University thread, heres a question

[Marcos]

Would you agree that Uni is more about what you put in than what is given to you?

Im in a tough situation, i feel like the Uni im going to may not be able to provide high quality lectures and tutor support that i may get at another uni. But i think it has all the other things that would help me along the way.

But I also think i'll be able to put in the effort needed to make up for the Uni's shortcomings.

So anyone had similar experience in the past? Is Uni more about what you learn outside the course and in your own time? Or is it a terrible idea that i should have to work harder to do my own research and learning.

Course I am applying for is Computer Aided Product Design at Bournemouth University. (Not the arts institute).

Opinions much appreciated

[Dorza]

Yeh. Uni is hugely different to school or college. Its mostly research, and referencing* (*when you got essays/assignment). They hand things out and they expect you to research the topic beyond what they have provided you with. I don’t get a huge amount of hand outs either compared to college. We're ALWAYS told to go to the library and read a book or go on the net and do some reading. Its mostly down to you at the end of the day. However if you need support your uni should provide you with it. If you show ur interested they will help you. If you cant be bothered then neither will they be. One of my lecturers says for every hour we have in uni we should do 2 hours revision or studying in our own time. But tbh i don’t listen to this since every one works in different ways. Despite the fact that there’s more for you to do, i find uni far less stressful than college was. Maybe this is because i done an avce in ICT which was virtually 6 100+ projects a year, and now most of my assignments are under 20 pages. Its totally laid back for now at least. I know that in the 3rd year ill have a dissertation to do and from what I know of them their huge.

[Nick F]

I am nearly finished now, only a couple months to go until graduation and I gotta say with my subject (psychology) I could easy miss all the lectures and just do the work in my own time. The lectures account for 10% of what you learn and the rest is done in your own time. Not sure if it the same with computing though.

[Dorza]

I am nearly finished now, only a couple months to go until graduation and I gotta say with my subject (psychology) I could easy miss all the lectures and just do the work in my own time. The lectures account for 10% of what you learn and the rest is done in your own time. Not sure if it the same with computing though.

Yeh I could easily miss most of my lectures in the first year. Im doing Web Development btw. With me the first year is just covering the basic stuff, and i dont wanna sound cocky or nething but i know most of what we've done so far through past experience. Next year will probably be a different story when we go to server side stuff and flash but i could still learn that at home quite easily. Id much rather work from home (i live at home and travel the 10 miles to uni every day) aswell since i got my own computer, my own space and no one distracting me.

[Kezzer]

Yup, even in the first year it's all about learning outside of the lectures. In fact, it's pretty much pointless for me to go to some lectures at all! I do lots of reading in my own time and if i didn't, i wouldn't pass my units.

You don't get as much out of it though as you expect. But yup, it's much much harder work and more time is spent on self study

[Elmo]

i was positive i replied to this thread :s maybe i dreamt it....

[noah]

i'd definately agree with the other guys, it's all on you for sure. sometimes we all wish it was like school and handed to you on a plate, but at the end of the day it's all about learning the skills to do it for the rest of your life.

being a medic my first year was a little different i had 30-35 hours of lectures every week so less reading at home, but many of my mates had 4 hours of lectures a week and they'd be crazy not to do any more work, those lectures are only a taster/intro to the subject.

at cardiff we have a personal tutor assigned to us (ive not met mine this year, oops) who can help with questions about learning/exams or you can talk to your lecturers and im sure they'll help if you're nice.

and remember the first year is mainly designed for FUN

[roacheford]

mainly down to how much time you put in yourself.
first year is less so but by the time you get to your 3rd year, it almost 100% up to you.

[Nick F]

if I don't get 68% in my three modules semester I am gonna get a 2:2 which I will be well pi***** off with.

Ah well, at least we are in a much better position than alot of people in the world.

[Elmo]

My chemistry course is a bit too jam packed full to do any outside reading. You cover so many totally different (yet slightly over lapping in some areas) subjects that you'd have to read a HELL of a lot of books to even scrape the surface of some of them, they're mainly just tasters of what you might like to specialise in for your 4th yr project/pHD.

It's also really hard to find the time to read outside the course what with 20hrs of lectures, 3hrs of tutorials and 16hrs of Labs a week along with reading over lecture notes, doing work for tutorials and writing up lab reports.

However, no one ever said uni was easy, it's not meant to be, if it was there really would be no point. You just have to try your best.

Personally, if it hadn't been for the amazing student union (who gives away ipods and dvd players as pub quiz prizes ) that i'm a member of, i dont think i would have stuck it out this long. you need something to help you unwind, and the social side of uni is almost as important as the learning side. Just as long as you dont spend all day every day in the bar, and know when you need to be studying and have the will power to do so

[Swafe]

Yeah Elmo I know how it is, my chem is a toughie, 15 hours of lecs a week, 16 hours of labs, tutorials, homework, lab reports....geez and dont forget no reading week for science students, 10 week terms, where your weekends are occupied with homework...not a break.

Now, Ive missed some work, but only the work I could, and I plan on doing it over my now easter holiday to make up where I missed out, have to agree with the reading, there are 200 pages I need to read, and thats without any extra which really should do more of..

[iranu]

Lots of good comments posted. Uni is basically what you put into it. I'm talking all aspects here. It's not just about the subject you intend to study either.

I would say lectures are important - go to them (I had to attend >95% of my lectures during 4 years of an engineering degre or there was no pass). Tutorials likewise as this is where you get most support.

If you are interested and enjoy the subject of study then there shouldn't be a problem. If you do ahev any issues when studying then it's also within the Uni's own interest to listen to you. The local NUS representative is a good contact if you feel the quality of lectures etc is lacking.

[Marcos]

Thanks for the feedback everyone , really put my mind at ease.

Another question is, what would be my choices should the Uni really be poor? Could I transfer? Would the new higher fees apply?

[bertie]

What Unis are you deciding between?

[Marcos]

What Unis are you deciding between?

I've only applied to Brighton & Bournemouth.

I guess the only thing in my decision with those 2 places was that i think the surroundings will be new and interesting. I dont want to have another 4 depressing years in the midlands

I visited about 7 places last year and bournemouth and brighton were the only ones i could really see myself spending time at. Although some of the other unis had some fancier facilities.