Step back to move forward
THERE are many more pathways to get into university than students may realise, so experts are advising them to research their options and decide which is right for them.
Career Development Association of Australia president Wanda Hayes says, all things being equal, the best option may be to just bite the bullet and enrol in a degree — even if it is not the one you want.
“I know of a student who wanted to get into a course that had a cutoff (ATAR) of 99 and so, when she missed out, she went to uni and did a science degree [instead of her preferred option],’’ Ms Hayes said.
“She chose her [university] subjects wisely and blitzed it — she got a GPA (Grade Point Average) in her first year of 6.3, which is equivalent to an ATAR of 99.5, so she could then do (study) whatever she wanted,’’ she said.
Hayes says in many instances, subjects for first-year university students are the same, meaning credit can be provided if a student transfers into another degree later.
“You’re at uni, which is what you want,’’ she says. “You can get into the culture of being a university student and get a feel for what’s involved.’’
Other pathways to university include studying a certificate or diploma-level qualification at TAFE or another training provider first; or enrolling in a foundation studies program, at the end of which students are guaranteed entry into a range of undergraduate degrees.
However, Hayes warns those options do not provide entry into all degrees.
Hamilton Secondary College deputy principal Annette Ryan is seeing an increasing number of students return to school in a bid to go on to university — both after years of absence from study or as school leavers coming back for Year 13.
She says returning to school can be preferable for those seeking high ATARs to enrol in degrees such as medicine or dentistry and is a lowcost option compared to enrolling in a different university program and then transferring, all while incurring HECS fees.
“It’s less risk than getting into another university course and then trying to get in that way — there are quotas unis have for kids coming fresh to uni and [lower quotas for[ kids coming in from other courses ... so there’s no guarantee [of being able to transfer],’’ Ms Ryan said.
“[Returning to school is also better] in cases where students want to do engineering, for example, and they really do need the very top end of maths,’’ she said.
Michelle Bille, 27, dropped out of school more than a decade ago but has now returned. She hopes to complete her Year 12 studies this year and go on to study radiography at university.