It’s finally happened. You woke up early. You nervously clicked over to the VCAA website. You checked your email or opened the VCE Results and ATAR app. And it’s official: you have an ATAR score.
Congratulations on all of your hard work to reach this point! It’s a huge accomplishment.
You might be excited, disappointed, surprised or strangely calm – or a complete mix of emotions. No matter how you’ve done, one thing is true: you can finally put aside all of the speculation and nailbiting about your score. You’ve got your number and – when you’re ready – you can start thinking about your future in concrete reality.
What happens next will be different for every student, but it all starts with how your score matches up with your goals. Here’s what to do, no matter what ATAR you’ve achieved.
I kicked ATAR butt!
Well done and high five! Assuming you’ve secured all the prerequisites for the course you’ve listed as your top preference and your ATAR falls into the minimum selection rank, nothing really needs to change. Keep your dream course at #1, add Orientation to your calendar, relax and wait for an offer letter.
If you’re joining us here at La Trobe, add us on social media to stay in the know about what’s happening on campus – visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. (And don’t forget our students-only channels: MyLaTrobe Facebook & MyLaTrobe Instagram)
I didn’t get quite what I wanted – help!
First off, don’t panic – you still have heaps of options. Your ATAR isn’t the one-and-only factor in your future success (trust us on this one!). The truth is, sometimes things don’t go as planned, no matter what you do.
Begin by focusing your mind on your end goal. Then start mapping out pathways that will get you there. Often, you can start a degree that’s similar to your dream course, then transfter into the course you really want after just six months or a year. In many cases, you can transfer straight into 2nd year subjects, so you won’t even lose any time.
If you need help with pathways, check out how to contact us below.
There’s no reason to remove your dream courses from the top of your preference list – you won’t risk anything but keeping it at #1 – but think carefully about your second and third preferences.
Here are some options you might like to explore:
- See if you’re eligible for Special Entry conditions, which can help add bonus aggregate points to your score.
- Check if any ATAR Adjustment Factors apply to you with our Adjustment calculator
- Consider applying for the same course at a regional campus where the minimum selection rank may be lower.
- Enrol in a pathway course with similar foundation subjects, then maintain a solid grade average and transfer in second or third year – for example, biomedical science is a great foundation to many more specialist degrees.
Even if the route to your dream course involves a detour or sidestep, have confidence in yourself that you can still reach your destination. Visit our Change of Preferences page for tools to think through your options.
I’m having second thoughts about my preferences
Perhaps you got a higher ATAR than you thought you would? Maybe your interests have changed? Perhaps a double-degree sounds intriguing? Or it could be that you’re thinking about the value in doing a gap year. It’s in your power right now to preference a different course – so think big!
With your score in hand, try our ATAR Wizard to explore different options available to you. Then, scroll through our course explorer to learn more about the courses you find most appealing.
I have my ATAR, but I’m not sure where I stand
It’s all a bit overwhelming right now, we get it. Both you (and your parents) need time to process your results, understand the VTAC process and unpack what your ATAR score means for this next phase of your life.
It’s not all just about number, after all – it’s important to know what life at university is really like, from accommodation services to clubs and societies, as well as how university will prepare you for your future career.
That’s why we’re running one-on-one consultations throughout the Change of Preference period, so you can come talk through your options and get some expert advice in person.
Five ways you can get a quick answer to your questions
We’ve extended our operating hours to make sure you can have all your questions answered.
Live chat: You can ask us a question online.
FAQs: Search our FAQs, where we’ve answered a huge range of popular questions.
Phone: Call us on 1300 135 045. We’ve extended our hours across the entire Change of Preference period, so get in touch!
