Hello everyone and welcome to my first official post! I'm the next mysterious new writer in first_year@UniMelb of 2015, along with the other 7 new bloggers. I hope this platform will help many and also myself as I get to share my experience as a first year uni student.
First things first, my name is Rochelle, I'm a March baby and a Bachelor of Science student. Currently, I'm taking up Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Criminology. So many science subjects, I know! Sadly, all three sciences are prerequisites for me and need I say that Physics is the bane of my existence?
In 2015, it will be my 2nd year living in Melbourne, and that brings me to my next point, where do I come from? I'm proudly Singaporean, a tiny red dot of a city located snugly under Malaysia. If you look at the world map, you can't even see the whole of Singapore in the map, imagine that! Being an international student, there are so many crazy different things happening in Melbourne compared to back at home. But of course, what studying abroad without a taste of cultural shock?
Like most international students I know, I stay close to the city. With that being said, it is definetely a struggle getting out of bed and also the tendency to be late since uni is just a stone throw away. Well, there's no best of both worlds eh?
Next, I would like to point out a couple of topics that interest me:
1. Wildlife.
There is just heaps of things to talk about here and so many more knowledge to be found. Need I say more?
2. Coffee.
I'm so grateful for choosing Melbourne, the city famous for coffee! My favourite cuppa is a flat white with 1 sugar. You can always catch me once a week at the House of Cards near the Engineering buildings on campus.
3. Dog breeds.
I'll let you in on a little secret, when I was younger, I used to copy down every dog breeds there is in the world by hand and their specs and compile all of them into this really big folder. Only thing now is that I somehow forgot where I left it back home and I think i lost it :( oh all my hard work!
Well, that's what you'll get from my getting to know you post, unless there is anything I’ve missed? If so, don't be shy to ask! It's been real nice talking about myself, and maybe if you are reading this, you could tell me one interesting fact about yourself! Till next time xx
Hello, I'm Kelly, and I'm another of the new first_year@unimelb bloggers. I'm so excited to have this platform to share my experiences of my first year at the University of Melbourne, and I hope that sharing them will help other prospective students and first year students - or at least provide a laugh!
So a bit about me:
I am studying the Bachelor of Arts, and my main interests (I'm loathe to say "major" at this early point in time) are politics and media and communications.
I am "mature aged". Without being specific, I finished high school over ten years ago. Apparently this isn't too noticeable though, according to the tutor the other day who gestured to the whole class saying "you're all 18 or 19 years old..." (to be honest, I didn't hear much after that, I was writing an excellent evaluation of this angel in my head).
I have three children, aged six, four and (almost) two, which basically means that coming to uni is a holiday for me. The hassle of getting everyone ready, lunches cut and out the door to school, kinder and daycare in the mornings is totally worth it for the peaceful train ride and drinking a coffee while it's still hot.
I may not be so optimistic about it once Winter sets in though!
I actually live in a regional city outside of Melbourne, which I love for its cheaper housing and general living costs, its community and wonderful schools, but it takes me around an hour and a half to get to uni by train which is pretty exhausting by the end of the week. I claim to use the train time to do the readings for my classes, but if I'm being honest, I actually just sleep. Then I do the reading when I'm supposed to be sleeping. It's a vicious cycle - I'm sure most students get it!
One other thing I'd like to mention about myself is that I suffer from anxiety and depression. I don't bring this up because it's the first thing I want people to know about me, or because I want sympathy, but because I know there are many other sufferers out there, and it can be a huge obstacle for those undertaking further study (or any other major life change). I have found the past four weeks to be quite challenging from the anxiety aspect, and I hope to be able to share any tips and tricks that help me along the way. At the very least, it's always helpful to know that you're not alone.
I'm looking forward to blogging throughout the year, and welcome any comments or questions. If you notice my posting becoming overly regular, it most likely means I have an assessment due and I'm procrastinating, so feel free to tell me to get back to work!
For those of you who have been wondering who will be blogging in 2015, well, alongside several others, me! Hi! My name's Kat.
Considering you will be hearing more about me and my time at Uni throughout this year, you obviously need to know a little about me to put things into context... So here is a very one-sided getting to know you session!
Besides being ear marked by school friends as the most likely to never marry, live with a dozen cats, and drink tea and eat scones forever more, there are a few things you should know!
