Scholarships, diplomas and support services for rural VCE students
With rural students facing important decisions now their results are out, here are scholarship, diploma and support-service details to help.
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TOMORROW is the first day of seven big ones for school leavers.
The huge week starts with the release of VCE results at 7am. Once those numbers drop, young people have important decisions to make in a short window of time.
This year, the first round of university offers will be released on December 18 and the first change-of-preference period is shorter and earlier.
IMPORTANT DATES
December 12, 7am: VCE results released online
December 14, 4pm: Deadline for change of preference
December 18: First round of university offers released
To find out more about change of preference, visit: vtac.edu.au
“Normally the first offers come out in mid-January,” said Rochester Secondary College careers counsellor Colin Huddy.
“This year, the students only have until 4pm on December 14 to think about what they might need to do now, and to change preference if they want to. But that is not the end of offers.”
The early first-round tertiary offers add pressure at an already stressful time for students.
But Mr Huddy said the new deadline also meant school staff could better support Year 12 students when they received their results and course offers. “We have organised for La Trobe University representatives to come into school the day the ATARs come out,” Mr Huddy said. “If they need any advice they can come speak to a La Trobe staff member. If they are thinking, ‘I really don’t know what to do from here’, we try to organise a one-on-one session.”
Like careers counsellors across the state, Mr Huddy will spend much of his time over the coming seven days consulting with students and offering advice.
“We take things pretty seriously as far as supporting each and every individual student who needs a bit of support,” Mr Huddy said.
Mr Huddy said the first port of call for students who needed advice should be a school counsellor or Year 12 co-ordinator.
If they still had concerns, then they could reach out to institutions, universities, TAFEs or the Post Results and ATAR Service website.
“If there are questions we can’t answer, then there are all sorts of hotlines,” he said.
“There is an awful lot of support out there to help students get to where they need to go.
“But sometimes you can feel overwhelmed by finishing Year 12.
“It is surprising how often a gap year will lead to something they hadn’t thought of.
“Sometimes a lot of students just want a break, and that can be helpful.
“I don’t think you have to have your whole life mapped out by the end of Year 12.
Mr Huddy said a lot of guidance was offered during Years 11 and 12 to prepare students for their post-school choices.
Rochester Secondary College runs excursions to universities and shares information about organising accommodation.
At Caulfield Grammar, careers counsellors also go to a lot of effort to prepare senior students and boarders for end-of-year decisions.
“In Year 12, we provide a minimum of two one-on-one meetings with each student, to talk about their goals, passions and next steps to help them navigate the waters beyond school,” careers counsellor Janelle Hingmann said.
“We’ll help with VTAC applications, as well as interstate and international university applications also.”
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RURAL STUDENTS BENEFIT AT LA TROBE REGIONAL CAMPUSES
And it’s not just those vying for law and medicine that need support.
Caulfield’s counsellors also spend effort helping students pursuing arts, music and sports qualifications.
“Some of these fields are incredibly competitive, especially getting into the performing arts schools, so we definitely lend our support and advice to students following such pathways,” Ms Hingmann said.
The VTAC website says it is easy for students to change their preference list online.
Change of preference for the first round of offers is open until December 14.
However, students can change preferences again between each round of offers.
If students don’t get an offer in the first round, they can wait to see if they receive an offer in a subsequent round.
Or, they can add, delete or reorder their course preferences before the next round.
Originally published as Scholarships, diplomas and support services for rural VCE students