18 May 2020

So, it’s nearly the halfway point of the year and most of us are thinking how crazy it is that every year seems to be going faster than the last. Especially if you’re a senior in high school.

As the end of the year nears, the pressure is on to know what you’re doing. Uni preferences are due in, your ‘rents are howling you about what you’re doing after grad and your teachers expect you to have some solid plans set in stone. It can get pretty hectic, especially when you’re trying to keep your head above water with the onslaught of balancing exams, assessments, work and a social life.

We just wanna stop you from freaking out about it all by breaking down some of the post-school options out there, so you can decide which one sounds like the right way to go for you, without the noise from all your teachers, parents and mates. In saying that though – you don’t need to have your whole life set out for you at 17. If you ask around the Year13 office, you’ll find most of us have changed degrees and professions a whole bunch of times and that’s completely fine too!

1. Continuing to study

After your final exam, you may be absolutely done with looking textbooks, notes or an exam paper ever again. No more. Nada. Not interested. That’s a-okay, because studying isn’t for everyone and there’s a bucketload of post-school options we’ll touch on later.

But if you reckon you’re keen to keep on studying and head off to uni, TAFE or a private college after high school, you should prepare yourself emotionally, physically and more importantly, financially.

Studying takes time, challenges ya and is pretty exxy. But in most cases, you can suss out government loans like HECS-HELP or a VET Student Loan, so the sting of paying upfront is taken out of the equation.

2. Choosing to do a gap year

You can’t lie and tell me that taking a gap year isn’t something you thought about in your post-school plans. Whether you’re over studying or still have no idea what’s on the cards for you, a gap year is a tempting plan.

But often there is a misconception that once you take a break, you’ll never go back to studying. Oh, and that a gap year actually means a whole year. But that’s certainly not the case. You don’t have to take a whole year off, or alternatively you could take two or three years off. It’s entirely up to you, but the good think about a gap year is that you’ll learn about yourself, the space you occupy in the world and gain a sense of independence.

At the end, you might have a much better idea of what you want to do as well, so you won’t find yourself spending tens of thousands of dollars on a degree you may not even want.

3. An apprenticeship or traineeship is on the cards

If you know that studying just isn’t your cup-of-tea but you’re still after a qualification, then an apprenticeship or traineeship is certainly something that you should be considering.

Not only do you get a super practical approach to learning on-the-job, but you also get paid to complete a qualification, like a Cert III or IV. In fact, our data (from our After the ATAR report, where we get thousands of you guys to answer questions about work, life, study and travel) showed a carpentry apprentice can make up to $129,588 in the four years of their qualification. It’s a big leg-up if you’re keen on making some cash while learning, rather than having to balance study and work separately.

4. Moving out of home

Leaving the nest is a ‘uuuuge deal. Not only do you have to consider who you’re moving out with, but how you’re going to financially support yourself. And it’s certainly one thing to move out, but it’s another to relocate to pursue either study, work or an apprenticeship.

You’ll have to prepare to feel homesick, miss ya Mum’s cooking and laundry, socialise to make mates in your new town and financially keep your head afloat.  It’s a lot on your plate, but most of the time the government knows it’s not all glitz and glam moving out when you’re young. That’s why you can suss out Rental Assistance that can help pay your bills- jump on over to here (link to FinLit) to have a ponder about what it really means and whether you’re eligible.

5. Life isn’t a straight line

Mapping your future after you leave the school gates is never going to be a straight line. It’ll be a squiggly line that goes up, down, around, does crazy loops and even sometimes goes backwards. But if you make the effort, it will end up the way you want it to.

It’s your choice what you do and how you make your plans post-school, but just know things don’t always go to plan. We’re just making sure you have all the tools you need to tackle life post-school the best you can.

Speaking of which, don’t forget to check out FinLit if you want to learn about the things that school never taught you. FinLit is a financial literacy program we built with our mates at Westpac to ensure you guys had all the skills you need to survive in the real world when it comes to money – AND we’re giving away $1,000 to someone who successfully completes the program, so jump over here to get started.

Promotion opens 18/11/2019 at 12.01am AEDT and closes 17/11/2020 at 11.59pm AEDT.  Entry is open to all Australian residents aged 15 years or over. During the Promotion Period: Visit the Year 13 site at https://year13.com.au/academy/finlit and register for a MyYear13 account; complete all four modules; and
successfully pass the quiz (minimum of 80% correct answers) at the end of every module. Entry is automatic once all four modules’ assessments have been completed and passed. The Prize consists of $1,000 cash (total prize pool $4,000). Prize draw will take place at 84 Alexander Street, Crows Nest NSW; Draw 1 on 18/2/2020 for entries received from 18/11/2019 to 17/2/2020;
Draw 2 on 18/5/2020 for entries received from 18/2/2020 to 17/5/2020;
Draw 3 on 18/8/2020 for entries received from 18/5/2020 to 17/8/2020;
Draw 4 on 18/11/2020 for entries received from 18/8/2020 to 17/11/2020.
Winner notified in writing on within 3 business days of each Draw and their name published on https://year13.com.au/academy/finlit . For full terms and conditions, visit  at https://year13.com.au/articles/finlit-terms-conditions

The joint promoters are Year 13 Pty Ltd ABN 93606583706 and Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33007457141. Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPM/19/05046 and ACT TP 19/04505
This information is intended to be general in nature and might not apply to your personal circumstances. When in doubt, always seek professional guidance.