Otago HSFY chat - archive

[papermoth]

Re NCEA vs HSFY, I'm inclined to say don't worry too much about that now, and when you do need to worry about it, you'll have access to the uni's online database of past exams, and THEN you can *see* the difference for yourself.

Re finding study space, the library is quite empty at the beginning of each semester, becoming more crowded as the semester progresses, and becomes absolutely packed by exam revision time. It goes from "turn up at any time and expect a seat" to "turn up and spend some time looking for a seat" to "turn up earlier in the day and find a seat, then try to coordinate between friends to hog that seat for a whole day" to "turn up when the library opens or you won't find a seat". Do explore the Science Library as well - I found it consistently a better place than Central, but most people prefer Central and it's somewhat variable.

This.

Exam times are hell. Hell! I once walked around the whole of central, all of science and ended up back home :| Not ideal if you're lugging around text books (nb: a proper backpack is an invaluable asset!). And this other time in science the only seat I could find was at a coffee table. You better believe that's where I studied.

Only thing I'd add is make use of group study rooms. My mates and I managed to hog study rooms all night for most of the exam period by booking well in advance and plan ol' breaking the rules. But don't book one and end up chatting 2 hours straight (I quickly learnt who not to study with the hard way).

 

[Cathay]

One thing that never failed me: go to the library as soon as it opens.

 

[mango101]

Thanks for all the answers! Is everything that could possibly be tested in the exams covered in the lectures, labs and readings given to us by the lecturers? Or are we expected to find some information out on our own accord?

 

[Cathay]

Thanks for all the answers! Is everything that could possibly be tested in the exams covered in the lectures, labs and readings given to us by the lecturers?

Yes. In fact, HUBS is the subject of much whinging because they cover stuff from the readings that isn't found in the lectures Very rarely will you be truly expected to find information independently, and that only occurs on one or two occasions in the CELS and BIOC GLM's - Guided Learning Modules, but you'll hear about them later.

 

[Caesar]

HSFY 2012 Study Group

I have a proposition for all of you HSFYers this year which could be cool: A study group made of us.

When I think about it, the people on this website are obviously serious enough about medicine/dentistry to be here. It seems there is only about a dozen of us here at all, compared to the >1000 other people doing HSFY. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I do my best study in a group - where questions can be answered by peers and everyone can get on the same page, leaving no man behind etc etc. We could keep each other on track with our heads in the game. I'm thinking at least once a week, hopefully more, and depending on how many of us there are it'd be a great opportunity to coach each other on our respective weak points.

All going well, we could be a solid unit that ends up going through med school together. Or failing that, we could at least get in lol!

Does anyone think this would interest them?

PM me if you'd rather not post

 

[papermoth]

[MENTION=5278]Jubs[/MENTION], we tried that last year. Epic fail. But you lot seem more onto it so all the best!

 

[Caesar]

@Jubs , we tried that last year. Epic fail. But you lot seem more onto it so all the best!

Fingers crossed we get enough keen peeps. What went wrong if you don't mind my asking? Was it simply that no-one showed or could be bothered?

 

[Cathay]

Hey now, it wasn't so epic a fail. We had a weekend study group going, even in the snow, but then I couldn't be bothered being a health sci in the weekend, so I stopped studying in the weekend altogether, and there was an outbreak of cbf-itis, I recall?

 

[papermoth]

The only time I went we were kicked out of the library :| (snow). So as you can imagine that time didn't work out all too well.

Apparently though there were one or two good sessions before it the whole thing fizzled out. Cathay can probably give you a more comprehensive answer; it was his brainchild after all.

EDIT: right... there you go cathay to the rescue

 

[Cathay]

@Jubs it was me going "hey do you guys wanna go study together in the weekend?" "yeah okay whatever", and three weeks later "Sorry, I cbf studying in the weekend anymore" "yeah okay whatever"

The first time, I was there with froot and Ben, we even dragged Pine into it, and as surprising as it may be, there was actual studying going on. (You said you'd show up, paper, but you didn't!) The second time, we had the snow business. Then as I said, I really stopped bothering putting effort into health sci (reflected in my lower-ish 2nd semester grades) and stopped studying in the weekend altogether.

Should you pull this off, you guys will have the advantage of having it in first semester, when people are still excited and nervous about health sci, so that'll work in your favour. Second semester is when people get lazy.

EDIT:
Note: If you happen to invite yourself into a study group, forgetting to turn up would be poor form. (Paper )

 

[greenglacier]

Something like this was tried in 2009 I believe and worked moderately well.

It's always worth getting a group like this started, because sometimes they can work really well. If you can get yourself in a position where the group isn't held together by any one person, even better - that way you don't have to worry about always finding a time/location that suits everyone.

 

[Ben]

Hey now, it wasn't so epic a fail. We had a weekend study group going, even in the snow, but then I couldn't be bothered being a health sci in the weekend, so I stopped studying in the weekend altogether, and there was an outbreak of cbf-itis, I recall?

^ this. I got pretty lazy throughout the 2nd semester, that and most of the time I found it was easier to study in my flat... Although group study is pretty beneficial- see: first group study attempt.

 

[papermoth]

EDIT:
Note: If you happen to invite yourself into a study group, forgetting to turn up would be poor form. (Paper )

Bahaha! Point noted (in all honesty I did forget mmkay!)

[MENTION=5278]Jubs[/MENTION], you should probably have a general meet up first- this way you find out who's comfortable with the whole idea of meeting randoms (+ get to know each other). From there I think it's easier to commit to something like a study group. Getting dragged to our MSO meet up helped me feel more comfortable with cathay and co., turns out they aren't ax murders after all, and so inviting myself into the study group was a walk in the park (showing up was the challenge).

 

[unidenj]

I found group studying to work really well especially if you have morning lectures you can book study rooms all afternoon between everyone you study with. It was so helpful to have a group of people to bounce your thoughts off if you are unsure or confused about something, it was also great for doing GLMs and such as I wasn't in a hall to steal answers off people lol! Only downside is the random conversation that happens every 5mins if your really over studying which as said above happens by semester 2 but you need the break from all the HSFY crap!

 

[papermoth]

If you can help it always do GLMs and Maori online tests in groups (especially the latter!).

 

[chococroissant]

Hey

I'm keen for group study sessions.
I wouldn't mind organizing them myself

 

[ricebubbles]

Hey, I'd be keen for the study group too

 

[mango101]

What day are you guys arriving at your residential places?

 

[ricebubbles]

19th Feb. I'm at Arana. What about you?

 

[papermoth]

19th Feb. I'm at Arana. What about you?

BOOH!! *runs off* I kid

You should probably get use to people irrational not liking you because you're at Arana though, especially Critic mag- can't recall them saying a nice thing about Arana all year haha.