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Author Topic: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal  (Read 21781 times)

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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #15 on: December 18, 2017, 07:17:02 pm »
+9
Date: 18th December 2017
Attention: For those who are considering a Bachelor of Science at Monash, please feel free to leave questions on here regarding my course.
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 
Now back to the usual university journal entry you're more accustomed to.

Since December 15 has now gone and passed, I've still yet to receive an offer for Honours. Fortunately, I went to check with people and now I've received word that they're being given late. They've amended their comment to say that the offers will be arriving either today or tomorrow, so I've been anxiously checking my emails.   

After checking posts on AN, I actually went back to look up the requirements for Japanese to hopefully help out a person with a relevant question. Having done several language units in Japanese myself, I didn't realise I actually had completed a minor in Japanese studies! (Thank you to the person who posted.) Thus, I've had that amended ... and that's the story of how I unknowingly got a minor in Japanese.

From the two books I've previously mentioned, I've now completed the first 2-3 sections of the first chapter from the first book and read the first chapter and a bit from the second book. That's a fair amount of progress compared to previous attempts recently, so I'm happy.

Beyond university-related shenanigans, I've had my usual week and had some spontaneous meet ups with friends. Aside from that, I've written a broad article with some general insight to what a Bachelor of Science entails (link here if you're interested).
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #16 on: December 19, 2017, 08:15:55 pm »
+15
Date: 19th December 2017
I'm back and ready to bug you all with news, because things finally (finally!) happened after all this time.

After much to-and-fro-ing and worrying, I have finally received an offer for Honours!

Long-awaited relief pretty much summarises what I'm feeling. Considering the fact that I finished the first semester of this year in absolute shambles with literally 1 mark below the requirements, I think this is a major self-accomplishment! I'm super proud that I picked up my game in Semester 2 in time. I understand that the next road will be just as tough (and I've never actually been exceptionally skilled at genetics), but I'm just really ecstatic to be given the opportunity to even try for a 4th year.
 
There is only one splinter in all my joy. I forgot that I applied for two different areas (genetics + ecology). The projects I was looking at overlapped them, so I tried for both, hoping for the best. What I received was not a genetics Honours offer, but an ecology one. Since I have applied for two areas, I've been told that I will receive notice regarding both i.e. I'll be accepted/ rejected for genetics and likewise for ecology (the latter was the one I was offered). I haven't received any word about genetics, which I'd prefer to do as it's what I majored in, however, this really doesn't have much impact. My plan is to just see how it goes and enrol regardless with my offer, because, in the end, it's just a few words on a sheet that'll change. If I get a genetics Honours offer, then I can probably just switch over as it's the same people essentially dealing with these enrolments.

Looks like 2018 has been decided for me!

As for this journal, I'll probably be back soon to update this, but that might be after the new year arrives. We'll see.
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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fantasticbeasts3

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2017, 08:30:49 pm »
0
congrats on your offer for honours!!!!! so awesome to hear - very well deserved!!!!!
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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #18 on: December 20, 2017, 01:35:56 pm »
0
congrats on your offer for honours!!!!! so awesome to hear - very well deserved!!!!!
Thanks so much Fantasticbeasts3! A lot of hard work and perseverance gets anyone anywhere they want.
« Last Edit: December 20, 2017, 01:38:54 pm by AngelWings »
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2018, 09:49:52 pm »
+6
Date: 3rd January 2018
A new year and a new box of surprises in store. 

Since the new year began, I've been trying awfully hard to not break my new year resolutions. Like many people before me, I have failed multiple of them already. Oops! :-[ This doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying though! Keeping my head space clear is one of the outcomes I'm hoping to gain by this. I've also been working on my sleep cycle because I've been particularly bad in that aspect as well.   

On the university front, I received an offer for the Master of Environment and Sustainability, which was Plan C originally (Honours was/ is Plan A). With it, I got a swanky amount in bursary money, but there's a catch... it's full fee paying (FFP), and I'm not exactly from the well-off sections in town. Seeing as I'm still waiting on genetics Honours and already accepted the ecology one, I'll probably wait for the genetics Honours offer to come through and reject this offer for the Masters, depending on the outcome. What are your thoughts though? (I know I've basically made a decision, but I'm interested to see what you'd do if you were in my position.) On the bright side, it did mean that Monash really wants me back... positive thinking, right? (And why I described this like a bad relationship beats even me...)
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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2018, 06:42:12 pm »
+9
Date: 17th January 2018
This week has been hectic with work, as I have been doing the full week instead of just the weekends. Besides the usual emotions coming home from my job, it's not been all that bad.

Since I had a day off today, I decided to spend it back on AN and running lots of errands. Somehow, it consisted of lots of phone calls and internet forms that needed chasing up. I'm also trying to organise some birthday gifts for people, as many of my closest friends have birthdays early in the year.

