Vic Connect

Victoria University Newsletter

Welcome

Welcome to the second issue of Vic Connect, Victoria University’s e-newsletter for Year 12 and 13 students.

In this issue you will find:

Remember, most importantly, this newsletter is about you, so if you have any requests or ideas for stories we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to discuss options for Victoria, we are always happy to have a chat either by phone, over email or in person. Call 0800 VICTORIA (option 2) or email course-advice@vuw.ac.nz.

Study at Vic Day

Study at Vic Day is held once a year to give Year 12 and 13 students a taste of life at Victoria. Last year we had over 4,000 people attend.

The day is crammed full of fun, informative and exciting sessions, expos and tours, as well as a free BBQ lunch. Highlights of the day last year included:

  • The Over bridge Expo with displays from the University’s many Schools and Faculties where you can ask questions and gather information.
  • Tours of the Kelburn, Pipitea, Karori and Te Aro Campuses
  • Accommodation Tours of some of our Halls of Residence
  • Information sessions for students as well as parents and family.

New Science Building Opens

The brand new Alan MacDiarmid Building will be officially opened by the Prime Minister in late July. The main purpose of the building is to house the Faculties of Science and Engineering as well as specialised labs and research facilities. Highlights of the building include heaps of space for studying and socialising, new generation lecture theatres, sustainable energy and water-efficient technologies, as well as a Wishbone Café.

The building is named after Victoria alumnus and Nobel Prize-winner, Professor Alan MacDiarmid, who discovered that plastics can be made to conduct electricity – like in cell phone displays.

A Year in the Life - Part 2

Dain Clarkin is a first-year student from Hamilton. We first caught up with him in early April when he had just begun his BA in Political Science and International Relations. Our new Assistant Liaison Officer, Laura, sits down to talk to Dain about how his year is going so far…

How have you been? You must be in the middle of exams? How have they been going?

Yeah – I’m doing really well! I just finished exams yesterday! I only had two so that was good and they were four days apart so I had time to study in between. My Law exam was worth 60% so that was pretty major and my Pols [Political Science] exam was worth 50%. I think they both went pretty well – above average.

Great that’s fantastic! Now you can relax! What have you got planned for the mid year break?

Because my exams were so early in the exam period I have a three and a half week break. I am heading back to Hamilton after the weekend – I guess I will just relax, catch up with friends and family, and work on the farm to earn some money.

Wow, three weeks – that’s awesome! How did you find the lead up to exams?

I had essays due towards the end of the trimester so to be honest I didn’t even think of exams until those were handed in. In hindsight, it would have been a better idea to have studied more throughout the trimester. I will definitely aim to do that next trimester. During that week of study I did quite a few late nights but procrastination was a bit of a problem – Facebook in particular.  I found that I studied best when I worked with mates from class. Click here for information on improving your study techniques.

How are you finding life in Weir House now that you have been there for a whole trimester?

Really good! The food is really good, especially the lunches! They usually have bread and croissants and fillings and you can make your own toastie or burger or sandwich and either eat there or take it away. Now that its exam time they have quiet hours from 9pm instead of 10pm and also have supper - like banana cake and, unusually, Easter eggs.  I have found that there’s actually a bit of a bubble around Weir and the Uni – the only reasons I need to go down into town are to go to New World Metro or to go clubbing which I do a few times a month and I want to do some this weekend which is why I’m staying in Wellington until Monday instead of going home today (Thursday).

What have been some of the highlights of the trimester so far?

Definitely the inter hall competitions like the quiz night and the dance competition. With the dance competition there is a theme and most halls enter. For the dance competition this year, the theme was “evolution of…” Weir House chose to do evolution of film and we did a 10 minute dance showing that. 

Finishing exams is also a bit of a highlight. You’re really only at Uni for 30 odd weeks out of a year and its amazing how much you learn in such a small amount of time.

How have you been finding everything finance-wise?

Because the food is so good at the hall and because Weir is so close to Uni, the only things I really spend money on are things that aren’t necessary, like movies and so on. Sometimes I buy snacks but I try and hold off on them and wait for a meal at the hall. My parents give me a small allowance which I am pretty good at budgeting, so, while occasionally I blow it, other weeks there is heaps left over. I also worked over the summer so I still have some money saved. I did apply for the student allowance but haven’t heard back yet.  For more information on student loans and allowances click here.

How have you found it being away from your family?

It actually hasn’t been too bad – you do miss your friends sometimes but a few good friends came down from Hamilton so that’s good. I phone home every Sunday and I did go back up in the mid term break in April so the longest I’ve really gone without seeing them is seven or so weeks. But, yeah, it’ll be good to see everyone next week!

You mentioned last time that you are involved in the Victoria International Leadership Programme – how are you finding it?

I’m finding it great!  I went to a seminar by a senior International Relations Professor about Barack Obama at Rutherford House – it was completely fascinating and there were heaps of people there. For more information on VILP see our Leadership Focus.

That sounds great – do you still think you’ll end up doing an overseas exchange?

