Year 10s sample uni life at Hervey Bay

USQ student and staff member Amanda Guiver, centre, talked to a group of the year 10 students about her studies. She is pictured with, from left, Trecey Bell, from Tin Can Bay State High, Mitch Gribben, from James Nash State High, Dales Heading, from Tin Can Bay State High, and Harley Martin, Joel White and Friederike Wilson-Masuhr, all from James Nash State High.

Amost 50 Year 10 students from Gympie, Tin Can Bay and Gin Gin spent a day at USQ Fraser Coast recently to sample uni life.

The students were part of the second annual UniLife experience run by USQ Fraser Coast. Its aim is to give students a taste of life at university during a period in their lives when they are making decisions about their futures.

Some said they were surprised to discover the university students and staff were ‘real cool people'.

Trecey Bell, from Tin Can Bay High, and Friederike Wilson-Masuhr, from James Nash High in Gympie, said it was quite different from what they had expected.

Friederike, who wants to study law or accounting, said she thought it would be a lot like school, with direction and supervision from lecturers.

'But it isn't,' she said. 'You have to be more mature and responsible.'

Tracey, who wants to do a degree in archaeology, said she liked the lecturers and the fact that they treated the students as equals.

As part of the UniLife experience the students attended lectures, quizzed current students about life at university and toured the campus.

The students also spent time focusing on their own career options.

UniLife gave the students the opportunity to see what was on offer at the campus.

USQ Fraser Coast has about 700 students studying on campus this year.

Students enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and close contact with lecturers.

The campus is located in the heart of Hervey Bay, beside the regional library, and is near major shopping centres.

It offers a wide range of programs in the fields of accounting, community welfare and development, human services (counselling), education, marketing, nursing and work-based learning.

Media Contact: Katrina Corcoran, USQ Media +61 7 4120 6167