24 Jun 2020

When deciding on a degree or university, one of the major questions you’ll be faced with is: will I get high enough marks for the course I want?

 

Marks are kinda important, and yes, lots of university admissions are ATAR-based... but this isn’t always the case. There are quite a few alternative entries into university that you probably don’t know about, so if you’re stressing about not getting the marks you need, just relax. You are much more than your ATAR – you know that, we know that, and thankfully so do some other legends.

 

Lots of universities will have courses that you need a specific ATAR score to get into. This can be a bit of a stitch up if you’re really good at the stuff you love and want to study but struggle with some of your other subjects which ultimately drag down your final mark. The ATAR doesn’t take into account that your skills are usually honed in one or two specific areas and not all across the board.

 

Our mates over at Macquarie University understand this and that’s why they developed the ‘Selection Rank’. Basically, this is where you may qualify to get adjustment factors (kind of like extra points) on top of your ATAR that’ll hopefully push you over the edge and get you into your desired degree.

 

There’s a few different adjustment factor schemes, including the Educational Access Scheme for those who experienced disadvantage or hardship during their senior schooling, and Academic Advantage which awards extra points for doing well in subjects that relate to the degree you wish to complete. There’s even one called the Big History Scheme, where you can receive points for completing Macquarie’s online course all about the history of the universe, from the Big Bang to now and into the future (which sounds super interesting anyway).

 

Uni should be available to anyone who shows they have the drive to succeed in their studies, no matter who they are or where they’re from, or if they didn’t quite get their desired ATAR. Your individual experience and abilities are what will help you to succeed throughout your degree and that can’t be whittled down to a number on a form! That’s why Macquarie has a nifty little tool called the Macquarie Entry Navigator. It’ll help you find the admission pathway that suits you (they have 11 different pathways, so there’s a lot of options for you).  

 

Consistently high in the university ranks in Australia and internationally, Macquarie University has state-of-the-art facilities on their gorgeous campus that is known for innovative research and discoveries. They’re super dedicated to progressive thinking and making sure that you come out of uni a well-rounded citizen of the world; for example, PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) is part of all their degrees and provides practical industry experience to ensure you are work-ready when you graduate. Macquarie wants to collaborate with all its students to make sure they get the absolute best out of their course – so you’re in good hands.

 

Be sure to keep this in mind when you’re considering your final year at school and what you wanna do next. Don’t feel like you’re limited by your ATAR. That big, scary number doesn’t define you or your future. Look at your options for pathways into uni and give yourself the best chance at success with a university that's gonna support you the whole way, even before you walk through the front gates. 

Check out a heap more info about Macquarie University over here.