I received a bunch of emails today. One of them told me that I've been credited for a semester's worth of the Masters offer I've been given (see previous entry) and could, if I so wished, complete that degree in 1.5 years, or 3/4 of the usual time.

More excitingly - after a fair while of being a sitting duck - I got an official offer for Honours in genetics. Finally it's arrived and the ball can start rolling once again. I overturned my offer for Honours in ecology and I'll be declining my offer for the Master of Environment and Sustainability in due time.

I've also applied to graduate in absentia, as that was due Monday. For the unfamiliar, this means I'll be receiving all the important sheets, but I won't be at the ceremony, because I'll be there once I've completed my Honours year this year anyway. Also, there's a cost to graduate in ceremony, so I'm saving a buck or two to pay back my HECS loan after all the studying is over. (Let's be real, it's going to be the first big loan most of us will have to deal with in our lives. Otherwise it'll be cars or rent/ housing/ etc..)

As a result of my offer, I'll be surrendering one of my two jobs (tutoring + a separate part time job) and have decided to drop the tutoring, as I'm not in the position to leave my other job. Previously, I worked more hours in both of my jobs and it became too much for me. In addition to previous feedback and the predicted workload, I've decided to step down from tutoring for this year. I am opening up this tutoring opportunity temporarily to any Victorian post-VCE ANers first and will be posting separately about this as well. If interested, please read the other post, which I've linked over here and then PM me.   

In other uni-related news, I'm very excited about the new students pouring in and hope that you guys have a wonderful time wherever you're attending uni, no matter that be Monash or not. Congratulations on your offers!

We should definitely have a Monash meet up sometime in the next few months as people are adjusting. I'm sure everyone would appreciate having more friends this time of year. I look forward to meeting many of you, on the off chance that I can. (I'll be running from either work or Honours stuff. Trust me.)
« Last Edit: January 19, 2018, 12:37:40 pm by AngelWings »
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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Vaike

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #21 on: January 17, 2018, 06:55:10 pm »
+2
Date: 17th January 2018
More excitingly - after a fair while of being a sitting duck - I got an official offer for Honours in genetics. Finally it's arrived and the ball can start rolling once again.

Congratulations AngelWings! I'm so glad you finally got the offer, genetics honours sounds very interesting :)

We should definitely have a Monash meet up sometime in the next few months as people are adjusting. I'm sure everyone would appreciate having more friends this time of year. I look forward to meeting many of you, on the off chance that I can. (I'll be running from either work or Honours stuff. Trust me.)

This is a great idea. A Monash meet up sounds awesome, and it'd be great to hear from a BSc student such as yourself!

AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #22 on: January 19, 2018, 12:41:45 pm »
+1
Congratulations AngelWings! I'm so glad you finally got the offer, genetics honours sounds very interesting :)

This is a great idea. A Monash meet up sounds awesome, and it'd be great to hear from a BSc student such as yourself!
Thanks so much, Vaike! Can’t wait to meet you and many others in person! I’m sure you’ll have some interesting science stories soon, too. :P Feel free to talk with me any time. I swear I don’t bite. Not even a little bit!

Side note: My previous post now has the link provided.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2018, 11:30:38 pm by AngelWings »
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
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Sine

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #23 on: January 22, 2018, 03:03:14 pm »
0
seeing as you are doing honours right now (congratulations  :D) did you do a 3990 research project in 2nd or 3rd year?

Joseph41

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2018, 05:51:48 pm »
+2
Late to the party, but congrats on the Honours offer!

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #25 on: January 22, 2018, 05:54:35 pm »
+1
Great job on getting the offer for Honours, massive congrats :)
2017-2018: VCE
Methods | Specialist | Physics | Chemistry | English | Texts and Traditions

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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #26 on: January 22, 2018, 08:16:38 pm »
+7
seeing as you are doing honours right now (congratulations  :D) did you do a 3990 research project in 2nd or 3rd year?
Thanks Sine! To be honest, you don't need to do a 3990 project to get into Honours. In the Department of Biological Sciences, the only unit requirement is BIO3011, which I've done an AN review for, so clearly I've done it. I even did that without doing the stats pre-requisites and loved it! Besides BIO3011, you must also keep a minimum of a distinction average in your top 4 Level 3 BIO/ GEN units for entry + have a supervisor and rough project idea(s) ready for application time, which is due November every year for both Sem 1 and 2 intakes for the following year. It used to be that you could waiver the BIO3011 pre-req with a Level 3 genetics unit, which I did an extended major in, so... definitely done my share of those.

However, I did actually do a 3990 project last semester (so... 3rd year in Sem 2, 2017), alongside my 2 GEN units and CHM unit to complete my minor. I got a crash course on evolutionary biology modelling. Not sure if I can discuss this much further than that it was on rates of evolution, but this is a topic I can probably talk to you in person about. Sorry about that. Hope you understand.  :-\ (All the more necessary to meet up one day!)

