Study options still available for school leavers

School leavers who miss out on a place in the first round of tertiary offers are encouraged to review their applications and consider a “foot-in-the-door” option to get into their desired course.

Tertiary offers for those applying for courses through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre will be made next week.

South Australian offers will be made on January 18.

School leavers in SA still have until Monday to change their preferences and have equal consideration with other applicants but the deadline has passed in other states.

Pat Smith, from QTAC, says those who miss out on a first round offer should not despair.

“The main thing to remember is if you are sincere about study, there are always options,” Smith says.

“Find out why you missed out on your preferred place. (The admission centre’s) website will contain information on whether you met the minimum course entry requirements and . . . selection rank course cut-offs.

“You should update your existing application by perhaps considering new course preferences in the lead-up to the February offer round. Applicants should ensure that they also include foot-in-the-door courses that can be used as an upgrading pathway.”

These include TAFE certificate or bridging courses, sitting the special tertiary admissions test (STAT), studying through Open Universities Australia (which has few entry requirements and no limit on student numbers) and a personal competencies assessment.

For these, applicants outline how skills gained in life and work experience have prepared them for tertiary study.

Adelaide’s Thebarton Senior College careers counsellor Leonie Hale says school leavers should be wary about deleting their preferred course if they miss out on a first-round offer. “No one can be made an offer for a course that isn’t listed as a preference,” she says.

“Our counselling team encourages (students) to aim high and always list the courses that they really want to do, even if it seems out of their reach.”

School leaver Pabi, 21, changed her preferences after performing better than expected in her Year 12 exams and is hoping to study a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of South Australia.

“By being able to change preferences once you know your (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) you are in a better position to plan for future study,” she says. “Once the stress of Year 12 study and exams is over, there is more time to think about what you really would like to do.”