Concerning Careers

Year 12 interviews
Year 12 boys who completed a post school options survey in Term 1 are being rostered to attend an interview with the Careers Counsellor. These interviews aim to assist the boys with their career/study planning for 2021 and beyond. The interviews commenced in Week 8 of Term 1 and are expected to continue until at least Week 5 or 6 of Term 2. They are initial interviews, where the boys are able to discuss their plans, ask questions and explore different post school options. The boys are welcome to organise additional subsequent interviews as needed.

Australian National University (ANU) application and selection processes
ANU has changed the application requirements and will now make offers based on Year 11 results while also successfully completing Year 12. Applications close on 25 May. Details of the new requirements can be found at https://www.anu.edu.au/study/apply/domestic-applications-anu-undergraduate. Offers will be made on 10 August. International applicants have a different process and have a closing date of 18 May. Please see https://www.anu.edu.au/study/apply/international-applications-undergraduate-and-postgraduate for more details.

Australian National University – Talk to an ANU student
Potential students can talk to an ANU student about their application and what it’s like to live and study in Canberra. Potential students may also like to chat about transitioning to university and the ways ANU will provide support This can be done by organising a phone or Zoom video call with a current ANU student. If interested, students should register at https://experience.anu.edu.au/ANUStudents?utm_campaign=ASA%202020_. The ANU student will then then get in touch and answer questions about applying to ANU and what it is like to study at ANU.

Tertiary and presentation changes due to the pandemic
The pandemic has severely restricted the outreach of prospective student advisers of universities, TAFE and residential colleges. These institutions have established virtual and online alternatives to the visits have been put in place, and these have been listed on the careers wiki in Keystone. This wiki has a learning resource ID of J8GJY2. These online support and advice sites include how to make enquiries, access to publications and bookings for individual online sessions. Year 12s have been strongly encouraged to view this site.

UNSW Virtual School Presentation
Delivered by two Student Ambassadors, this 30-minute presentation is designed to give students an overview of everything on offer at UNSW. The presentation covers the UNSW degrees, student life, exchange, scholarships and admissions information, including Guaranteed Entry, adjustment factors and alternative admissions pathways. It can be viewed at https://www.futurestudents.unsw.edu.au/unsw-virtual-school-presentation

UniSA
UniSA is offering alternative options to continue engaging with students, including individual appointments. There is an online booking form for Year 12 students and parents to book a phone appointment with a Student Liaison Officer. These are 15 minute appointments aimed to answer any questions students or parents may have around degree information, entry requirements, pathways and the application process. This is a great opportunity for students. The link to book an appointment is: www.unisa.edu.au/schools/appointments

University of Adelaide – alternative entry
The university has indicated that it will be establishing an alternative entry pathway for admission based on Year 11 results. This alternative pathway aims to enable 2020 Year 12 students to apply for entry into the majority of undergraduate degrees based predominantly on their 2019 Year 11 subject results. Should the student be successful, they could receive an offer of admission as early as September, about one month after SATAC applications for this new alternative entry pathway close. The traditional ATAR and subject-based entry pathways will still be available. For more details, please go https://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/undergraduate/year11-entry-pathway/.

UniTEST – Flinders University
uniTEST is an aptitude test that has been designed by ACER to assess the kinds of generic reasoning and thinking skills that are needed for students to achieve success in tertiary education. uniTEST assesses this reasoning and thinking across the broad domains of mathematics, science, humanities and social sciences. At Flinders, uniTEST is available for school leavers and has the potential to effectively improve an applicant’s selection rank as the uniTEST result is weighted at 40% and considered alongside the applicant’s ATAR (weighted at 60%) during the selection processes for Flinders Uni courses. For details about the test, go to https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/pathways/year-12-entry/unitest

Bond University – Scholarships
Bond University’s Scholarship Program offers a number of full-fee and part-fee tuition remission scholarships. These scholarships are available to students who show leadership, academic excellence, sporting prowess, community involvement or ‘all round’ abilities. Scholarships available include:

• Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Scholarship
• Bond University Indigenous Scholarship
• Sporting Scholarships
• Excellence Scholarship
• Leadership Scholarship

For scholarship and application details, please go to – https://bond.edu.au/future-students/study-bond/how-apply/scholarships.

