How university works

[keltingmeith]

Okay yup. Just another question.

In University how does it work.
So is it you go to a lecture, then you go to a tutorial? Which is like class discussions? And then you study for exams or tests?

Is there like a study design for units you chose so that you know you can cover the whole test?

I'm going to work off the assumption you'll be at Monash because of your sig, hahah. Each uni works differently. Also, each faculty works differently, so I can't comment too much on the tutes and such, but I'll give a bit of what I think they're like based on conversations with friends.

Basically, each week you go to lectures, after the first week you then attend tutorials based on the work you did in the week before (not all units have tutes, though. Not all units have lectures, although I think nearly all arts units do). In this tutorial, you examine the lecture content in different lights so that you can answer any questions that might have been set for that tute (for example, "how did xx affect yy during the zz"). This gives you the practice you need to write essays, reports, etc. which are your "internal" assessment. Then, at the end of the semester, you might have an exam. Arts units are notorious for having no exam (and one reason why people have the mistaken idea that they're easier), however a few of them have "end of semester tests" which are basically exams.

The difference between uni and high school is one puts an emphasis on tests and exams, the other places emphasis on learning. (*pew pew*) At uni, you don't just do tests and exams (although some degrees do quite a few of them), but a lot of what you do at uni will be writing tasks, presentations, etc.


As for "study designs", you need to go to the university handbook (google "Monash handbook") and look through that. They're nowhere near as informative as the unit guide, however, but you can't access that until you get to uni. The uni will go through all of this in detail during your orientation sessions, though, so don't stress too much about this now.

[pi]

Bump! Changed the format of the main post a little to hopefully make it a bit more user-friendly, and also added a few q&a's based on recent discussion. Let me know what you think and keep those questions coming!

[Mc47]

What happens during orientation week exactly?

And your picture of freebies from O-week isn't showing up for me 

[Peanut Butter]

Love the new format!

[pi]

What happens during orientation week exactly?

And your picture of freebies from O-week isn't showing up for me 

Ah yes, some images are down, I'll try and get them back up! And I'll add more info about O-week Done

Love the new format!

Thanks!


If anyone in uni at the moment wishes to contribute something they wish they knew before starting, that'd be awesome too!

[Orb]

There's this UoM Science Society O-camp going on, i've heard mixed reviews about it:

Is it true that the majority of kids going there are going with the intention of getting laid/getting smashed? :/

[keltingmeith]

There's this UoM Science Society O-camp going on, i've heard mixed reviews about it:

Is it true that the majority of kids going there are going with the intention of getting laid/getting smashed? :/

Yes.

You get quite a few who aren't expecting it and it happens to, and then a couple of people who don't want to partake but enjoy laughing about others doing it, and then even less who did not expect it all and refuse to partake.

If this isn't your scene, don't worry - making friends in tutes/labs is a lot easier than you might think (particularly when you have to partner with people!), and a lot of smaller society camps aren't as full on as the main societies camps are.

[pi]

Briefly covered that stuff in the question "I don't think I'll know anyone coming into uni, how can I socialise and meet new people? What parties and camps are there?", still trying to find a way to make it more user-friendly and easy to navigate :/

But yeah, camps are basically alcohol, nudity and good times. Having said that, that's just what happens and not what is expected or forced upon you. If you want to chill with a few new mates and play cards over a bottle of Fanta, that's completely fine too. There will be people going completely rowdy and there will be those who are just not into it. As above, most people find it easy to make friends without going to camps anyway (and most people don't go to camps!).

[spectroscopy]

Is it true that the majority of kids going there are going with the intention of getting laid/getting smashed? :/

ay i literally went to this, it was AWESOME and you should go. i personally didnt want to drink or anything so i was in the u 18s group for activities where we had water in a goon sack so we could still play all the games. it was absolutely awesome and they had rave caves and stuff and it was where i made alot of friends. id say like 20% of people dont get too rekt on any of the nights, and most just have 1 night where they go hard and chill on the others. its still rly fun though and you should go

[Orb]

alright thanks guys :3

Glad i asked before ^_^

[slothpomba]

What happens during orientation week exactly?

Basically it's just a week of stalls on the lawn and various tours. It's a big lawn so theres a lot of them. It's mostly stalls of the clubs and sports clubs. Stuff like amensty international society, catholics on campus, boardgames society, kendo club, wushu club, etc. I deliberately chose diverse clubs to give you an idea of the spread.

It's probably only worth going one day to be honest. Now that i'm older i may but jaded but it just isn't that great. Get your fill in one day and you should be good. It's not amazing but its generally worth having a poke around.

Also the university itself (not student clubs generally) organise things like tours of the library, etc (which you generally don't really need but can go if you want).

Is it true that the majority of kids going there are going with the intention of getting laid/getting smashed? :/

Haven't been myself so i guess that automatically rules me out but there is a lot of that around i hear.

[cosine]

I have heard from various people that making friends in University is extremely hard because you hardly see the people, due to high numbers of people on campus. Is this true? Is it possible to go through University with no friends at all?

Also this may be a lame question, but how does one make friends at Uni?

Thank you

[heids]

Also this may be a lame question, but how does one make friends at Uni?

Under 'Social life' the top question is basically this.

Apart from camps and clubs and getting more deeply involved in social life, I guess you just... like... shock horror... talk to people.  Walk up to people you've seen a bit or people near you in lectures, say hi and introduce yourself, and chat for a bit (you know, the weather, the current state of the economy, the cute girl in the corner, and so on ).  Then like say hi next time you meet them, and so on.  ... and try and remember their names LOL.

(at least that's what I'm planning on doing)

[strawberries]

Adding on to that question...is there always that one person or a few people who just don't seem to make friends?
I feel that's gonna be me haha

Also, this is probably a stupid question...but do people judge you based on the course you're doing?

Lastly, how hard is uni compared to VCE? Personally, I didn't find VCE that hard but I'm scared because I hear all these uni kids who seem all stressed out. And how hard is it to get HDs? Especially if you got a low ATAR...

[SlothPlays]

Adding on to that question...is there always that one person or a few people who just don't seem to make friends?
I feel that's gonna be me haha

Also, this is probably a stupid question...but do people judge you based on the course you're doing?

Lastly, how hard is uni compared to VCE? Personally, I didn't find VCE that hard but I'm scared because I hear all these uni kids who seem all stressed out. And how hard is it to get HDs? Especially if you got a low ATAR...

Its a fresh start. You got a low ATAR you move on. I got one that im not pleased about but it got me into my course.

In VCE its about rankings and being better than your competition. To get HDs you just need to work hard. You get what you put in.