Your preferences, made simple - Newspaper Reports

You’re in year 12, with a lot on your plate: classes, assignments, tests. End-of-year exams are looming. You’re also considering what comes next – maybe further study at uni or TAFE next year. There’s a lot to think about.

While you’re focused on the pressures of getting through VCE, planning what and where to study next year, drawing up a list of your preferences can seem challenging and confusing.

The first thing to know is that you’re not alone.

If last year is any guide, VTAC (the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) will this year manage applications for uni undergraduate and TAFE courses from around 70,000 students.

So, a lot of people are in the same boat. And there are plenty of people, places and resources that can guide you as you plan your next steps.

Your school careers adviser can outline how VTAC works and how it will process your application.

Fellow students, friends who’ve already gone through the process, and family members can provide support and advice. And there’s a mass of material on the VTAC websites and unis that can help, too.

Don’t be daunted

The Students Hub at La Trobe University is a good place to start, with free, easily accessible content and handy links that are useful, regardless of what higher education institution you want to get into.

So, don’t be daunted; the process is manageable, with a bit of thought and some basic planning.

Central to your VTAC application is listing the courses you’d like to undertake, in order of preference. You can list eight preferences, with your favourite option or dream course at the top. We’ll come back to this.

Drawing up your preferences might be easy if you already know what and where you want to study, if you are confident that you’ll meet the entry requirements and you’ve got a clear idea of what you’ll do once you’ve finished study.

Or, like plenty of others, you might be uncertain. Either way, the preference list gives you options.

As you consider your options, it helps if you draft a plan to guide you through the VTAC process step-by-step, as you look for courses that match what you like and what you’re good at, before you lodge your application.

You can use the course search platforms provided by VTAC and unis. As you draft a list of courses that appeal to you, step two is to consider if you’re likely to meet entry requirements based on your ATAR.

The La Trobe ATAR Calculator can help you estimate your ATAR or use your actual ATAR score to find courses that match your interests. It can also help you discover options you might not have thought about.

Don’t forget that there are access and equity schemes and scholarships, which could mean you get additional ATAR points if you’ve experienced circumstances that have impacted your education. La Trobe’s ATAR Adjustment Factors Calculator can help you find out what you might be eligible for.

Many pathways to success

If you think your ATAR won’t get you into your preferred course straight away, that’s not the end of the story. Instead, look at pathways that can move you towards your long-term goal. Pathways are certificates, diplomas or related degrees that can be a way into your dream course at your preferred uni later.

By doing some basic research, and applying a step-by-step approach, the process becomes manageable. You’ll gain confidence as you enter the next stage – listing, reviewing and submitting your preferences.

This is where some students get stuck, and where Jemima Bowen, manager in La Trobe University’s student recruitment team, has some key advice.

“At the top of your list put the course you most want – your dream course, no matter how competitive – not the course you guess you’ll get into. You won’t be disadvantaged if you aim high,” she says.

“Think of your preferences as a wish list rather than a prediction of what you think you’ll be offered.”

Aiming high doesn’t mean being unrealistic, so include second and subsequent preferences that give you options that might still get you where you want to go. If you don’t get your first preference, you’ll automatically be considered for your next preferences.

A common misconception is that listing only one preference will improve your chances.

“It won’t,” says Bowen. “You should include all the courses you want to study, as well as any pathway options that might apply.”

In December, when ATARs are issued, VTAC manages the offer process – matching you with places in courses based on your results and preferences. It then sends out an offer for the highest course for which you qualify.

If you miss out in the first round, there are more rounds to come. Along the way, there will be times when you can re-order, add or remove course preferences if you change your mind.

Finally, to go back to where we started: remember you’re not alone.

If you’re still unsure about the process, even after you’ve done your research, you can still seek support.

At La Trobe you can contact the support hub, where you can talk to an expert, submit questions or engage in online chat to get personalised advice to help you make the best choice for your future.

For more information, visit latrobe.edu.au

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