Life After ELTHAM

Moving on….Decision Making

• Several career changes during working life

• Making the right decisions at the time with the information available

• Possibly not long term decisions

• Initial steps don’t have to be the ones you follow for the rest of your life!

Where to next?

There is nothing pre-ordained or inevitable about

next year. You have choices, such as:

• Full time study at Uni, TAFE, Independent Tertiary Colleges

in Victoria, interstate & overseas

• Part time study/part time work

• Full time work/Apprenticeship

• Deferred studies/GAP year

Is deferment for you?

• Money/Work

• Exchange (now offered by most Unis & some TAFEs)

• Travel

• Volunteering

• Time out (remembering you will have several months

between November and March)

NOTE:

― Make sure it is a productive deferment

― Not all courses allow deferment

Important Dates – 2009

September 30 Timely applications close 5pm

November 30 Change of Preference opens

December 14 VCE results & ENTER available from 7am(In the mail on December 15)

December 21 Change of Preferences close at noon

Important Dates – 2010

Jan 12 (2pm) Offers for overseas students

Jan 18 (9am) Round 1 offers

Feb 5 (2pm) Round 2 offers

VTAC – What do they do?

•Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre

•The ‘middle man’ that connects applicants with tertiary institutions and administers the application process

•They do not select students for courses – that is done by each institution

•Questions about courses need to be made direct to the institutions

Course Selection – How does it work?

Range of selection modes:

• ENTER (about 50% of courses are selected using only the ENTER)

• RC (Range of Criteria) – E.g. ENTER, interviews, pre-selection kits, folios, auditions

Using the VTAC GuideResearching Courses

• Different tertiary institutions have different strengths.

• It is not true that, for example, every course at one University is better than every similar course at another University.

• Check the subjects you will study within similar courses – they may be very different!

• Open Days!

• Institution Course Guides and websites

A Great Urban Myth

MYTH : “If a course has a high ENTER, it must be a good course, and

is the best course for you.”

REALITY : ENTER Scores do not necessarily define what is best for you. Other courses/institutions may

suit you better.

Using the VTAC Guide

Understanding Course Codes

• Ending with 1 – CSP (Commonwealth Supported Places) Students defer payment of their course until they earn

$41,594 per year (08/09 financial year).

• Ending with 2 – Full Fee at some Independent Tertiary

Colleges and TAFE colleges (FEE-HELP loan scheme

available to assist with payment of fees – 20% interest)

• Ending with 3 – Overseas Fee Paying

Using the VTAC Guide

Understanding Terminology

• CY12 – Current Year 12 (You!)

• NONY12 – Non Year 12 (Not you!)

• Clearly In ENTER – score at or above which you are guaranteed a place in the course

• Fringe ENTER – score at or above which you will be considered for that course based on other criteria (e.g. subjects you studied)

i.e. You are in the ‘middle band’

Using the VTAC Guide

Noting Extra Requirements

•Check them carefully

• If you haven’t met them you won’t get an offer regardless of your ENTER!

•Check dates in the VTAC guide

•Don’t leave them until the last minute – some take quite a bit of time to complete!

VTAC Applications – What you’ll need!

Payment• $23 – timely applications (Aug 3 – Sept 30)• $82 – late applications (Sept 30 – Nov 13)• $106 – very late applications (Nov 13 – Dec 12)

Payment Options:• Pay online (credit card)• Invoice at the Post Office (slightly more

expensive)

Don’t forget to print yourAcknowledgment of Application!

VTAC Applications – Getting Started

You apply for and deal with applications online at www.vtac.edu.au (not available until Aug 3!)

Step 1: Register asa VTAC User

Click on Register

You’ll need your personal details (address, date of birth etc) and your VCAA student number

VTAC Applications – What you’ll need

VCAA Number

Pin Number – chosen by you when registering for VTAC

Record these details in a safe place!

You’ll be given a handout with tips on the application process soon

VTAC – Making your application

Step 2:On the VTAC homepage click on Login

You’ll need to provide information about yourself and where you are studying Yr 12 so that VTAC can match you with information on VASS

You will then enter up to 12 course preferences.

Can change as many times as you like up until Sept 30th 5pm

VTAC Online Applications – Your Preferences

• Think VERY carefully !!

