1. Life After ELTHAM

2. Moving on….Decision Making Several career changes during working life Making the right decisions at the time with the information available Possibly not long term decisions Initial steps don’t have to be the ones you follow for the rest of your life!

3. Where to next? There is nothing pre-ordained or inevitable about next year. You have choices, such as: Full time study at Uni, TAFE, Independent Tertiary Colleges in Victoria, interstate & overseas Part time study/part time work Full time work/Apprenticeship Deferred studies/GAP year

4. Is deferment for you? Money/Work Exchange (now offered by most Unis & some TAFEs) Travel Volunteering Time out (remembering you will have several months between November and March) NOTE: ― Make sure it is a productive deferment ― Not all courses allow deferment

5. Important Dates – 2009 September 30Timely applications close 5pm November 30Change of Preference opens December 14VCE results & ENTER available from 7am (In the mail on December 15) December 21Change of Preferences close at noon

6. Important Dates – 2010 Jan 12 (2pm)Offers for overseas students Jan 18 (9am)Round 1 offers Feb 5 (2pm)Round 2 offers

7. VTAC – What do they do? Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre The ‘middle man’ that connects applicants with tertiary institutions and administers the application process They do not select students for courses – that is done by each institution Questions about courses need to be made direct to the institutions

8. Course Selection – How does it work? Range of selection modes: ENTER (about 50% of courses are selected using only the ENTER) RC (Range of Criteria) – E.g. ENTER, interviews, pre-selection kits, folios, auditions

9. Using the VTAC Guide Researching Courses Different tertiary institutions have different strengths. It is not true that, for example, every course at one University is better than every similar course at another University. Check the subjects you will study within similar courses – they may be very different! Open Days! Institution Course Guides and websites

10. A Great Urban Myth MYTH : “If a course has a high ENTER, it must be a good course, and is the best course for you.” REALITY : ENTER Scores do not necessarily define what is best for you. Other courses/institutions may suit you better.

11. Using the VTAC Guide Understanding Course Codes Ending with 1 – CSP (Commonwealth Supported Places) Students defer payment of their course until they earn $41,594 per year (08/09 financial year). Ending with 2 – Full Fee at some Independent Tertiary Colleges and TAFE colleges (FEE-HELP loan scheme available to assist with payment of fees – 20% interest) Ending with 3 – Overseas Fee Paying

12. Using the VTAC Guide Understanding Terminology CY12 – Current Year 12 (You!) NONY12 – Non Year 12 (Not you!) Clearly In ENTER – score at or above which you are guaranteed a place in the course Fringe ENTER – score at or above which you will be considered for that course based on other criteria (e.g. subjects you studied) i.e. You are in the ‘middle band’

13. Using the VTAC Guide Noting Extra Requirements Check them carefully If you haven’t met them you won’t get an offer regardless of your ENTER! Check dates in the VTAC guide Don’t leave them until the last minute – some take quite a bit of time to complete!

14. VTAC Applications – What you’ll need! Payment $23 – timely applications (Aug 3 – Sept 30) $82 – late applications (Sept 30 – Nov 13) $106 – very late applications (Nov 13 – Dec 12) Payment Options: Pay online (credit card) Invoice at the Post Office (slightly more expensive) Don’t forget to print your Acknowledgment of Application!

15. VTAC Applications – Getting Started You apply for and deal with applications online at www.vtac.edu.au (not available until Aug 3!) Step 1: Register as a VTAC User Click on Register You’ll need your personal details (address, date of birth etc) and your VCAA student number

16. VTAC Applications – What you’ll need VCAA Number Pin Number – chosen by you when registering for VTAC Record these details in a safe place! You’ll be given a handout with tips on the application process soon

17. VTAC – Making your application Step 2: On the VTAC homepage click on Login You’ll need to provide information about yourself and where you are studying Yr 12 so that VTAC can match you with information on VASS You will then enter up to 12 course preferences. Can change as many times as you like up until Sept 30 th 5pm

18. VTAC Online Applications – Your Preferences Think VERY carefully !! Allocate in order of your preference - not simply in order of the ENTER Per state, you may select a maximum of 12 preferences Second and Third Round offers are scarce and only made if a first round offer has been rejected by another student You must have a guaranteed course! You can be offered ONE CSP and ONE Fee course per state.

