Study Advice

[radiojake]

why are there people trying to talk nbaman out of studying? seriously, just because you don't care about it and are happy with low grades doesn't mean you need to give nbaman reasons to stop studying.

I don't think anyone is trying to talk him out of studying.. just don't stress about it

I think simply the fact that he has stated that he wants to do well and is looking for advice suggests that he is more than on the right track already - There is no mystery 'right way' to study, and motivation is THE BIGGEST factor in how well someone goes with their study -

If the OP is motivated (as it's implied by the fact he is asking about study tips and wants to do well) then he has most of his problems already sorted -

 

[treefingers]

The best piece of advice I ever got was "Don't memorise.... understand".

Spot on... this is why uni is SO much better than year 12. They actually teach you things, they don't get you to memorise stupid bullshit definitions, or just learn how to do maths problems without actually understanding them.

 

[radiojake]

Spot on... this is why uni is SO much better than year 12. They actually teach you things, they don't get you to memorise stupid bullshit definitions, or just learn how to do maths problems without actually understanding them.

Uni is supposed to encourage independant learning -

It's a pity that cutting budgets to the Humanities and Social Science departments is in vogue of late - La Trobe Uni just got reamed...

The latest I heard, was the almagamation of the Politics, Legal Studies, Philosophy and Gender Studies departments all rolled into one -

Main reasons behind cuts that I can think of: Firstly, a growing sense of market fundamentalism/economic rationalism that considers the University as a place of 'business' rather than 'study' - We are no longer 'students' but 'consumers' -

Also, International students is where all the money is at for universities, and international students are not coming all the way to Australia to do an Arts course - All funding is going to science/law/economics etc -

[/end little rant]

 

[bunsen burner]

Not sure if srs or complete nerd.

The first one. Miles away from being a nerd, but if someone wants to know how to know how to nail exams I'm happy to share with how I nailed mine.

 

[bunsen burner]

The best advice will come from your teachers.

Not sure if srs.

All you'll get is "you must apply yourself"

I didn't work out what that meant until I was 35.

 

[woopedazz]

Assuming that you study during Year 12, which is exactly the opposite of what I did then. I should have realised then what I was setting myself up for, anyway doing quite well at Uni now, actually understanding the coursework (helps when you pay attention).

I clocked up 15-20 hours of assignment writing and 2 days of exam cramming during year 12. No homework at all. To be completely honest it set me up for a fall when I went in to Uni thinking it would be easy, so perhaps my advice of take it easy is poor on reflection.

 

[bunsen burner]

I never stressed during exam periods because I thought to myself, a bit of ink on paper does not define your intelligence or your worth.

A person can get a 99.95, then walk out and get hit by a bus. Scores mean so little in the scheme of things, and even poor scores just means perhaps an extra year at Uni or even at TAFE, in order to get into Uni. It's nowhere near as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

This is to dumb people as "Money isn't everything" to trailer trash.

Whilst it's not everything, you may as well go for the good marks first time (i.e. school) if you desire to have a professional career. And I'll think if you check, the average IQ of people who go to unit is a lot higher than those that don't.

 

[Juddy88]

The first one. Miles away from being a nerd, but if someone wants to know how to know how to nail exams I'm happy to share with how I nailed mine.

Cram?

 

[bunsen burner]

Spot on... this is why uni is SO much better than year 12. They actually teach you things, they don't get you to memorise stupid bullshit definitions, or just learn how to do maths problems without actually understanding them.

I'd say closer to the opposite.

There are no "teachers" at uni. Most don't have teaching degrees and most aren't there to teach people. They're academics and they're there for a number of reasons:

1. To study themselves. Many are doing Phd's, masters, or research etc
2. They can't handle industry life
3. They want a cushy job with tenure
4. They can't get a job in industry

I don't recall coming across many lecturer's who primary purpose was to teach people things. The lecturer/teaching part was just something that came with what they were doing.

I was pretty underwhelmed by the standard at uni.

 

[bunsen burner]

Cram?

Not necessarily. Say you do 4 "real subjects". Some you find easy, some hard, some you're right on top of it all semester, some you fall a bit behind.

Regardless, define your syllabus at the end and learn the whole lot. Some areas might need more focus (ie cramming) than others.

 

[bunsen burner]

International students

All seem to have black belts at cheating

 

[radiojake]

All seem to have black belts at cheating

Haha.. ok?

My biggest interaction with International Students is when I make use of the extended library times and I am here past midnight... I am normally one of the only Anglos around - Like I said, they don't tend to do Arts courses so there are very few, if any, in my classes...

How do they all cheat?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

All seem to have black belts at cheating

... and love group assignments. Their time to relax and play the 'poor me' card.

