UoM General Chat

[Redoxify]

Do we need to buy the prescribed book
for example in fundamental physics
the book is Physics Volume 1,
but going through an reviews, everyone says college physics: a strategic approach is a must
idk

[tashhhaaa]

Sometime the lecturers tell you during the first week on which textbook is best...but by the time you'll be dying while waiting in the queue for Co-op haha
I suggest buy them now by looking on the handbook or asking other people

thanks

do the libraries have a lot of copies?

[Mieow]

General rule of thumb: You generally don't need to buy textbooks for first year subjects even if they're prescribed, lecture notes are normally sufficient and if you really need them then you can get them from the library.
Give your subjects a week or so to see how well the lecture notes are and if must be then you can go buy them...or you can find a friend who 'has a pdf copy' and can 'share it with you' if you know what I mean

[Stevensmay]

thanks

do the libraries have a lot of copies?

Generally if the text is prescribed then there will be a few copies. They will have quite limited borrowing periods though, so don't expect to be able to borrow one for the entire semester, much less during exams. Most books will either be 2 hour loan or overnight loan.

[Rod]

I would recommend people to see how they go in the first couple of weeks without the textbook - and then see whether the lecture notes are enough for them or they need extra material.

It's different for different people, I knew some people that extensively used the textbook, and some that didn't at all. It's all up to you. For me, for example, I didn't use the chemistry textbook at all for semester 1. But for semester 2, I started using it extensively, especially for topics like quantum mechanics where the lecturer had absolutely no clue about what he was teaching.

[Whynot123]

I would recommend people to see how they go in the first couple of weeks without the textbook - and then see whether the lecture notes are enough for them or they need extra material.

It's different for different people, I knew some people that extensively used the textbook, and some that didn't at all. It's all up to you. For me, for example, I didn't use the chemistry textbook at all for semester 1. But for semester 2, I started using it extensively, especially for topics like quantum mechanics where the lecturer had absolutely no clue about what he was teaching.

Can Confirm/10

[tashhhaaa]

thanks for your help everyone

[dankfrank420]

When are semester 2 subject enrolments due by?

Also can someone give me some easy commerce breadths?

[uoiea]

Anyone know if BCMB tutorials are compulsory? They're held in lecture theatres with lots of students apparently, so I assume not, but I want to make sure

PBL is a very easy subject with no real attendance requirement. Workshops are optional, and even if you skip lectures the slides / textbook are enough (though lectures aren't recorded). The content is very easy and is mostly just common sense. If you're doing commerce, according to the website it's also a requirement for an accounting accreditation.

Glee singing is also a breadth I have heard is easy, but it's not taken on campus.

Most enrolments are due by 13 March.

[spectroscopy]

When are semester 2 subject enrolments due by?

just put any subjects in there for now and you can change them around up until the census date. i myself switched in and out of about 3 different subjects before week 3 of sem 1 last year so its really flexible

also for easy commerce breadth - if you mean easy breadth subjects that are non commerce, languages are usually really really easy at level 1 and if you do the work it is guaranteed marks + a useful skill (kinda the opposite of high school ) also principles of business law is a common one. id look mainly at law/artsy/breadth ones adn stray away fro science ones or even sciency breadth. there are alot of breadth subjects that all the science kids say are really easy but thats just because the science kids have already learnt the science content in their courses whereas arts and comm kids find them hard.
if you just want easy ones though, generally music subjects, languages and law subjects are the way to go

[Stevensmay]

When are semester 2 subject enrolments due by?

Also can someone give me some easy commerce breadths?

Just to provide clarification on the last two posts. Semester 2 enrollments need to be done by the 5th of August. The census date is a bit later (31st of August) but realistically you should not be changing subjects by this point, as you will have missed a decent portion of the course.

[Sheldon]

thanks

do the libraries have a lot of copies?

I find that generally the library will stock a few copies of prescribed textbooks, but usually, the current edition of the required text is restricted to two-hour or overnight loans. You can probably get away with borrowing an older edition, which is usually pretty much the same and often available as an 1-week loan, which can be renewed multiple times (up to 10 I think).

PROTIP: Get a CAVAL card (just ask at the desk at any unimelb library), which will allow you to borrow books from any university (including Monash and Deakin, for example). Often the textbook which is prescribed at Unimelb is available at another uni, but is not a prescribed text there. So, they will often be in short supply due to low demand, but also allow longer borrowing periods for a current edition text (not restricted to overnight), for the same reason.

Furthermore, if you borrow at Monash Uni, your books will be automatically renewed, until you are not allowed to keep renewing (10 times is the max), which means you effectively have an 11-week loan and you don't have to worry about constantly renewing your books every week.  This is much better than at Unimelb, where forgetting to renew your books on time even once means you have to return your books (you can't renew it again) and face a fine.

[chekside]

On the calendar, it shows exams finishing June 24, and then the 'Vacation Week' beginning 4 July, what happens in between those?

[dankfrank420]

Thanks guys

Oh and what's the difference between an 'elective' and a 'breadth'?

[Stick]

On the calendar, it shows exams finishing June 24, and then the 'Vacation Week' beginning 4 July, what happens in between those?

As an undergraduate student this is also a holiday period for you.

Thanks guys

Oh and what's the difference between an 'elective' and a 'breadth'?

Electives are free subject choices in the area related to your degree (i.e. Commerce) whereas a breadth subject must be from another faculty.