Otago Halls of Residence

[miss_universe]

@frootloop , your suggestion is to accept any offer -.-

But I'm more picky of where I live - I prefer an older fashioned place, without '21st Century values'. And in my mind polytech students are academically lesser human beings and they might distract me more from my work :/ (Which may seem mean)

I was just wondering if they might think "screw this person, he's rejected so many offers we'll just let him flat by himself". And I obviously don't want to flat by myself.

No, they won't think like that.
And also, if you feel that way about 'polytechs', I think you might have some little problems with a lot of modern youth.

 

[Ben]

@frootloop , your suggestion is to accept any offer -.-

But I'm more picky of where I live - I prefer an older fashioned place, without '21st Century values'. And in my mind polytech students are academically lesser human beings and they might distract me more from my work :/ (Which may seem mean)

I was just wondering if they might think "screw this person, he's rejected so many offers we'll just let him flat by himself". And I obviously don't want to flat by myself.

I seriously doubt the hostel accommodation admin are going to offer you hostels which are more sought after by other applicants if you continue to decline their already existing offers.

Polytech students aren't 'academically lesser human beings', they just don't follow your dream to do medicine (or anything else you deem to be of worthy occupation) - which, if you're accepted, will involve you working with previous polytech students... Seriously, with your current perspective, good luck.

[offtopic] You're in the wrong century to get your preference all the time, btw. [/offtopic]

 

[Havox]

But I'm more picky of where I live - I prefer an older fashioned place, without '21st Century values'. And in my mind polytech students are academically lesser human beings and they might distract me more from my work :/ (Which may seem mean)

I was just wondering if they might think "screw this person, he's rejected so many offers we'll just let him flat by himself". And I obviously don't want to flat by myself.

With an attitude like that no one will ever want to flat with you anyway.

 

[godoftoast]

Having the optimal campus is always top priority. If you start associating with riff raff early on then you will become a vagabond fiend too. Its a huge problem with modern society - I suggest you mail your local MP and ask what he can do to assist with moving along these proletariat putain pilchards.

 

[miss_universe]

Hahaha you're so funny. Stop trolling GoT.

 

[greenglacier]

Okay Fitzwilliam, I'm gonna be honest here. If what you said about polytech students is true (and wasn't just you trolling), you've got some serious rethinking to do, particularly if you want to end up studying med or dent.

There is NOTHING inferior about polytech students. In fact, you'll probably find many of them to be just as academically able as yourself (if not more able). Even if some of them don't score as highly as yourself in academic exams, so what? That's just one of many skills in life (and a pretty minor one to be honest). They'd be able to wallop you in many other areas. Polytechs are not inferior versions of universities. They just offer a different range of courses. If it weren't for the fact that med schools bring in a lot of research funding, medicine should by all rights be a polytech course (the same can be said for dentistry).

From what you've said I think it'd be very very good for you to go to a hall that has polytech students, so that you can come to appreciate that they are equal human beings that deserve your respect. Should you end up as a doctor you'll have to work with nurses (who, believe or not, were once polytech students), and you better believe that they won't tolerate any such arrogance on your behalf.

Get over it. You'll have a good time at any hall. If you turn down this offer then you won't necessarily get another - your scholarship grants you a guaranteed place in a hall, which has been offered. Turn it down and you've turned down that guarantee.

 

[Midi2Med]

@frootloop , your suggestion is to accept any offer -.-

But I'm more picky of where I live - I prefer an older fashioned place, without '21st Century values'. And in my mind polytech students are academically lesser human beings and they might distract me more from my work :/ (Which may seem mean)

I was just wondering if they might think "screw this person, he's rejected so many offers we'll just let him flat by himself". And I obviously don't want to flat by myself.

Polytech students are not incompetent, actually quite the opposite.

