The Final Update and Conclusion
I don't even really know how to start this off. I've been wanting to conclude this journal for a while, but it's take a bit of decision making to know what I want to do and where I want to go. Now that I have finally made some of the bigger decisions of late, I think it's finally time I can wrap my journal up. In terms of other news as well, I ended up finding out that I was the Dux of my school for 2020! So that was super exciting! I now have to write a speech to present to the 2021 cohort, so that will be interesting. I haven't done any forum of public speaking since like grade 7 so wish me luck! It is online though, so I do get to record it a few times before I have to send it off.
Before I go into my future plans, I want to say to the the batches of students coming into the vce doors next, to always put yourself first above everything. Your health is more vital than anything your atar score could ever give you. As someone who went through their VCE with a health condition, keep striving to reach your goals no matter how far out of reach they may seem, but at the same time accept that unfortunately with poor health can come with limitations, and take all the opportunities to make your life easier in anyway shape or form. I wish the class of 2021 luck, I hope you guys have a better year 12 run then the class of 2020
In terms of where i'm going in the future, well that's a long story. When I had to put my final preferences in, I was so back and fourth between UoM and Monash, and ultimately decided to put UoM as my number one preference for the main reason that it has food science as a major. However, after preferences closed and I had more time to think, I ended up feeling a sense of dread at what I choose. So I decided that I would try for the February round to get into Monash. When Jan the 14th arrived, I received my offer from Melbourne University for the bachelor of science. I always thought that when you get and offer to UoM, you should be feeling excited, ecstatic and over the moon. Instead I wasn't feeling like that at all. At that point when I got the offer I was determined to change to Monash, however something popped up that I wasn't expecting.... I got a pretty nice scholarship to Melbourne.
This just threw me for a loop. I wasn't expecting that at all, and it made me start to rethink my plans. Should I got to UoM instead of monash? Would the scholarship really help make the world of difference?. So once again I was back to square one, going back and fourth over my options. I still decided to participate in second round offers and put monash as my first preference again, whilst I accepted the offer from melbourne.
Melbourne offered me a fantastic scholarship, the opportunity to do food science and Russian, and it has a really pretty campus. Where as it's downfalls came in the form of being really far away, terrible for having to drive in (public transport isn't a great option for me), more expensive, and having the degree actually be a bit of a let down. What I mean by that is I'd have to do a masters just to be even remotely qualified.
As you can see there is not much there to the major, and it would really require me to do a masters, which as Melbourne is really expensive. Comparing it to other food science degrees, it was a bit lackluster.
So, when it comes to Monash, whilst it didn't have food science (except it does have a degree in food science..... but only on the Malaysia campus
), it was alot closer to home, had better transport, the parking is cheaper, i've heard the chem labs there are a bit better, and i've heard DDS is a bit nicer than Melbs
So whilst it was a hard decision with giving up a scholarship and a direct pathway to food science, I choose monash. Every person I spoke to honestly told me that having a long commute, especially with a health issue can really make life at uni more painful than it needs to be, and that is one of the biggest reasons why. I also realised that there are practically no jobs in science and would need to do a masters anyway, and since most food science masters just ask of doing a generic science degree, so I thought i'd be doing that masters at melb anyway, why don't I just go to a uni that's closer. I'll be doing that one unit at Monash called food chem and that nutrition unit to get my fix of food science though!!!
Monash also has a great pharma department and connections that i'm also heavily interested in, as well as being a great chem school. So yeah.... After a solid two months of thinking lots of back and fourths, I have chosen to study a Bachelor of science/arts at monash. I don't think i'll stick with the arts, as I realised I could just do a diploma of language instead of a whole degree, and I want to do another minor in a science so that probably won't last.
I originally had commerce and science, but I realised I hate commerce except for marketing, and I don't want to spend money that was increased due to the government increasing arts and commerce doing something I don't like.
Now after all that, in the end, I see myself ending up following my passion for food science. Hopefully in research and devolvement (R&D). I still have my mind open to working in the pharmaceuticals industry as well, especially in policy or even the therapeutic goods administration. My backup option is medical imaging for a more "safe" career.
I still continue to go overboard with everything, woops this post is soooooo long! For now, looking at my vce from a month on, I'm happy with the work I put into it, and i'm happy with the atar that I achieved. I wish I could have gone back in time to tell myself not to worry so much, but in the end, the reason i'm so happy and content is because of all the worrying that forced me to do the work. I'm not sure about doing a uni journal yet, so you never now if there might be a little post about my Uni experience in the future. I'm still contemplating a GAP year, so I can't tell you too much on that.
To end this off, I just want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me, and replied throughout the journal. I couldn't have done it without you guys! I'll still be around on the forums, trying to push life into the food studies thread, but till then, thank you to everyone and good luck for the future!
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Topic: Geoo's VCE Journey (Read 81073 times)