Within a Cooee! Advice Tool

I’m thinking about uni, but I’m still not sure, conversation starters directed towards regional people who are considering university as an option.

Introduction

Being Regional

I’m Thinking About Uni

Go for it!

You can do it!

Do it because you want to

Be intentional, take your time

Look at all your options

For school leavers: Gap Year, ATAR

Ask lots of questions

Costs

What if I change my mind?

Study options to think about

I’m at Uni:Now keep going!

Like a Rollercoaster

Study options to think about

Universities usually offer a range of ways to undertake your course (sometimes referred to as mode of delivery). The terminology varies between institutions, so you will need to check, but here is a general guide:

  • On campus means that all or most learning activities (lectures, tutorials, labs, demonstrations) take place on campus and face-to-face. You would probably need to live within a reasonable distance from the campus.

  • Blended or hybrid learning: this is a mix of online and on campus learning. You would need to attend campus regularly throughout the semester.

  • Online learning: this is where at high percentage (around 90%) of learning is delivered online. Learning goes wherever you are as long as you have access to good internet and technology. There is greater flexibility around when you study so you need to be self-disciplined and organised.
  • Block mode: this is where most learning is online, but where there are blocks of time (e.g. 1-2 week periods) during semester where you attend on campus face-to-face learning.

  • Placement: this is a requirement for some courses (for example, nursing, medicine, education) where you spend a period of time in a variety of real-world environments under supervision. You may not be able to choose where you are placed, and you may have to bear the costs of travel, accommodation, take time off work, organise childminding etc. However the learning on-the-job is a critical part of the learning process and good preparation for working in the field

Online?

Don’t let the distance or commitment required stand in the way of your dreams – studying online at university is extremely flexible and versatile with study modes/work load and it’s worth a bit of trial and error to get a best fit. Once settled in you won’t regret it. I was able to work 3 part time jobs around my studies and still have an enjoyable social life/overseas travel.

Louisa is 21-25 from outer regional SA, in 4th year of Disability and Development, fulltime online. She is first in family and lives in an isolated region. She also works part-time

  • If you are in the low socio-economic/working class family who would not be able to afford to send you off to uni, say to the city (i.e. rent, living expenses), then look for distance/online education (Judy)

    Judy is 41-50 from an inner regional area, in 2nd year Accounting part-time online. She has children, works part-time and has community commitments.

  • Studying online is a great way to go. It makes your schedule much more flexible to fit with casual work. (Tyler)

    Tyler is 18-20 from an inner regional area, in 1st year Psychological Science, fulltime in block mode. She is a student with disability and from LSES background. She works a casual job and is involved in extra-curricular activities

  • It is a good idea to talk to current students to gauge their experiences of online. (Evie)

    Evie is 31-40 from an outer regional area, in her final year of education online, fulltime. She has children, community commitments and works part-time

  • If not a face to face degree, ask yourself, do you have the motivation, diligence, resources such as internet to complete the degree. What support is available to you – like a Country University Centre. How will you study and when will you study? (Simone)

    Simone is 41-50 from an inner regional area, in 4th year accounting, online part-time. She has children and other caring responsibilities, is involved in the community and works part-time

On campus?

Go for regional campuses – they are amazing. There are a lot less people, but that means you can access a whole lot of services from the main campus. It’s a great way to ease into formal education

Brooke is 18-20 from inner regional NSW, in 2nd year Commerce, fulltime in blended mode. She is first in family, has community commitments and works part-time and casual jobs

  • Being at a small regional campus it just seems to me like a really supportive, really lovely group actually … and things like the campus manager baking cakes for morning tea, that kind of stuff. I guess you don’t get that in the big city campuses (Melinda)

    Melinda is 41-50 from an inner regional area, in 1st year Accounting fulltime in blended mode. She is first in family and from working class background. She is mum with community commitments and part-time work

  • I really enjoy the face-to-face contact but because we are only a small campus, face-to-face isn’t always possible. In one respect I feel like I’m disadvantaged from that. I’m able to do online reasonably well, but I just feel I get more out of it if I do have face-to-face (Chloe)

    Chloe is 49 from outer an regional area, in 2nd year education part-time in blended mode. She is first in family and from working class background. She has children and works part-time

  • Make the effort to use the campus facilities available for study. Being on campus regularly allows you to build relationship and connection with the staff and other students which is important especially when it is a smaller campus. (Christine, staff)

    Christine (staff) has been a student administration officer for 4 years at a regional universities centre

  • Do as much as you can on campus for your mental health and to force you to do things because home has distractions (Aaron)

    Aaron is 18-20 from an inner regional area, in 2nd year software engineering, fulltime and commutes to campus 4 days a week. He is from working class background, has a part-time job and is an elite sportsperson

Move away?

I think, be prepared to weigh up all the factors of moving to the city, and it can be a hard BUT a rewarding decision.

Georgie is 21-25 from remote SA, in 4th year Arts, fulltime in blended mode. She is from LSES circumstances, works part-time, and is involved in community commitments and extra-curricular activities. She is far away from family

  • I think it’s important to recognise that university is super big, especially when coming from the country. Think about accommodation, connections and how to look after yourself well. (Georgie)

    Georgie is 21-25 from a remote area, in 4th year Arts, fulltime in blended mode. She is from LSES circumstances, works part-time, and is involved in community commitments and extra-curricular activities. She is far away from family

  • I do feel a lot better living here now in terms of mental health; it’s just so great to have your own independent lifestyle – moving away from home often brings you a lot of opportunities and you get to meet new people which is really, really cool. (Cassie)

    Cassie is 18-20, from a remote area and is in first year of Psychology. She moved 500kms from home to attend fulltime on campus (until COVID). She also works a casual job, and is from working class background.

  • Probably homesickness is kind of a big part of it … I just try to remember that I can call whenever – this is not forever; I’ll be home at Christmas, it’s going to go so quickly (Cassie).

    Cassie is 18-20, from a remote area and is in first year of Psychology. She moved 500kms from home to attend fulltime on campus (until COVID). She also works a casual job, and is from working class background.

  • For me it wasn’t a tough decision to make, I just felt like I wasn’t ready to leave home (Carey)

    Carey is 18-20 and in 2nd year of Medical Lab Science, fulltime on campus. She is first in family and from working class background. She also works a casual job

Ways to be ready

Make sure you are self-motivated and disciplined as there won’t always be others around to keep tabs on your progress or provide continuous encouragement (Rachel)

Rachel is 31-40 from an outer regional area, in 2nd year Law, part-time and online. She has children and is from working class background.

  • Just learn to take the ass whopping. Someone will always have an opinion on what you are doing and that yours is always wrong (Irene)

    Irene is 31-40 from an outer regional area, in 2nd year paramedic science, part-time in block mode. She is first in family, from LSES and working class background. She has children and works full-time and casual jobs

  • Be disciplined (Rae)

    Rae is over 51 from an inner regional area, in 2nd year social sciences, fulltime and on campus. She lives with disability and also is carer for other family member(s)

  • Do not let anyone look down at you for how inexperienced you are. Give it a go, you never know where it could lead you. (Indigo)

    Indigo is 21-25 from an outer regional area, in 4th year Business, fulltime and on campus. She is from working class background moved 600km from home. She is busy with part-time work, community commitments and extra-curricular activities

  • It will make you stronger and certainly makes you grow up fast, and you will miss your family a lot but it will be okay (Abbey)

    Abbey is 18-20 from an outer regional area in 1st year nursing fulltime, and moved far away from home. She is first in family and from working class background.