Engineering at Monash- Social life?

[princessofpersia]

Hey guys,

Hope your all having a gloriousss day  Just wanted to ask a question regarding Monash Uni- the engineering facility.

So, I've been reading some threads here and there and picked up that  courses like Monash MBBS and Latrobe Dentistry have some cool social events like balls, sports stuff etc.

Well how about Monash engineering (you can discuss any course)? I understand engineering  has mannyyyy more students than the aforementioned courses... but wouldn't there still be some socialising opportunities?

Also, do you really get to know any of your uni mates? because I'd love to go uni and meet some new friends and chill (ya feel me?)

I know this question sounds shallow, but one aspect of uni that excites me is the  prospectus of meeting new people and chilling with new folks, hence my question is asked.

[Aaron]

In a general sense (I don't do Engineering at Monash, so this is my own experience), friendships are the result of effort at the uni level. Given there are so many timeslots for classes that you can pick, it's often difficult to have a timetable that is aligned with somebody else's timetable. So for example if you wanted to catch up for lunch at 12pm, where you've got a 1 hour break... your friends may not. It's not like high school where the entire cohort is available at a specific time. So to answer your question, "do you really get to know any of your uni mates"... that is totally up to you and the amount of effort you put in (of course, it's a two-way thing but they aren't as easy as high school, that's for sure).

I'll leave the faculty-specific comments to someone from it. Good luck with uni

[princessofpersia]

In a general sense (I don't do Engineering at Monash, so this is my own experience), friendships are the result of effort at the uni level. Given there are so many timeslots for classes that you can pick, it's often difficult to have a timetable that is aligned with somebody else's timetable. So for example if you wanted to catch up for lunch at 12pm, where you've got a 1 hour break... your friends may not. It's not like high school where the entire cohort is available at a specific time. So to answer your question, "do you really get to know any of your uni mates"... that is totally up to you and the amount of effort you put in (of course, it's a two-way thing but they aren't as easy as high school, that's for sure).

I'll leave the faculty-specific comments to someone from it. Good luck with uni

Thanky you so much. that did really clarify some things I had in mind. really appreciate it my friend 

[keltingmeith]

So, obviously I'm not engineering, but here's some things I've discovered in my science degree:

-In first year, you'll meet a few people, might see them again, but you really start to realise pretty much what Aaron suggested - you'll need to put effort into any friendships you want to keep.
-In second year, you'll start to specialize in the stream of engineering you want to do. Now, as it turns out, a lot of people at this point will be on VERY similar trajectories to you. You won't share all the same classes, but at this point, you'll probably find a few people in the same stream as you who are doing the same units.
-In third year, you'll basically hit pinnacle high school social life. Everyone will be doing the same units as you, with small variations. You'll probably have a clique of people all doing the same stream of eng, all doing the same activities. At this point, they're more like a bad smell.
-In fourth year... No clue, soz. This is where science and engineering are really different. /shrug

But yeah, essentially, you will be in a position where you know a bunch of people in your "cohort". It's still at least a hundred-something person cohort (up to 500 I feel? Just based on the many different streams, cutting that up from a few thousand), but it's not going to feel like a high school social setting again until third year. However, you might find some kindred spirits in one of the MANY engineering clubs on campus (in o-week, check them out - apart from the main society, MESS, there's a club for each stream. Or close enough, at least). Otherwise, look for friends in special interest clubs, like the board games club, or the harry potter club, or circus club.

Don't stress too much - if you can put in the effort to go to events and talk to people, you'll make new friends. If you can't, well, you're going to have a bit of a rough time.

[princessofpersia]

So, obviously I'm not engineering, but here's some things I've discovered in my science degree:

-In first year, you'll meet a few people, might see them again, but you really start to realise pretty much what Aaron suggested - you'll need to put effort into any friendships you want to keep.
-In second year, you'll start to specialize in the stream of engineering you want to do. Now, as it turns out, a lot of people at this point will be on VERY similar trajectories to you. You won't share all the same classes, but at this point, you'll probably find a few people in the same stream as you who are doing the same units.
-In third year, you'll basically hit pinnacle high school social life. Everyone will be doing the same units as you, with small variations. You'll probably have a clique of people all doing the same stream of eng, all doing the same activities. At this point, they're more like a bad smell.
-In fourth year... No clue, soz. This is where science and engineering are really different. /shrug

But yeah, essentially, you will be in a position where you know a bunch of people in your "cohort". It's still at least a hundred-something person cohort (up to 500 I feel? Just based on the many different streams, cutting that up from a few thousand), but it's not going to feel like a high school social setting again until third year. However, you might find some kindred spirits in one of the MANY engineering clubs on campus (in o-week, check them out - apart from the main society, MESS, there's a club for each stream. Or close enough, at least). Otherwise, look for friends in special interest clubs, like the board games club, or the harry potter club, or circus club.

Don't stress too much - if you can put in the effort to go to events and talk to people, you'll make new friends. If you can't, well, you're going to have a bit of a rough time.

thank you thank you thank you so much for giving such a detailed insight. I feel bad for just seeing this, but you my friend have given me hope. once again, thank you so much xx

[Zealous]

So, obviously I'm not engineering, but here's some things I've discovered in my science degree:

-In first year, you'll meet a few people, might see them again, but you really start to realise pretty much what Aaron suggested - you'll need to put effort into any friendships you want to keep.
-In second year, you'll start to specialize in the stream of engineering you want to do. Now, as it turns out, a lot of people at this point will be on VERY similar trajectories to you. You won't share all the same classes, but at this point, you'll probably find a few people in the same stream as you who are doing the same units.
-In third year, you'll basically hit pinnacle high school social life. Everyone will be doing the same units as you, with small variations. You'll probably have a clique of people all doing the same stream of eng, all doing the same activities. At this point, they're more like a bad smell.

