2nd year, 2nd last year
(**This might be my last post for the blog for as of today, I can already scoot over to ‘Back for Seconds’… but come to think of it, I did really look forward to making a post about tips for 1st year students so I might just save that for another post**)
I just realised recently that situation-permitting (I pass all my subjects, I don’t switch courses, I do at least 4 subjects per semester), this year would be my 2nd last year in Uni, just a year short of entering the ‘Real World’. Ok, I know that’s a fatalist way of looking at it but still, it’s quite strange to realise that something I have just started would be at an end too soon. This is the time when it is quite tempting to do something to delay the inevitable – go on exchange, shift to another course or even transfer to another Uni (yes, much as I love Melbourne Uni, I have half-entertained going to a Uni that is more design-inclined). Quite difficult to imagine that a few months ago (around December ’07), I was anxiously waiting for my ENTER score and hoping that it would not be anything below 85. Otherwise, I’ll die coz I can’t imagine going to any other Uni save for Melbourne. Quite petty thoughts really. It’s really amusing and funny how, after just finishing VCE, the ENTER score seems so important, even larger than life. And then even before the 1st semester in Uni draws to a close, poof! it becomes an unimportant number. At best, it can provide some bragging rights now and then; but not that often, as, judging from the Clearly-In ENTER for Melbourne Uni, most students are in the 80s and 90s range. If Wikipedia is to be believed, the Median ENTER for Melbourne Uni is about 94.5.
Having said that, it’s back to square one again once a student enters Uni. Depending on how you see it, it could be positive or negative. For one thing, it’s a chance to remake yourself. After all, no one will really know what you were like before; unless of course, you have close friends that go to the same course and/or Uni. But even if that’s the case, there is no guarantee that you’ll still hang out with the same crowd. Looking back now, I can safely say that I am not drastically different to who I was a year before. I am probably less studious and less organised – this might be the effect of coming straight out from the stress of VCE onto the more relaxed atmosphere offered by uni. Anyways, I vowed that for this year, I’ll try to get more involved in what Melbourne Uni has to offer and probably be more studious and organised along the way. For a start, I’m thinking of becoming a member of the Student Union (although I do wonder now if the $99/yr fee is worth it… any thoughts from current Student Union members?). And probably SALP (I have 5 days of uni for at least semester 1, among everything else… I should be really good at time management to do this). And a sport club if the practices don’t clash with my schedule (I’m quite dubious though on the merits of this, as I am not really competitive sports-wise). And of course, I’ll continue on with the choral society. And maybe even find a new hobby that does not involve books or computers. Ok then. Looks like I’m pretty set for this year.
Oh and before I say TTFN, congratulations to students who have gotten their offers already, especially to those who were brave enough to apply for Melbourne Uni’s new gen degrees. Start getting used to dreaming large (or at least, being encouraged to do so)! I do wonder if by chance, there’s someone out there reading this blog who has received an offer for the Bachelor of Environments?
And to those who haven’t gotten offers, well, there’s more than one path to whatever it is that you wanto do. You just have to go find it. 😉
Definitely go for SALP, it’s worth it 🙂 However I think they’re changing the program to begin mid year (and then runs through to the end of the following year) but I haven’t heard from the co-ordinator.
I probably have mentioned this already, but I really wanted to go to Monash Uni (Clayton) because the campus was only 10 minutes drive from my place! Damn them audition examiners for failing me!
Joining the SU is so-so depending on the services you use and to what extent. There’s the computer lab on 4th floor which usually always has at least a spare Mac for use, the Rowden White library on 2nd floor where you’re not allowed to study (=P), as well as entitlements and such. Try it out for a year, and see how you go 🙂
Okay I’m just copy-pasting this from a comment on the “Back for Seconds” blog (shame on me!), but I think it basically sums it up =P
SALP
Do it if:
– you didn’t volunteer much before and you want an intro to it
– you’ve never tried leadership stuff before and want a chance to try it
– you want to meet new people who don’t do your course
– you want to be in the loop re volunteer opportunities
– you want to do ’something’ but don’t know what
Don’t do it if:
– you already extensively volunteer
– you already know a lot about leadership or do a leadership program (SALP is very focused on getting the basics right)
– you don’t like paperwork
– you have one dream project already and want somewhere to launch it (much more efficient to get your own group because your SALP group may not want to do your dream project _and_ a lot of the first half is about exploring ideas etc.)
Things that might be a consideration:
– time commitments (it’s very flexible and usually not a big time commitment at all but if your group members want to put in more time [mine didn’t] it can be substantial work)
– how cynical/idealistic you are (SALP sometimes lays it on a bit thick with the motivational speeches)
– how much structure you need/can tolerate (the pace your project moves at is very dependent on your group members, what seminars go on, paperwork deadlines)
– whether you can get the same experience with another program or doing independent work
I’m a member of the student union because I support the idea of it. But in reality, it’s not fantastic value for money. I used the computer lab heaps, but that’s about it. The bands on Tuesday are always good, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten my free sausage because the lines are so big.
really? I loved being a member.. computer labs, rowdy, free ‘art labs’ and the vouchers (free subway). As for the sausages… its all about knowing the people who are cooking 😉
I didn’t find the Union to be worth the price either, because I was at college (and didn’t need a member’s lounge, the Rowden White Library [you could borrow TV shows from a neighbour], or a discount at Coles), but I join (and persuade others to join) out of principle and a desire to keep my club afloat.
However, $99 is pretty good compared to what it used to cost. I recouped about $80 dollars of my $180 investment last year, if that gives you an idea of what it’s worth.
I’m keeping my membership with the SU because a friend of mine is one of the Welfare Officers this year so it’s a ‘just in case’ in case I might do some volunteer work within the University.
Plus, sometimes I forget to bring my laptop to Uni and it can get a little annoying trotting all the way to the Con basement just to hop on a Mac. Whilst I agree it’s not overly worth the value, I like to think of it as a safety net for the minor things =P
Thanks for all the input people! Originally I was seriously considering joining the SU – because of Arts Lab and the Rowden White library. Joining the SALP was a distant possibility (coz I’m not really all that confident of my time-management skills, and I’m already able to do volunteering inside and outside of Uni anyways). After checking out the Arts Lab page of the SU, I sorta changed my mind as the sessions (those few that coincide with my breaks anyway) are actually not free – I thought that by paying the membership fee, I’ll basically have free pass + materials to the workshops. Apparently not. And the most interesting workshops are on the one day of the week that I’m in Burnley rather than in Parkville. So now I’m seriously considering SALP – the only holdup that I could see for now is the overnight weekend thing. Since I have 5 days of Uni, I now work during weekends. And if I don’t work, I basically have to fall back on my savings as I get $0 allowance from my parents and the gov’t. And being somewhat of a cheapskate, I really don’t like to do that. Are those overnight sessions done during Friday, Saturday or Sunday?