FIRST YEAR'S GUIDE UNSW FINANCE AND BANKING SOCIETY
WELCOME to UNSW FINSOC would like to send a huge welcome to students starting their first year at UNSW! Your exciting journey at university starts now.
We can't guarantee the transition from high school to university will be easy, but maybe FINSOC's first year guide can help you just a little!
ABOUT FINSOC UNSW's Finance and Banking Society (FINSOC) is a prestigious constituent society that caters to students interested in pursuing a finance career. Being one of the largest finance-based societies, we aspire to be the first contact point for all students seeking to enter the industry.
CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS Getting Started 02
The Basics
04
Getting around campus
06
Your first term
About us 09 10
Opportunities
Upcoming events
PAGE 1
GETTING STARTED
PAGE 2
myUNSW my.unsw.edu.au On myUNSW, you will find all the essential student information including: your academic calendar, key dates, handbooks, enrolment, class timetable, exams, fees and forms.
Moodle https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/ Moodle is an online platform where you will find all course materials for your enrolled subjects. This includes; course outlines, lecture slides & recordings, assessment information and discussion forums. As some classes will remain online due to COVID-19, quizzes/assessments may be taken on Moodle.
THE BASICS unsw handbook https://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/ The UNSW Handbook is an interactive online guide to courses offered and your degree program. This includes; program structures, possible majors and minors and its required courses, career opportunities, and additional information.
Crossangles https://crossangles.app/ Crossangles is an online tool where you can plan your class timetable ahead of UNSW class registrations. This way, you can quickly select your classes when registrations open and secure your spot before the class capacity is full.
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timeweave On myUNSW, you will find all the essential student information including: your academic calendar, key dates, handbooks, enrolment, class timetable, exams, fees and forms.
AND MORE! unsw library https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/ This is where you can book various study rooms, reserve books and find academic papers for your assignments and university work! Hop on to also book research consultations, check for
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GETTING AROUND
CAMPUS TRAVELLING TO UNI If going by public transport, you’ll be able to catch either the lightrail or the bus. For the lightrail, if you would like to arrive at Uni on the upper campus, take the L2 Randwick Line lightrail and get off at UNSW High Street. For lower campus, take the L3 Kingsford Line and get off at UNSW Anzac Parade.
LOST ON CAMPUS? Scared of not being able to find your way around Uni? The app ‘Lost on Campus’ is here to help! Simply type in the name of the building/room you’re trying to find and the map provided on the app will guide the way! You’ll also be able to find nearby food places and toilets using this app as well.
ZOOM CLASSES As some of your classes may be online, you might be required to use Zoom to attend your classes. It may be a little tricky to get the hang of at first, but simply download the zoom app and enter your meeting ID number and display name. Then, you’ll be able to connect your audio and/or video and enjoy your class!
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FINSOC RECOMMENDS STUDY SPACES For study spaces, definitely visit the UNSW Business School, where 641 study spaces are available! You’ll also be able to find nice quiet study areas in the Main Library (floor 8) and the Law Library. Don't forget to book a room on UNSW Library for intense study sessions!
NICE PLACES TO EAT UPPER CAMPUS Matthew's Food Court Stockmarket (perfect for DIY salads and healthy options), Pho House, and Jewel of India are located here. Hop over to the Food court to grab a quick bite before your next class!
Subway There is nothing more convenient than a ready-to-go sandwich. Subway is located just a few steps away from the main library. use our QPay discount code to receive a $7 sub!
LOWER CAMPUS Roundhouse Head to the Roundhouse with your friends for a burger and a couple of drinks in the evening. We promise they sell amazing food at an affordable price!
Stellini's pasta bar Stellini's is also an extremely popular pick for students when they are at Lower campus.
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YOUR FIRST TERM With great power comes great responsibility. Alongside the freedoms granted in university comes some challenges which you should get dealt with from day one. Without teachers reminding you to keep on top of your assignments, the only person who will hold you accountable is you!
Use a calendar to keep yourself organised Remember to write down the deadlines for assignments and exams in your calendar at the beginning of the term by searching up your subjects’ course outlines on the UNSW website to make sure you don’t end up being overwhelmed and can plan and prioritise what to study.
Take notes Always make sure to make your own notes in tutorials as they make studying for your assessments later down the line a lot easier. Even though sometimes you can get notes from your friends who have previously done the course, courses are constantly changing so old notes will not always be perfect even if your mate got a HD!
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Make the most of online recordings Almost all subjects in the Business School post online lecture recordings. These are a great tool to use for revision and allow you to take notes at your own pace. If your lecturer speaks slowly in person, you can always watch it at 2x speed in the library.
Attend revision workshops During finals season, many societies will host revision workshops to provide a quick recap on the whole course which can greatly help you in pinpointing what to study and ask some last-minute questions. FINSOC hosts revision workshops for all core finance courses so keep a lookout!
Ask questions Make sure to make the most out of your tutors and lecturers! Don’t forget about your HECS debt, these people are here to help, so don’t ever be shy to ask them questions, whether in person, via email or the online moodle forums. If you still are confused, the Business School runs optional PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) where older students run through the coursework and are specifically there to answer your questions.
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ABOUT US
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SUBCOMMITTEE RECRUITMENT If you are a first-year, or even second year, we highly recommend applying for subcommittee at FINSOC. Not only will you gain insight into the finance industry and secure your future, you will also be given the opportunity to develop yourself. Join to gain skills and confidence, become more organised and become effective leaders during the short span of a yea! In addition to that, it’s a really good way to make friends who share the same interests as you. Applications open on 15/02/21 – like our Facebook page for more details!
OUR OPPORTUNITIES You’ve graduated high school in arguably one of the most difficult years to complete Year 12. You’ve been accepted to (subjectively) the best university in the state. Now what? University is a chance to start fresh again, and although it may not always be what you expect, there are always opportunities to for you to learn, grow and make new friends along the way.Whether it be by joining FINSOC’s subcommittee (a decision that I am glad I made!) or making friends through an Arc volunteering program, there are many avenues for you to get involved!
WOMEN IN FINANCE MENTORING PROGRAM The HSBC Women in Finance mentoring program is an annual mentoring program, supported by a range of sponsors in order to build meaningful relationships between motivated female finance students with successful finance industry professionals. For female-identifying sudents, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door and start thinking about your career early. Applications are marked on a rolling basis and close 11:59pm 18th March, and you can find out more information on our website and Facebook page.
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DIRECTOR'S MEET AND GREET (T1, WEEK 2)
Our directors meet and greet is coming up soon! Meet our board members, learn about what we do, and how our society functions. If you’re interested in applying as a subcommittee member, be sure to talk to our directors and executives to find your perfect role! Familiarise yourself with our team and learn more about opportunities available at FINSOC.
EXCEL WORKSHOP (T1, WEEK 3)
Excel proficiency is one of the skills that employers look for most in a job candidate. We will be holding our very own Excel workshop, going through all beginner excel functions, formatting and shortcuts, with examples and a template for everyone to follow along! This event is open even to beginner Excel users.
BAIN CONSULTING WORKSHOP
(END OF T1, START OF T2)
This year, FINSOC will be holding our annual flagship consulting workshop with Bain. One of their reps will walk through a live case study with attendees of the workshop, followed up by a Q&A panel with Bain graduates and their experiences. Bain recruitment will then go through the recruitment process for penultimate and graduate students, as well as market their initiatives, like the Bain’s Women’s Scholarship. The event will be finished off with a light networking evening between students, campus recruitment and Bain reps.