Jan 24
Enrolment Pt.2
As I said yesterday, there were tears. And they weren’t because of the frustration of being without my glasses, although that might have contributed to my emotional state; along with the the heat, and the long journey, and Caspar’s boredom.
You see, I’ve already done 5 years of a Bachelor of Arts. Full time. After switching majors, I only had a few subjects left to get all my points and graduate before moving on to a Dip. Ed. Going to a different Uni, with a different course structure, I wasn’t expecting to get everything credited, but I was expecting to be finished pretty quickly. But this Uni has a policy. If it’s over 10 years old, it doesn’t count.
I have to start the whole bloody thing from scratch.
And what was my major? History! Has history changed in 10 years? I don’t think so.
So there I was, frustrated already by the enrolment process which is always an administrative nightmare, and being shuffled around to different buildings and people in order to get the advanced credit sorted out, only to end up with the kind of answer I least wanted to hear.
And there I was, having to look through the course guide and sign up for first year classes I hadn’t even considered. Which I had to do myself. Online. It made me wonder why I had bothered to take a 5 hour trip to enrol. So I could use their computer labs? I have a computer.
But there was a coffee shop and after stripping Caspar off because he had poured his entire bottle of water over himself while I was in the lab, and after a latte and a babycino, the future didn’t look so bleak.
Because I love studying.
Because life doesn’t have a strict timetable.
Because the Uni is situated on a direct tram route from where I most want to live when I get my house sorted out.
Because the campus is really nice and they had a great looking child care centre.
Because I think I’ll now be a little self indulgent and do Philosophy, which my old Uni didn’t have.
So look forward to posts with big, wanky words and big, wanky ideas. And meet the almost 35 year old “Freshman”.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
The past isn’t what it used to be …
That 10 year rule might be a standard thing — it’s the same at Melbourne. But the bright side is that you get to do more subjects!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Don’t talk to me about universities and child care. I was accepted into a uni I specifically wanted BECAUSE they told me they had child care services. And did they? No, of course not.
But you’re right - that’s silly. history is history. And don’t worry, I’ve written the odd wanky post about my academic past too
January 24th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
After getting my degree straight after school, I went back years later - only to do a single subject, but still. The experience of studying again as a “mature age student” was very different from the earlier, and interesting in its own right. I was so much more confident and relaxed. (Though I did sometimes feel rather ancient, surrounded by all the firm-skinned young things.)
The subject was Aesthetics. I already had a Philosophy Major, and I got interested in questions about art because of my involvement with poetry and poets. It was rather nice that most of the students doing that subject were also mature age, and also doing it because of their passionate professional involvement in the arts. It was a fun year.
Do you have to / want to do History again? I was going to major in that first time around, but fell for Philosophy instead and History became my sub-major. (Obviously I also majored in Eng. Lit.) If you are starting over, you need not be limited in any way, need you?
I feel excited on your behalf!
(Aww, don’t they say “fresher” any more?)
January 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I think you’re going to love it.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:51 am
What particular period/country of history do you prefer the most?
A few uni’s have the 10 yr policy or even less for some in NSW- so my best mate aka frustrated returned student tells me.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:14 am
http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php - Here is the website for an optical place that sells prescription eyeglasses CHEAP!! A friend of mine just got the glasses that he ordered from them and I couldn’t tell the difference between them and the $600 pair that he bought at the eye doctor. My friend is from Florida and he said that several people that he works with have purchased from them and have been pleased.
Not sure how bad shipping would be to your area.
Thought you might need the information
January 27th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I have a feeling 10 years is pretty standard too. And I think I should have already known that. But yes, I get to do more, and I’m going to love it. Better a couple more “poor years” than an impoverished mind.
Karen the uni I used to go to, and wanted to go back to, is the same. It says it has childcare, but it is actually just associated with a general facility off campus. Where I’m going now, it’s right there.
First semester, I’ll probably just leave Cas with Big Sis rather than subject him to the travel but when I move, it should be great.
Either way, I’m looking forward to it. And I have a month to get on top of everything online and at home before classes start.
Jayne, my previous studies were mostly 20th century. My overall favourite is the Spanish Civil War. I like 20th century US history, and I have a soft spot for the Tudor/Elizabethan periods although not an academic interest there. When I intended to go on to post grad stuff I was going to study anarchism in Australia. Much easier access to source materials for that rather than the SCW.
Thanks for the link, Enola. I think I’ll probably go pick up some old frames at an op shop (thrift store, I think you guys call them) rather than use my sister’s because her frames are Calvin Klein’s and worth $400. I’ll find somewhere cheap to get the lenses locally. No CC to buy online.
Oh, and Jayne, with your interest in history, you should check out Brett’s blog. It’s all about his thesis research.
January 28th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The Spanish Civil War has an important supporting role in my research, actually. I’m certainly no expert, but it’s been a good opportunity to learn something about it — such a fascinating period!
And yeah, it would have been smart to do a thesis topic on Australian history … I lucked out with a lot of my primary sources being available in the State Library, but there are just some questions that I can’t answer with the materials here.