I did first year midwifery last year at Otago Polytech. I'll tell you the admissions process to get in:

1. Firstly, you have to realise that there are 800 people wanting the 75 places that are on offer.
2. You need to have the academic background to get in. If you do not meet their requirements, they will suggest you do a bridging year, so you can handle the rigours of studying. For me, I did some human biology and health science papers at Massey before applying to increase my chances of getting in.
3. You need to have 2 references - a work reference and a character reference. These are also anonymous, so you have no idea what your referees have written about you.
4. You undergo a police check, along with a health check and immunisation check. You also need to be clear of MRSA (which is actually quite an easy community-acquired infection to get), TB, HIV, Hep A and Hep B.
5. You are required to write an admissions essay, about 2000 words in length, about why you want to be a midwife and what skills and life experience you will bring. Plus it has to be referenced using APA.
6. You send that all in, and wait about 2 months for your outcome. I know of many people who were turned down because they did not have the academic requirements, despite possessing a university degree.

So after you have accepted your offer, you then have to deal with the workload. The first year is the easiest, in turns of clinical hours. But it is still hard. You are doing a full-time workload academically, and have to fit in 200 hours at the hospital, which includes 10 night shifts. Doesn't sound so bad, but then you are also following 6 women throughout their pregnancies and you have to attend all appointments with their LMC and the birth itself (and some women will 2 day labours), along with the 6 week PP period. Because of this, you are on-call, 24/7. On top of that, you have to attend regular workshops to learn practical skills, such as baseline obs, IV cannula insertion, neonatal assessment, suturing, IM/SC injections, insulin administration, etc. You also sit a procal examination, which you are given only one chance to pass, and the pass mark is 95%, as any muck ups with drug calculations could negatively affect a person's life. Then there are OSCEs at the end of the year.

And this is only the first year. Second is year is worse, where you are doing about 20 hours a week of clinical placement along with academic workload, and the births, etc. Third year is the worse, you spend all of your time at a hospital/birthing centre/antenatal appts, plus you have all of the assignments to complete. Along with studying for state registration exams.

So you are telling me that polytech students are academically incompetent? What about the nursing students, who also have a similar workload. Plus the art school at Otago Polytech has one of the best reputations in the country. The polytech also offers vocational degrees that universities do not offer. They also provide courses to allow people to upskill as well.

I'm not doing midwifery now, due to a marriage breakup and looking after a toddler, but hey, you will probably say I am academically incompetent. I have studied at university, and my GPA is 8.21 (if you to not take into consideration the fail marks I got for my clinical placements, as I was unable to complete that part). Oh, and I was studying law at university as well.

I'm sorry if this seems to be an attack at you, but it gets me angry when people put down polytechs. They serve a purpose in our community and should be respected.

*gets off soapbox*

 

[Pineapple]

BOOM.

FitzWilliam i dont think you should turn anything down in your position, otherwise you could be in the position of having nothing... what places have you turned down? If you get an offer from like UniCol or something i think you should take it... you don't need to be in an 'academic' hall' without 21st century values to get into med or whatever it is you want. you will make friends in any hall.

also you dont need to be in an old fashioned hall like st mags to keep up your old fashioned values. you aren't in a position to be picky. perhaps give the accommodation office a call to discuss your options.

 

[Fitzwilliam]

Oh gosh... I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I didn't mean it like that.
I just meant that in my mind if you averaged all the NCEA test scores of Uni students and averaged the NCEA test scores of polytech students, the test scores of the University would be higher. Therefore, on average (in my mind), University students work harder and do better. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but there's a reason why more people go to Universities.

If I were going to polytech, I'd want to be surrounded by other polytech students and not Uni students. I just think that being around more people with the same goals as me will help me in achieving them.

@Ben There's only 3 Halls of Residences that I don't want to get into; the others are fine. I don't want to get into any particular one at the moment, just not the 3 that I don't like.

And also, if you feel that way about 'polytechs', I think you might have some little problems with a lot of modern youth

I have nothing against polytech students, but yes, I do have a problem with today's modern youth.