In July, I will have lived in Australia 11 years. Prior to moving here, I was born and raised in Boston. Boston, England. It is a real place... In 2013, I graduated from an underrepresented private Christian College and took a gap year to work and travel. I worked as a trainee at a P-12 school for the entire year, organising and going on camps, taking classes, coaching sporting teams and getting involved in other activities as well! I then used up my savings to go to England, see Manchester United play, catch Les Miserables in West End and spend time in London!
I am a Bachelor of Arts kid and I'm studying Language, Creative Writing, German and Italian in Semester 1, hoping to major in CW and German, and do a DipLanguages in Italian. After my BA, I'm hoping to do the Masters of Teaching at UniMelb as well, so with six years of University ahead of me, I'm hoping to nut out all of the little secrets as soon as possible! (Also, if you're from Environments, Commerce, BioMed or any other faculties that do not have a represented blogger, have no fear! Languages are ridiculously popular as breadth and I'll give you all the relevant tips and tricks I hear from my bilingual buds!)
While I love language, I am also very interested in all other subjects (all the subjects!) and sport! This year I am playing Reserves Premier League football (soccer for all you Australians out there!) and hoping to get more involved with sport at Uni.
I am currently unemployed and living with my parents nearly two hours by public transport from Uni, meaning the 8am Creative Writing lecture is not my best friend! However, I am hoping to become employed and move out during Semester 2, so I guess you'll find out how I go with that!
And now some little nutty facts to keep you all entertained?
I really like microwaved cheesecake. Try it.
When I was a kid, I believed that people with their ears pierced were born that way. I still don't have mine pierced.
If I were to smell Amortentia, it would smell like new books, forests after a storm, citrus and burnt toast.
My pet peeves are people that snook their snot, or when I can hear someone eating.
Well, this has been cute... Hopefully I'll get to see you around the Parkville campus! Comment with your Amortentia scents, any questions and let me know if you tried microwaved cheesecake!
...Not that university is necessarily likened to The Hunger Games, of course. Starting university is exciting, albeit a little scary. But who better to impart some wisdom and knowledge than someone who is doing first year for the second time? (Yes, you read that correctly).
Fifth week is coming on strong, with the onset of mid-semester tests and assessments. I know how you feel. Trust me, I really do.
So to help calm the nerves, here are a few tips to ease your way into MST season:
- Go to your lectures. And your tutes. And your pracs (please please please go to your pracs). Most of what is mentioned in these classes are examinable- and besides, wouldn't absorbing new facts and working towards that H1 be so much more productive than going to the beanbag room at the Rowdy?
- Don't be afraid to stay back at lectures or seminars and ask questions! Lecturers are there for a reason- they want you to learn at least one thing, so you'll find that they're very eager to help you out. No time? Social awkwardness paralysing? Then no worries- shoot them an email! It might take longer for you to get an answer, but at least you don't waste time trying to Google it.
- Speaking of Google, it's a great resource. It really is. But maybe look towards your prescribed or recommended textbooks- they'll probably have more relevant information in there. Sometimes questions on the exams are even based off the practice questions in the book! (Pssst Biology students, take the hint). If you happen to be a science student like me, there will usually be additional resources that the lecturers themselves put up- I love love love ChemCAL.
- Done your MSTs and not happy with your results? No stress! MSTs count for very little in the scheme of things. They are really just implemented to help you gauge how much you're absorbing/understanding the content, so this is a good time to either pull up your socks big-time or keep up the great work! Make sure to make notes on where you went wrong so you can cover any blank spaces. (Oh man Taylor Swift, what are you doing to me?)
This may sound corny, but I really do want everyone to do well- especially at their first year of university. It's a tough learning curve but hey- I believe in you.
What’s the most important stuff I wished I knew in my first year?
When older uni students tell you not to procrastinate, you. don’t. procrastinate.
Seriously.
Apparently, they weren't kidding.
I mean, sure, cramming during SWOTVAC (like I did) will get you through your subject, probably with high marks even, but the harmful thing is that once you start doing second year subjects, you can’t afford to procrastinate. Not for a day. Really. I’m learning that the hard way, buried up to my elbows in stuff I have to know before tomorrow’s lectures otherwise nothing would make sense.
