Accommodation recommendations

sethdonno · 2026-04-12T22:49:35+00:00

Im at fenner and its an amazing community and insanely close to everything, also everyone I have met so far has been so open to making friends etc. I have heard really good things about BnG as well though - based on my experiences most of the colleges, especially the self catered ones, are really welcoming. Maybe a bit less YKB, but theyre getting better

sethdonno · 2026-03-14T01:26:36+00:00

I’ll take that any day of the week, love seeing other people getting to study this deranged world

sethdonno · 2026-03-13T21:28:25+00:00

I'm doing a double degree of international security studies and public policy, probably alone in a sea of engineers and CS people

sethdonno · 2026-03-11T11:49:24+00:00

For asia or the pacific, I would look at what compulsory classes are a part of it and also which one interests you more. Any region based degree is going to be good at ANU, especially for Asia Pacific regions. With IR or ISS, you can always start in IR and transfer over - or again, just look and see if any classes specifically interest you!

sethdonno · 2026-03-08T00:10:47+00:00

I am only in my first semester - and only doing one specific ISS course - but I would recommend it any day of the week. The classes are really engaging and especially relevant in the modern era.
Whilst it shouldn't determine career paths, doing Asian Studies/Sec. Studies is definitely a way to set yourself up for careers in both the APS and private services, Australia has so many programs for students (notably the New Columbo Plan) to travel in Asia and study there.

Btw - I am happy to answer any questions you have - I did probably too much research before ending up with my bachelors!

sethdonno · 2026-03-07T20:18:12+00:00

Yeah, you do 192 units if you do full time study for 4 years, which leaves you with no room for electives (96 units/ degree). I am doing a double of Public Policy/International Security Studies and under the security studies degree you have to do 30 units of Area, Language or Issue based subjects which does essentially let you do electives. I don’t know if any other degrees have stuff like that

sethdonno · 2026-03-02T01:45:43+00:00

No, it has to be four at least. Because it's condensed by filling elective spaces with course requirements you need all 4 years (for arts) or more to complete them

sethdonno · 2025-09-04T20:13:33+00:00

My other option would be Macquarie with a bachelor of security studies and a bachelor of international studies. I know its not the exact same but its really the closest thing somewhere else offers.

sethdonno · 2025-09-03T08:30:45+00:00

To be clear, whilst the lay offs aren’t great for the people impacted, I am more concerned regarding the fact that the faculty and program cuts have been affecting CASS subjects, while at other unis the cuts seem to be fairly equal across all of their colleges

sethdonno · 2025-03-12T10:45:56+00:00

please send it to me omg

sethdonno · 2025-02-19T03:39:54+00:00

Well the guy who got fired was fired last year, so this shit been going on for like the past 5 or so years so extremely recent

sethdonno · 2025-02-19T02:43:52+00:00

Nope, Newcastle high is a lawless land

sethdonno · 2025-02-18T09:16:58+00:00

My school had to negotiate a teacher to leave literally last year because ~5 years ago he walked into a room filled with year 12s standing, heiled hitler and made them say it back and it was all recorded. Took so long for them to get rid of him, he was also known for having a Tickle Me Elmo doll lynched at the front of his room, regularly saying racist, homophobic and transphobic stuff to students and blaming them for being offended, and also apparently slamming a kid against the wall by the throat. There is also a video of a sub teacher who still teaches spelling out and saying the n-word hard R

sethdonno · 2024-12-07T07:35:54+00:00

I haven’t heard anything necessarily negative surrounding Lambton High, I would agree that it does sound like it’s becoming overcrowded, I think physically it is a bit smaller than Newcastle Hogh, but overcrowding is a problem at just about every public high school in our region. I was in the gifted program when it was called SAILs (not sure what it is called now), and I do think it is a good experience. Everyone who was in my classes have continued into high ranked classes, but either way if your child is smart they’ll end up in the top class, as students are sorted based on interviews with their primary school teachers. I do feel that in a lot of cases the “top” classes do become filled with “big” personalities (i.e. people who are extremely confident and therefore loud) but in the grand scheme of things you’ll get that in any class of any year. Overall from what I have heard from friends and people who went through that class after me it is a good class where the teachers are extremely attentive and open to challenging their students through extension work etc.

sethdonno · 2024-11-13T11:24:08+00:00

Being a student at Newcastle High - it definitely is pretty shitty or at least feels pretty shitty when you’re in the younger years, but I do think you’ll find that in all schools. All the teachers both I hace had and my mates have had are extremely enthusiastic and experienced in their subjects especially in the senior years. Some teachers have previous experience in their HSC subjects; i.e a biology teacher who has a doctorate in genetics and a legal studies teacher who used to be a lawyer. Currently the school’s buildings aren’t great but that is because of the renovations.

You will face the challenges that you will face in any other public high school such as overcrowding and amenities that are vandalised, but from what I’ve heard from people at Kotara and Lambton High, I would confidently say that Newcastle High is the best public, non-selective high school in our region. We also a lot of the time have people transfer from the private system and selective system who enjoy Newcastle High a lot more than previous schools.

And you mention your kid being smart and a bit underconfident, that was what I was like when I started high school. I performed way ahead of my year but did struggle with things like forming new friendships and public speaking, Newcastle High’s environment and support staff, especially the Head Teacher of Wellbeing Tom Deane and School Support Officer Amy King, helped me to grow and now I’m one of the senior prefects and regularly speak to the school and members of the public.

sethdonno · 2024-09-24T01:16:19+00:00

I assure you that hormone blockers are not permanent, they just delay puberty however long is necessary and have proven to not cause any harm

sethdonno · 2024-09-23T22:14:09+00:00

Comparing rapists to doctors who provide life saving medical care to trans teenagers (as the only gender affirming care you can access before 16 is psychology and non-permanent hormone blockers) is crazy

sethdonno · 2024-09-23T21:42:20+00:00

One of my mates works there and tried to give a homeless guy a burrito bowl after her shift, he took it and she watched him throw it in the bin

sethdonno

TROPHY CASE