General Questions

[lozil]

I was just wondering everyone's thoughts on taking a gap year after HSC?

[jamonwindeyer]

I was just wondering everyone's thoughts on taking a gap year after HSC?

I think it's a great idea! Particularly if you aren't totally sold on any specific course at uni

In general though; I think it is awesome if it suits your needs. Take a break from study, earn some cash working, travel, for many people I think it works really well!

Of course there are drawbacks: Longer to get a degree (if that's your plan), perhaps breaking the academic routine would make it tougher to go back to study, etc etc

Just some thoughts, I considered taking a gap year (I got offered to go live and work in Canada for 6 months), but in the end I decided to just go straight to uni

[conic curve]

I think it's a great idea! Particularly if you aren't totally sold on any specific course at uni

In general though; I think it is awesome if it suits your needs. Take a break from study, earn some cash working, travel, for many people I think it works really well!

Of course there are drawbacks: Longer to get a degree (if that's your plan), perhaps breaking the academic routine would make it tougher to go back to study, etc etc

Just some thoughts, I considered taking a gap year (I got offered to go live and work in Canada for 6 months), but in the end I decided to just go straight to uni

For some reason (I don't know why) but I feel that gap years are a "waste of time"

Anyways does anyone agree/disagree with me?

[RuiAce]

For some reason (I don't know why) but I feel that gap years are a "waste of time"

Anyways does anyone agree/disagree with me?

They are just fine. Life isn't just about doing shit, it's also about fun

Just not my cup of coffee either.

[conic curve]

They are just fine. Life isn't just about doing shit, it's also about fun

Just not my cup of coffee either.

But isn't it hard to get back on track when it comes to learning

Also how often do people change uni courses?

[RuiAce]

But isn't it hard to get back on track when it comes to learning

Also how often do people change uni courses?

Only if you make it hard


What do you mean by change uni "courses"

[conic curve]

Only if you make it hard


What do you mean by change uni "courses"

Go from one degree to another

[Work!!]

Go from one degree to another

It's pretty simple but you definitely need to work hard and get a good 1st year W.A.M

[conic curve]

One thing I never understood but why is "maths" considered a "science" disciple?

I thought they were 2 different things because schools usually have their own maths and science faculty rather than 1 faculty with lots of teachers

I find it quite weird

[elysepopplewell]

It's pretty simple but you definitely need to work hard and get a good 1st year W.A.M

True! Although occasionally you have to go through UAC again, and they can completely disregard your W.A.M/GPA from your initial course, particularly if you are changing disciplines entirely. I have a friend who is moving from Communications to Education and now that he knows he has to go through UAC, and his GPA won't be considered, you can bet his current Communication marks aren't going too well 

[jakesilove]

One thing I never understood but why is "maths" considered a "science" disciple?

I thought they were 2 different things because schools usually have their own maths and science faculty rather than 1 faculty with lots of teachers

I find it quite weird

It just is. Universities structure it however they want to. If you find that uncomfortable, go to a uni that has separate Maths and Science departments.

[RuiAce]

One thing I never understood but why is "maths" considered a "science" disciple?

I thought they were 2 different things because schools usually have their own maths and science faculty rather than 1 faculty with lots of teachers

I find it quite weird

Maths IS a science. It's the study of phenomena such as quantity and change.

Maths was never its own thing. It is only split in school due to the fact there's much more to teach and it requires more specialisation. Also the ways of thought in maths are a bit more unique in comparison to the rest.

[jamonwindeyer]

Go from one degree to another

I'll just add that I know a heap of people that have changed majors, changed degrees, even changed unis! You are going into a course essentially blind to what it will actually be like, so it's reasonably common to change after one or two years, even if that change is within the same disciplinary school

[conic curve]

Just curious but is it possible to self learn most of the uni content before you go to uni in the first semester first year?

[jamonwindeyer]

Just curious but is it possible to self learn most of the uni content before you go to uni in the first semester first year?

I think that would depend on the subject! If you could get your hands on online lectures for the subject (UNSW does these), and perhaps the prescribed textbook, then I think you could! You'd just have to be wary of learning things you don't need to, subjects can change slightly year to year in precisely how much/what gets taught and assessed