How to choose your courses

WHEN ATARs are released next Friday 15 December, many HSC students will think seriously about their chances of getting into university. UAC expects about 25,000 students to change their course preferences when they receive their ATAR and have a more realistic idea of the courses they can get into.

Advice on changing preferences

Check last year’s cut-offs on UAC’s website, the My UAC app, or in the UAC Guide 2017–18 to see if you have a realistic chance of gaining entry with your ATAR, but remember that cut-offs include bonus points. The cut-off is not necessarily the ATAR you need to get an offer.

Don’t be put off by a course that had a cut-off last year that is higher than your ATAR. Remember that cut-offs include bonus points, and cut-offs change from year to year. Put your ‘wish list’ courses at the top of your list and work your way down. Your list of preferences should include courses with a range of different cut-offs.

You can change your preferences until midnight on Sunday 17 December 2017 for December Round 2 offers – don’t leave changing your preferences to the last minute.

You need your UAC application number and UAC PIN to change your preferences.

You can have up to five preferences including any combination of courses.

You can rearrange the order of your courses, add new courses or delete courses as many times as you like.

You should list your preferences in the order you want them to be considered. Put the course you most want to do first, then the course you would next prefer to do, and so on. If you are not made an offer for your first preference, you will be considered for your second preference, and so on until you are made an offer or until there are no further preferences.

Make sure the courses you add don’t have early closing dates or prerequisites you cannot meet.

If your ATAR isn’t as high as you expected, you may need to think about pathways to further study. There are plenty of courses that don’t require an ATAR for entry. Talk to the institutions – most have hotlines and special advisory days in January.

And finally, choose courses that you really want to do.

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For further information (media only) email media@uac.edu.au or contact:
Raquel Tracy, Communications Officer, UAC on 9752 0775
Kim Paino, General Manager, Marketing and Engagement, UAC on (02) 9752 0760 or 0409 155 112.