Choose a uni that helps you make a real impact

There are so many things to consider when choosing which university to attend. But rest assured, there are tools, tips and people to chat to, which can help make the decision process a lot easier.

First things first: unis offer a range of courses, which can be a great thing for students who aren’t certain on exactly what they want to study or who want the freedom of more options.

There’s much to consider when choosing which university best fits your career aspirations.

For example, La Trobe University offers a broad range of courses including emerging areas such as biomedicine and sport and exercise science, as well as more traditional interest areas like allied health, education and business and accounting.

Once students have an idea of the area they’d like to study, a handy tool to find the ATAR requirements for a course is La Trobe’s free ATAR Calculator. The online tool helps estimate your ATAR and find out the courses you’re likely to be eligible for. If you already know which course you want to study, you can use the tool to check the ATAR you’ll need to get a place in it.

The ATAR Calculator is part of La Trobe’s Year 12 Hub, which has lots of great resources that offer insights into what studying at La Trobe is really like, and to help you figure out which courses you’re interested in, plus guides to submitting preferences and applying through VTAC. The hub also includes lots of information about other pathways into the university and details about scholarships.

What does each university offer?

Another thing to look out for when choosing a uni is the quality of the educational facilities and if it is leading the way in teaching and learning facilities. An example of high-quality facilities at La Trobe is its Rural Health School as well as its multi-purpose skills laboratories which offer interactive clinical learning environments so that you’re properly prepared for placements and full-time work.

Experience is essential when trying to get a job outside of uni, so it’s important to assess whether the university you’re interested in gives you the chance to connect with professionals in your field early on while you study, to set you up for long-term success. Some universities such as La Trobe offer industry placements as elective subjects and work-based learning, which can help you secure a great job once you’ve finished your studies.

At La Trobe, these streams are supervised by industry professionals and academic co-ordinators, giving students valuable experience and networking opportunities. The university helps students connect with a diverse range of industry partners, from local companies to multinationals, which are often a foot in the door for future employment.

La Trobe was the top university for undergraduate employability in 2023, with 88.1 per cent of undergraduates finding a job within four months of graduating and 93.7 per cent of undergraduates in a full-time role three years after graduating. Employers recognise the high quality of La Trobe graduates, with the university ranked number one in Victoria for employer satisfaction as recently as 2022.

Cast your net widely

Strathcona Girls Grammar dean of learning futures Keira Wills says it’s vital to consider the industry experience provided by the different university schools you’re looking into.

“Practical experience is crucial to prepare you for careers beyond university,″⁣ she says. ″⁣We encourage all our school leavers to attend university open days to get a feel for what each university offers.″⁣

Don’t forget to investigate the overall experience the unis you’re looking into provide. While the main reason you’re at university is to study, it’s a great time to take advantage of the options available to you during this exhilarating time of your life.

“Finding additional areas of passion while at university can really enrich your experience,” says Wills.

Making the most of campus life

For instance, La Trobe offers access to great amenities, including The La Trobe University Sports Park development at its Melbourne campus in Bundoora. The Sports Park includes a new La Trobe Sports Stadium, with six high-quality, multipurpose courts, including a central show court for basketball, netball, volleyball and futsal. It’s also the training grounds for the iconic Matildas Australian women’s national soccer team.

The world-class Sports Park facility was built for both La Trobe students and the wider community to enjoy, supporting the University’s philosophy of making education and premium facilities more accessible. That’s also why La Trobe is made of seven campuses, including regional campuses in Bendigo, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton.

Lastly, if you can, be sure to do a campus tour before you make your final choice. That way, you can get a feel for the university and the people who study there and get excited about where you’re going to spend your first years after school.