What if my teenager doesn’t get the ATAR they wanted?
Year 12 is a stressful time for students, and it can feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders. When the ATAR scores are in and your child didn’t quite get the results they wanted, the first step is to not panic and help reassure them in this situation.
Not getting the mark they wanted can be extremely disappointing for your child and during this time they need support and reassurance, especially if their friends are happily celebrating. There are many pathway opportunities for them to consider during this time.
Changing preferences
Once the ATAR is released in December, students have a short window to go into their VTAC account and change their preferences. They can add, remove or re-order their courses now based on the knowledge of their ATAR.
It is still important to encourage them to put their dream course first, despite their ATAR outcomes. They can then re-arrange their remaining preferences, including courses that are within or lower than the ATAR they achieved. They should also look into courses with a lower ATAR that will allow them to transfer across to their dream course.
Pathway opportunities
Many courses have pathway opportunities, whether that means completing the Diploma first to transfer into the Bachelor course or completing an adjacent Bachelor degree to transfer into your dream course down the line. It’s important for students to have pathway courses on their preference list, so we recommend they research the pathway opportunities available for their top preferences.
Vocational study
A great alternative to an undergraduate degree is vocational study, sometimes known as TAFE. For those looking for tertiary education that is aligned with a certain trade or skillset, vocational options might be the right fit.
They courses vary in length, some from as short as six months to two years. Vocational courses are also a great pathway for students who enjoy hands on learning and don’t want to spend all day in a lecture or tutorial.
Non-ATAR courses
Some institutions or courses don’t require an ATAR for students to enter their course. We recommend looking on CourseSearch to see which courses are eligible, but ensure you review their fee-payment structure. Some of these courses are not considered under HECS-HELP.
What if my teenager’s ATAR is just under what is needed?
If your teen is a few ranks off the ATAR they need for their dream course, there is still a chance they may make those up through additional ranks known as adjustments. Or sometimes the ATAR required for their year may differ based on the results of other students who chose that course.
VTAC publishes an ATAR profile for every course that considers ATAR in selection. This is a summary of selection data from the previous selection round. You can find them displayed within each relevant course entry on CourseSearch and we recommend reviewing this as a guide for whether your teen could be made an offer.
There are many options for students after Year 12 to land their dream course. Your role during this time to support your teen as they navigate their tertiary study journey.
