PSA: You Can Still Go To Uni Even If Your Final Year Of School Doesn’t Go To Plan
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Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimised by 2020. Yeah, thought so. Safe to say everyone’s had to re-evaluate a few of their goals this year, and we’re not even halfway through.
We get it, it can be easy to feel powerless right now. Especially if you’re a student whose entire plan for the final year of school has been disrupted. Confusing Zoom classes, online assignments, and less time to unwind with your mates might land you with an ATAR that’s not quite what you were aiming for. Or maybe you aren’t aiming for an ATAR, but would still like to do a uni degree.
But if your grand plans don’t come together the way you imagined, it doesn’t mean you’re stranded. There are a lot of ways to get into uni besides the classic “get your dream ATAR and go straight from school” method.
So, which approach is right for you? Consider this a crash course in everything you need to know about alternate pathways to higher education. Read on to find the path that’s right for you and get your dreams back on track.
If you’re worried you’re not prepared for uni…
If you’re in a position to take on a slightly bigger workload now, consider getting a head start on uni by enrolling in a few courses while you’re still in high school.
Programs like CQUniversity’s Start Uni Now initiative lets senior high school students study first year units (AKA subjects) so they can get a feel for university study. If you pass, you might even be able to skip the queues and access direct entry into university, and even fast-track your degree by getting recognition for the units you’ve already studied.
If you’re worried you won’t meet entry requirements…
Let’s say you aren’t getting an ATAR or you‘re not certain you’ll get the one you’re hoping for. All isn’t lost. Look for direct entry options like CQUniversity’s Principal Recommendation Scheme, which basically lets you apply for uni based on a recommendation from your principal, rather than an ATAR.
Or get a foot in the door with a TAFE certificate or diploma, or even a bridging course like CQUniversity’s Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies. Think of it as a way to fill in the gaps between where you are now and where you want to be, picking up those prerequisites for your preferred uni course and the confidence that you can nail it.
Studying something other than the course you wanted might not be how you imagined your uni life starting, but it is a start.
If you’re worried about making the right choice…
We get it. Everything’s weird enough at the moment – you don’t need the added stress of trying to choose the course that sets up your entire career. Well-meaning career counsellors will tell you there are no wrong answers, but that doesn’t mean you won’t stay awake all night worrying about it.
Fortunately, there are heaps of resources that can help you figure out the right path for you. Like we said: things are weird right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t attend an open day to get a feel for different degrees and uni life generally. Most open days have moved online for the time being, meaning you can chat to current students and teachers about your dream degree in your pyjamas and no-one will even know!
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Find out how CQUniversity can help you get your 2021 study plans sorted.
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(Lead image: Element5 Digital / Unsplash)