So I’m very much wishing I listened to the older students’ advice back when I could still breathe in week 2 of the semester.
So, moral of the story: Dear Jaffy, enjoy week 2 (and your much, much lighter workload)! But don’t forget to keep on top of your lectures and tutes, too!
See you guys on the other side (if I survive).
P.S. Yes, I know it’s a short blog post. Sorry. Longer one coming up soon, I hope.
And welcome in advance to the new cohort of First Year @Unimelb bloggers! I have no idea who you guys are, but still. Welcome!
Welcome all first year UniMelb students!!
We'd love you to contribute to the First_year@UniMelb Blog in 2015.
Do you like to write?
Do you want to help current & future students understand what uni is all about?
Do you want to be part of an online community, sharing advice (and getting advice) about how to settle into & succeed in first year?
To apply, submit a 100 word mini-blog here:
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills/undergrads/first_year_at_unimelb
Applications close Mon, 16 March 2015
Happy blogging!
Okay, so this isn't so much a blog post as a friendly reminder:
Dear Jaffy,
Don't forget to attend O-Week starting tomorrow! Or you will regret it. (insert evil laugh here - MWAHAHAHA).
Just kidding - if you really can't make it, don't stress! Yes, there's a lot of info being given out, but nothing that can't be learned through experience or reading through the university website (more boring than listening to someone rattle on, maybe, but hey). If you can make it though, GOOOOO! Seriously. It'll be worth it.
So, the what, the where and the when (may not be entirely complete, sorry):
TOMORROW
It's the biggest day of orientation. It includes the Host Programme (don't miss that!) where you can meet up with a couple of other JAFFY's plus a more experienced student who will show you the campus and show you the ropes. Attend that session, people! As a Host myself, I can personally testify that we put a lot of thought and heart into this. :D <3
If you can't find your host group, though, don't fret! Feel free to join any other Host (we'll be wearing purple UMSU shirts and some of us are gonna be in waaay outrageous costumes). Alternatively, head over to Union House and someone will get you in touch with a new Host shortly!
Tomorrow is also Carnival Day at South Lawn (that's the place with the Clock Tower and huge green spaces, dearest Jaffy). Why should you go there, you ask? Freebies, freebies and more freebies. Oh, did I mention freebies? Plus, there's a lot of stuff going on there that's gonna be tonnes of fun (and information about university services and UMSU, of course), including a surprise at 1PM. (Even I don't know what it is, so let's all just be excited for that!)
WEDNESDAY
Yo Science peeps! There's gonna be a BBQ from 12 -2 at Building 1888, courtesy of the Science Student Society. Be there. Yup. Free BBQ, people.
That's also your Academic Orientation day, and you really have to go to that one! It'll be full of important information about your course and other important stuff that's important, capiche?
You can also go attend the "What is UMSU?" session (it's only for 30 minutes but you'll get a lot of info on how to participate and make the most of uni). Plus, student society welcome lunches and another carnival (VCA carnival)! Weeee!
THURSDAY and FRIDAY
Clubs Day! Join a club, people. It'll be fun. There are over 99 different clubs available each day!
Thursday also has a cinema night showing Guardians of the Galaxy, and Friday is gonna be tres fun at Luna Park!
That's it. Have fun! :D And just be there.
Regards,
Mia
So today's the start of class registration for Semester 1 subjects, and most UniMelb peeps be like,
"OUT OF MY WAY! I NEED THE 2PM TUTE SLOT. AAAAAHHH!"
You know you have Class Registration Syndrome when:
1. You keep on refreshing the class registration page every 1 minute and waiting for classes to become available, and it's just 10AM. (Level 2 and above registration opens at 2PM).
2. You treat your computer in the library as though it was the most precious thing in the whole world. The whole, "I need to pee but I won't cause I don't wanna loose my computer" scenario.
3. You develop a nervous tic in response to the word "Unavailable".
4. You start having a mini panic attack while waiting for the system to finish loading after eleventeen hours and twenty minutes.
5. You think the "official logo of the University of Melbourne" is actually the button that says "loading". (That's one nice logo, btw :))
All else aside, have a happy class registration, everyone! Okay, so maybe not "happy", but relatively stress free, then? And no killing or maiming people, please. It just isn't worth it. :D
I realized I haven't posted anything this 2015, and January is almost over.
