BHS VTAC Info Session August 2012

BHS VTAC Info SessionAugust 2012

VCAA administers all of the courses and your results in VCE. They automatically release your results to VTAC. VTAC coordinates the entry of approx 60,000 students into courses in universities and TAFE. You will need to use their website: www.vtac.edu.au Much of what used to be in the printed VTAC guide is now on the website. Agencies

What is in the VTAC Guide? • Important dates - p1 • VTAC application process – p9 • Course entrance requirements – p5 • Pathways – contains a list of institution sites for information - p16 • About courses – p11 • Applying for courses – p21 • Applying for accommodation – contains a list of sites to visit - p28 • SEAS applications – p29 • Scholarships – p44 • Admissions tests – p51 • Offers, enrolment and deferring – p50 • Financial assistance – p63 • Course index – p67 with last years ATAR listed • Course Guide – lists course, course code, brief outline of course, whether there are prerequisites or extra requirements and whether applications are through VTAC or direct, all other info on vtac website p122 • Index of major study areas – p423

The VTAC website?Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe • Blog: http://vtacmedia.wordpress.com • Facebook (preferred method): Facebook.com/vtacguide • Twitter: @vtacguide

The VTAC website? Is where you apply online Apply for SEAS Apply for many scholarships Change preferences Find out definitive information about courses: prerequisites, special requirements, middle band information. This information no longer contained in the VTAC Guide.

Before you apply... • Read the information in the front section of the VTAC Guide 2013 • Refer to the ‘ABC of Applying’ • Collect handbooks from the Student Pathways Centre • Make an appointment to meet with Mr. McKenzie • Go to Open Days, inquire about courses, accommodation, scholarships. Get the “feel” of the place. • Visit the VTAC websitewww.vtac.edu.au • Click onto “CourseLink” to research courses. • Check out institutions, courses and subjects in the VTAC Guide and in the VTAC website • See the Course Index at the front of the VTAC Guide for last year’s ‘clearly in scores’ and ‘fringe’ ATARs. • If looking for which institutions offer particular study areas refer Index of major studies.

Before you apply… • You need a “Plan A”, “Plan B” and “Plan C” • Think about pathways into courses. Many University courses have TAFE pathways. Check for units credited. Details in handbooks or University websites • Many TAFES now looking at your ATAR as part of a range of criteria. Don’t assume you can relax because you are planning on going to TAFE. • Get advice from anywhere you can. • Look for prerequisites, if you do not have the necessary prerequisites no point applying. • Note, you are all undergraduate students.

Before you apply…All this info is now on the website, not in the book • Check out the Selection Mode and Extra Requirements, may specify particular requirements e.g. folio, interview, test, compulsory attendance at Information evenings, work experience, etc., on the website. You will still have to meet these requirements even if putting in at change of preference. If you do not meet these requirements you will not get in. Contact details and dates listed. You must adhere to these. • Title and length of courses: FT 4 = 4 years full time, PTA = part time available, a course with two titles and a / between indicates a double degree, e.g. Arts/Sciences. • Note: you are a CY12 (current year 12). • The minimum study score published e.g. 25 for English is before scaling.

ATAR - Australian Tertiary Entrance Rank • Ranking of all students in the state • Highest is 99.95 • ENTER of 90 means that you are ranked better than 90% of students • Do not get lulled into a false sense of security, an ENTER of 50 means half the state has done worse and half done better. In Year 12 you are compared with every student in the state. • Add together Study Score for English and next best three plus 10% of fifth and sixth studies (after scaling). • Many VET programs have a scored assessment (i.e. score included in Primary 4). If not 10% increment as a 5th or 6th study. If a Scored assessment is offered you must sit the exam otherwise it does not count towards your ATAR at all. • Often a Certificate III SBA may count as an increment if entered on VASS but I need to know about it.

ATAR and Selection • ATAR’s published in VTAC Guide based on 2011 applicants’ ATAR scores for each course – not set in advance • Last years ATAR appears at the start of each course – note, many TAFE courses have an ATAR published • Jan ATAR is 1st round, Feb ATAR is after all offers made • Clearly in – above a certain score • % below reflects those who may have got in through SEAS and middle band • Middle Band – re-ranking takes place usually according performance in relevant studies. Consideration is often given to SEAS students. You will be asked if you want GAT details released as part of selection, if applying to Monash tick yes. (need to go to the VTAC website for information). • ‘RC’ – course selects on a range of criteria. • Fringe ATAR – 95% of offers were made above this ATAR score • n/a data not available or very low numbers applying • New means it is a new course.

Scaling You can still do poorly in subjects that are scaled up. If you do subjects that are scaled down you must do better, as you should.

