Interviews  

O-Week minus the disorientation - The Australian
 By Brendan O'Keefe, 31 January 2007

AUTHOR and publisher Bronwyn Polson was offered an accurate prediction while on a pub crawl bus during her O-Week back in 1998.
"An older student said to me, 'You'll see all of your friends naked this year'," she recalled.

"I just couldn't believe it; I guess I was just a sheltered young thing, but it turned out to be true by the end of first year."

(The HES, being well brought up, did not inquire into the circumstances.)

Widespread nudity was one thing Polson was not expecting and there were many other surprises, which is why she has co-written The Beginner's Guide to University, with fellow ex-Deakin student Gary Newman.

"It was quite overwhelming," Ms Polson said of her introduction to tertiary study.

"We were asked to sign up for a tutorial ... I didn't know what that was.

"I didn't know what a major was. I didn't really know how to sign up for subjects. So the idea of the book is to give people all that information, so they don't have to go through the confusing phase and they can hit the ground running."

She found her way around "by trial and error". Polson studied arts and law at Deakin from 1998 to 2003. She and Newman edited the student magazine and were student representatives. "I did all-nighters on the magazine," she said. "For the international law moot one year I spent every single day of summer on campus. I have a great affection for it."

Polson's first advice to new students is: be informed about what's going to happen when you get there, so you're not confused and disoriented.

"Make friends. A social network is important. Get involved with uni culture."

And think about your work-life balance: "Don't party too much but also don't study or work too much."

The book, which will be updated each year, contains up-to-date information on course fees and student allowances. It offers advice on how to enrol, what course to choose, how to use libraries and lectures to best advantage, how to get involved with social and political groups, how to budget and what to expect in shared accommodation.

Two great student pastimes, boozing and intimate fraternising, get their own (mainly cautionary) chapters. Don't drink too much, or you'll "wake up in the morning with a swollen head and no memory of how you've squandered next week's rent", it advises.

And: "If you are lucky enough to find love at uni, be sure to tear your snouts apart for long enough to hit the books once in a while."

The Beginner's Guide to University, Polman Press, $24.95.

Tips Bound to Improve the Tertiary Experience - The Age
 By Olivia Hill-Douglas, February 26, 2007

AFTER years of school life ruled by bells, assemblies and roll calls, switching to the freedom of university can be a thrilling experience.

But it can also be a very alienating one.

It's not as easy as just turning up and slotting into a new life. Making university fun takes work.

And that's where The Beginner's Guide To University, by former Deakin University students Gary Newman and Bronwyn Polson — who met as editors of the student paper — comes in.

The book is a guide to all things tertiary, including mastering effective study methods, finding somewhere to live, learning how to navigate the labyrinthine administration and kickstarting your social life.

"A lot of people are led to believe uni is going to be the best experience of their life, and that can be true, but the student needs to be proactive about seeking that," says Newman, 29. "It doesn't just fall in your lap. It's not until you search for that amazing culture that you're going to find it."

It's easy to be overwhelmed in the first year of university, Newman says. The East Melbourne arts/law graduate — who works as a graphic designer, publisher and part-time musician — wishes someone had been there to give him the right advice from the start of his university career.

"I was actually quite a terrible student. I made a lot of big mistakes. Not least of all I drank too much and studied too little.

"It took until about fourth year to find out how it all worked, and I was wishing I had a guardian angel to watch over me to tell me everything."

The book also helps fill the gap left by the introduction of voluntary student unionism, which cut funding to the student organisations that would often make this kind of information available to new students.

"We think that student culture is under threat and we want to make sure that today's students are aware that there's a lot more to life than books and studies," Newman says.

New students would not necessarily know what they were missing out on, he says.

"We want to make sure that they are fully aware of the opportunities and get the most out of their time at university."

For Newman, the erosion of student culture is a serious issue.

"Research has shown that students who immerse themselves in a vibrant student culture enjoy an easier, more effective transition (to post-university life)," he says.

"I don't want to underplay the importance of marks here, but I think there is a lot more to university than that."

