Studying @ UNSW – a guide from a student

[Forbidden.]

Solution: Catch a bus

Or jump in front of it.

most of PHYS2xxx and PHYS3xxx

I hope they're gen-ed.

haha ive never seen a degree at UNSW with a UAI of mid 60s
its more like low 70s

B Science, B Science/ B Education!!!

[sunny]

You'll find very few take notes using a laptop, even in computing classes. You'll find yourself needing to scribble things here and there.

If the lecturer provides lecture notes, then you'll probably annotate those notes yourself, so it would be easier to write with pen and paper.

Its up to you in the end, have a go at both and see what works for you.

[sunny]

Yes you can, these are called census dates - theres different dates to discontinue from courses without financial/academic penalty.

Check https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/resources/KeyDates2.html for those dates.

[sunny]

Yep they're not repeats, you go to all of them. You can pick a different stream of lectures, which are repeats, eg, another stream might be:
Mon 1100-1200, Wed 1200-1300, Fri 1400-1500

Depends on the subject, sometimes its ok to mix and match between streams to suit yourself.

Classes usually only get cancelled if there are problems with enrolments, so if the handbook says it'll be offered in S2 then it will.

[iStrss]

Hey guys, how can I get my student ID card? Is it an automatic thing or do I have to go get it done myself? I've been hearing about the e-spot (something like that?) where you just go and get your photo taken and get your card. Do I bring only a driver's license and a print-out of my enrollment?

Also, when do I have to get the card done by?

Thanks!

[uhawww]

Hey guys, how can I get my student ID card? Is it an automatic thing or do I have to go get it done myself? I've been hearing about the e-spot (something like that?) where you just go and get your photo taken and get your card. Do I bring only a driver's license and a print-out of my enrollment?

Also, when do I have to get the card done by?

Thanks!

e-spot no longer exists, it's now sorted out at FM Assist.

More info here: UNSW Facilities Management

[ichiraku]

You can go get your card anytime. Just bear in mind there's usually a long line come o week and week 1 of semester.

[missanonymous7]

hey, if there are two lecture 'sequences' - like 'lecture sequence 1 of 2' and 'lecutre sequence 2 of 2' - i enrol in one of each, right? because that's the only thing unsw would let me do, like when i picked my timetable, i tried to select both the 'lecture sequence 1 of 1' lectures (for BABS1201), because i thought you're meant to pick lectures in the same 'stream' or whatever... but it said i had to pick a lecture for the 'lecture sequence 2 of 2'. so on monday i have a lecture sequence 1 of 2, and on friday a lecture sequence 2 of 2.

please let me know if this is right! (only asking because i notcied in another 'post your timetable' thread someone has TWO 'lecture sequence 1 of 2' lectures for aviation?)

god, i hope i haven't stuffed that up, i finally got a good timetable.

[darkwolfzx]

lecture sequences mean that your course may be running 2 streams, which is perfectly normal.

[LordPc]

AFAIK you're fine cause the system doesnt let you pick the same lecture from 2 different streams, otherwise it would be a very poor system

[missanonymous7]

that's what i thought. thanks for clearing it up!

[missanonymous7]

Textbook question - what's a 'wiley plus card'? If I buy a second-hand textbook, does it come with this card or not? And is it worth it?

[Bourne05]

I was just wondering exactly the same question.

2008 UAI: 96.35
B. Science (Advanced) UNSW

[m3_evo8]

Hi, I'm doing higher maths 1141, and we were prescribed the Calculus one & several variables + WileyPLUS 10th edition... I was thinking of buying a second hand 9th edition of the book.. So would there be much difference between the two editions? or should I just wait until I start attending lectures and then decide?? Plz reply.... Thanks....

[Otacon2009]

Sorry I've droned on about this in the past, however I'm transferring degrees and need to get this question about UNSW off my chest.

I'm doing an Undergrad degree at CDU (In Darwin, NT). I'm about to wrap up my third semester and have applied to UNSW through the UAC. What I want to know is if UNSW has a certain standard for undergraduate transfers. I'm doing a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Industries (Communications) so I'm doing subjects such as Public Relations, Marketing, Multimedia etc. Grades haven't been terrible, but haven't been spectacular either. Looking at the UAI/ATAR requirements, the courses I've nominated in preferences are in the 70's.

