Why USQ student decided to study there
Photo: USQ Photography/Anna Singleton
A UNIVERSITY of Southern Queensland student says she decided to study at the university after she was guaranteed a scholarship to the institution.
Mia Rennick, who is studying for a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours) with Clinical Exercise Physiology, said she had studied the Headstart program at the university when in Year 12 and had been offered the Vice Chancellor’s scholarship before finishing at Downlands College.
“One of the main reasons I was attracted to USQ was because it was local,” she said.
“Also the honours program had that clinical exercise physiology component, which is where my heart lies.”
The university has this year expanded its scholarship program for students entering in 2020.
The new packages announced last month would award one of three scholarship packages to students who receive between an OP1 and 8 and place USQ as their first preference on their QTAC applications.
Students who receive between an OP1 and 2 will automatically receive a package worth $29,000, OP6 and higher a $20,000 package and OP8 and higher a $6000 package.
Miss Rennick said while disappointing that she hadn’t started university a year later, to be eligible for those scholarships, if she were still at school it would have inspired her to work harder.
“I got an OP7,” she said. “I did quite well and I participated in everything under the sun that the school offered, but I could have done better.
“The possibility of the $29,000 scholarship would have driven me more to succeed.”
Miss Rennick said she had used part of the scholarship she received to pay off some of her HECS debt and had saved some of it as well.