This is the time to decide on your VTAC preferences if you are applying for tertiary courses in 2020. This applies to both year 12 and non year 12 applicants.

So, how do you decide on your VTAC preferences? And how important is it to get your preferences in order? A lot of applicants are concerned about this process and I am spending time with many year 12s helping them to navigate this.

All being well you have developed some good search skills throughout years 10, year 11 and year 12. This is essential, as without careful choices for your VCE, VET, Vcal, or even IB study options, you may not be entirely clear as to the kinds of course available to you.

The other thing you may well have already done would have been to attend a Careers event at your school, or in your local area, and obtained some course publications.

Then in year 11 you will have made sure that your ongoing study into year 12 allows you to complete year 12 with study scores in those essential prerequisite studies for those courses of interest.

To apply to tertiary course, you need to create an account with VTAC when applying in Victoria. There are other application centres for ACT, NSW etc. Having created an account you are then able to check that the courses you have short listed are being delivered in 2020, as some are withdrawn through the year.

So check details such as, but in no particular order, the:

• course duration (single and double degrees, honours degrees)
• Majors, Minors, compulsory first year study sequences, electives and free electives
• opportunities to study abroad
• how that course is ranked against others using a reputable educational rankings table
• student outcomes
• internship pr work placement opportunities
• any personal impressions you gained from a campus tour/event

One important thing to avoid when choosing your VTAC preferences, is listening to a story from one person’s perspective, be that a sibling or friend. Some information can become out of date very very quickly. Also, everyone is different, so what for one person might be a misfit may be a perfect match for you.

Talk to a qualified and experienced career coach for the most objective and impartial information. With a network of contacts, including tertiary representatives, a career coach can find out the answers to complex questions very quickly. Not only that, but the coaching is completely confidential and so you can make the decision that is right for you, and not something that is being encouraged by others.

For help with VTAC course applications and deciding upon your VTAC preferences, please contact Karen via the contacts page of this website, or email [email protected]