Yes definitely. Except now I think I am going to go to Washington DC instead of New York. It was a tough decision but I spoke to the people at Vic International who were really helpful and pointed out the drawcards of each University. In Washington I would possibly have the opportunity to do an internship with the US-NZ Council which would be awesome! It’s also the American capital so a political hub.

Have you got all your papers planned for next trimester?

Yes – I planned all my courses at the beginning of the year. Next Trimester I am doing a Media Studies course and two Pols [political science] courses. I’d recommend having them all planned at the start of the year because some courses have prerequisites and some may clash – you can always change them at the end of the first trimester.

How have you found everything with the Uni – have you had any problems with papers or deadlines?

Overall it’s been really good – I like knowing that deadlines are set in stone – at school it was always a bit easy to convince teachers to give you an extension so there wasn’t that pressure. I have had a couple of all nighters though.

When you spoke to with us last time you gave some advice to potential students, which was for them to work hard in year 12 and 13 to prepare for Uni. Now that you are a seasoned first year, do you have any other advice or insight for anyone considering coming to Victoria next year?

I still really think you need to have decent reading and writing skills and it’s a good idea to have at least an idea of what you want to do. If you’re not sure what you want to study you can just pick a degree that interests you and run with it for the first trimester because it’s really easy to change your major and degree later on. Also having a think about which hostel you want to go to if you’re from out of Wellington.

Year 12 Links

Victoria Scholarships

Year 12 results are really important for Victoria's School Leaver Scholarships, awarded to first-year students, so you'll want to work as hard as you can this year if you are going to apply for one of these. In 2010 we awarded over 350 scholarships.

There are two main scholarships available to school leavers for 2011: the Victoria Excellence Scholarships and the Victoria Achiever Scholarships. Both are worth $5,000 and are awarded based on Level 2 results (because University applications close before Level 3 results become available). The money can go towards your course fees – it is equivalent to the fees for most first-year programmes - or can be put towards accommodation at Victoria.

To apply for a Victoria Excellence Scholarship, you will need to achieve NCEA Level 2 endorsed with Excellence. If you have an equivalent level of achievement in another qualification you can also be considered.

The Victoria Achiever Scholarships support under-represented groups at Victoria, such as Māori and Pacific students, students with disabilities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve academically. To apply you will need NCEA Level 2 endorsed with Merit, or the equivalent.

For more information about Victoria's scholarships see our website or email scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz.

Planning ahead for Year 12s

Term 3 is the time to really start thinking about next year, especially planning the subjects you want to continue with or start, so that you will be set up for university study. 

If you are already thinking about what you might like to study at university, have a look at our planning ahead sheet (PDF 193KB). It will guide you through recommended subjects to best prepare you for specific degree programmes at Victoria. Remember that these are recommendations only and are not compulsory background subjects. If you have any queries about these, as always you can contact our team for help on course-advice@vuw.ac.nz.

If you are unsure about what you want to study at university and want to keep your options as open as possible, it is always a good idea to continue with sciences in Year 12 and 13, especially Physics and Chemistry which can be harder to pick up again at university. Mathematics is also a good one to continue with, particularly Calculus if you can manage it. No matter what you end up doing later, continuing with at least one essay-rich subject, such as English, is really important for analysis and communication.

Year 13 Links

Focus on Leadership

Leadership skills and experience, as well as knowledge of the constantly changing international environment, is more important to employers than ever before. Victoria has two well recognised programmes to help develop these important qualities in students: the Victoria International Leadership Programme and the Victoria Plus Award.

Victoria International Leadership Programme (VILP)

VILP was launched in October 2009 – the first programme of its kind among New Zealand universities. VILP is an academically-orientated programme designed to help develop valuable skills as well as enabling students to better understand and debate pressing global issues such as poverty and the economic climate. VILP is open to all Victoria students, excluding those in pre-degree programmes, at no charge. The programme includes seminars and debates, speaker events, and experiential activities.

“When I heard about the VILP programme at the end of my fourth year I found myself drawn to it. The programme really drew together all the various disconnected parts of what I had been studying. While the experiential points were great fun to obtain, the seminars and speaker events were as much of an experience as travelling to the other side of the world. It was particularly inspiring to hear President Jose Ramos-Horta of East Timor speak - a chance I wouldn’t have had but for VILP. The seminars also changed my perspective on so many issues: my favourites had to be Globalisation and Popular Culture in the Pacific, where a practical demonstration of the production of leis meant I truly understood globalisation for the first time, and Cross-Cultural Communication: one of the more oddly structured seminars but infinitely fun to participate in.”

“The VILP gave me a generous grant to help me with my Vic OE to France, in order to get to know the culture and country first hand. I loved it so much, and the people I met, that I stayed an extra trimester to really absorb the experience. I look forward to returning to New Zealand and seeking out more opportunities to get involved in international work. Participation in these activities does not just stop once you finish VILP and university – and I can’t wait!”

- Leonie Short, LLB/BA International Relations & History

Victoria Plus Award

The Victoria Plus Award is given when you graduate, recognising your significant contribution to volunteering and student support work. The award is a three-part leadership development programme for enrolled Victoria students. Commitment to volunteering, extra-curricular activities, engagement in workshops, networking and completing written reflections helps you develop your social responsibility, leadership and employability skills.

