Work & Education The School/Uni Thread

[SM]

Ouch. Surprised I got 78 in my Eco exam considering I walked out at the first opportunity after rushing through the thing, saw Bobby afterwards who was trying to be positive about my chances but I basically told him I knew Eco wouldn't count for me. And it didn't.

 

[J_Moore]

The site says... to take my TFN, is that for HECS?

Yes

Also, I'm getting wayyy confused with units of study, credits, etc. would anyone be able to help me out? I THINK I've picked my subjects - a major in Commerce, and a major in Arts with a random subject thrown in for Arts, but I'd rather not rock up on the day and find out I have to pick another couple of subjects on the spot.

You'll need to pick a full year's worth of subjects. That's usually 48 credit points if you're studying full time (24 a semester).

Most subjects in the commerce and arts faculties are worth 6 credit points. So the usual study load for a fulltime student is 4 subjects a semester.

So probably good to have 8 first year subjects picked.

Don't worry, though - you're able to change your first semester subject choices up until around the 3rd week of semester. And you can change your 2nd semester subjects up until mid-way through August. So just pick some stuff to pad things out for the time benig. Then you can do some more reading, and go to different classes in the first couple of weeks to get more of an idea about things.


The commerce component of your degree will have a whole lot of compulsory 1000-level subjects. It's up to you when to do those, but most people will do them in the first year or 2.

The Arts component won't have any compulsory subjects. You can do what you want within the rules of the Arts degree.

You don't actually pick majors in your first year, but it's good to have a general idea in mind. A major means 36 senior credit points (so 6 subjects, usually) from a certain area. To do those senior level subjects, however, you'll generally need to have completed 12 junior level credit points (1000-level) in that area.

So if you want to major in, say, Government & International Relations, you'll need to do 2 1000-level government subjects before you can start doing the senior subjects that will count towards your major.

You'll usually want to knock off those 12 junior points early on in your degree (first year or two, if you're doing a combined course). Otherwise, you tend to run out of time, and credit points (you're only allowed to study so many junior level subjects)


The degree outline is here, if you haven't seen it: http://sydney.edu.au/business/courses/FH033

Your compulsory subjects are listed under "Commerce Core Units of Study".

It's a pretty good website. Has sample degree structures further down the page that can give you a better idea of things. Lists degrees with 2 majors, to degrees with 4 (you can do more than 2 majors).

Here, for instance, is a sample degree structure of someone majoring in Marketing and Sociology (http://sydney.edu.au/business/__dat...BComBA2Major_Marketing_and_Sociology_2011.pdf).

If you major in Marketing and History, yours would look pretty similar, but with the sociology units swapped for history ones.

That sample degree knocks off its 5 compulsory commerce units in the first year, and only has 1 arts subject a semester. You can do that if you want (and that's what S120's suggesting), but you don't have to. You can leave those junior commerce units for later on in your degree if you don't intend on taking them any further, and would prefer more of an even Arts/Commerce balance each semester.

Also, think about majoring in more than 2 things, I reckon. Most people will usually knock over 2 majors in a single degree (at least an arts degree). If you just do 2 majors over a 5-year double degree, I reckon you'd feel like you were flitting from subject area to subject area without getting any real substantial education. It'd be wide, for sure, but probably a touch shallow.


Actually go to the trouble of reading that website, too, as well as the handbooks that are linked to from that page. It's not very complicated, but plenty of new students make things very difficult for themselves 'cause they're too lazy to actually read anything.

 

[grimlock]

Those UNSW-ites might see Dylan McNeil around campus this year

http://www.smh.com.au/national/educ...nd-offers-at-universities-20110119-19wqe.html

DYLAN McNEIL knows his career with the Sydney Swans will not last forever.

To prepare himself for life after football, he will enrol in a commerce degree at the University of NSW this year.

McNeil, who completed his Higher School Certificate at Albury High School in 2009 before playing his first year as a midfielder for the Swans, has gained entry to the university through its elite athlete program, which awards successful applicants up to five bonus university entry points.

 

[Swans120]

I've seen a few Swans wandering around UNSW. I've seen Teddy many, many times (had a chat with him once too, felt a million bucks after it!), Nick Smith, Dan Currie and haven't seen him but I know Hanners is doing Commerce part time as well.

 

[SM]

Should be at Sydney Uni...

And J_Moore, thanks! That helps a lot. So what you're saying is for my first year I might choose to do subjects that will lead into Marketing, but won't actually be doing stuff for my Major in first year? That kinda makes sense. I'm finding it difficult to find a list of subjects I can do in first year, because I guess it would just kind of help to have a list of subjects to choose from that I can, and also kind of NEED, to do in first year to acheive what I want, because it seems like I've ended up looking through a wide range of subjects and might think I've picked what I want to do, but I've ended up finding subjects I won't do for a year or two.

So reading that first link, under the heading of 'Commerce core units of Study', is that the stuff I'd be doing first year?

