#19 Student Advisors

Planning your university degree can be quite tricky. There are endless degrees available, countless majors and minors that you can do. So many options. Determining what units are required can sometimes be unclear, what are the required units I need to complete my degree? What electives can I do? What do I want study “for fun”? After all, you still need to work hard to pass.

 Most units have prerequisites so it’s very important that students look ahead and plan accordingly. If you are having difficulty with anything related to subject selection, there are student advisors who are always happy to go through your degree and answer any questions you have, just make an appointment! 

#16 - Exams!

With only a couple weeks of term left, assessments are picking up and exams will shortly be upon us. This can be a very stressful time for a lot of students. Many feel that the final exam will either make or break them for their course. While this can be very much the case it is important to remember that if you don’t go so well, don’t stress. University exams aren’t the be all and end all! There will be plenty of other opportunities. Anyway, here are some tips for exams:

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• Plan your time wisely! – Work on your weaknesses, spend extra time on the units that need it

• It’s never too late to start – Whether you’ve been studying regularly since the beginning of term or it’s the week before, START STUDYING!

• Ask for help – Don’t feel embarrassed asking your tutor or lecturer!

• Check out past exam papers!

• Use your reading time - Plan what you are going to say, start with the questions you're most confident with

-    - Aaron H

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#10 Textbooks - other alternatives

Generally, uni students aren't known for being made of money yet university textbooks are ridiculously expensive. Most of the textbooks are excess of $100, with some being closer to $200. For full time students multiply this by 4 and you are looking at spending roughly $500 per semester, very pricey.

There are other alternatives to purchasing brand new textbooks for each class each semester. There is a usually a couple of copies reserved in the library which are available to be used however they cannot be removed from the library, a slight inconvenience. Another option is to look at purchasing a textbook with a friend, that way you can both share it and not spend an excessive amount of money. Also, there are second hand books out there which can be hard to find but check out eBay, gumtree, face book groups, and notices around the campus. Of course you can always try and go without a textbook if you feel you don’t need it, and the lecture materials provided are to your satisfaction. With the increase in eBooks, most textbooks have a purely online version available which is cheaper so have a look around the internet and you might even find you can download it for free...

Aaron H

#2 A personal reflection: study-life balance

One of the first things that really stood out to me when I began university was the amount of time and choice I had with my study. There was no rigorous structure I had to abide by. Nobody telling me what I had to do and when to do it. It was a whole new world, a welcome change from high school. 

A problem I ran into (and a common problem for all) was enjoying myself too much. I neglected my studies to have a raging social life. I would have something to do every day, from hanging with friends to soccer training, uni work was always pushed back. I think it’s important to have a good balance between both worlds. Non-stop studying can be very draining, and you don’t want to risk losing relationships by ignoring your friends and family. While completely neglecting homework/assignments/study will eventually result in extra stress and potentially a failure in your units. 

So enjoy the new found freedom with your studies, just remember that a good balance is the key to success! 

- Aaron H

#1 Let the Hack Begin!

Are you looking for ways to study more effectively and make university life an all-round experience? If so you've come to the right place! MQ UniHack is a resource aimed at providing you useful and practical tips to help you get the most out of your university experience. We’ll be writing about various topics, including but not limited to:

• Hacking your study. Learn more effectively with less time and develop good habits for studying.
• Participating in extra-curricular activities such as Global Leadership Program and student societies to round off your studies and get practical experiences.
• Kick-starting your career. Develop a unique personal brand and promote yourself more effectively.

To put it simply, we write about life hacks that are essential to university students. Whether you study at Macquarie University or not you’ll certainly find useful information on our blog that will help you succeed at university and beyond.

Now a quick introduction of our awesome bloggers:

Michael Wu
I'm on a journey of discovering my voice in the midst of our dynamic business world. Studying a Bachelor of Business Leadership and Commerce I enjoy getting involved in activities and projects that add value to other people. When I'm not glued to the screen I enjoy playing basketball and reading books.

Aaron Hutchinson
Hi, my name is Aaron Hutchinson. I am 19 years old, in my 2nd year of studying at Macquarie Univeristy. I am doing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in marketing. I would consider myself a laid-back person, but can be very passionate about sports.

Jon Barnitt
Hello. My name is Jonathan Barnitt but you can call me Jon. I am almost 20 years old. I am studying a Bachelor of Commerce Professional Accounting at Macquarie University. I'm in my 2nd year and hoping to finish in 2 and a half years time. I am working full time in Accounting. I like to work hard and play hard. Weekends are the best. I like doing things with friends and family, it doesn't really matter what it is.

Aaron Steven
Hi, I'm Aaron Stone. Currently a 1st year student studying Information Technology, majoring in Software Technology at Macquarie University.
Apart from my deep interest of developing mobile applications that relate to sport and saving lives, I love to make others laugh and smile whenever possible. If you haven't met a triplet before, you have now....

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