• Allocate in order of your preference - not simply in order of the ENTER

• Per state, you may select a maximum of 12 preferences

• Second and Third Round offers are scarce and only made if a first round offer has been rejected by another student

• You must have a guaranteed course!

• You can be offered ONE CSP and ONE Fee course per state.

Plan B

•Similar course at a different institution

• Transfer strategy Course to course One institute to another Campus to campus (within the same institute) TAFE to University University to TAFE

You must be happy to graduate from the original course in the event that you may not be able to transfer

Transfers are possible but not guaranteed

Plan B (cont)

• Use Open Days as an opportunity to ask about the best courses to do with a view to transferring

• Some courses offer specific advice. The Uni. of Adelaide Faculty of Medicine : “Unsuccessful applicants (for Medicine) should

consider a Bachelor of Health Science or Science, with a view to graduate entry into Medicine.”

Plan B (cont)

Wider thinking:•Variety of alternative career pathways in your interest areas

•Investigate similar jobs•Investigate possible transfer options

Scholarships•3 kinds of scholarships▫Access and Equity apply through VTAC▫Commonwealth apply through VTAC▫Merit apply through VTAC for Monash, RMIT

and Swinburne (others apply direct to institution)

Download the application booklet at www.vtac.edu.au/scholarshipstemp.html

See Bec or Jo for help/information on this!

Institutions who accept scholarship applications via VTAC:

Scholarships

SEAS & Scholarships - Dates

•Applications open August 3rd – October 9th (no excuses if you miss the date!)

•Start early as some applications require supporting documentation that can take quite some time to gather!

VTAC Applications - Summary

Step 1: Register with

VTAC

Step 2: Apply for

courses

Step 3: Apply for SEAS

Step 4: Apply for

scholarships

VTAC – Advisory letters

•Sent to you prior to Change of Preference indicating whether you will be offered a place.

•Allows you advance warning of the likelihood of you getting an offer in a particular course

• Is not a definite confirmation of an offer! (This will come in January 2009)

VTAC – Advisory letters cont.

3 kinds of Advisory Letter▫A – you will be given an offer if you meet all

requirements (VCE, study scores, extra requirements)

▫B – may get a 2nd Round offer dependant on your ENTER

▫C – Thanks, but no thanks!

Offers

ALWAYS ACCEPT YOUR ROUND 1 OFFER !!

Accepting an Offer

• Enrol in the course within the set time frame

• If you accept a Round 1 offer you are still eligible for a Round 2/Irregular Offer.

Rejecting an Offer

• Do nothing (at your peril!)• Not a good idea as you may not get a 2nd Round offer• Always have a back-up plan!

Irregular Offers• Can be applied for after 1st Round offers are

made

• Overrides all other preferences

• Only one chance

• Apply direct to the tertiary institution (NOT to VTAC)

• The form must be signed and approved personally by the relevant Selection Officer.

• Forms can be downloaded from the VTAC website.

Irregular Offers

You can apply for:

• A course lower on your preference list than the one offered to you in the 1st Round (if you’ve changed your mind)

• A completely new course not listed on your original preferences

NOTE:Tertiary institutions do not normally approve

significant numbers of Irregular Offers

OffersAn example for a student with an ENTER of 73.65 in 2009

1. RMIT Public Relations RC X / Round 2

2. Deakin Media & Communications 79.85 X / Round 2

3. RMIT Marketing 77.05 X / Round 2

4. Deakin (Geelong) Public Relations 66.60 Offer

5. RMIT TAFE Public Relations 54.05 X / Irregular Offer

6.Monash (Berwick) Communications 70.05 X / Irregular Offer

7. Box Hill Marketing RC X / Irregular Offer

8. Swinburne Communications 70.55 X / Irregular Offer

Interstate Applications

• Process is the same as for Victoria

• Not included in your VTAC preferences

• Can be made online

• You can receive offers from all States.

Interstate tertiary guides are available in the Lifework Centre

VTAC Application Demonstration

Held in S08 so that you can actually start the process with a LifeWork Counsellor to help you!

•Sign up with Annie in the LWC•Only 24 places per session•More sessions to come depending on demand

Local Students:•Thursday August 6th Period 1•Thursday Sept 3rd Period 1

International Students:•Tuesday Sept 1st Period 1

VTAC Application Demonstration

Any Questions?

Drop in and see us for more information or advice regarding VTAC applications.

Our door is always openBec & Jo