General operation of TAFE? (1 Viewer)

[Kel Varnsen]

Ok so I made it into uni this year, but after a couple of weeks I realised what a huge mistake it was choosing the course I chose. It's not that I couldn't handle it, it just wasn't the type of thing for me. Along with that I generally found uni to be really depressing, and the three trains I had to take to get there were a pain in the ass, especially if I only had a 1 hour class that day. I stuck it out for a semester for the sake of my parents, but I've been looking at starting the marketing course at TAFE for a while. The orientation day for the Marketing Certificate IV is on the 30th June I believe but before that I wanna know what exactly I'll be getting into, so yeah, if anyone can answer a couple if questions that'll be great.

Is it just classes, nothing like lectures?
Does each class have assignments and exams?
Are there breaks in between classes?
What is the average age of people there? Like will I be surrounded by people in their 20s or older?
How many hours is each day?
Also when do we get information on what textbooks to buy?


Sorry if I sound ignorant or stupid asking these, just wanna get the gist of what TAFE will be like cos as of right now I don't know much. Also if anyone doing marketing has any info on the course (difficulty, classes, anything), please share.

 

[ambermorn]

These are good questions to ask the course coordinator at your TAFE, but I'll try my best to answer based on my two years at TAFE. My friend is doing the same course as you too.

Classes in my course were not run in a lecture format, but asking questions was kept to a minimum as there were tutorials for my classes as well specifically for questions.

Each class will have assignments, exams, or a portfolio to submit. You get a unit outline in your first class detailing these and the due dates, so it's similar to uni in this aspect.

My campus was very laid back and would allow a quick break in a two hour class, otherwise breaks could be taken in scheduled classes that you personally do not take (like electives). My teachers didn't mind if we ate in class either, but my campus was very chilled out, I've heard of other campuses even disallowing gum.

This tends to depend on the course, I had people from 17 - mid 30's. Given that your course would need completence of year 12 or equivalent (from memory) or a Cert III in a marketing field, I wouldn't expect people any younger than 17. Most will tend to be in their early 20's I'd imagine, given the friends my mate has there.

This also depends on your timetable and if you're a day/evening student. I was a day student and rarely did more than 4 hours a day (spread over 5 days a week). My mate is an evening student and goes in 2/3 nights a week for a few hours (keep in mind this would be more intense in workload).

I didn't use textbooks, but from memory my mate got them before he started, so they must have a list at orientation or something. Otherwise, details would be released in the first week.

Hope that helps, you'll find that TAFE has a similar atmosphere to uni though smaller and more personal. Good luck!

 

[blerkles]

If you are worried about travelling, have a look at OTEN (which specialises in Tafe by distance). They've got some new marketing and advertising courses available now. If you have already done a bit at uni, by all means apply for Recognition of Prior Learning when you get there.