 

[Bluelegs]

Not sure if srs.

All you'll get is "you must apply yourself"

I didn't work out what that meant until I was 35.

You probably weren't being specific enough. You just need to ask what kind of things can I do to revise what should I be going over etc.

 

[treefingers]

I'd say closer to the opposite.

There are no "teachers" at uni. Most don't have teaching degrees and most aren't there to teach people. They're academics and they're there for a number of reasons:

1. To study themselves. Many are doing Phd's, masters, or research etc
2. They can't handle industry life
3. They want a cushy job with tenure
4. They can't get a job in industry

I don't recall coming across many lecturer's who primary purpose was to teach people things. The lecturer/teaching part was just something that came with what they were doing.

I was pretty underwhelmed by the standard at uni.

What were you studying out of interest?

I'm doing eco/maths...my lecturers seem to genuinely love what they're teaching.

I definitely think that VCE is centred more on rote learning and regurgitating shit compared to uni. BTW, I completely agree with that list you made, pretty much what got me a decent ATAR

 

[checkraiseulite]

The best piece of advice I ever got was "Don't memorise.... understand".

Horses for courses. My advice would be to do the exact opposite of this for year 12 subjects, which mostly rely on memory and recognition skills. Understanding and analysis will become more important in later study.

It's a waste of time to truly understand something when all that matters is to know it. Often times you will just end up confusing yourself more and wasting time.

My advice is to become self-aware. Know what you're good at and how you best learn things. Then select the optimal subjects for year 12. Get into a routine as early as possible, and try and stick to it at all costs, especially if you're lazy. Don't surround yourself with people who will bring you down. Being stupid, contrary to popular belief at your age, is not cool.

Accelerate at least one subject and make sure you do extremely well in it.

 

[checkraiseulite]

What were you studying out of interest?

I'm doing eco/maths...my lecturers seem to genuinely love what they're teaching.

I definitely think that VCE is centred more on rote learning and regurgitating shit compared to uni. BTW, I completely agree with that list you made, pretty much what got me a decent ATAR

I've just finished a finance degree. With a couple of exceptions, my lecturers seemed like pretty smart dudes in their field, they just couldn't speak english, teach or communicate with students for shit.

 

[bunsen burner]

How do they all cheat?

Do a poll and see what uni students' perception of international students is. I don't think it is unfounded either. Stuck out like dogs balls to me. Also orientals, Asian or Australia - lots of cheating going on.

I'd say with the Chinese it's parental pressure to achieve.

But don't mind my observations, ask around.

 

[bunsen burner]

You probably weren't being specific enough. You just need to ask what kind of things can I do to revise what should I be going over etc.

Why ask such a question - it's pretty obvious the answer is "the syllabus".

 

[bunsen burner]

What were you studying out of interest?

I'm doing eco/maths...my lecturers seem to genuinely love what they're teaching.

I definitely think that VCE is centred more on rote learning and regurgitating shit compared to uni. BTW, I completely agree with that list you made, pretty much what got me a decent ATAR

IT - was full of people I pointed out.

Maths - did 3 maths units, 1 a good teacher who wanted to teach, another was lecturing whilst doing a PhD, and the other - dunno what hi story was but would have got bullied at work

Econs - did 2 units because it's piss easy. One guy was doing a Phd and writing a book "the Australian economy and real estate market is about to crash". Wonder how that worked for him? The other was a life academic with tenure. Cushy job.

 

[Gough]

Spot on... this is why uni is SO much better than year 12. They actually teach you things, they don't get you to memorise stupid bullshit definitions, or just learn how to do maths problems without actually understanding them.

God bless the system for that.

 

[bunsen burner]

Can't say I've ever used calculus in my life. Or trigonometry. Don't even think I've used algebra. If you find for whatever reason you're struggling, just learn step by step how to solve each problem (limits, differentials, integration etc), get a pass, and never ever have to think about that shit ever again.

I don't even think I know anyone who uses that stuff in industry.

 

[Cruyff14]

I was never any good at maths in high school, but the most pointless thing I ever came across was surds.

 

[Black Diamond]

I was never any good at maths in high school, but the most pointless thing I ever came across was surds.

Surds is glorified factorising. It enables you to be super duper clever if you go on with physics or advanced maths in year 11 and 12, But even then the teacher won't give a rats if you write the root of 2 as 1.414.

 

[Cruyff14]

Surds is glorified factorising. It enables you to be super duper clever if you go on with physics or advanced maths in year 11 and 12, But even then the teacher won't give a rats if you write the root of 2 as 1.414.

I only remember doing it in year 9 I think. Gave me absolute Hell. Did not understand it at all, and I have forgotten all about how it work.