The book also has tips on how to stretch a meagre budget to the limit, advising students to be textbook savvy.

Should it be on the required reading list? "I reckon it is a bit of a bargain (rrp $24.95), to be honest," Newman says.

Plunge Into Uni Life - Herald Sun
 By Jeanette Hill, 16 January 2007

Get a head start on juggling your lectures and party invitations, writes Jeanette Hill

YOU won't cry when your mum leaves or worry about the grade-six kids bullying you, but in many ways starting uni is similar to Prep.

The environment is new and full of strangers, the workload is a different ball game from school and you have to start again in the friendship stakes.

Adjusting can be tough and being an adult, at least in theory, won't make it any easier.

Being prepared is your best weapon. Bronwyn Polson, co-author of The Beginner's Guide to University, says incoming tertiary students have little understanding of what lies ahead, and problems often occur because they swing one way or the other.

``If you get in with a crowd that just parties, the chances are you will too,'' Polson says.

``But if you study every minute and don't make friends, that is not good either. You need to be informed, know how to make choices and get the balance right.''

Part-time employment is an issue with big ramifications.

Students without jobs have no money and often don't eat properly, Polson says. Others who work too many hours also fail to eat properly and don't study hard enough.

``Put study first, give it enough time and organise a study timetable,'' she says.

``Try to be smart about managing your money by planning how you will pay all your bills.''

Some students get into trouble over alcohol and drugs, Polson warns.

``Our book is not saying don't but that you don't have to,'' she says, ``and you need to be informed about the downside. We talk about all the different drugs and their effects.''

Lectures and tutorials are a new experience and, though no one expects you to study all the time, you need to have a clear understanding of the requirements and of what to do if you fall behind.

``You do have to put in some work and you will find yourself pulled in all directions,'' Polson says. ``Find out how to get an extension on an assignment and how to prepare for exams.''

Deakin University manager of student recruitment and counselling Mari Barry says the best thing incoming students can do is to develop social networks.

``We see a lot of kids suffering from loneliness and depression as a result of isolation.

``Whether it is among people in their course or in university clubs, they need to gather a network of people around them,'' she says.

The time that students spent lying around and socialising in the past is now usually devoted to paid work, Barry says.

``It is not just about balancing study and social life now, but about what is important in terms of financial responsibility, so there is less time to make friends,'' she says.

Uni Guide Covers Bases - Progress Leader
By Natalie White, 16 January 2007

FACING a year as one of the wide-eyed ``freshmen'' at university is a daunting prospect for school-leavers, but armed with The Beginner's Guide to University, it could be a lot easier to handle.

Camberwell writer Bronwyn Polson, 26, teamed up with fellow law graduate and East Melbourne resident Gary Newman, 29, to write a guidebook explaining how to achieve success at university in Australia.

``We studied at Deakin together and worked on the student paper,'' Ms Polson said.

``When we graduated, we also did a documentary together about student elections at Melbourne Uni.''

Ms Polson said the pair ``remembered how confusing it was'' at university, and decided to write a book that included ``all the info we wish someone had told us''.

``It's written in a humorous and practical way with pictures, box texts and interviews with famous Australians about their uni experiences,'' Ms Polson said. ``We include topics such as study skills and course selection, but also cover the topics of drugs, alcohol and sex, which is not really included in other books. We like to think we've covered all bases.''

The book includes contributions from Michael Leunig, Justice Michael Kirby, Dr Brendan Nelson, John Safran, Megan Spencer and Andrew O'Keefe.

``It adds another layer of depth to the book,'' Ms Polson said."

Top Shelf - Triple J
By Robbie Buck, 17 January 2007

The authors chat to Robbie Buck about surviving uni: listen to the full interview.

"It's a slightly daunting prospect to head off to an institution to begin the rest of your life. We're joined by a couple of people who may well be able to set you on the right path, indeed even if you're already at university. Gary Newman and Bronwyn Polson are the authors behind The Beginner's Guide to University..." Full transcript coming coon.