Uni life thread
- Thread starter Rider_of_Fast
- Start date
Mywifesirrational
I however am very normal. Trust me.
Yeah I started uni at 26 had been working fulltime for 8 years. I saved up about 10k to help with a lack of work prior to starting. Definitely go full time and be poor 4 years of poverty much better than 8 years of shit dragging on.
Two things I noticed,
If you are working 10-20+ hours a week, your results will suffer - depending on how smart you are. This is particularly important around exam time and preparing course work. When i did my masters I was working 26 hours per week and 4 hours per week night of uni, it was really rough, no social life, poor on the run diet, lack of sleep... struggling with grades (80+%)...
Not working during the semester meant I could focus on my studies, usually onlt 12-15hrs contact time - but you need plenty of reading and consolidation time to do well. This also meant I could kind of study when I felt like it instead of forcing study when I had too. Also lots of time to socialise and ride, swim have a bit of fun, meet some ladies with dubious morals, that kind of thing. I simply worked as a labourer or at the docks (jesus that place is scary) and made some good money to tie me over through the teaching semester.
The lack of money as a full time student is nasty - living at home will make it a lot easier.
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disappearin
Likes Dirt
I left a really good paying job which i was at for 5 years to return to uni. Was a bit of a shock to the bank account. I wished I still lived at home when i went back! You will be able to do it easy. The payoff in the long run will far outweigh the short term loss.
One option which I use for work are labour hire companies. Pay rates good and with a trade you will easily pick up work, especially in the city. Generally I only work during the uni holidays and find if I don't waste $$ I can easily support myself. Even have enough spare for my bikes and a few races
XYGTHO
Likes Dirt
Yep certainly does suck working full time and studying. I'd love to go full time and just finish. Ive been studying external part time now for about 8years. Still have like 4-5years left as I started slow as the first 5years of study I was actually working 7days a week 60+hour weeks. Now I only work 5days a week 40hours but have a mortgage, wife and almost 1year old daughter to support.
Have completed an Associate Degree Elec Engineering and now completing the Bachelor. Im now 27. Toying with the idea of wife working full time and me only part time to finish but my current employer is quite busy and wouldn't be happy I dont think doing that.
Have completed an Associate Degree Elec Engineering and now completing the Bachelor. Im now 27. Toying with the idea of wife working full time and me only part time to finish but my current employer is quite busy and wouldn't be happy I dont think doing that.
XYGTHO
Likes Dirt
Ha ha yep its sad isn't it mate. So far I have been luckily enough to be in groups with willing people mainly (on one exception). In the Associate Degree most where tradies employed in the mines and stuff and were really good, new their stuff. Done an amazing Tech report on Elec drives, motors and controls on a dragline. Having a bad group just drags you down. I tend to try to manage whatever group Im in, can't help myself I like to be organised make sure everyone knows what they are doing and is expected of them.
Matt H
Eats Squid
Pretty damn good semester for me. I moved into a new place at the start of the year with a couple of postgrad students which is so much better than the mates I've been living with for the last 2-3 years. I'm doing a first year management class and first year marketing class as part of my commerce degree. Easy as fuck so far, but the rote learning aspects of these subjects are really painful. I'm also taking an econometrics class for my economics degree and loving it. I hated the foundation statistics I did in my first year, but elaborating on that stuff and running regressions, forecasts, etc. is pretty fascinating.
Sitting between 70-85% for all of my subjects at the moment, hopefully can pick it all up above 85% in the end of sem exams.
Sitting between 70-85% for all of my subjects at the moment, hopefully can pick it all up above 85% in the end of sem exams.
Mywifesirrational
I however am very normal. Trust me.
8th year... almost run out of steam, would one day like to earn some real money again.
At least with a research degree there is no exams, I can make my own hours and get paid; presenting at conferences and seminars... think I'd prefer an exam.
First semester I haven't taught a subject for a few years... not sure if I miss students or not.
At least with a research degree there is no exams, I can make my own hours and get paid; presenting at conferences and seminars... think I'd prefer an exam.
First semester I haven't taught a subject for a few years... not sure if I miss students or not.
Elbo
pesky scooter kids git off ma lawn
Living with the right people does wonders. I moved out of on-campus accommodation at the start of the year to move in with 2 guys a bit older than me, never had it better as far as living arrangements go. Rent's cheaper, place is cleaner, people are nicer. Has been great for study and general wellbeing.
Struggling to get back into the swing of things after taking last semester off. Getting mixed results, some 90%+, others bombing to barely passing at 55%. Enjoying some subjects (solid facts, economics and international aid, fix it approach to human rights violations, etc) and not enjoying others at all (wishy washy theoretical BS, i.e. anthropology of food). Bit of a mixed bag this semester.
Just need to settle down the variation in assignment results and become more efficient at doing them and stop neglecting the readings for coursework.
Struggling to get back into the swing of things after taking last semester off. Getting mixed results, some 90%+, others bombing to barely passing at 55%. Enjoying some subjects (solid facts, economics and international aid, fix it approach to human rights violations, etc) and not enjoying others at all (wishy washy theoretical BS, i.e. anthropology of food). Bit of a mixed bag this semester.
Just need to settle down the variation in assignment results and become more efficient at doing them and stop neglecting the readings for coursework.
This is my 7th year (between 2 degrees) and right now I feel like falling back on the first just to earn some decent money and not stress about paying the bills all the time. I think it'll be worth sticking it out in the long term though!
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Mywifesirrational
I however am very normal. Trust me.
Yeah, gone to far along to drop out now, just feels like I am doing a lot of 12 hour days and not moving towards completion. Home life is all important to good study, glad we don't have to pay rent or a mortgage or i'd be eating 2 minute noodles daily.
I should have stopped at 2 degree's, would be making a decent living at the moment, but my interest in my topic and the opportunities it opens
pray will make it worth while... and it makes mum proud (and I enjoy arguing with people about my topic - especially when they are wrong).
XYGTHO
Likes Dirt
Ha ha yep 8th year for me also but been working full time the whole time. Was working 7days a week for the first 4-5 years doing full-time work through the week and 2 12hour days weekends so was only ever doing one subject per term which is painfully slow. Now I'm married with a 1yr old daughter and it's harder to find the time than back then. Lol I did finish my associate degree of elec engineering 2yrs ago though. And now finishing the bachelor. Doing my last maths course! Advanced engineering maths.
Going ok, but the exam coming up is worth 40% and has to be passed to pass the course. I feel for all those studying with families and jobs. It's pretty tough but worthy it. I am lucky to have been working in my industry I'm studying for and have been for the last 10years. All I'm missing is the piece of paper.
Good luck only a few weeks left.
Going ok, but the exam coming up is worth 40% and has to be passed to pass the course. I feel for all those studying with families and jobs. It's pretty tough but worthy it. I am lucky to have been working in my industry I'm studying for and have been for the last 10years. All I'm missing is the piece of paper.
Good luck only a few weeks left.
What are you studying Elbo? Sounds like the sort of thing I wouldn't mind picking up as a second degree to my engineering.. Too much maths isn't good for me.
Elbo
pesky scooter kids git off ma lawn
I'm doing a BA in Anthropology g-fish. Its a really interesting course, you just have to know what you want to do with it. I think its a good one to combine with another course, as the research and writing skills it teaches can be applied anywhere. I've already done a Bachelor of Business (Accounting & Economics) so I'm hoping to combine the two to get a job I like, but one that also pays well.