 

[J_Moore]

Junior subjects (1000 level subjects) don't count towards a major. A major is 36 senior credit points (2000, 3000 level subjects) in an area.

But, to do senior units, you usually need to have done 12 junior credit points in that subject. So 2 junior subjects, usually.

And your core Commerce units are units you have to do as part of your degree. You don't have to do them in your first year if you don't want. Though people usually do.

Read the stuff thoroughly. Look through the websites.

 

[SM]

Read the stuff thoroughly. Look through the websites.

Believe me I'm trying lol.

 

[ssfc0203]

Don't know if this helps, but Economics is under the Arts faculty now, apparently.

I love the Sydney system. Trying to decipher the UWS system is doing my head in - soooo confused. 6CP at Sydney was straightforward and easy.

Stat, if you're still confused, call ahead and try to get a meeting with your course coordinator. I did it several times and he was a massive help. He helped me pick out my subjects at enrolment as well.

Have you gotten a booklet with units you could pick yet? I think you get that with degrees that aren't strictly structured. Probably worth having a meeting with them beforehand rather than trying to pick a years worth of subjects on the spot.

Important information though - picks for best coffee are Azzuri near Wentworth and the coffee cart in Carslaw. There was another place in the Education building but they left. I kind of fell in love with the barista there Never get anything from the 'health shop' and go to Law Library or Fisher if intending to study. SciTech is for socialisation (run for the booths at lunch or get friends to guard it for you all day).

I'm going to miss USyd so much

 

[SM]

Except that I have to enrol on Tuesday! Not a lot of time to plan all that stuff out. Hoping to sit down on Monday and spend the day going through all of it with my Mum who should be able to help a bit.

 

[alison_z]

Anyone know how enrolling by proxy works? I have to enrol at USYD for my friend who lives overseas ... I had enough trouble getting myself enrolled last year - have no idea how i'm going to do it for her!

 

[ssfc0203]

She has to fill out a form;

http://sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_administration/enrolment/proxy_enrolment.shtml

 

[ssfc0203]

Except that I have to enrol on Tuesday! Not a lot of time to plan all that stuff out. Hoping to sit down on Monday and spend the day going through all of it with my Mum who should be able to help a bit.

Oh & if you're doing a double degree, it'll be structured relatively rigidly unless you want to backend one part of your degree. Should make picking a bit easier.

 

[ssfc0203]

K, Stat I have a question.

For my Belonging Essay three texts, I'm currently looking for a final text.
I already have Romulus my father (compulsary) and looking for alibrandi.

The angle I've taken it is that belonging can be exclusive and difficult to achieve because of contextual/cultural barriers, so I guess I'm talking more about exclusion then inclusion.

For my third text would I make it something along the lines of cultural stuff as well, or is that too limited? Also would you recommend looking at belonging in a positive aspect so my essay has more depth?

Ps congrats K!

Way too limited. Remember, you're going to have to answer a question on any facet of belonging. Making it just cultural is limiting your response - what if it asks about another aspect of belonging?

 

[Dangas]

Final year of studies in a month, yay!

 

[SM]

Oh & if you're doing a double degree, it'll be structured relatively rigidly unless you want to backend one part of your degree. Should make picking a bit easier.

Really? From all I've been told the Arts end of it is fairly loose.

 

[Swans120]

Final year of studies in a month, yay!

Same here. Probs will do a post grade degree, but last year of my undergrad. What course are you doing?

Really? From all I've been told the Arts end of it is fairly loose.

I think that's right. Arts is pretty flexible in that and most other senses.

 

[Dangas]

Same here. Probs will do a post grade degree, but last year of my undergrad. What course are you doing?

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, then Qantas time!

 

[J_Moore]

Except that I have to enrol on Tuesday! Not a lot of time to plan all that stuff out. Hoping to sit down on Monday and spend the day going through all of it with my Mum who should be able to help a bit.

Again, you can change your subjects for a few weeks into each semester.

Also, your degree is not remotely rigid, beyond your 5 core commerce units.

 

[SM]

I think I've figured a bit of stuff out, read through the handbooks over and over, but I guess I'll just head in tomorrow and hopefully have a bit of stuff explained to me, can't wait!!

 

[SM]

Yeww, all done, too easy.

Understanding Business; Accounting, Business and Society; From Lincoln to Clinton; and Spanish Beginners are locked innnn.

 

[Dangas]

...after which if you want to change, set you back 200+ bucks

 

[Swans120]

So many people do Spanish in their first year (myself included). Could name like 10 friends who all did.

So much economics for me this term.

 

[SM]

...after which if you want to change, set you back 200+ bucks

I was under the impression I had until the end of march to change for free?

 

[J_Moore]

I was under the impression I had until the end of march to change for free?

Yes, you do.

 

[Dangas]

I was under the impression I had until the end of march to change for free?

Yer I meant after the census date