First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR peeps! Okay, a month late, but hey, it's still January, so that counts, right?
Anyway, it's the time of year again. VTAC results are out and Academic Advice Day has passed. To all those future UniMelb peeps (I just love saying "peeps" today for some reason), congratulations! You've made it to the best university in Australia. That's a fact, by the way, and not just my biased opinion.
I'm taking summer classes, so I'm a bit short on time (read: I really should be studying right now but I'm not) so I'll just keep this short and simple. To all UniMelb (and other university) newcomers, congratulations! Be excited. Uni is a wonderful place full of wonderful people and wonderful things to do, and I don't mean just for nights of drunken debauchery. No, really. It's a time to grow and find yourself, and learn how to survive in the almost-but-not-quite real world. Enjoy! :)
After five months of being away from home, grueling assessments and my (admittedly laughable though semi-successful) attempts to not procrastinate, I am finally HOME!
You know how the old adage goes. There is no place like home. And that's very true, I realize that now. Yes, my first semester in Melbourne was lovely overall (minus the exams but let's not talk about that), but still, home is where the heart is. It's indescribable, the joy I felt at seeing my family after days of just Skyping, and with poor internet connectivity at that. I used to hate how hot it was over here, but now, it just reminds me that I’m home. Everything does, actually. The smells, the sounds, even the smell of the fabric softener my mother uses – it’s how I would describe home.
So, yeah, as you can pretty much tell, I am very happy to be home. (How many times have I said the word "home" since this post started?!?) My friends who are reading this would probably be wondering why I haven’t mentioned my beloved little fur ball of fluffiness and joy – my little puppy. She was all I could talk about the week before I was due to fly back – how happy I am that I would be seeing her, petting her, playing with her and all around spoiling her again. But alas, my homecoming with her was not a happy one. At first, it seemed that all was as it had been. She saw me enter the front door (do you have any idea how good that feels after five months of not seeing said door?) and her tail started wagging like crazy. Then as I approached, she stood up on her hind legs and started reaching for me, barking like mad as she always did. That was that. I played with her, ran around the house with her (well, chased after her, was more like), and all that jazz.
Okay, before I delve much deeper into the story, let me just give you a Mia’s Puppy: 101. The first thing you have to know about her is that she is very spoiled. A princess. Yeah, yeah, that’s my fault, but hey, I’m a dog lover! So anyway, she developed this very bad habit of refusing to eat unless I hand-fed her, or dropped pieces of dog biscuit from her bowl directly in front of her face. Weird, I know. But I kinda find it endearing. And let’s not even talk about her magpie abilities! All I have to do is sit on the couch munching on a treat or the other, and the next thing I know, she’d jump up into my lap and steal my food! Seriously. I’m pathetic when it comes to the whole “disciplining your dog” thing, so I always let her get away with it. Unless she stole something like chocolate, in which case, I would obviously have to get it back from her. This is probably the only type of exercise I have ever done in any consistency whatsoever – chasing my dog all around the living room (and even under the furniture!) She’s still a very good dog, though, and would passively open her mouth to let me get that piece of dog-poison out without so much as twitching after I caught up to her. And I was always very proud of that, and my interpretation of it meaning that she trusted me enough to let me come near her food and even get it from inside her mouth!
I’ve probably repeated every single point twice throughout this post, but I have an excuse! I stayed up watching (and fangirling over) Les Mis on HBO well into the morning so my brain is kinda dead right now. Anyway, you can probably see where I am heading with this, and you would be right. A while ago, my precious little baby actually growled at me! Growled. Not once, but thrice! She has never, ever, done that before! Plus, I was just standing beside her as she ate! I shudder to think about what she would have done had I actually went anywhere near her mouth or touched her food like I used to do (with perfect immunity) before. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
So yes, I am very, very hurt right now. I try to listen to the inner scientist in me (ha! Scientist. Let’s just go with that) and pass it off as animal instinct, but it still hurts. So, moral of the story: if you’re going overseas, take your pet with you! No? Okay, then. In that case, nothing good can be gleaned from this. I’ll just go cry now. Or sleep. Or maybe fan-girl over more Les Mis to distract me from this. Who else actually pities Javert? Cause I do.
I’ll be fine, though. Just hope things start looking up in the morning.
Night, folks!
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