Daniel Parkinson holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria and will graduate with his second degree, in Information Systems this year. Daniel fully engaged with Victoria, working in student support roles such as Class Rep, Campus Coach as well as Executive of the University Bike Club.

Through these roles he developed his communication skills and learnt to motivate and encourage other students. The skills Daniel gained through this programme helped him secure an internship at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as well as gaining him a graduate position in 2011 with BDO Wellington.

Changes to Admission

Victoria's admission criteria have changed for students starting study in 2011.

You still need to have University Entrance but you will also need to meet the 'Guaranteed Entry Score' in order to be automatically accepted into the programme of your choice. For some degrees there may be additional requirements, for example the Bachelor of Music in Performance requires students to audition.

See the admission information on our website to see how the G.E.S works.

Hall of Residence profile

Victoria House

Victoria House is a hall of residence that has a strong community and academic environment. It is made up of multi-storey buildings housing 180 residents. Victoria House is only a 5 minute walk to the Kelburn Campus and a 5 minute walk to the CBD.

Cost: $289 per week single room, $198 per week twin share (2010 pricing – note that prices may change slightly for 2011)

Number of Students: 180

Student Types: Victoria house is most suited to first-year students and facilities are available for students with disabilities.

Food: Fully catered; three meals per day with vegetarian and meat options available at lunch and dinner; packed lunches and late dinners.

Internet: Wireless internet available throughout the Hall.

Support: There is a team of Residential Assistants at Victoria House to help you settle in.

Facilities: Outdoor grass courtyard, music room with two pianos, workshop and projects room, TV lounges including SKY TV, and three study rooms.

Parking: Covered and outdoor parking available for a limited number of cars.

Cleaning: Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, common areas are cleaned.

Smoking: No smoking but with smoking designated areas available outside the building.

Fun factor: “The recreation program provided by the team at Vic House is always good fun, rather amusing and a nice escape from study. Be it the activities planned for orientation week, karaoke night, themed dinners, copious sporting activities or just mucking around the hall, the Residential Assistants are always at hand to ensure maximum enjoyment is being had by all.” - Matthew Darling, Victoria House resident

UniLodge Stafford House

UniLodge Stafford House consists of furnished two and three bedroom apartments in Wellington’s lively CBD. From Stafford House it is just a 3 minute walk to Pipitea Campus and a 15 minute walk to Kelburn Campus.

Cost: $180 per week for a room in a two or three bedroom, self contained unit (2010 pricing – note that prices may change slightly for 2011). This price includes heating only. 

Number of Students: 301 students in 105 self contained units.

Student Types: Stafford House is suitable for all student types – from first years to postgraduate. It is also suitable for students with specific cultural, dietary or religious requirements. Four apartments are also designed for students with disabilities and/or who require wheelchair access.

Food: Self catered.

Internet: All bedrooms have 2Gb free per week of fast broadband.

Support: Residential Assistants provide general academic support.

Facilities: Common room with SKY TV and DVD, board games room, music room with piano, games room with table tennis and pool tables, study room, and a fully equipped gym.

Parking: There is no off street parking; however there is bicycle storage in the building.

Cleaning: Residents are responsible for cleaning their own apartment. All apartments have their own washer/dryer and dishwasher.

Smoking: Non-smoking building.

Fun factor: One of the joys of Stafford House is meeting and living with others from different cultures and language groups – we have students aged 17 – 50 + from every continent (except Antarctica).

Stafford organises our own, and participates in, the inter-hall activities run during Orientation and through-out the year. We have our own "Amazing Race", walking-buses for university and city familiarization, quizzes and team events. We have 'Floor' dinners, trips for ten-pin bowling, dessert nights, a trip to Mount Ruapeheu, and the famous annual "Stafford Ball".

NZ Scholarship Workshops

If you are planning on sitting NZ Scholarship exams this year then come along to Victoria’s NZ Scholarship Workshops in Wellington during the September school holidays. This year’s subjects and dates are still to be finalised, but see our website for a list of the sessions we ran in 2009. The sessions generally run for the whole day.

Meeting you this year

Find out about upcoming events and school visits.

There will be lots of opportunities for us to speak with us during the year. We are coming to visit all the regions in the next few months running Information Evenings and course planning sessions.

You will also have the chance to visit the University and have a look around at our annual Study at Vic Day on 27 August 2010. This is a great opportunity to see what it's like to be a Victoria student, with entertainment, campus and accommodation tours, and subject information sessions to help you decide what to study.

Our team is also available for one-on-one appointments in Wellington and Auckland if you would like to meet with us in person to discuss study options. See the events list on our website for when we will be in your region.

Planning ahead for Year 13s

Term 3 is the time to really start thinking about next year! Applications for Halls of Residences are due by 1 October 2010 and enrolment applications are due by 10 December for limited entry-courses and 10 January for open-entry courses. We really recommend having your application for enrolment in as early as possible. For more information on the application process, see your 2011 Guide to Study or click here.