We Chatted To Current Students About Why They Went Back To Uni
Helping you find your path to uni. Here for you. More than ever.
After the year we’ve been having, it’s hardly surprising if you’re considering making some changes.
But that doesn’t mean you should give yourself bangs or download every dating app for the 453rd time. There are more productive ways to channel your future potential.
In fact, the way you’re feeling right now might be a great indication that it’s time to pursue further education. Whether you want to upskill to prepare for a changing job market, totally switch careers, or finally get the degree you’ve always dreamed of, going back to uni can be your gateway to smashing your new goals in 2021 and beyond.
Not convinced? We spoke to some students who enrolled at the University of Newcastle after working, gaining a trade, or taking a gap year. They told us how they did it, how it helped them achieve their dreams, and what they’d say to others considering it.
You’ve Had Time To Figure Out What You Want
“After completing my HSC, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Nick Mills.
Instead of going straight to uni, Nick went to TAFE to get his certificate in automotive body repair. After working as a panel beater for five years, he wanted a new challenge, so he enrolled in a double degree of Engineering and Business.
“I realised I had better earning potential, job security and longevity if I relied less on physical work and muscle memory and more on my critical thinking and brainpower.”
Now, Nick is an assistant project officer at the University of Newcastle and is already achieving some of his career goals – but he probably wouldn’t have been so successful at uni if he’d enrolled straight out of school. “I definitely made the right call by going into the workforce after school as you need to be driven to really succeed [at uni].”
Image: Per Lööv / Unsplash
You Have More Perspective
Jess Thomas didn’t enjoy her final year of school and didn’t think she was interested in studying again. But university is different to high school. You choose what you study at uni, and succeeding becomes easier when you study something you’re passionate about.
“If you study things that you’re interested in, you’ll excel,” Jess says.
Similarly, Nick’s work history helped him realise there’s no one right way to study. “I’ve slowed from a full-time, four-subject workload to a more manageable two to three subjects as I’ve paired my final years with industry relevant work,” he says.
“I think it’s a mistake to see this as delaying your degree and think it’s far more of an opportunity to flesh out your job readiness before graduation.”
Imag: Brad Neathery / Unsplash
Your Dream Course Might Not Have Existed Before
Jess decided to go to uni after a gap year, partially because she met people who were studying degrees that she had never heard of before. “They were studying degrees in human movement, health, and sport, which I didn’t know you could study at uni,” she says.
Just because you’re not interested in going to uni after school doesn’t mean it’ll never be right for you. The University of Newcastle offers more than 100 undergraduate degrees in everything from robotics, climate science, and business analytics, so you can kickstart all sorts of amazing careers.
Jess’ advice for people considering giving uni a go: “Don’t worry about other people’s opinions.”
Image: S O C I A L . C U T / Unsplash
Your ATAR Can’t Hold You Back
When Jess graduated Year 12, she didn’t have a high enough ATAR to go to uni. Now, she’s in her final year of a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Newcastle, with plans to complete her Masters in Exercise Physiology.
These days, universities offer lots of alternate pathways into courses, like the University of Newcastle’s Open Foundation – a free program that teaches you the skills you need to gain entry into an undergraduate degree.
Like Jess, when you successfully complete Open Foundation, you’ll have guaranteed early entry into selected courses across science, engineering, business and law, education and arts. You can also use your final grades from the program for competitive admission to all other degrees at the University of Newcastle.
“This is an incredible free program that not only gives you a taste of university subjects and degrees but also gives you the skills to reference, research properly, and use the University of Newcastle’s resources,” says Jess.
Ready to start crushing your career goals? All the info you need to apply is up on the University of Newcastle website right now.
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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Prepare yourself for a great career with over 100 undergraduate degrees to choose from. Chat live to our student ambassadors at The University of Newcastle to learn more.
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(Lead image: Thought Catalogue / Unsplash)