The HSC is a distant bleep on the horizon while your university future is ridiculing perspective by not appearing as far in the distance as you thought. So, for you dear pre-fresh meat, here's your university enrolment walkthrough. Complete with all those adhd people that fill the university promotional booklets.

Getting your offer

The main round of entry offers is what you should be hoping for. Late round offers are unpredictable and Christmas just happened so the likelihood of a miracle is greatly reduced.

The offers are released in "abrupt internet gulp" fashion which means clicking on a button while your clammy hands drum ditches into your desk while waiting for that one screen to show such vital information. My core was shocked to its very core when I saw that I actually got my first preference. I had filled out all my preferences just in case with the ninth one being Dip. Figurative Dance at LaTrobe (Rural Campus).

You'll most definitely be using the internet to get your offer. Back in the TERassic period, people camped outside petrol stations waiting for the newspaper. I think some romantic people raised on Heartbreak High still do that. The paper shows you everyone-in-the-state's university offer from Aaron to Zsang so you can start highlighting the names of everyone in your entire school and primary school. (Admit it! You did that!)

Choosing Your University Subjects

The gap between receiving your offer and enrolment is shorter than Kate DeAraugo's career. You'll need to choose your subjects even faster than Maybe Tonight was displaced by Lee Harding (about a week) . Alright, that's enough Kate bashing.

With so many subjects to choose from, it may take some serious time. However, it won't cause the need for head-banging spakfilla too soon because after they've been locked in at enrolment, you'll have a lot of time to change them. Something like two months for USyd and changing them is all online and very simple. Still, it's good to have a great idea of what you're planning to do well in advance. You'll want to pick up a course book from the university since it's easier than scrolling through the bible-length pdf the website offers.

Kate has failed.

Enrolment

Enrolment is boring and tedious. More boring and tedious than having to spell it "enrolment" instead of "enrollment" like "enroll".

It involves going to the university stacks early in most cases and jumping from station to station all around the university. This is based on my 2005 USyd experience. I think the ID cards are made differently now at the very least.

- Wait for a while outside MacLaurin Hall
- Collect your enrolment sheet
- Fill it out on tables that are too low
- Go to the payment enrolment area
- Go to the subject enrolment area
- Put some survey in a bin
- Go to a new building
- Go to some other payment station
- Go to the "actually payment" station (receipt moment)
- Go to the student card station
- Get some bag with information
- FLEE

It'll take about 40 minutes if you get there early and already know your subject codes as there will be few lines. Otherwise, there'll be waiting at every station and by the end you'll need to shave again. Guys too.

Look around, you'll see these faces again in your lectures. They'll see your face too so if you fall down the stairs or have a fit or something, you'll never be forgotten.

Receive your timetable

With access to MyUsyd, you'll be able to get your timetable during O-week.

Getting text books

Co-op Shop. The most dangerous word.. two words.. one and a half words.. thing in the english language. It's VERY first year to buy all your books brand new. Soon, you'll learn that some books they want you to buy you may use ONCE or never.

It's not essential to get all your books in the first week but if you want to avoid lines, get them very early. Or else get them online. It's not hard to know which books you need. Just type in your course code on the co-op website. If you're going into the shop itself, the books for each course are on sheets next to the relevant section.

First week

Your first week of lectures will NEVER be as crowded again across your entire university life. Then the numbers treacle away and you won't have to sit in the aisles in a pool of shame if you're late.