Having the optimal campus is always top priority. If you start associating with riff raff early on then you will become a vagabond fiend too. Its a huge problem with modern society - I suggest you mail your local MP and ask what he can do to assist with moving along these proletariat putain pilchards.

I know you're being sarcastic but yea, I do think that having a decent Halls of Residence is top priority.

 

[frootloop]

I just meant that in my mind if you averaged all the NCEA test scores of Uni students and averaged the NCEA test scores of polytech students, the test scores of the University would be higher. Therefore, on average (in my mind), University students work harder and do better. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but there's a reason why more people go to Universities.

Digging yourself further into a hole, you are.... As has been pointed out to you, that mindset is just plain wrong, and I think everyone would agree when I say this: You'll want to get over that mindset, or your life in the medical profession will not be a pleasant one...
ETA: And, as someone who did miserably under the NCEA system, I'd have to say I'm not all that keen on you judging people's worth or work ethic based on high-school marks...

 

[miss_universe]

I hope people give a serious response to you.

Surrounding yourself with like minded people is one thing, but to disclude others because of it, is discrimination.

 

[Havox]

I just meant that in my mind if you averaged all the NCEA test scores of Uni students and averaged the NCEA test scores of polytech students, the test scores of the University would be higher. Therefore, on average (in my mind), University students work harder and do better. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but there's a reason why more people go to Universities.

Just no...Those nurses are gonna be ripping you a new one mate.

EDIT: Assuming that you'll get in.

 

[greenglacier]

I just meant that in my mind if you averaged all the NCEA test scores of Uni students and averaged the NCEA test scores of polytech students, the test scores of the University would be higher. Therefore, on average (in my mind), University students work harder and do better.

No.

If I were going to polytech, I'd want to be surrounded by other polytech students and not Uni students. I just think that being around more people with the same goals as me will help me in achieving them.

Alternatively, being around polytech students could help you better unwind from the stress of HSFY (you know, not being completely surrounded by paranoid HSFYers and all that).

I know you're being sarcastic but yea, I do think that having a decent Halls of Residence is top priority.

All the halls are decent.

 

[Ben]

@Ben There's only 3 Halls of Residences that I don't want to get into; the others are fine. I don't want to get into any particular one at the moment, just not the 3 that I don't like.

Meh, as GG has stated "your scholarship grants you a guaranteed place in a hall, which has been offered. Turn it down and you've turned down that guarantee", good luck.

 

[Fitzwilliam]

You guys now probably think I'm a hating troll that only wants the best and doesn't have an open mind about others.

I'll just stay quiet now. You can ignore that I even posted the question in the first place.

 

[Havox]

You guys now probably think I'm a hating troll that only wants the best and doesn't have an open mind about others.

I'll just stay quiet now. You can ignore that I even posted the question in the first place.

Actually, we don't think you're a troll. We think you're a misguided individual with a desperate need of an attitude adjustment and some experience in the real world. We welcome any and all discussion here which fall within our rules.

 

[frootloop]

You guys now probably think I'm a hating troll that only wants the best and doesn't have an open mind about others.

No, just that you have a little mind-widening to do, and maybe to learn to not look a gift horse in the mouth. Which will likely happen at some stage during your future studies

 

[greenglacier]

@Fitzwilliam

Look, I know it's hard to have so many people telling you you're wrong, that you need an attitude change, etc...

However, believe me when I say we don't get pleasure in putting someone down or making them feel discouraged. I'd say there's a good chance that in a couple of years time if you look back on this conversation you might start to realise why you've gotten the reaction you have.

I guess what I'm trying to say is yes, maybe leave this matter to rest. However, I'd love to see more posts from you in the forum, and I'd love to see you stick around.

Also, once again, just accept the hall offer. You'll have a low chance of getting another one if you turn it down and trust me, you'll still have a great time and do just as well academically.

 

[miss_universe]

Yes, as greenglacier said.

Welcome to MSO! (probably too late)

 

[chococroissant]

So change of subject.

This question has probably been answered before, but when is a good time to fly down to Otago in February- for the course enrolment, etc.