We are in! Hard work pays off for Gympie school-leavers

YESTERDAY’S release of university offers means jumping for joy has never been so well-earned for Gympie school-leavers.

NEW ADVENTURE: Gympie region students celebrate their university offers (from left) James Nash High School graduates Callum Sprott, Brendan Boyd and Hudson Meads, Victory College graduate Lainie Zischke and St Patrick’s College graduates Hollier O’Neill, Henry Fredman and Tom Leis. Photo: Greg Miller. Picture: Greg Miller

YESTERDAY'S release of university offers means jumping for joy has never been so well-earned for Gympie school-leavers.

The region's school graduates are amongst thousands of young Queenslanders who logged into the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre this week to find out which preferred university course they were offered.

Whether they received their top preference or not, the graduates are now armed with a place at university.

This is not only a symbol of achievement, but a big step in the security of their future.

Gympie OP one graduate Hollier O'Neill was elated to find out she was offered her first place preference; medicine at the University of Queensland.

Even with the highest possible OP score, and after sitting the Undergraduate Medical and Health Professions Admission Test, there was no guarantee Ms O'Neill would gain a university place in the sought after field.

"The OP was the big one that you waited so much for, and then it was a pain you had to wait another month to find out whether that was good enough," Ms O'Neill said.

But after that long wait, the 17-year-old said the feeling of her achievement was hard to put into words.

"It's only the beginning - but to know you got in (is incredible) - now you just have to live up to it," she said.

Joining Ms O'Neill in receiving a first preference place in medicine at UQ is Henry Fredman, who was already in gear for tertiary study.

"I was pretty happy with how all the hard work's paid off. But I don't know if I can relax just yet - the hard work's just beginning," he said.

Callum Sprott, who gained his primary choice in engineering at QUT, said it was the first step in a career path he's had his heart set on since the start of high school.

Tom Leis was reassured by a second preference offer of business management at UQ, while Lainie Zischke said even though she did not receive her top preference; her offer of social work at UQ was a great starting point.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking, but now you know where you are headed there is a sense of security and you can plan for that," Ms Zischke said.

Brendan Boyd, who gained a place in bio medical science and Hudson Meades, who attained a design and communication spot, have had more time to celebrate their university placements since receiving their offers during Schoolies Week.

The pair took advantage of the Guaranteed Early Offers Scheme, a new plan offered to Gympie students wishing to guarantee an early place at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

All applicants must respond to offers by 10am on Thursday, January 22.