Meet Vina Setiawan, studying FS online in Indonesia

What intake are you in at Trinity?

February Main 2021.

Where are you based?

I’m studying online in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

Why did you choose Trinity? 

Trinity provides the opportunity for me to go to university faster, and to adapt to university’s style of education. I chose Trinity in particular because I have always wanted to go to the University of Melbourne.

What did it mean to you to get a scholarship to attend Trinity College?

The scholarship meant a lot to me. It makes me feel more independent and I was elated when I found out I got the scholarship. Not only does the scholarship help me financially, it also gives me a sense of competence and encourages me to take my education even more seriously.

How would you describe your experience at Trinity?

Overall, it has been exceptional. Even though it seems like the classes will be fully online for the whole year, Trinity has effectively adapted to this new situation. For example, Trinity prepared many resources, such as TCOLE (the student portal), the Leeper Library, Echo360, and many more programs and resources that make online classes not much different to face-to-face. Other than that, the teachers and my friends have been very supportive. The teachers are very nice and they are always willing to help.

What’s your favourite thing about Trinity College?

I love how the teachers are so easy going, yet very clear on the subjects they teach. They appreciate every opinion and engage with us as if we are also professionals, and I think this really helps to enhance my knowledge and discussion skills.

What do you think of the teaching style at Trinity? How is it different to what you are used to? 

The teaching style is quite fresh for me. In my old school, we didn’t have any lectures and tutorials. Also, my classmates and I were rarely invited to share our opinions and engage in discussions with the teacher.

What do you think of your teachers? 

They are the best! It is so easy to contact them, and they respond really quickly and always give clear responses and make sure we understand their answers.

What are your favourite core subjects and why?

History of Ideas (HOI) and Drama. I like HOI because it is quite eye opening to learn about ancient ideas and how they’ve evolved up until now. It also makes me reflect a lot on my beliefs and decisions.

I like Drama, mainly because my tutor, JY, is very uplifting, but also, the activities and assignments in class are very fun. I never thought I would like Drama, but it is definitely my favourite subject now.

What are your favourite elective subjects and why?

Biology and Psychology. I like Biology because I am studying about me, and the living things around me. I think that is really cool. The expectations for this subject are also very clear, which really helps in studying and revising for exams.

I also like Psychology, mainly because I am going to take Psychology later on in university. I think it is very interesting to see reflections of ‘me’ that I never knew in the materials I learn in this subject.

How do you think Trinity College Foundation Studies has prepared you for university studies and your career?

Trinity College gives me a clear idea of what to expect at university, and allows me to adapt before entering the University of Melbourne.

Have you been able to make friends with other students?

Yes. Even though it’s fully online, we have a lot of ‘breakout rooms’ where we are given the chance to communicate only with 3-5 of our classmates. Other than that, we have group projects, which really help me to know some of my online friends.

Why did you want to go to the University of Melbourne? 

It has always been my dream to go to a university in Melbourne, and the University of Melbourne is #1 in Australia.

What degree do you want to study at the University of Melbourne?

A Bachelor of Science, and I am planning to major in psychology or marine biology.

Would you recommend Trinity College to other students? 

Definitely!