Scholarships The scholarship applications open Monday August 6 and close 5.00pm Friday October 19 All students should apply, just tick the box, let the system sort out if you are eligible or not. Scholarships determined via the VTAC scholarship application process maybe awarded to: Students with financial difficulties Indigenous Australians Other access and equity groups as defined by each institution Victorian universities provide their own scholarships to assist students through VTAC and directly. Check out University websites. Commonwealth Scholarships administered through Centrelink: Student Start Up, Relocation and Indigenous. Available to students receiving income support. Merit Scholarships. To apply just register your preferences. It happens automatically.

Deferring an offer Perhaps you want to travel Did not get into the course you really wanted Want time out to consider your future Save some money, be careful if deferring to gain independent status. Need to demonstrate you have worked an average of 30 hours per week for 18 months out of the past 24 months. Not all institutions and courses able to be deferred, need to check start of University section and perhaps contact institution. TAFE generally does not allow you to defer although some courses possible, e.g. RMIT but not GORDON, need to check with the TAFE. You must attend enrolment day and then defer. You must accept the offer. Most Universities, can defer for up to 24 months. Be careful though, statistically a lot of students who do defer do not return to University

SEAS – Access and Equity Available for students who have been unable to reach their full potential or have restricted access to the courses of their choice because of life circumstances. Categories: • Personal Information and location (age, indigenous Australian, postcode, under-represented school, gender – if applying for courses typically specific to a certain gender) • Non English speaking background • Difficult circumstances • Disadvantaged financial background • Disability or medical condition • Latrobe (SALT scheme), University of Ballarat (REEP), Victoria University (PPP). The only one that applies to Belmont students is the University of Ballarat (REEP) Some categories just require you to tick the box e.g. Personal information and location, some require impact statements and some require letters from doctors, psychologists or counselors. If an event occurs after you leave school that impedes performance at an exam or preparation for exams contact M/s Milne Everyone should tick the personal information box, just tick it.

Pathways into courses The best and quickest way to obtain a University degree is to achieve the appropriate ATAR, however there are often other pathways into courses: • TAFE • University of Ballarat REEP and Fast Track • ACU early achievers • MIBT • Monash College • VU Foundation studies • Associate degrees

How To Apply • VTAC online application - via the VTAC website. • Interstate applications – through each state’s agency – see Mr McKenzie (e.g. QTAC, UAC, SATAC) • THERE ARE NO FORMS TO FILL IN FOR YOUR PREFERNCES!

VTAC Online Applications • Can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any where in the world before 5.00pm September 28. You can change your preferences during this time. Applications open now. • Check that you can access site if doing at home, don’t leave until the holidays, can do in the careers room. • Cost $26.00 online payments or an invoice will be sent. Cost additional $10. May take up to 10 days. You have not applied until your payment is received by VTAC. If online payment fails automatically sent invoice, do not reapply. One off cost. Late applications incur increased costs. • SEAS applications close October 9 at 5.00pm. • Scholarship applications close October 19 at 5.00pm

To access you need your full VCAA number and a PIN • Find out your VCAA student number, this is your VTAC application number • When you register you will be asked to select your own PIN (a four digit number), you will need it to access your application • Do not forget your PIN. • Current Year 12 students will receive a reminder of your PIN early December.

Course Codes and FeesUniversity • Type 1 – CSP – Higher education and VET (Course codes ending in 1). Australian citizens, NZ citizens, humanitarian VISA and permanent residents of Australia. • Type 2 – Fee paying courses (Course codes end in 2). Only applicable for Private Colleges and TAFE. No full fee paying courses at University. • Type 3 – Fee paying International students or temporary VISA or business VISA (course codes ending in 3) • Type 4 – For 20 year olds and over

Type 1 payment options Payment • Up front – 10% discount. • Pay some up front, payments over $500 get discount. • HECS-HELP for full contribution, repayment starts when you start earning approximately $48000. If you are on a permanent VISA (PR) you can access CSP courses but you are required to pay up front and not eligible for discount. TAFE courses – Cert IV and above now charge – could be $4000 +, FEE-HELP available as it is for Private Colleges Further information: www.goingtouni.gov.au

Type 2 payment options FEE-HELP available for full fee paying courses. Up to $100000 • Loans subject to a 20% loan fee when repayments commence. • Repayment starts when you start earning over $48000. • FEE-HELP available for Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses where agreed credit for a related University course is available. • Now includes TAFE.

ListingYour Preferences • You may list up to a total of 12 preferences. • CSP based course codes end in ‘1’ and Fee Paying course at ITC’s and TAFE codes end in ‘2’. International fee paying students course codes end in 3. Over 20 = 4 • List the courses in the order that you want to do them • Include a range of courses that begin with your ‘dream course’ have some realistic courses and finish with a back up plan you can easily achieve. • Often other pathways to a course e.g. Design and drafting articulates into architecture. • Some universities are a TAFE as well e.g. makes sense if applying to do Engineering at RMIT University to include Engineering at RMIT TAFE somewhere on your preferences.

