A Low ATAR is NOT the End of the World!
A Low ATAR is NOT the End of the World
It’s finally here – your ATAR score, the thing you’ve put two years of hard work into! But what if it isn’t as high as you wanted? Never fear – if your ATAR score is much lower than you expected, it is NOT the end of the world. There are all sorts of things you can do to ensure you still get into the degree you’re after – it might mean changing your plans a little, though. From pathway courses to university to low ATAR uni courses, read on to find out how you can turn a low ATAR score around and get your dreams back on track!
Don’t let a low ATAR stop you – you’ve got this!
Yes, getting a low score when you’d worked so hard and hoped for more can be really disheartening, but there are things you can do to turn it all around. Don’t throw in the towel. Your results at the end of high school aren’t the only achievement you’ll ever make – there’s so much life ahead of you! Chin up – if you dig a little deeper, you’ll be back on the road to meet your goals in no time!
Research alternative pathways courses to university
Depending on the degree and the university, there are different pathways to getting into the course you want. If your ATAR score is just below what you needed it to be, you can look into selection criteria such as admissions tests, interviews, or any work experience or extracurricular work you’ve done that might get you through. You could complete a bridging course to help you fill in any knowledge gaps you may have. You could undertake a VET (or Vocational Education Training qualification) to get you into the university degree you want. Or you could look for work or an apprenticeship in the field you’re interested in, and try to get into it that way. There are scores of things you can do to improve your situation – you just need to do a little research. Check out the Course Seeker website for more information.
Be Flexible!
If you have always had your heart set on going to Monash University, or the University of Queensland, or the University of Sydney, don’t worry – there’s still hope! Check out the course guides at these universities to see if there’s a degree in your field that is broader and offers a lower ATAR entrance score. Arts and Science degrees in particular tend to offer a large range of units to help you decide. You could transfer the units across into the degree you’ve actually been dreaming of. And you never know – you may just find something you’re even MORE passionate about.
Another option might be to look at what other universities are offering. If one offers a similar course to what your favoured uni does and the entry requirements are lower, you could enrol in that and switch to your chosen university once you’ve undertaken a few months of study. A low ATAR uni course can be the stepping stone on the way to your preferred course.
Finally, you could use a TAFE qualification as a stepping stone to gain entry into your chosen university course. A TAFE qualification may even give you credit for prior learning and let you fast-track your university degree. Many universities have guaranteed entry pathways with certain TAFE courses, which means that as long as you meet the standard requirements, your university place will be guaranteed. All of these are excellent ways of getting into university through the back door. You just need to roll up your sleeves and get on with it!