The Only University for Me

At the end of year 11, I attended a young scholars program through the University of Queensland. This introduced me to many different areas of study available at the university and I had my heart set on attending it. It is one of the highest-ranked universities in Australia, therefore I wanted to work hard to be accepted and see it as an achievement. I got an OP1 and was able to make it into my course.

I believe that the course curriculum is very well organized and provides sufficient detail for students to see what they will be learning. For the first year, it covers a wide range of psychology areas and allows students to choose more specific branches once they reach second year.

I chose psychology because the way the human mind works and factors that influence our decisions has always interested me. I needed an OP7 for this program, and currently, I have achieved a GPA of 6.25. Although there were no tests required for me to complete to get into this program, I was able to get straight into honors.

As a first-year student I do not have much information on placement and job opportunities. However, I do know that placement for other courses is very well designed, where students are involved in large blocks of placement that expose them to working in the real world. It allows them to witness a myriad of circumstances in their workplace and is an invaluable procedure.

The university offers opportunities for students to be involved in work related to their field, research participation and campus work. In psychology, there is a notice board with job and research opportunities available to students, with information on how to apply. The campus itself has many foods, book, and retail stores which anyone can apply to work for.

The college celebrates several events. Currently, sustainability week is underway, aiming to make students aware of their impact on the planet. Recently, NAIDOC week was celebrated with several performances and shows on offer to students. Other events have included volunteer expos, vegan markets and many more.

Fees can be paid via a HECS debt which allows students to put off payment until they are sufficiently able to afford it. There are many scholarships available to not only international students but Australian residents, each of which has a different criteria for applying. For example, new students who achieve high academic scores may be eligible for the vice-chancellor's scholarship.

I receive the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship, having applied through QTAC. This scholarship is for students from a rural area who have achieved high academic marks.

The exam structure is very well organized. Students know exactly when their exam is and where to go. They know what equipment is allowed and the exam rooms are always well set up.

The university offers a wide range of lecturers and tutors, all of which I have learned a great deal from. They are experts in the field and have extensive knowledge on the content they are teaching. They also offer excellent tutoring services for students looking for extra help behind lectures and tutorials.

I decided to live off-campus and in an apartment primarily due to costs. Although living on campus would be amazing, for my first year of university I have house shared to minimize upfront costs and save some money.