WHICH DEGREE SHOULD I DO? 4 TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR UNIVERSITY & DEGREE

While we patiently await December 17th for ATAR releases, you might be thinking about university degree preferences. You might be concerned with what uni to choose - USYD, UNSW, UTS, MQ, WSU - or you might be puzzled about choosing degrees. Here are our most helpful tips as reminders for what to look out for when making these important decisions.

1. Start off with what areas or faculties interest you.

Rather than selecting based on university, it would make more sense to begin with going through degrees from many institutes to see what interests you. Business? Law? Science? Arts? Health? Music? Ruling out the general areas you definitely wouldn’t pursue and narrowing down between broader categories is easier than finding individual degrees, especially if you’re unsure of what you want to do.

2. Measure up against your ATAR and keep in mind alternate entry schemes (bonus points, portfolio, equity schemes etc.)

Put it this way - imagine that you’re at a supermarket. Degrees are the items are the shelves. Your ATAR is how much you have in your wallet. It could help you narrow down between the countless number of degrees, or it could give you the opportunity to discover degrees you didn’t know existed.

If you didn’t get the ATAR you wished for, it won’t be the end of the world! Do research into alternate entry schemes you may be eligible - many students get into a degree through bonus points for certain HSC subjects that might be applicable, equity schemes and portfolio entries for the creative areas. You might be surprised at what you’re eligible for!

3. Choosing a university.

The reason why choosing a uni might not be the first step to do is because uni’s vary in their rankings and areas. While one uni might overall have a higher global ranking, it doesn’t mean it’s the right place for the specific area you’re studying. If you’re basing choices off rankings, look into specific majors and faculties and their reputations. It’s also worth considering factors such as travel distance and campus life when deciding.

4. Speak to those who’ve been through it.

Reach out to your school alumni or your favourite teachers to ask for their advice! Perhaps they can refer you to others who might be in the exact field you want to pursue or can answer specific questions. We understand that parents and peers are very influential on this decision, hence why it might be worth reaching out to those not within these immediate circles to give a clearer view of what’s out there.

Good luck! Remember that no matter what degree or school you pursue, the experience is completely what you make of it. If you end up doing something you despise, there are definitely opportunities to change degrees or unis or even take a break from uni later on.