Top marks gets teenager into dream course at new university

An academic hotshot is one step closer to her dreams as she makes ready to put pen to paper at a brand new university.

Emily Collins at USC Moreton Bay in Petrie.

NORTH Lakes teenager Emily Collins is one step closer to her dream of becoming a biology professor after gaining a place to study science at USC’s new Moreton Bay campus.

Ms Collins, 18, was dux of North Lakes State High School last year, achieved a coveted OP1 score, and was looking forward to being among the first students to embark on study at the “state-of-the-art” Petrie campus.

MORE:

Builders confident of meeting 2020 deadline as uni celebrates ‘topping off’

Strict rules after workers collapse at university site in severe heat

Open days at USC focus on new studying at Moreton Bay campus at Petrie

“It was a lot of hard work and I gave up a lot, including playing netball, so I could focus on my goal of a top OP score, but it’s all been worth it,” she said.

“I loved studying biology and biochemistry in high school, and I’m really interested in knowing how things work – the human body fascinates me.

“My long-term goal is to become a professor in biology and be actively part of a field that is constantly evolving and developing.”

Full Digital Access: 50% off for the first 12 weeks (conditions apply)

Ms Collins said after moving from Adelaide at the end of Year 6, her first introduction to USC was when she won a science award sponsored by the university in her first year of high school.

“Not long after that, student ambassadors from USC visited our school and they spoke about the advantages of studying close to home, which really appealed to me,” she said.

“Of course, that’s now a reality with the Moreton Bay campus opening.

“My family and I have driven past the new campus a few times and it’s been incredible to see the whole building progress and think, ‘I’m going to study there’. It’s pretty exciting.”

For more information on the university visit usc.edu.au/learn.