[CHAT]: Transitioning to higher education
Year 12 is over, you've got your results and you're sitting there thinking: what happens now?
Lectures, tutorials, majors and minors - the lingo used in the glossy pamphlets can seem like jibberish at first.
Then there's the other worries you might be having: How will I make new friends? What do I do if I'm not enjoying my course? Is it possible to pay attention in lectures without falling asleep? (Hint: it's not :P)
So whether you're just starting out or you've been studying forever, join us here at 8pm AEDT on Monday 23rd January, or click reply to start the discussion now!
This will be me come March, when it's 8am to late classes and trying to learn everything about the musculoskeletal system.. muscles, bones, everything that can wrong, all the tests that can determine muscle weakness, nerves...
Hahaha @loves netball - reminds me of when I was taking neuroanatomy. It's really cool stuff to learn though! I never knew how much I didn't know about my body until I started taking anatomy and physiology courses. Now I've learned precisely when to take my coffee to get the most out of it. Which probably sounds unimpressive, but it's a real lifesaver when it come so finals, believe me.
Speaking of time, I have to get going or else I'm actually going to get stranded at uni. Looking forward to reading up on the conversation later tonight guys!
I have to get going as well. Looking forward to reading the rest of the chat tomorrow!
@May_ in masters you are expected to attend classes. We have to watch all the content online and then in the lecture time we do weekly quizzes which obviously count overall
@May_ It's actually not so bad. We have pretty decent facilities here (fridge, microwave, computers. Animals to pet, etc.) so it's quite as tragic as I'm making it out to be. It's also mostly my own fault - my Honours officially start next week, so I'm getting a headstart by running a draft ethics proposal by my supervisor and going through some of the coursework from last year.
Plus it helps get me out of my room, which currently looks like this:
...because I'm compulsively hoarding my notes/textbooks from the past 5 years on the very, very off chance I might need them for something (I won't. And if I DID, I'd never find what I needed in that chaos. It's mostly a giant fire hazard at this point.)
Okay next question, this is an interesting one that I think some people struggle with
What can you do if you don't get in to the course you wanted to get into?
What can you do if you don't get in to the course you wanted to get into?
When I was waiting for my ATAR I was really really worried about this. I was worried I wouldn't get into any courses but I ended up getting into one that I never even dreamed of getting into.
I think having lots of options and keeping an open mind is key (ie not putting all your hopes and dreams into one course - look at ALL the unis). And to know that there are always alternative pathways to get into any courses. I also found it helpful to remind myself that the ATAR restrictions are there for a reason and if I got an ATAR significantly lower than the course then it would probably have been too difficult and competitive for me anyway
We fail units if we dont show up to 80% of them.. which sucks if its a short unit of like 5 classes 😞
What can you do if you don't get in to the course you wanted to get into?
Its hard not to feel let down but there are pathways, and some might take you a little longer than you hoped but sometimes its good to have a little more time to learn and find your feet outside of high school. This isn't something I have personally struggled with but a few of my friends had to start a relevant course at a different uni (I think) and then move over to the one they wanted, and in that time you might find something else you like instead which is good too.
What can you do if you don't get in to the course you wanted to get into?
This actually happened to me last year, so I took a year off and then applied again for 2017. But there are heaps of other options/pathways like doing a short course/volunteering or work experience in the relevant field...
What do you want to study/what are you studying/what have you finished studying at uni/tafe/apprentiship?
I would like to do nursing/paramedics and then eventually go down the track of becoming a doctor. 
What do you want to study/what are you studying/what have you finished studying at uni/tafe/apprentiship?
I just completed my undergrad in Psychology and will be starting my honours in psych in March! A bit nervous... but also ready to get back into things after such a long break!
Totally agree with @sapphire38 and everyone else but there being heaps of other options! I wish schools told you what they were though, sometimes they don't give young peopel enough info and they think their dream is over if they don't get in straight away. I think its completely normal to change around and start somewhere you didn't originally think, I also think it makes you question what you want and what is right for you which is also a good thing cause when you do figure it out its probably better than if you just went with something you got the ATAR for.
I got into a degree that i ended up not liking at all so it can go either way!
@j95 some of my classes have tutes that are compulsory attendance, and those have the 80% thing you mentioned I was more talking about courses that are just one lecture a week. So i guess it depends?
