Pressure’s building for Year 12s as VTAC application deadline nears

YOU’VE been to the open days, flipped through the glossy course guide books and been asked a million times: what are you going to do next year?

Now the time has come to make the life-defining decision of what degree to study.

Hundreds of the region’s Year 12 students will be deliberating over their course applications as the closing date for timely VTAC applications looms.

VTAC spokeswoman Suzanne Connolly said students could change their preferences after the early application deadline of September 28 — however they must log some kind of application by this date to avoid paying extra fees.

“Students should consider their own interests when applying for courses and not be swayed by others, including their peers, their school or their parents,” Ms Connolly said.

Melbourne University graduate school of education lecturer Dr Chelsea Hyde ac- not just restrict themselves to one pathway,” Dr Hyde said.

“Young people often have a certain course and university in mind — they need to a plan A, B, C and D.”

Entry scores required for the same courses at different institutions can vary greatly. The clearly-in 2016 ATAR to study a Bachelor of Arts was 89.3 at Melbourne University, 85.05 at Monash University, 55.9 at Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus, 60.25 at Swinburne Hawthorn and 50 at La Trobe Melbourne.

While making these decisions is difficult, stressful and time consuming Dr Hyde said Year 12 students must maintain a balanced lifestyle.

“It’s an incredibly important time of life, but students must understand that life is going to continue after Year 12,” Dr Hyde said.

She said parents could help by encouraging their children to study, providing good healthy meals and giving support when needed.

Year 12 students can change their VTAC preferences until noon on December 20.