So, would I get accepted no questions asked providing I don't slip below 50% and get a F in a subject or is it expected to get something Credit and above?

[moll.]

With regards to textbooks, I thought the following might be welcome:

I would recommend getting all the prescribed/mandatory textbooks, as the course is often taught straight out of there, with a few minor adjustments. There's normally also a few recommended/voluntary textbooks for each course. Most students don't bother with these, but if you get halfway through the course and find yourself struggling with the content they're normally a good place for help.
Wait until you know exactly which textbook you need. There's a website where you can type in your course and it will tell you what textbooks are prescribed, which are recommended and how much they sell for at the UNSW bookshop. I can't remember what the website is, but look it up on the "A to Z Guide" on UNSW site.
I would recommend getting them all within the first two weeks of the semester. O-Week would probably be the best time, although it's mostly only first-years who go that week.
Now, NEVER buy your textbooks first-hand, unless it's a new edition or they've just changed book. In the first few weeks of the semester there will be a whole pile of little notices on various billboards around campus (you'll now which ones because there'll be a small crowd of people in front of them with their phones out) advertising textbooks for sale. However, that way can be tedious, and because of the high volume of traffic, the sellers have often promised it to someone else by the time you call them.
I would instead recommend textbookexchange.com.au. You can search for the exact textbook you need, compare prices and email/SMS the seller instantly. You also don't have to be a member to use it, and not many first-years know about it, so you don't have much competition.

[dawdlex3]

Enter your course codes (format: ABCD1234) at the UNSW Bookshop Textlist search to see what textbooks you need for 2010 Semester 1:

Textlist

[Sokolov]

A WileyPLUS card comes with textbooks that are published by the company Wiley.
For those who are going to purchase Calculus One and Several Variables for example, the WileyPLUS card has a number that grants you access to online supplementary material to the textbook such as further examples and questions, doesn't count towards your grade.

I personally didn't use WileyPLUS much, as if 100 questions per topic in the MATH1131 and MATH1231 tutorial booklets weren't enough already.

[glimmerless]

Just a question regarding textbook editions...

So lets say it says this.

Edition: 2E08

What does that mean exactly? Does it mean it is the 8th edition?

[Omie Jay]

i think that'd mean 2nd edition 2008

[PendleburyBrown]

Chem1011 Textbook

Chemistry 6e 2010 Blackman
IBSN 9780470810866
Brand New. No Markings. $100. Will suit any first year university chemistry subject.

If interested please contact myself John @ jpendleburybrown@gmail.com

Thanx

[Mature Lamb]

Not sure if this BoSer is still active. If I were to update this guide, would a mod be able to edit it?

[Shadowdude]

Sure, I think they'd welcome it. Probably bug one of the more active ones and they'll probably be happy to help.

Hey, ML - this remind you of anything?

- What’s a UNSW?
UNSW stands for the University of New South Wales.

hehehehe

[Rekkusu]

Having gone through undergrad and post-grad. I'd recommend to all university newbies not to buy prescribed textbooks immediately.

It's better to wait 1-2 weeks into the course, see if the lecturer actually says that you'll need to answer questions from that textbook, or read prescribed sections.

Apart from math statistics, I don't ever recall having to read from a textbook.

All lecturers base their exam questions on their own lectures, tutorials and if you're science/med based Laboratory stuff.
Some people have fallen into the trap of memorising things from prescribed textbooks, when in fact examinable material is from the lecture (which sometimes MAY be different to the textbook!)

And when I mean may, its almost always the case. Lecturers don't bother updating their notes. I can bet you the course you're doing now, probably is using the same lec notes when I was in UNSW.

If you really need to buy textbooks and can afford the wait, bookdepository is the CHEAPEST place to buy new books. Or if you want second hand, textbookexchange is good. Some people even sell on BoS, I bought some stuff off here from previous unsw students as well.

[LightXT]

Just a small note: 391 and 392 buses also go to the Eastgardens Westfield from the university side of the road on Anzac Parade.