What's the workload at uni? (1 Viewer)

[kfnmpah]

also, as for assessments, some courses have mid-sem exams, some have 2 or 3 assignments and a final, some have no final, some are bitches. For example, maths 2 at newcastle this semester has a final exam, like 4 small quizzes based on 2 weeks content where you have to do at home prep and like 4 bigger quizzes based on 3 weeks content.

 

[kaz1]

ohh so how many assessments are we looking at? 1 per week/fortnight?

For science subjects a lab is like an assesment every week.

 

[enoilgam]

oh your talking about law right?

Law and commerce units. Generally, subjects like accounting, economics and stats have mid semesters, whilst law subjects and written business subjects (marketing and management) have essays and assignments.

 

[izzy88]

It really depends on the subject/department/uni/lecturer - a course can change the assessments it does from year to year. However University in general is a lot more self-directed learning as has been said. It is generally your choice whether you turn up to class or not (some people mark roles, some people don't), so its just assessments and keeping on top of readings.

Overall I think university has more intense stress periods (for example this week I have mid-semester exams for some of my subjects), but is quite relaxing/fun out of those times (and can be very social). I'm doing law at the moment - so basically I have mid semester exam (30%) and final exam (70%) for two subjects. It's good to try to keep on top of readings outside of those times, but you inevitably fall behind and have a couple of stressful weeks in the lead up to exams as you try to cram. One of my subjects just has a 100% exam, so I haven't been doing much work for that - just turning up to class, but I know when exams come around I will be stressed out of my mind (and cramming).

What's interesting is that it really changes between semesters- last semester because I'm doing all compulsory subjects at the moment, the lecturers got together and made sure they spread out our assignments for each subject - so they were all spread out with about two weeks between them. This semester however (even though we are still doing compulsory subjects), they all decided to put the assessments (mid-semester exams in this case) in the same week. Really increases the pressure!

In any case, I had better stop procrastinating and get back to studying for my exam tomorrow. at least it's open book

 

[hungwell1337]

depends on your degree

 

[Shadowdude]

Workload at uni?

1. Depends on what subjects you do.
2. Depends on how much effort you're willing to put in.

 

[Chemical Ali]

undergrad uni is a piece of piss

if you find it even slightly challenging then gl in the workforce

 

[LightXT]

undergrad uni is a piece of piss

if you find it even slightly challenging then gl in the workforce

What if someone were to aim for 1st Class or a University Medal? Is that comparable to the effort required for 99+ and 99.95, respectively? Or is it based on a combination of academic ability and effort more than the HSC?

 

[ajdlinux]

Workload is totally dependent on the subject. I'm doing Arts/Science, and I've done courses where I've only had to do three assignments with no exams for the entire semester, right up to nine assignments and two exams (which drove me insane). Usually you can find all this out before you enrol in each course though.

 

[funnytomato]

Workload is totally dependent on the subject. I'm doing Arts/Science, and I've done courses where I've only had to do three assignments with no exams for the entire semester, right up to nine assignments and two exams (which drove me insane). Usually you can find all this out before you enrol in each course though.

Wat?

 

[Gangstar1]

ohh can someone who does law tell me there current workload and what uni they attend?

 

[Chemical Ali]

What if someone were to aim for 1st Class or a University Medal? Is that comparable to the effort required for 99+ and 99.95, respectively? Or is it based on a combination of academic ability and effort more than the HSC?

I have both of those things, lol.

If you wanted them for something like medicine or UNSW commerce you'd have to be a freak though

EDIT: for a uni medal, that is, since it's basically a rank. If you want first class (assuming you mean 1st class embedded honours i.e. HD average) then you just have to work consistently, the hardest thing about uni is being 'over' studying hard by the 2nd year in

 

[Lolsmith]

Chem Ali

You're a university medalist?

 

[Chemical Ali]

Top 2 in my whole faculty too, lol

it's only coz I did a tinpot degree at a tinpot university tho

 

[Gangstar1]

Top 2 in my whole faculty too, lol

it's only coz I did a tinpot degree at a tinpot university tho

lol still FREAKEN AWESOME

 

[izzy88]

EDIT: for a uni medal, that is, since it's basically a rank. If you want first class (assuming you mean 1st class embedded honours i.e. HD average) then you just have to work consistently, the hardest thing about uni is being 'over' studying hard by the 2nd year in

definitely agree about the difficulty in keeping up the work! Although I hit that this year (5th year), with about 1.5 years to go I'm now desperate to go into the 'real' world.

Also, for those wanting a university medal, it is very difficult. Essentially you have to come top in your degree/major - however you also have to (generally) fulfil certain requirements. ie. if you don't get an Honours mark over 90, even if you are top, you won't get a uni medal. There are of course exceptions eg. in law, the university medalist just has to get over 85 (at usyd anyway- basically because no one gets an average of over 90).

Difficulty of getting first class honours can also depend on the degree/department/requirements for getting honours (ie. some are just based on average marks over course of degree, some require an extra year or particular subjects).

 

[Gangstar1]

definitely agree about the difficulty in keeping up the work! Although I hit that this year (5th year), with about 1.5 years to go I'm now desperate to go into the 'real' world.

lol

 

[izzy88]

lol

yep. that's what happens when you do combined degrees, then take an extra year to do honours. By the time it comes to completing the second degree, it can be a struggle. However unfortunately I need the second degree for my career.

 

[Gangstar1]

yep. that's what happens when you do combined degrees, then take an extra year to do honours. By the time it comes to completing the second degree, it can be a struggle. However unfortunately I need the second degree for my career.

hopefully it pays off in the future =]

 

[Chemical Ali]

definitely agree about the difficulty in keeping up the work! Although I hit that this year (5th year), with about 1.5 years to go I'm now desperate to go into the 'real' world.

Also, for those wanting a university medal, it is very difficult. Essentially you have to come top in your degree/major - however you also have to (generally) fulfil certain requirements. ie. if you don't get an Honours mark over 90, even if you are top, you won't get a uni medal. There are of course exceptions eg. in law, the university medalist just has to get over 85 (at usyd anyway- basically because no one gets an average of over 90).

Difficulty of getting first class honours can also depend on the degree/department/requirements for getting honours (ie. some are just based on average marks over course of degree, some require an extra year or particular subjects).

6th year with an "average" of '4.4' (whatever that means) to go... enjoy the real world