We Asked A Heap Of Successful Adults What They Wish They’d Known About The HSC

Brought to you by The University of Wollongong

WE’RE FEARLESS IN THE PURSUIT OF OUR PURPOSE

Everyone has an opinion about what you should be doing in your final year of school.

You probably have at least one annoying family member pressuring you into subjects you’re not interested in. And then there’s that teacher who thinks your whole life should be study: why would you even need things like ‘sleep’ and ‘friends’?

To help you out, we got some (way better) advice from super successful high school grads:

“Don’t stop doing what you love”

Elise Kulen says the HSC is all about balance: “you have to account for down time, sport, time with friends and family.” Elise finished high school in 2017 and now she’s studying a Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health at the University of Wollongong (UOW).

“I’ve played netball since I was eight and absolutely love it,” she says. “Playing a team sport with people that were not doing the HSC gave me time not to talk about it.”

“Make a study plan and really stick to it”

Alana Young, one of our gun writers at Junkee, totally agrees: “you deserve to have fun!” And you can make that fun guilt-free by also having an actual study plan.

“You’re going to feel very over it sometimes, but it’s only for a short amount of time and [a plan] makes you feel so much more confident going into your exams.”

“Don’t take the trials for granted”

If you prepare early, there’s way less pressure later on! Elise says the trials “really set you up for the final exams. Give 100% so you know where to improve.”

“The HSC is only a tiny part of your life”

“I feel like my life only started once I left high school!” says Laura Wheatley. She’s now doing her Honours in Psychology at UOW. “I have travelled so much and met so many people and I absolutely love life at university and my degree!”

“I wish I understood that the HSC really isn’t the be-all and end-all.”

“Study the subjects you actually like”

It’s simple but important advice. Krissi Amiet, who is now a big boss at Junkee, points out that you’re ultimately going to be more successful if you like what you’re studying.

“Don’t we all want to pursue a career in a field we’re passionate about, rather than doing a bunch of courses we only kinda like for a degree that might not be our jam in a couple of years?”

“The HSC is not a true reflection of your capabilities”

Laura felt that the subjects at her high school didn’t allow her to express her full potential, but that totally changed at uni. “Psychology almost came naturally to me which made studying and achieving good marks really easy.”

“There are so many factors that play into determining grades and calculating ATARs which many students, including myself, forget about when they base their self-esteem and self-worth on their marks.”

“Applying for early entry was the best thing I ever did”

“At the end of the day, my ATAR had relatively little to do with where I am now,” Laura says. She was accepted to her course via UOW’s long-running Early Admission program. Any Year 12 student from around Australia can apply using their Year 11 results (from before the world went bonkers) and a short written application about their unique skills and experiences. This means you can get accepted before even sitting your exams.

“It was such a relief knowing I had a place in my dream course before even sitting my exams … I also found it really comforting that they were assessing me as a whole person, not just the academic aspect of my life.”

Elise had the same experience. “It took all the external pressure and stress away; and let me focus on just putting my best foot forward.”

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UOW Early Admission is our early offer program for Australian students completing Year 12 (or equivalent) in 2020. Offers are made as early as September, taking the pressure off during exams. Apply online between July 20 and August 14, 2020.

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Lead image: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels