Do you actually need to get a high ATAR?
The general goal when it comes to the HSC is to do as well as possible right? Whenever I talk to students and ask what their goal is, so many of them simply say that they want a 99.5 ATAR.
But is it actually worth all that effort?
In this video and article, I’m going to take you through WHY you could actually be better off aiming for a lower ATAR as well as HOW this can contribute positively to your University prospects!
There’s a Sweet Spot
Your ATAR Isn’t everything
So…Why 85-95 Range?
You Need to Be Strategic
There’s a Sweet Spot
So what ATAR should you be aiming for?
As it turns out there are actually very few courses that require an ATAR over 99. In fact, there’s very few that require an ATAR over 98, let alone 97.
Yes, there are a number of key courses that do require a really high ATAR. However, on a broad spectrum, there are thousands that don’t! In fact, most just require a fairly average ATAR result!
That doesn’t make sense right? Let me prove it to you. Here’s a list of the few key courses that do require an incredibly high ATAR:
Law (USYD)
Physio (USYD)
Dentistry (USYD)
Optometry (UNSW)
Engineering (USYD)
Philosophy (ANU)
Economics (USYD)
Generally speaking, you’ve got about 8-10 degrees at 4-5 Universities across Australia that have an incredibly high ATAR cut-off.
What this means is there are thousands of other degrees that don’t require an ATAR any higher than 97.
Even the degrees mentioned above will be available at various different Universities, many of which have a lower ATAR cut-off.
This means that there’s a sweet spot you should be aiming for as an ATAR. Once you have this goal in mind, our HSC Tutors in Sydney can help you create a plan and keep you consistent!
Roughly and depending on a range of personal factors, the 85-95 ATAR range is the perfect place to aim for.
But how do we know this?
Your ATAR Isn’t Everything
So, why does this sweet spot even exist?
A lot of it has to do with how Universities select potential students.
To understand why the 85-95 ATAR area is a sweet spot, we need to go on a few tangents to explain the bigger picture.
Tangent #1: Universities are Changing
Things have changed greatly recently in regards to how Universities look at applicants and courses.
The big change was this: The Government moved to a demand-driven model of University placement and enrolment.
While this demand driven model has now been changed, what it does mean is that universities can take more students than they could in the past.
This has made ATAR requirements at Universities way more flexible
As a result, Universities like ANU are increasingly looking for qualities in potential students that go beyond the ATAR (This is why we’re so focused on holistic education)!!
This includes things such as:
- Leadership
- Extracurricular activities
- Volunteer experience
- Work experience
From 2020 onwards, the ATAR is only going to be a single factor among many others that Universities take into account when considering entry.
For example, Macquarie Universities Global Leadership Program already works in the same vein. Currently, the University is accepting applicants without knowing the student’s ATAR at all!
This reveals a broader trend within Universities of looking beyond the ATAR.
Are you reading this because you didn’t do so well in Term 1’s first Year 12 assessments? Check out what to do if you’re disappointed about your resultsinstead…
Tangent #2: Scholarship Applications
Generally speaking, while there’s often an academic requirement for scholarship applications, this isn’t what differentiates students.
Most of the students who are applying for scholarships have all done really well. If you have a high ATAR, this isn’t really going to be the thing that makes a difference.
What matters the most is:
- Leadership
- Volunteer experience
- Work experience
- A project outside of school
Very few students actually maintain these non-academic pursuits during Year 12. This is usually because they’re making sacrifices in order to focus on achieving a good ATAR.
This means that focusing on non-academic aspects can really help you STAND OUT when applying for a scholarship, such as music commitments, jobs, leadership positions, clubs, etc!
Universities consider far more than just your ATAR when you apply for a scholarship.
We need to keep this in mind if we’re going to understand why scoring an ATAR of around 95 can be far more beneficial than attempting to reach that coveted 99.5.
Curious about how your school ranks in terms of ATAR results? Check out our list of Brisbane’s top co-ed and single sex schools to compare!
So…Why 85-95 Range?
In Year 12, your goal should be to do as well as possible.
…BUT!
Getting a 99.5 is going to be hard. You’re going to need to make some sacrifices.
In other words, we have to gauge how hard it is to get a 95 vs 99 ATAR, and work out if it is worth it!
Unless you’re trying to get into that very narrow range of high ATAR courses, where is a 99.5 actually getting you? The truth is that it’s not necessarily giving you anything tangible in terms of options.
So.. Why aim for a 85-95 Range?
Reason #1: It Gives You Lots of Options
Excluding the 8 or 9 courses that have an extremely high ATAR requirement, an ATAR of around 85-95 enables you to do pretty much all the courses that are available at University.
This contributes greatly to your freedom of choice when deciding what to study.
Reason #2: Time!
Pursuing an ATAR of around 85-95 frees up a lot more time for you to pursue non-academic commitments.
Learning to manage time is critical for doing well in your senior studies!
Whether it be extracurricular pursuits, sport, leadership or a part-time job, these are the activities that are going to help you STAND OUT!
Wondering whether it’s a good idea to have a casual job during the HSC, QCE, or VCE?
You Need to be Strategic
When it comes to University and employment, your success is going to be based on a far broader set of factors than just your ATAR.
If you’re in an environment where everyone around you is aiming for a really high ATAR, this sort of mentality can get stuck in your head.
However, you need to be strategic.
While it sounds great to get a 99+ ATAR, you need to find the perfect balance between achieving a good ATAR and creating options for yourself in terms of scholarships and early entry.
You can do this best by aiming for that sweet spot of 85-95 ATAR. This way, you can make sure that you kick ass not only in the HSC but in all facets of your life.
Learn more about the average ATAR!
Need some extra help with a scholarship or University application?
We pride ourselves on our inspirational HSC tutors and mentors!
Whether you need to get a really great ATAR for your desired course or if you aren’t sure how to work strategically towards scholarships and early-entry, we can help!
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