Some additional questions (For current Melb Students) :)

[Plan-B]

Hi guys,
I'm a year 12 student who has placed Melbourne as my first preference. However, the problem or issue is that I live relatively far away from Melbourne (approx an hour and a half to get there). I really like the University but fear that with future commitments to part-time work and desires to continue extra-curricular sport, the onset of travel could see that I have very little free time.

My question is for current students:
- How often are you required on campus on average each week? E.g. How many lectures for Bachelor of Science would I have to attend weekly to meet all requirements, etc..

I don't really want next year to become another year 12. :s
Sorry, I'm a little clueless about what to expect next year.
A little help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[stonecold]

You are looking at absolute minimum 3 days a week.  Lectures for science subjects are usually held on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

Then you would have to try and squeeze in all your pracs/tutes into these days as well. 

Also, you would have to choose a breadth subject with lectures that are easy to lectopia from home if they are on a Tues/Thurs, and put your tute for it on a M/W/F.

You will need the stars to align perfectly for it to work so I wouldn't count on it.

4 days a week is probably more reasonable, unless you are willing to miss a lot of lectures and just listen to them at home...

P.S.  Year 12 has nothing on uni...it unfortunately gets worse :p

[lexitu]

You don't have to attend any lectures to meet requirements but it's probably beneficial that you attend most, unless you don't find that environment helpful and are motivated to learn via 'lectopia' podcasts (sometimes information is missing on slides and podcasts due to copyright reasons, though, so it's kind of restricted. Science is pretty demanding so you'll probably have schedule classes on all days. The only compulsory things are pracs (and tutes sort of) really, so I suppose you could only have to attend maybe three days a week (if you get onto your timetable early).

Think public transport is a great opportunity to study though, I travel about an hour too but I get heaps of stuff done on the tram Make sure you keep that extra-curricular sport though!

[Plan-B]

Thanks for quick replies guys

P.S.  Year 12 has nothing on uni...it unfortunately gets worse :p

So I have about 30 hours of year 12 schooling per week. So I can assume that on campus time is about the same then, or worse? :s

Make sure you keep that extra-curricular sport though!

Defs! One of two things keeping me from burning out this year

Thanks again guys, really appreciate it.

[mark_alec]

For first year science it is very likely you will have ~24 contact hours a week and things will be scheduled everyday. While you *can* miss lectures and catch up on them, it is best if you attend.

[berryy]

P.S.  Year 12 has nothing on uni...it unfortunately gets worse :p

So I have about 30 hours of year 12 schooling per week. So I can assume that on campus time is about the same then, or worse? :s

the amount of hours you have dose not determine how hard or "worse" uni is. It also depends on how you adapt with uni... i know many friends who did really well in yr12 but are scrapping through with a pass. Also, science subjects (for first year anyways) tends to be easier than eng subs. You can pass something like psych or physics by relying on your pracs whereas with eng, you need to pass the exam.

if you dont want to miss lectures, you could manage to take a day (or 2 if your lucky) off if you cram your pracs

[mikee65]

You are looking at absolute minimum 3 days a week.  Lectures for science subjects are usually held on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

Then you would have to try and squeeze in all your pracs/tutes into these days as well. 

Also, you would have to choose a breadth subject with lectures that are easy to lectopia from home if they are on a Tues/Thurs, and put your tute for it on a M/W/F.

You will need the stars to align perfectly for it to work so I wouldn't count on it.

4 days a week is probably more reasonable, unless you are willing to miss a lot of lectures and just listen to them at home...

P.S.  Year 12 has nothing on uni...it unfortunately gets worse :p

Pfff:P, your opinion might be skewed considering you do biomed, but WRT science, at least IMO its easier, so if you dont care about labels I wouldn't say worse, may not be better but not worse

Also, if your taking 4 first year core subjects, I wouldnt expect days off, maybe one, unless you want to be listening to lectures all day with pracs and tutes in the mix, at the end of the day you might absorb 5% of the material

[Russ]

If you live a long way from uni and only want to come in for tutes (and pracs if your subjects have them) you can get your lectures online and not be terribly disadvantaged. Some subjects you have to turn up for lectures (calculus) but I catch lectures online all the time and it's not a big deal. Attending is preferable but if it's not going to happen then you can make up for it fairly easily. You certainly won't only absorb 5% of the material if you listen online, that's way too extreme an estimate.

[simpak]

I know an hour and a half might seem like a 'fair way' since we tend to go to high school closer to home, but from someone who does live an hour and a half away from UoM it's really not that bad.  You can always use that hour and a half to do more work (eg readings).

But yeah, life gets worse after high school.  It's a general trend, treasure your youth.