19. Plan B Similar course at a different institution Transfer strategy Course to course One institute to another Campus to campus (within the same institute) TAFE to University University to TAFE You must be happy to graduate from the original course in the event that you may not be able to transfer Transfers are possible but not guaranteed

20. Plan B (cont) Use Open Days as an opportunity to ask about the best courses to do with a view to transferring Some courses offer specific advice. The Uni. of Adelaide Faculty of Medicine : “Unsuccessful applicants (for Medicine) should consider a Bachelor of Health Science or Science, with a view to graduate entry into Medicine.”

21. Plan B (cont) Wider thinking: Variety of alternative career pathways in your interest areas Investigate similar jobs Investigate possible transfer options Medicine Graduate Medicine ProgramScience/Biomedical SciencePhysiotherapyOsteopathyMyotherapyMassageHealth ScienceNursing

22. Scholarships 3 kinds of scholarships ▫ Access and Equity  apply through VTAC ▫ Commonwealth  apply through VTAC ▫ Merit  apply through VTAC for Monash, RMIT and Swinburne (others apply direct to institution) Download the application booklet at www.vtac.edu.au/scholarshipstemp.html See Bec or Jo for help/information on this!

23. Institutions who accept scholarship applications via VTAC: Scholarships Charles Sturt Deakin LaTrobe Monash RMIT Swinburne Ballarat Vic Uni

24. SEAS & Scholarships - Dates Applications open August 3 rd – October 9 th (no excuses if you miss the date!) Start early as some applications require supporting documentation that can take quite some time to gather!

25. VTAC Applications - Summary Step 1: Register with VTAC Step 2: Apply for courses Step 3: Apply for SEAS Step 4: Apply for scholarships

26. VTAC – Advisory letters Sent to you prior to Change of Preference indicating whether you will be offered a place. Allows you advance warning of the likelihood of you getting an offer in a particular course Is not a definite confirmation of an offer! (This will come in January 2009)

27. VTAC – Advisory letters cont. 3 kinds of Advisory Letter ▫ A – you will be given an offer if you meet all requirements (VCE, study scores, extra requirements) ▫ B – may get a 2 nd Round offer dependant on your ENTER ▫ C – Thanks, but no thanks!

28. Offers ALWAYS ACCEPT YOUR ROUND 1 OFFER !! Accepting an Offer Enrol in the course within the set time frame If you accept a Round 1 offer you are still eligible for a Round 2/Irregular Offer. Rejecting an Offer Do nothing (at your peril!) Not a good idea as you may not get a 2 nd Round offer Always have a back-up plan!

29. Irregular Offers Can be applied for after 1 st Round offers are made Overrides all other preferences Only one chance Apply direct to the tertiary institution (NOT to VTAC) The form must be signed and approved personally by the relevant Selection Officer. Forms can be downloaded from the VTAC website.

30. Irregular Offers You can apply for: A course lower on your preference list than the one offered to you in the 1 st Round (if you’ve changed your mind) A completely new course not listed on your original preferences NOTE: Tertiary institutions do not normally approve significant numbers of Irregular Offers

31. Offers An example for a student with an ENTER of 73.65 in 2009 1. RMIT Public RelationsRC X / Round 2 2. Deakin Media & Communications 79.85 X / Round 2 3. RMIT Marketing77.05 X / Round 2 4. Deakin (Geelong) Public Relations 66.60 Offer 5. RMIT TAFE Public Relations54.05 X / Irregular Offer 6. Monash (Berwick) Communications 70.05 X / Irregular Offer 7. Box Hill MarketingRC X / Irregular Offer 8. Swinburne Communications70.55 X / Irregular Offer

32. Interstate Applications Process is the same as for Victoria Not included in your VTAC preferences Can be made online You can receive offers from all States. Interstate tertiary guides are available in the Lifework Centre

33. VTAC Application Demonstration Held in S08 so that you can actually start the process with a LifeWork Counsellor to help you! Sign up with Annie in the LWC Only 24 places per session More sessions to come depending on demand

34. Local Students: Thursday August 6 th Period 1 Thursday Sept 3 rd Period 1 International Students: Tuesday Sept 1 st Period 1 VTAC Application Demonstration

35. Any Questions? Drop in and see us for more information or advice regarding VTAC applications. Our door is always open Bec & Jo