So I got my ATAR - now what?
The question that is in most people’s mind is what course should I do now that I’ve got my ATAR. Regardless of whether you exceeded your expectations or did not get the ATAR you need to get into your preferred course, there are a lot of uni courses out there and the choice is difficult.
There are many factors that come into play when deciding on the course that you might want to pursue at university. But the most important factor that you need to take into account is whether you will like the course or not. There is no point in picking a course that you already have no interest in because in many cases you will end up not liking the course and possibly dropping out. (But there are people who have to end up enjoying courses that they thought they did not like!)
- Have you met the prerequisites: You may have the ATAR to get into the course, but have you met the minimum study scores for the prerequisite subjects for that course at that particular university?
- Location of the university: You need to factor in the time it will take you to travel to and from the university. Living far away from uni can be a hassle each day, especially if you have 9 am lectures!
- What are your interests? Considering the things that you are passionate may help you decide on the course you might want to do at uni. You will end up doing well in a course that you find interesting and enjoyable.
- Parents: Your parents might want you to pursue a particular course at university. Their opinion matters, but you have got to remember that you are the one going to spend the next 3-5 years at university studying the course. Your parents only want what is best for you, so don’t get too upset if they seem to be forcing you to do a particular course.
- Got a better ATAR: There is this notion that if you got a high ATAR that you will be wasting it if you choose to do a course that does not reflect that ATAR. If the course with the high ATAR interests you then, by all means, go for it, but if you are interested in something else then follow your passion even if that course has a lower ATAR than what you got.
- Current/past university students: If you know someone who has done a particular course or is currently doing a course that interests you then ask those people for their opinion on their experience.
- Scholarships: Having a scholarship is certainly something that you should take into serious consideration. University is expensive, and if there is some financial assistance available to you from a particular university, then you should take that into account when deciding which university to go to.
- The reputation of the university: Given that many universities offer similar courses e.g. Bachelor of Science, this can also be something that you can take into account when picking universities. However, this should be something that is lower down in your list, and you should not base your decision solely on this factor.
Overall, the main point is that you should be picking a course that you will enjoy.
Take into account that you are only 18 years old, and you got your whole life ahead of you to decide what you want to do. Many people switch courses throughout their university life, simply because they have found that their passion lies elsewhere. It is hard trying to map out your future when you are only starting to step out into the world.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours and no one else’s. If you need help picking a course your school career’s counsellor is the best way to go. They will be more than happy to help you out!
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