towards but question myself everyday) you had to be not just intelligent but very committed and diligent with your studies. Whilst I am a hard worker, I am certainly not the "sharpest" in terms of knowledge, in fact my family never went to university (genetics are against me).

I think everything else was well answered by those above me but in terms of this, neither of my parents even finished high school and now im doing a Bachelor of Biomedicine. Like Ballerina said, genetics means nothing if you are willing to do the hard yards

[Ballerina]

Ways to perk yourself up during exam revision: Listen to lecture captures from the first week of the semester as a component of revision. I feel so well informed and scholastic now. WHY YES I KNOW WHAT A NEURON IS. Nailed it.

[LeviLamp]

Ways to perk yourself up during exam revision: Listen to lecture captures from the first week of the semester as a component of revision. I feel so well informed and scholastic now. WHY YES I KNOW WHAT A NEURON IS. Nailed it.

What if we don't understand anything from the first week of lectures?

[alondouek]

What if we don't understand anything from the first week of lectures?

This is what biochemistry feels like fml

[LeviLamp]

This is what biochemistry feels like fml

Preach
It doesn't help that I have four other exams before biochem and have to keep shelving it despite having 14 lectures to watch and summarise and the other 19 to completely relearn I'm sure you're doing fine at it :3

[Stick]

It seems like I've done an awful lot of accepting this semester without even understanding the information lol. Only now, having re-read all my lecture notes (finally), does everything make sense. XD

Time to hit the questions, I think.

[alondouek]

Preach
It doesn't help that I have four other exams before biochem and have to keep shelving it despite having 14 lectures to watch and summarise and the other 19 to completely relearn I'm sure you're doing fine at it :3

Haha I wish! I didn't go to any of the lectures because of clashes etc, so I've watched 6/31 hahahahahaha it's so boring

Plus our biochem exam is 5 essays in 3 hours, who comes up with this shit?

If anyone is going to be fine it'll be you

[Jono_CP]

Hard work > 'natural' intelligence every single day of the week. There are going to be kids in your class that give a piss-poor effort and still think they can walk out of year 12 with a 97 ATAR just because they're 'sharp' or 'witty'. That sort of attitude only gets you so far and a positive, hardworking one will take you places and stay with you for the rest of your life.

I have no idea how VCE works but as it stands you're on roughly 90 - 90 - 80 - 80. In WACE a 70% average over your top 4 subjects is basically what you need for a flat 90 ATAR, ~75% for a 95, etc. If maths isn't in your top 4 then surely it doesn't count towards your ATAR?

At some point in year 12 EVERYONE feels as though the world is against them and they'll end up with a 12 ATAR and be forever banned from universities. You can blame adversity all you like but again, that only gets you so far. If you accept that this is something you can't help then you'll be able to look past it a lot easier.

All during year 11 I probably studied 30 minutes every week. Not 30 minutes a night, 7 days a week (which is still absolutely nothing), but 30 minutes a night spread over the entire school week. The only time I studied more was for the 1 subject I enjoyed but I didn't consider that studying anyway.

Come year 12 I got my act together, for the first week. Then I went back to doing about 10-15 minutes a night for most of the school year. Obviously during exam periods (midyears + mocks) I would lift a bit and do some last minute cramming the night before but that doesn't really do anything. After our mock exams I had a predicted ATAR in the 80s, there is nothing wrong with this but I wanted more. I went from studying 5 minutes the night before exams to 7-8 hours a day in the local library, reviewing every syllabus topic, test, past exam, all the stuff I should've done from the beginning.

(I know some people on these forums might think 7 hours of studying is just standard, but the increase from 5 minutes to 5+ hours was a shitload for me)

You've got months to prepare still and you shouldn't give up now. Everyone else in your year will be feeling the same way as you are.

Before suggesting other universities that offer a Bachelor of Arts, do you know what major you want to do? People often say a BA is worth 'Bugger All' but this really depends on your major, your marks, and how well you can apply yourself in the job market. Pick your major before your degree, and your degree before your uni.

Now for other unis that offer a BA... Pretty much every single university in the world. This is why your intended major is more important than just wanting to do a BA.


Oh and please please please don't disregard what I've said because I'm just a lowly Environments student. The people who give BEnvs a hard time because of its lower ATAR clearly don't understand that entrance scores are based on demand, I doubt anybody would suggest an Art History degree from Melbourne is better than a Neuroscience one just because the BA has a higher ATAR requirement.

Thanks for the reply everyone, much appreciated.

I am not too sure what major I want to do to be honest... Exactly what is a major? I have subject areas which I am intensenly interested in which is covered in the Bachelor of Arts course such as: philosophy, journalist, politics, business etc... Am considering since I am doing maths, whether Arts/Business at Monash would be more valuable than say an Arts course at Melbourne? I have a few courses in mind but nothing too specific.