5 Things More Important Than Your ATAR
By
Year13
While stress, anxiety and doubt are piled onto our shoulders, we’re led to believe that our ATAR will be the be-all-and-end-all of our future, essentially tattooed on our forehead forever.
The truth is, the hype surrounding your ATAR will last all of two seconds. In fact, I couldn’t tell you what number I got. I’m not a number anyway, and neither are you. Your ATAR is just a ticket into uni… but guess what? It’s not even the only ticket in there.
Our friends at UTS Insearch are a pathway provider that’ll help get you into the University of Technology Sydney (Australia's number one young uni, by the way). They totaaaally get that you’re more than your ATAR. In fact, here are some things they agree are way more important than that little ATAR number.
1. The little things
Like I said, I don’t remember what my ATAR was. I do remember road trips, late night Maccas runs, awkward first dates, Harry Potter marathons, study sessions that involved very little study and games of truth or dare.
The little things are mementos that you cherish forever and make you, you. Don’t lose sight of that when it comes to exam crunch time.
2. Your mates
Can your ATAR shout you a meal? Can it talk to you for hours on the phone after a breakup? Can it make you laugh so much that you almost pee yourself?
I’d rather be surrounded by unreal, hilarious, wild and inspiring mates than an intangible number… just sayin’.
3. Your wellbeing
Cramming all night, eating food with 0 nutritional value, becoming a coffee addict, always thinking low of yourself… Oh man, Year 12 is a whirlwind!
But your mental and physical wellbeing are so much more important than your ATAR. Getting enough sleep, eating fruits and veggies, drinking water, having a rest from your computer screen and textbooks, going for a jog, hanging with your mates… Looking after your mental and physical wellbeing is a priority and don’t you forget it.
4. Perspective
Whilst you’re cramming as many mathematics equations into your brain without spontaneously combusting, or over-analysing Macbeth to the point where words look nonsensical, mother nature is struggling, people are starving, injustice is being served…
Wow, sorry to bring the mood right down. But having perspective on the outside world will help you get a little perspective and realise that getting a lower ATAR is by no means the end of the world. Doing things for the environment and for other people is so much more beneficial and rewarding than your ATAR.
5. What the ATAR doesn’t mark
You’re ATAR won’t give you higher marks for walking to school instead of driving to lessen your carbon footprint. It doesn’t care that you were a shoulder to cry on for a troubled friend. It doesn’t mark you for lending your brother money, reading 60 books in a year, writing a screenplay, getting your black belt in Tae Kwon Do, or learning how to play the guitar…
Selfless things, achievements, passions… These make you, you and yet none of it goes towards that number.
UTS Insearch get it. They also understand that your passion is more important than your ATAR and when it comes to passions, you’ll always find a way.
If you didn’t get the ATAR needed for your desired UTS degree, UTS Insearch is another way in. The best part is, after successfully completing a UTS Insearch diploma course, students can (for many courses) go straight to second year of their UTS degree. You won’t lose any time and will still be able to graduate with your mates.
The Insearch diplomas are all designed in collaboration with each UTS faculty which means you’re getting the same university-standard education from the get-go and have the same learning outcome as first year UTS students. The difference is that Insearch offers personal support in a smaller learning environment to really build your confidence, skills and success.
UTS Insearch is also offering remote learning so students don’t have to put off their studies due to COVID-19. You can study now in your loungeroom, knowing you’re already on your way to UTS!