EDIT
EDIT: I found a post regarding my project on the communal university journal thread. Here it is:
Date: 13th October 2017

Today's events
- Ran in late to my lecture because the bus broke down; thankfully it broke down right outside uni
- Went to collect my first ever scientific poster in print (It was fabric!)
- Submitted said poster.
- Wrote a pitch for said poster.
- Went to chemistry tutorial
- Ran late to a meeting with my supervisor, because tutorial ran slightly late
- Went to poster conference and mingled, discussing my research project.

So close, yet so far! Just two more orals, a big report and three exams... then I'll be done with my undergrad degree!
Honours is considered to be undergrad, so that last line is now false. :-[

Late to the party, but congrats on the Honours offer!
Never late when you're the admin. Just fashionably on time!  ;) Thanks so much, J41!

Great job on getting the offer for Honours, massive congrats :)
Thanks Marvin! First semester last year was tough, but I caught up in the second semester. Just in time too!
Means I'll have to work that much harder to be granted at least a second class Honours (my new goal)!
« Last Edit: January 22, 2018, 11:38:52 pm by AngelWings »
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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #27 on: February 14, 2018, 12:12:26 am »
+12
Date: 13th February 2018 (This got posted late.)
I'm back with less than a week left until I begin the Honours orientation program, which starts on Monday. I've been in and out of the books and articles for Honours in preparation, but it's been stalled by life (which is what seems to always happen for some reason  ::) ; the uni students will know what I'm talking about). In all honesty, I'm almost done with the articles. The books were the ones I got stuck with due to borrowing issues.

It's quite exciting to know that in just a week, I'll be beginning this crazy journey through my fourth year at uni. (Person: You're still here, AngelWings? Me: Yup.) I'll most likely regret putting myself through it come thesis deadline, but I'm just pleased that I even reached this point at all (I surviiiiiived), so I'm going to feign confidence until it's real. That usually works. Usually.

I'm also a little anxious as I know it's going to be tough. Honours is mostly about the personal journey for me, so I think it might be interesting to see how this will go and whether I can actually endure much more than I believe I can. 2018 will be the year I find out what my limits are.     

Aside, if you've been reading the posts around here, we've established a potential meet up next week (O Week) at Monash as well. There are now around 22 hours until the poll closes to choose when it'll happen, so you better get hopping if you want to vote (click here for the survey). Hopefully this actually takes off and some of us actually get to meet in person!
« Last Edit: February 14, 2018, 10:31:08 am by AngelWings »
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Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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Joseph41

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #28 on: February 15, 2018, 02:31:20 pm »
0
^Great entry. I think you'll surprise yourself. :)

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AngelWings

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Re: "I think" - AngelWings' University Journal
« Reply #29 on: February 25, 2018, 05:47:52 pm »
+9
^Great entry. I think you'll surprise yourself. :)
Thanks Nick!

Date: 25th February 2018
So... induction. One week down, one to go. Induction consists of two weeks of the entire Biological Sciences Honours cohort that begin this semester (there's mid year start too) going through the basics and all the obligatory stuff. The reason, of course, is that you can't let a bunch of people just rock up and just start random experiments straight away. On the plus side, we'll be extra prepared and have the time to make friends.

Talking of friends, I walked in on Monday morning having known probably 1 in 5 people and being friends with two of them. About 5 days later, I have become at least acquainted with most of the cohort. "So AngelWings, did you actually make any friends?" I hear you ask. Short answer: yes.

On Wednesday, I met up with the one and only Floatzel98, unfortunately missing everyone else who stopped by, due to induction classes. It was wonderful to catch up with him, having met him in 2016 (if my memory serves me correctly).

Aside, I've been assigned some background reading. I've got a bit of a long weekend, as some of the sessions are project-specific and are not applicable to me. So instead of fighting the back-to-uni crowd tomorrow, I'll be tucked away with my scientific papers, reading and trying to make heads or tails of it.

I'm a little distracted by friends' birthdays right now, but I know everything will be done, if I can just check things off one at a time. I eventually get everything done on time, so I'm not fussed.

For now, I'm going to get that birthday stuff sorted out. Until next time, AngelWings out.


Side note: One friend was the one I mentioned below on the Random Thoughts thread.
Any ideas on thoughtful birthday gifts to a close friend (guy)? I always get stuck on this and trusty ol' Google ain't so helpful this time around. Would prefer to reference Japan where possible due to past events.
I figured it out, with the link to Japan. Found a nice little card which seems to do the trick. Rest of the gift appeared in a thought I had this morning and have done previously for a bunch of my friends before, so I'm pretty sure he'll appreciate it. Thanks to all that gave me advice! :)
VCE: Psych | Eng Lang | LOTE | Methods | Further | Chem                 
Uni: Bachelor of Science (Hons) - genetics
Current: working (sporadically on AN)
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