Five ways we’re using tri 3

For new students, trimester 3 can be confusing. For current students, it may be tricky to decide how best to use the time. A key benefit of tri 3 is that you have control over how you choose to use these few months.

Here are five ways Griffith Uni students – myself included – are using tri 3 this year.

#1 Finish degrees faster

Since starting at Griffith in 2018, Mandii Tran is now onto her sixth trimester in a row and will soon graduate with a Bachelor of Aviation. The course itself is a two-year accelerated degree that allows students to quickly enter the aviation industry. However, students can also decline tri 3 and graduate in three years. Mandii said finishing her degree in two years helped her stay focused on her goals. By accelerating her degree, Mandii will be able to quickly apply for the Graduate Diploma of Flight Management upon graduation.

Mandii is also thinking about her future career. “One of the reasons that also led me to this decision was the fact that Boeing has a growing demand for pilots,” Mandii said. “By swiftly finishing my studies, I have a greater chance to begin my flying career earlier rather than later.”

#2 Work

As a full-time marketing major at Griffith Business School, Erin Malone has been able to balance part-time work and a full-time study load. By spreading out her study, Erin is able to complete eight courses every year and stay on track to graduate in three years.

Erin recommends students planning on using tri 3 start planning the period prior to guarantee it lines up and also that there is still time to rest and take a break. “The first tri 3 I completed, I struggled with working on assessment pieces while all my friends and family were on holidays and enjoying time off,” Erin said. “I also didn’t feel like I had much of a break from uni life and as soon as the trimester finished, it was straight back into tri 1,” Erin said. “So this tri 3, I’ve chosen classes that are intensive so the content is delivered in a shorter timeframe (either five or six weeks), which allows for a significant break after Christmas to rest and prepare for it to all begin again,” she said.

Erin says students considering their options for tri 3 should think about their long-term goals and think about what’s the best use of their time to reach those goals. “Personalise your own learning pathway.”

#3 Travel

Bachelor of Business/Government and International Relations student Lana Goodman-Tomsett is using this trimester to take a five-week trip to Europe where she will celebrate her 21st birthday. Besides spending time in Italy, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Lana also plans to use this period to volunteer, work part-time and take some time to refresh and look after herself.

Lana currently works two jobs to support herself whilst also studying full-time during the year. During the last trimester, Lana took on a career opportunity and worked three jobs whilst completing a full-time schedule. After balancing a busy work-life-study schedule and having completed five trimesters in a row, Lana has decided to take this trimester off.

“Studying takes up a lot of time, is stressful and ultimately uses a lot of brainpower,” Lana said. “Without a break, it is incredibly difficult to maintain a good GPA and to remain healthy without a reasonable break so that is why this year I am not studying over tri 3.”

Now entering her fourth year at Griffith and having experienced both study and rest in tri 3, Lana knows that it’s about commanding your own career. Her advice to other students? “I think it’s important to understand that everyone is different. For some, tri 3 offers a great opportunity to fast-track your degree (particularly medical science and aviation). However I think tri 3 is best used as an opportunity to rest, but also gain some experience.”

“The opportunity to have almost five months off is not something most people will have in their lives again, so my main piece of advice is do not waste it! Research and plan your study according to your goals and figure out what is possible and what will help you reach them.”

#4 Go on exchange overseas

Cherena Robertson is in her second year of a Bachelor of Psychological Science at Griffith Uni but over the past semester, she’s been studying at University of Montana in Missoula. “My advice would be to look ahead at the start of the year and see what’s being offered for tri 3 that could work with your program and may help you find a better balance with your studies,” Cherena said. “Another good option for tri 3 would be to check out Go Global’s short-term programs and get the experience of a lifetime in a cool, different culture whilst earning another 10CP (credit points).”

The trimester system meant that Cherena was able to stay in Missoula until December, rather than finishing up and heading back to Australia in October. Cherena says her semester abroad has been invaluable. “I’ve learnt that you will do things that you would never dream of or have to do at home, like walking in -16 degree snow and in the dark to get to an exam.”

#5 Do an internship

As a Bachelor of Business/Government and International Relations student, there are so many career possibilities out there. In my first year I did not complete tri 3 but rather took a break to enjoy my family and figure out what I wanted to do.

After recently completing my second year of study and having developed a clearer goal of where I want to be, I realised I needed to gain more insight into the workforce that I will one day join.

Being an International Relations major is not always easy, which is why this trimester I applied to join the Global Mobility Internship Program. During this trimester, I am interning at the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. This has been a once in a lifetime experience for me and will shape so much of my learning and help me guide my career. By joining this program, not only did the Griffith team help guide me to getting this opportunity but are supporting me here and as I return.

Every student’s university experience will look different and to explain tri 3 simply, it’s a chance to shape your own study. Whether you study, take a break, or take a summer internship or go on exchange, the possibilities are endless.

By Cinthia Dos Santos