One Year 12’s pathway to a dream degree at Central Queensland uni

In the face of COVID-19 and personal adversity, Lilyjayn used a principal’s recommendation scheme to land a uni spot.

Year 12 student Lilyjayn Kelly has a confirmed place at Central Queensland University next via its early entry program, and on the recommendation of her principal.

Lilyjayn Kelly was already having a tough time when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Hervey Bay’s Urangan State High School online in March.

The 18-year-old had missed some school at the end of last year after the tragic death of one of her best friends and was just finding her footing again when the difficult switch to remote learning confirmed that her final months as a Year 12 would be another tough haul.

“It was not good,” Ms Kelly said, while acknowledging that her teachers had done their best. “It affected all of us academically.”

UNI ENTRY GUIDE: Many ways to uni for class of Covid | Meet the year 12 challenge | Unis host virtual open days | ATAR advantage from ‘gateway’ school | Enter uni on year 11 results | JobKeeper advantage for students |

The teacher with responsibility for the Year 12s alerted her to the new early entry Principal’s Recommendation Scheme at Central Queensland University, which had been piloted last year with a handful of local schools and is now offered generally.

After further discussion, Ms Kelly wrote her application for her dream degree, bachelor of laws and bachelor of business. “I was interested in the scheme because I have had personal things happen in my life in the past two years, plus COVID,” Ms Kelly said. “I didn’t think I was going to make the ATAR I needed.

“I got the acceptance email 24 hours later. My mother screamed, she was so happy.”

It was mid-May when Ms Kelly received the unconditional early offer, which meant she could apply herself to doing her best in the coming exams without the worry of an uncertain future.

It was also a circuit-breaker that left her feeling encouraged and energised, she says.

Which was precisely the purpose of the scheme, according to CQU vice-chancellor Nick Klomp.

“We believe senior schooling results are an important factor that leads to student success, however (we) also recognise that other factors and attributes such as motivation, talent and passion have a key role to play,” he said.

“Not to mention the COVID-19 crisis that we are facing and the subsequent disruptions the pandemic has had on the current Year 12 cohort.”

He said while the PRS offered a pathway, students still had ahead of them the coursework requirements of any degree to which they gained entry. CQU has made more than 160 offers under the scheme, which is uncapped.

Now preparing for trial exams, Ms Kelly said she had been fortunate in the support of her mother and grandmother and also had been able to keep her part-time job at Woolworths.

She was looking forward to the course, which she planned to do online.

“If my friend was here right now she’d be so proud of me having done this,” she said. “I want other kids to read this. I want them to know they still have a chance.”