Deakin will make you more job-ready

For Vee Nadalin university is more than just a classroom, it is a community. ‘I have been accepted into other universities but chose Deakin because of how student-driven it is. I came from a rural town and was the first in my family to study at uni. Because of this, I didn’t know anybody in my classes, or what to expect. I have never felt like an outsider at Deakin or that I don’t belong. I always felt supported and was able to handle moving to the city and studying after my gap year.’  

I feel like Deakin has a welcoming vibe and the learning environment focuses on improving the experience of students. I don’t feel like I need to compete with the person sitting next to me in class, or that I need to constantly stress about my grade average. I feel like I can really thrive in the supportive Deakin environment. Everyone is there to push each other up and the staff are willing to modify their lecture plan to adapt to students’ needs

Joining events and clubs at Deakin helped Vee adapt to university life after leaving her rural country town. ‘I have taken advantage of a few DUSA events, which is a good way to balance studying at university. So far, I have been on a surfing trip, visited Mornington Hot Springs and made a lot of lasting friendships. I have also gained leadership experience as a Peer Mentor for the Faculty of Arts and Ed, and have been involved with a variety of DUSA clubs, including the Deakin Dance Club and Deakin Christian Union. I have also started working as a Student Ambassador, which has given me the opportunity to develop my leadership and public speaking skills and meet prospective students. I have enjoyed attending Deakin Open Day as an Ambassador, making sure that everything runs smoothly and that everyone gets to experience what Deakin has to offer.’  

At times Vee has experienced difficulties in her course and is grateful for Deakin’s vast support network. ‘I have found PASS sessions to be especially useful in my first year of uni. These are study sessions run by past students whom have excelled in the unit. It gives you the opportunity to further engage in the unit and learn informally. The staff at Deakin are also down-to-earth and very knowledgeable. They understand what it is like to study at university and are always willing to answer any questions I might have. They genuinely want me to do well and are always looking for ways to get students to better engage in the content. Their love for their field is contagious and shows in their enthusiasm to teach,’ Vee says.  

Vee recommends Deakin University for ‘focusing on students’ understanding and engaging with the content, rather than achieving a benchmark grade in an assignment. ‘I think this would make us more job-ready because we can concentrate on applying the content we’ve learnt in-depth, instead of learning textbook answers at a shallow level, or learning just enough to complete our assignments.’  

Vee Nadalin 
Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science 

Vee Nadalin

Learn more about studying a criminology degree at Deakin University.