Future Students

Parents

The transition from secondary school to university can be a challenging time. Understanding what your child is going through will help make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.

Here's some information the main issues you may encounter, and some tips about supporting your child:

Choosing the right course

Helping your child to make the decision about which course and university to choose can be daunting.

Prospective students need to research their options carefully. We provide some great resources to make it easier:

• CourseFinder is a database with summary information about all La Trobe University courses. You can search by subject area and/or related jobs.
• The Undergraduate Handbook provides details on course content, structure and subjects.
• The Undergraduate Course Guide provides a complete version of the course information in CourseFinder; each Faculty also produces course brochures and guides.
• Work experience at La Trobe is a great way to get acquainted with university life and to develop new skills.
• Call us on 1300 135 045 to speak with a Course Information Officer about courses, careers and any other aspects of studying at La Trobe.
• Contact the Faculties/Schools for specific information.

• Ask La Trobe.

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Change of study environment

Many campuses, like our Melbourne (Bundoora) campus, are quite large, and students can feel like a small fish in a big pond. They may feel overawed by the environment and feel insecure, especially if they went to a relatively small secondary school.

Transition tips:

• Ensure that your child has visited the campus, Faculty, library and other facilities on the campus where they intend to study - this will help them to get a feel for the layout of the campus, and help them decide whether or not they'd feel comfortable studying/living there.
• Encourage them to see things that are new to them as an opportunities rather than problems - university encourages students to develop their own identity and to learn to deal with life on their own.
• However, if your child needs a helping hand, we offer a wide variety of excellent support services

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Change of learning style

One of the first things your child may encounter is a change of learning style, which can be very different to secondary school. Your child may learn and be assessed in different ways depending on the course they are studying. They may learn through lectures, tutorials, laboratory session or clinical placements.

Class contact is only a small part of they way in which students learn, and there will be greater emphasis in supplementing their learning by completing extra readings and assignments. They may have different lecturers teaching different subject modules, therefore the close relationship that they may currently have with their secondary school teachers will not be the same as with their university tutors.

Transition tips:

• Encourage your child to take some time to read the Handbook and find out what's involved in their course - eg subjects are offered, and teaching and assessment methods.
• Before they finish school, encourage them to come to on-campus events available to Year 11 and Year 12 students.
• In short, encourage them to be active participants in their shift from VCE to university, so they're prepared for change.

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Being able to self-manage

One of the most difficult things your child may experience is the need to self-manage. They'll have to choose their own subjects and electives, and they'll be expected to manage their time effectively, including their academic, social and sporting life.

For example, they'll need to ensure they attend required lectures and tutorials, and that they meet assignment deadlines. For many first-year students this can be extremely stressful; staff provide deadlines early in semester and assume students don't need reminding.

Transition Suggestions:

• Make your child aware of the lifestyle changes they'll face, and encourage them to talk about potentially problematic issues.

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Making the most of the University Experience

We encourage all students to attend Orientation during the first week of the new semester, and to make the most of the Host Scheme available during the first weeks of the academic year.

Being at university is not just about studying - it's about social, cultural and sporting life as well, and making new friends and trying new things. Your child will make the most of their time at university if they get involved in the things they most enjoy doing, as well as their academic work.

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Where can I get more information?

Your child will use the VTAC Guide to learn more about the application and selection procedure. Although all La Trobe University courses are listed in this guide, only a small amount of information is offered - the Guide isn't detailed enough for an informed decision.

We recommend students look at the La Trobe Guide to Undergraduate Courses (PDF 1.6Mb) and at CourseFinder, which contains information about what's involved in studying a particular course and the jobs to which it can lead. To receive a copy by post, please contact us.

The Undergraduate Handbook is also a great resource, as it contains more detailed information about the subjects available in each course, and how the course is structured.

Our Parents' Guide to Study (PDF 897Kb) has been written especially with parents in mind, and is a useful reference guide to help you with your child's planning process.

Sundays in August are Open Days at La Trobe. This is the best time for your and your child to visit the University, talk to staff about the course and career options, meet current students, take a campus tour and view the facilities. You're also welcome to visit at any other time on an individual basis. Additional prospective student events are held throughout the year.

If you'd like to talk to one of our Course Information Officers in person, please call 1300 135 045. Alternatively, you can simply Ask La Trobe.