Civil Engineer – possible preferences RMIT – 87.45 Deakin University – 65.80 Engineering – Associate Degree – 78.55 RMIT TAFE – Adv. Diploma – 37.65 Assumes student wants degree at RMIT, but if can’t get into RMIT will go to Deakin. If student has no intention of going to Deakin would not include Deakin. Given the above ATAR you would never get an offer to do the Assoc Degree. TAFE is the back up. Associate Degrees relatively new, 2 year course. Both Diploma and Assoc. Degree articulate into the degree.

Nurse – possible preferences Nursing Deakin – Geelong – 64.40 Nursing University of Ballarat – 50.40 Nursing Deakin – Warrnambool – 55.65 Div 2 Nursing at GORDON TAFE (direct entry thus not in VTAC Guide)

Pathways There are many pathways into University if you do not get the ATAR e.g. Monash College into Monash University MIBT into Deakin university TAFE into University Even a traineeship into University e.g. Student who obtained a poor ATAR did an Integration aid traineeship, worked for 3 years as an integration aid and eventually got into Primary Teaching. Mature age entry is a bit of a myth, will still consider your ATAR and you would have been doing stuff in that area e.g. No good if you want to be a Primary Teacher and use a Business Administration Traineeship as a pathway.

December Results and ATAR released December 17 7.00am. ATAR statement in mail Dec 18 • Change of Preference – Can change preferences through to 26 October and between 26 November and 24 December • Can be a totally new list, add, remove courses - watch for extra requirements or courses that cannot be added now • You don’t have to make changes

Applying to TAFE: Many TAFE courses are in the VTAC guide. You apply for these courses through VTAC in the same way as University courses. Other TAFE courses are direct entry. TAFE application due dates may well be earlier than when you receive offers e.g. GORDON TAFE end of October. Some TAFE courses need to be applied via direct entry. Certificate III, IV and Diplomas. You will need to down load an application form from the website. Make sure you are aware of any special requirements and dates.

Offers • To accept an offer you must enroll in the course i.e. attend on the University enrolling day. • To defer you must attend on enrolling day and defer, check you can defer first. • If rejecting an offer do nothing. Institutions will know if you do not turn up on enrolment day. • To accept an offer in a later round you must accept your earlier offer, then withdraw from the 1st offer. • Negotiated offers – you can apply for a negotiated offer if you want to be considered for a preference listed lower on your list or for a course not listed on your preference list. You can apply for a negotiated offer after round 1 offers are released.

Offer dates • Round 1 – 17th January 2013 • Round 2 – 6th February 2013 • Supplementary offers – February 2013. Supplementary offers replaced 3rd round offers, every student applying needs to tick supplementary box when applying through VTAC. Can get offers for courses not on your preference list. • International offers 11th January • Enrolment dates Round 1 – Late January. You need to be available during these dates, if not contact the institution, may need a proxy or may do online.

You have your VCEYou have put in your preferencesYou have met any institutional prerequisites and checked out additional requirementsNow you need THE ATAR TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

Do’s and don’ts DO • Start doing 3 hours per night/day now if not already doing so • Start doing extra work above what your teacher asks • Use a significant part of your September holidays to study • Manage your time • Organize a place to study • Accept that until now you have been compared to BHS students, in the exams you are compared with the whole state. DON’T • Leave your study until after the last day of classes • Let your self down by not doing your best • Say “oh well I’II just go to TAFE then Uni”, this is an option but it will take you longer and cost you thousands more • Accept mediocrity – an average ENTER is 50, if you get 50 you are not going to Uni next year.

How do I study? Get your notes, assignments, past SAC’s organized into chronological order. If you went poorly in a SAC find out why and get it right Summarize your notes, then summarize your summaries. Go through your text book and list the headings Make sure you can answer every question at the back of the chapters, if not get an answer Start going through past exam papers and examiners reports available at www.vcaa.edu.au Make sure you can answer every question, if you don’t or can’t do something make sure you can Talk to your teachers and get help and clarification Talk to friends doing the same subjects about school work

1. Think positive2. Think can do3. You don’t have to become a hermit just a little disciplined4. It is not to late to do well for many subjects 75% of your assessment is still to happen.5. Do well because you can.6. There is a direct correlation between effort and success

Do your best, you can do no more. The students who are disappointed because they did not get an offer are those who acknowledge they did not put in the effort.

GOOD LUCK

BHS VTAC Info Session August 2012