14 Dec 2020

Wanna know what we actually used our ATARs for? Well you're about to find out.

Drum roll, please. 🥁

 

To apply for university. That's it. 

Bit of an anticlimax, I know. But your ATAR is literally a number that determines one way of entry into a university course. Yep, that's right. All those all-nighters, breakdowns, fantic cramming, cancelled plans and study sessions, all for a number. All so you can apply for university. 

Hate to say 'I told you so', but your ATAR means absolutely nothing to any other aspect of your life. 

Your ATAR is just a measure of how well you can regurgitate content in an three hour exam. 

It doesn't tell you how creative you are or how you can make people laugh til their bellies hurt. It doesn't tell you that you're practical or kind, or a budding Masterchef. It's just a number to get you into university. 

You'll never need it to go travelling, to get married, or even to land a job. Truth is, an ATAR isn’t even going to ensure that you start raking in the big bucks. Your best mate isn’t your best mate because of how good you're ATAR was, and even though you think you've disappointed your parents, they'll still love you anyways. 

While right now, you think your ATAR is a goldmine that you have to guard with your life. In a couple of months, you'll forget it even exists. Heck, I forget what my ATAR even was.

Truth is, if you had your sights set on university, you really don't even need your ATAR to get in.

There's a tonne of backdoors and alternative entry options if you really wanna go. Many pathway programs know that your ATAR doesn’t measure all your potential and they offer courses that will get you a foot in the door and prepared for tertiary study. 

Finding a TAFE or VET course that relates to your desired uni degree could give you a leg up when starting a degree (and they don't require an ATAR). Some TAFEs even have connections with certain universities, meaning you slyly slip into your second year unnoticed, without adding on any extra time to your degree. 

If you've gotta see it to believe it, suss out our Post-School Planner. It'll ask you some q's about your skills, interests and personality and then let you explore thousands of careers that are best suited to you. You'll see for yourself there's a tonne of careers out there that don't require that pesky ATAR. 

So when it comes down to it, the ATAR is only good for...well, nothing.