16 Oct 2017

So, you haven’t got the marks you wanted throughout the year, don’t think you’re going to ace your exams or get into the course you need. Well, so what? There are plenty of ways to score extra points and get into uni without stressing about your marks. 

Heaps of uni’s all over Australia offer programs for early achievers, which focus less on your exam marks and more on your lifestyle and what volunteering you’ve done in the past.

Even if the uni you’re keen on doesn’t offer a specific program like early achievers, the things on this list always look good for scholarships or entry that requires an application.

Chances are you’ve already contributed to your local community without even realising it, so if you are trying to boost up a scholarship application or get through a uni back door, here are a couple of hints.

1. School leadership

Were you a school captain, vice-captain or sport captain? What about SRC? If your Year 12 marks don’t reflect your passion and leadership skills, don’t even sweat it! Many universities think you’re still a great candidate for their courses and that you should apply for the access programs.

2. The St Vincent de Paul Society

Have you ever worked or volunteered for good ol’ Vinnies? Maybe you’re a member of their society, helped with a fundraiser or worked at one of their op shops around the country. Well, on top of collecting some vintage outfits, your contributions to Vinnies could land you your dream course.

3. Rosies Street Outreach Volunteering

Have you had any involvement in aiding the homeless or those at risk of homelessness? If so, you’ve done some amazing work for your community that universities want to hear about.

4. Edmund Rice Centre Camps

The Edmund Rice Centre does some incredibly important research into social inequality and poverty, and if you’ve helped them raise awareness of their cause then you’re going to be eligible for many early achievers programs. And if you’re heading into a degree that focuses on helping the community, you will have already had plenty of experience.

5. St John’s Ambulance volunteer

Volunteering with St John’s or being part of their cadet program and assisting with first aid, is a pretty incredible contribution that universities want to reward you for. Your dedication to your local community is exactly the kind of attitude they’re looking for.

6. Fundraising activities

Maybe you’ve had your fingers in a few pies when it comes to fundraising activities (it could be raising funds for your Year 12 formal or selling chocolates for your footy club), but when you’re contributing to the community there’s no need to be faithful to just one cause. Actually, it’s kind of fantastic if you’ve made contributions to multiple causes and it’s exactly the sort of thing you want to put on your application.

7. Lifeline activities

If you’ve worked at a Lifeline store or helped out on one of their fundraisers or community campaigns, then your charitable persona is exactly what universities wants more of around their campuses.

8. Returned Services League (RSL) and Legacy

Spent heaps of time down at the local Ari, your community Rissole or, for those who can’t wrap their head around the Australian slang, the RSL? Every time you contribute to your local Returned Services League, you are supporting war vets all around Australia, and that’s a pretty cool thing to do.

9. Youth Ministries Australia

Have you ever contributed to the Campus Crusade for Christ Australia’s branch known as the Youth Ministries Australia? They do a whole host of things to support their local community, and many universities value that kind of contribution. Let them know about it!

10. Surf Life Saving Club participation

Ever do Surf Life as a sport at school, or spent a summer donning the red and yellow volunteering as a Life Saver? All that time and effort (and sunburn) that went into that summer can now be recognised!

 11. Volunteer Fire Brigade Services

You might not have fought any fires, but if you volunteered for the fire brigade then you definitely made an incredible contribution to the safety of others, and that’s something that many uni’s really appreciate and want to reward you for. On ya, Sonya!

12. Peer mentoring/support programs

How many of you helped usher the terrified, little Year 7 students into high school life, teaching them how to manage their school assignments and how not to get beat up? If you were part of a school mentoring or support program (and your students successfully made it through the first few years of high school relatively unscathed), then that’s pretty awesome!

13. School camps

We applaud those who have volunteered in holiday, school or after care camps like these because you have given up your time to put up with a bunch of kid’s who are probably going to have ten times more energy than you ever will.

14. Lay Ministry

If you’ve performed an important role at your local church, then many universities want to recognise and reward you for that. One of the greatest strengths about Australian universities is how diverse their student bodies are, and they want people from all ages, religions, ethnicities and walks of life to study with them.

15. Local government activities

You might have assisted at a number of local government activities: passing out flyers, cooking some snags during election time, or helping out with Australia Day celebrations. If you’ve had any involvement with local government activities, then many universities can see your budding potential, no matter how well you did in the Year 12 exams.

16. Community liaison groups

Getting involved in the representation and decision making process in your community (think programs like the Youth Advisory Council) shows that you really care about your local area and how it functions. Universities think that’s pretty awesome, because they want people who can do the same for their society of students, and they might just be willing to overlook your academic history in the process.

17. Aged care facilities

If you’ve worked at an aged care facility, then you really understand what it means to respect your elders. It’s not always easy work when it comes to aiding the elderly, and many universities will recognise that.

18. Liturgy groups

If you’ve been a part of the planning process when it comes to Church liturgies, programs and special events, then you’ve got the kind of experience many uni’s want. Chuck this down in your application.

19. Music groups

People who are passionate about their music know that so much time goes into making music that there isn’t a whole lot left to ensure their grades are up to standard. Well, a lot of uni’s say that’s okay, your music is important too, and if you’ve contributed to local music groups then you could be eligible for their achievers programs. Plus, keep an eye out for portfolio or performance entry schemes.

20. Assisting people with disabilities

You might not have worked in a formal disability aid program or facility, but if you’ve helped care for a disabled person or people, including helping them with everyday tasks like cleaning, shopping, communication and transportation, then you’ve done some really important work that outshines your results from the Year 12 exams.

Many entry programs take into account if you’ve been a carer for someone throughout your schooling years.

21. Scouts or Girl Guides

They do plenty of work in and around the community, which is exactly what many universities want from their students. Scouts and Girl Guides make great local contributors, and in a degree where community contribution is highly prized, you might just make a straight-A student.

22. Coaching

Leadership skills can take you far, particularly in university. So, if you’ve taken on a team, either in the sporting or the academic world, it can help out your uni applications.

23. Duke of Ed

Basically, all the things uni’s want to see you doing rolled into one program. Thank your Year 8 self for deciding to get cracking on your Duke of Ed and chuck it in your application.

24. Refereeing/umpiring

Ever spent a Sunday morning running around a field with a whistle in your hand because the actual ref didn’t turn up for your little brothers soccer game? Or maybe your sporting club makes it compulsory to umpire at least one game a month. Whatever the reason, uni’s are keen to see that you’re contributing to your local sporting community in whatever way possible.

25. Sport

Had a tonne of training and game day commitments that meant you didn’t have a lot of time for study? Other than athlete bonus points, performing at an elite level in your sport can help you get into the course you want and you might even be able to apply for scholarships because of it.