As Year 10 students begin the process of choosing their subjects for Year 11 and 12, I thought it might be prudent to list here some tips and ideas for making these decisions.
1. Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do after secondary school. The best advice I can give you is to leave your options open by choosing a variety of subjects – at least as much variety as 5 or 6 subjects can offer.
2. Choose subjects that interest you, not those that are marked up. You will not achieve as high a result in the latter if you do not enjoy them. They will be a burden to you.
3. Ensure you have checked any prerequisites for courses you are interested in studying after Year 12. Universities will not accept you if you do not meet these prerequisites no matter your ATAR score.
4. If you are studying a language and enjoy it, don’t give it up yet! You’ve come so far – why not take it all the way?
5. Do not think you can study more that 3 folio based subject areas – there are not enough hours in the day!
6. Make sure you ask lots of questions of many people including your teachers, the careers advisor, your parents (yes we know a few things too!) and other students, – especially those studying the subjects that interest you.
7. Attend university open days and ask more questions.
8. Don’t dismiss the VET options, these might be just what you need.
9. Doing VCAL doesn’t actually mean you cannot go to uni – it’s just another way round after you complete their requirements which will include TAFE options.
10. (a) Remember that your final ATAR score is not the ‘be all and end all’. In fact it is only relevant for a very short period of time – that is until you get your first offer – after that..it’s up to you.
(b) Remember also that your choices are not final at this point. You can change your mind, in fact you have until February next year before they need to be finalised without penalty.
I wish you all the very best, remember we are all here to help you. I encourage you to ask plenty of questions so as to make informed choices.
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