Definitely agree with all of the above! You've got it preetty much spot on.  I'm doing Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Engineering (starting third year now) and I'll just add my thoughts.

1st year: a really awkward year. This is where everyone is new to uni and has no idea what's going on. You'll most likely make friends most in your laboratories or tutorials. Yeahh, you can make friends in lectures as well, but it's really awkward connecting with them since you pretty much say 'hi' to them, listen to your lecturer then say 'bye' to the at the end. The laboratories are better because you're actually stuck with people (and your teammates for ENG1001, ENG1002, ENG1003) and you've got to work with them... it may be for three hours at a time or even longer (ENG1002 final project in week 12 uhhh).

There's a few other things to consider. When you make friends in first year, you've got to realise that unless you're planning on doing civil (very popular), you're probably not going to be in the same stream as them as soon as you hit second year. I made quite a lot of good friends in first year but some went to civil, some went to mechanical, some to materials etc... I picked electrical and computer systems and now I only occasionally bump into them around uni. I of course don't regret making friends with them because it was soo fun while it lasted but unit codes are really good at separating people.

You'll also find that in first year a lot of people don't even know what engineering stream they want to do. So when you meet them (let's say you know what stream you want to do), you won't even know whether you'll see them more around or not.

2nd year: as eulerfan mentioned, if you're doing straight engineering you'll start making friends here. You'll probably have a course map and a list of required units you need to complete, so that means if you meet someone else doing straight engineering they'll probably be sharing 3-4 subjects with you. It's a really good opportunity to start making long term friendships with others doing the same stream as you.

It's a bit different for people in double degrees... since I'm doing commerce and engineering, I did two engineering and two commerce units each semester (instead of four engineering if I did a straight degree). Makes it a little harder to make friends since you're doing things out of order compare to everyone else. Though it has been nice for me meeting people doing straight engineering because they've already done the units I'll be doing this semester (private help desk!)

Finally, another thing to consider is distance. When you're in high school (non-selective) most of the students are probably going to be living around your suburb. Once you hit university you'll find people are from all over the place. North side, west side, south side, east side... it makes it that more difficult to meet up with people and hang out in your free time - or even during holiday breaks. So keep that in mind too and make an additional effort to spend time with your friends while they are all at university instead of when everyone's spread out and can't be bothered taking PT to the city haha.

That's all I really know for now. I'm about to start on third year but I'm actually doing exchange in Malaysia so it's a whole different experience. All the best for this year!

[princessofpersia]

Definitely agree with all of the above! You've got it preetty much spot on.  I'm doing Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Engineering (starting third year now) and I'll just add my thoughts.

1st year: a really awkward year. This is where everyone is new to uni and has no idea what's going on. You'll most likely make friends most in your laboratories or tutorials. Yeahh, you can make friends in lectures as well, but it's really awkward connecting with them since you pretty much say 'hi' to them, listen to your lecturer then say 'bye' to the at the end. The laboratories are better because you're actually stuck with people (and your teammates for ENG1001, ENG1002, ENG1003) and you've got to work with them... it may be for three hours at a time or even longer (ENG1002 final project in week 12 uhhh).

There's a few other things to consider. When you make friends in first year, you've got to realise that unless you're planning on doing civil (very popular), you're probably not going to be in the same stream as them as soon as you hit second year. I made quite a lot of good friends in first year but some went to civil, some went to mechanical, some to materials etc... I picked electrical and computer systems and now I only occasionally bump into them around uni. I of course don't regret making friends with them because it was soo fun while it lasted but unit codes are really good at separating people.

You'll also find that in first year a lot of people don't even know what engineering stream they want to do. So when you meet them (let's say you know what stream you want to do), you won't even know whether you'll see them more around or not.

2nd year: as eulerfan mentioned, if you're doing straight engineering you'll start making friends here. You'll probably have a course map and a list of required units you need to complete, so that means if you meet someone else doing straight engineering they'll probably be sharing 3-4 subjects with you. It's a really good opportunity to start making long term friendships with others doing the same stream as you.

It's a bit different for people in double degrees... since I'm doing commerce and engineering, I did two engineering and two commerce units each semester (instead of four engineering if I did a straight degree). Makes it a little harder to make friends since you're doing things out of order compare to everyone else. Though it has been nice for me meeting people doing straight engineering because they've already done the units I'll be doing this semester (private help desk!)

Finally, another thing to consider is distance. When you're in high school (non-selective) most of the students are probably going to be living around your suburb. Once you hit university you'll find people are from all over the place. North side, west side, south side, east side... it makes it that more difficult to meet up with people and hang out in your free time - or even during holiday breaks. So keep that in mind too and make an additional effort to spend time with your friends while they are all at university instead of when everyone's spread out and can't be bothered taking PT to the city haha.

That's all I really know for now. I'm about to start on third year but I'm actually doing exchange in Malaysia so it's a whole different experience. All the best for this year!

awesome, awesome, awesome post. thx so much- and guess what- I'm looking towards studying Commerce and engineering double degree! I really of have hope in meeting some awesome people, especially during the tutorials. tysm and wishing you all the best for your exchange in Malaysia.