The scholarship applications have different closing dates, usually between 9 August and 6 September.

University of Adelaide – STEM Careers Night
The STEM Careers night is an opportunity for students to find out more about degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Participants will hear from graduates and staff as they discuss:

• Current and emerging career opportunities
• Career, industry and research opportunities
• The facilities, field trips and overseas study available
• Student wellbeing and academic support.

The Adelaide STEM Careers Night will be live streamed on Wednesday 10 June from 6.15 to 7.15pm. To register, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stem-careers-night-2020-online-with-the-university-of-adelaide-tickets-91077953611. A digital link for the event will be emailed to those who register.

University of Adelaide – Universe and parent information session
The University has developed a podcast for future students to gain an insight into university life. Details can be found at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/uni-verse/

For parents, caregivers and families of high school students, the University will be running an online Parent Information Session to meet advisers from the Domestic Recruitment Team and hear information about future tertiary applications. The 2020 Parent’s Information Session will be an opportunity to gain further information about degree choices, SATAC procedures, timelines, support services, accommodation, and everything else that is involved in the lead up to life at university. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/parents-information-session-tickets-103494705450.

The University of NSW Co-op scholarship
The Co-op Program is a career development scholarship for high potential undergraduate students. It offers industry training, leadership and professional development, networking opportunities, mentoring and financial support of $19,600 p.a. tax free for up to four years. Australia’s leading companies take part in the training and professional development of the Co-op scholars with a view to recruiting high-potential young professionals. The scholarship is offered for study in many areas, including engineering, science and business. More details can be found at https://www.coop.unsw.edu.au/. Applications (https://www.coop.unsw.edu.au/apply) close on 30 September. The latest brochure can also be accessed here: https://www.coop.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/download/2021_Co-op_Brochure.pdf. The application may require applicants to prepare a short video ‘snapshot’ presentation. A School contribution is also required, so any boys intending to apply need to see Mr Colsey in the first instance.

International Student Admission Test – ISAT
International students currently studying in Australia and who are considering applying for Medicine and/or Dentistry at some institutions in Australia, will need to sit the ISAT. ISAT is a three-hour computer based test that is held in several cycles at various times during the year. However, applicants MUST check with each institution to determine their deadline for the ISAT results. The following institutions use the ISAT:

• Monash University, Melbourne – Medicine
• Monash University, Malaysian campus – Medicine
• University of New South Wales (UNSW) – Medicine
• University of Queensland – Medicine
• University of Tasmania – Medicine
• University of Western Australia (UWA) – pathway to Medicine & Dentistry
• University of Western Sydney (UWS) – Medicine

For more information on the ISAT go to https://isat.acer.edu.au/about-isat

References
Often students require school references for tertiary applications (in particular overseas applications) or residential college applications. The references can usually be categorised as being academic or personal/character type references. The School does have a policy to support students requiring a reference or to provide school based referees. Any student requiring a reference or seeking a staff member to be a referee should contact the Careers Counsellor in the first instance. This process is in place so that the type of reference required can be ascertained and appropriate arrangements made to prepare a suitable reference. References, transcripts of results and academic statements cannot be prepared immediately. A minimum of two weeks notice is required to effectively prepare the reference, transcripts and/or academic statements, and students should factor this time requirement into their planning for applications.

Courseseeker.edu.au
Course Seeker is a new Australian Government initiative that aims to help students gain Australian tertiary information to assist them to make informed decisions about future study options. The website provides access to information on ATARs, prerequisites and enrolment policies. Information has been sourced from across Australia and presented in a nationally consistent and comparable format to improve the transparency across the higher education sector. Courseseeker can be accessed at: https://www.courseseeker.edu.au/

Mark Colsey
Careers Counsellor