Getting started at Uni - your questions answered!

Courtesy of http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/

Just a quick post to address your questions!

Where can I get my student card?

Before you can get your student card, you need to make sure you have:

1) Completed your enrolment (at least enrolled into one subject)

2) Have some proof of identification (Australian driver’s licence, passport or Keypass card)

Usually, you will need to go to your student centre to get your student ID done. But to cater for the number of new students, student ID cards can be obtained at Sidney Myer Asia Centre (temporarily), which is just opposite the Swanston St tram stop. There will be staff members located in classrooms on the ground floor between 9.30am-4.30pm, armed with their cameras and nifty machinery to get your student card printed!

However – graduate students need to go to their student centre to get their student cards done. Not Sidney Myer!

For more info, please visit: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/jg3

What about my Victorian Public Transport Concession card? Where to for that?

Now, before you can get your concession card, you need to get your student card first! So once you have that in your hands, jump onto your portal – there should be a big yellow button that says ‘Get my Victorian Public Transport (VPT) Concession Form’. Then you want to hit the ‘Email VPT Concession Form’, check your student email inbox – and Voila! Just download, print it off and you’re all good! 

If you can’t seem to get your concession form off the portal, it may be due to 2 things.

1) Your portal needs time to upload your photo to generate the concession form. So you’ll have to play the waiting game. But if all else fails, just go to your student centre – they’ll fix it!

2) You may not fit the eligibility. Only undergrad students enrolled full time can get a VPT concession card.

For more info, check this out: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/vc3

Is there wireless internet I can use at uni? If so, how can I connect my laptop/ipad/phone to it?

Yes, we have ‘UniWireless’ which is the name of our wireless network – and it’s free for students and staff to use.

For instructions on how to hook your gadgets up to the net, check this page out: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/4vq

And if all else fails – just bring your computer in to the IT desks at one of these libraries: ERC, Baillieu, Giblin Eunson.

Do I NEED to buy textbooks for uni? If so, where can I get them second hand?

There is no yes or no answer to that – it really depends subject to subject. If you look on the handbook, and search your subject and the whole shebang. You will see whether the book is ‘Prescribed’ or ‘Recommended’. Prescribed texts usually mean they are required for your studies, and recommended texts are for students who want to do extra reading but it’s not necessarily examinable content.

Not sure whether to get them? Your best bet is to ask students who have previously studied that subject, or contact your lecturer/subject coordinator for advice, or just wait and see!

In regards to second hand books…there are a couple of places you can look at.

1) Book Co-op located in Union House

2) Textbookexchange.com.au

3) Noticeboards around uni – people put posters up advertising their books. Definitely check out the noticeboard in Union House.

Or – you can become a member at the Co-op Bookstore located at the Baillieu Library and get discounts when you purchase books there. (this is a different from the Book Co-op as previously mention in point one)

Will my lecture be recorded?

Again, it depends! Best to email your subject coordinator and check.

I know that the lovely science student centre has published a list of lectures that will and will not be recorded. Check it: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/6ob

Your lecturers are the ones who makes the decision whether they will or will not record them. Just send them an email.

And of course the schpeal about “recordings are not a substitute to attendance”.

Also: please check this out: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/7vq. It has more information about the recordings!

What is this ‘lost on campus’ phone app that everyone keep talking about!?

Probably one of the best app inventions! Don’t be that jaffy that walks around on campus on the first day with a map in front of you. I would 10000% download this app if I were you. I still use it today to get me to unknown locations around campus. It even has GPS on there!! You can’t go wrong. To download, follow this linky link: http://lostoncampus.com.au/

How do I get to Uni?

The most popular route to uni is to catch ANY tram from Flinders St Station or Melbourne Central and get off at ‘The University of Melbourne’. Or do what I did on my first day…just get off when EVERYONE gets off the tram. You can’t miss it! That’s the beauty of going to Melbourne Uni, it is absolutely convenient to get there!

But of course if you are coming from a different direction, please refer to the Public Transport Victoria Journey Planner for further instructions.

(Next one is not so much a question – but more as a tip!)

Tip: Building names

ERC = Eastern Resource Centre

SMAC = Sidney Myer Asia Centre

and

Redmond Barry, Richard Berry = Such similar names but COMPLETELY different buildings! Just about every jaffy out there has gotten these 2 mixed up at some point during their first year. (First year issues)

And of course – I got them mixed up too! I was suppose to be going to Redmond Barry for a psychology tute on my first day. And I ended up sitting in some random philosophy tute for an hour in Richard Berry because I was too scared to leave! True story.

The Redmond Barry and Richard Berry mix up is quite well known around campus. In fact – it’s oh so very meme worthy!

Courtesy of memegenerator.net

Courtesy of http://www.quickmeme.com

Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=327651707303084&set=o.175757212527633&type=1&theater

So please, Redmond Barry and Richard Berry! VERY DIFFERENT!

Over and out!

About these ads