ATAR Notes: Forum

QCE Stuff => Queensland Technical Score Discussion => Topic started by: s110820 on May 01, 2020, 12:15:10 pm

Title: How to get an 80+ ATAR
Post by: s110820 on May 01, 2020, 12:15:10 pm

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone has any advice about how to get an ATAR of 80+? My dream universities, which are the University of Melbourne and (an extreme reach) the University of Cambridge have the required ATARs of 80.00 and 98.5–99.5 respectively but I'm really worried that I won't get a high enough ATAR to go to these universities. I am aware that there are alternate pathways to dream universities/courses but my parents are expecting me to go straight into a university course in 2021 after I graduate high school - I just don't want to disappoint them that's all. So I was just wondering, what are some ways of how to achieve an ATAR of 80+ with the subjects of English, General Maths, Biology, Modern History and English?

Thank you and kind regards,

Darcy Dillon.
Title: Re: How to get an 80+ ATAR
Post by: JerryMouse2019 on May 01, 2020, 01:05:44 pm
It's really just a matter of doing your best in each of your subjects.

Have you checked out the QCE articles on this website? They might prove useful to you.

Though I'm curious, what makes you so interested in the University of Cambridge?

What degree would you do there?

Would it be education, psychology or something else?

I had aspirations about those top-tier universities as well but then I realised that I wasn't a top student already so there was no way I could possibly make it there. Besides you also have to consider if you can take care of yourself at such a young age in a foreign country. You also have to consider how much more expensive a foreign university's fees might be. Add the fees to other things such as flight costs, amenities and study materials. You can see how this makes studying in a foreign country more expensive.

Your other dream university (UoM) is a far more achievable goal in my opinion.

Look at all of the types of pathways available to you. Look at the pros and the cons. Then I'm sure you'll figure out which pathway suits you.

Here's a virtual career expo that is happening next week:

https://www.torrens.edu.au/about/virtual-careers-expo

Take a look at it.

I'm sure it'll prove useful to you :)








Title: Re: How to get an 80+ ATAR
Post by: s110820 on May 01, 2020, 01:21:55 pm
It's really just a matter of doing your best in each of your subjects.

Have you checked out the QCE articles on this website? They might prove useful to you.

Though I'm curious, what makes you so interested in the University of Cambridge?

What degree would you do there?

Would it be education, psychology or something else?

I had aspirations about those top-tier universities as well but then I realised that I wasn't a top student already so there was no way I could possibly make it there. Besides you also have to consider if you can take care of yourself at such a young age in a foreign country. You also have to consider how much more expensive a foreign university's fees might be. Add the fees to other things such as flight costs, amenities and study materials. You can see how this makes studying in a foreign country more expensive.

Hi Jerry,

Thank you so much for your quick and informative response. I have actually checked out the QCE articles and I agree, the articles are really useful which is why I'm writing two of my own (yay!). Ever since I was younger, the University of Cambridge as well as studying in England has always been my dream. I don't want to set my expectations too high but I also would like to use as many opportunities as possible. For example, I have worked out an alternate route to the University of Cambridge if my ATAR isn't high enough. I'm planning (as one of my options - it's not definite or set in stone yet) to study A-Levels at Bellerbys College and then if my grades are high enough (and if I get accepted into Cambridge of course), transition to university.

I'm thinking of doing a degree in Education, English or Psychology and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. But yet again, I completely agree with you -- top tier universities are not everything. Besides, I could be just as happy studying a similar course in Australia and then doing an exchange via the university program. At the moment, I'm just trying to keep my options open. But in the long-term, after my undergraduate degree and my Master's degree, I do imagine myself living somewhere in the countryside of England or in Melbourne. It just depends where fate takes me.

And while I have considered the financial aspects and my accommodation (the College provides accommodation for their students) of studying overseas (abroad), I haven't considered how I'm going to take care of myself at such a young age in a foreign country or the flight costs, amenities and study materials.

But of course, as always, I'll keep you in the loop of my university decisions :)

Thank you for your advice and kind regards,

Darcy Dillon.
Title: Re: How to get an 80+ ATAR
Post by: JerryMouse2019 on May 01, 2020, 01:39:25 pm
Hi Jerry,

Thank you so much for your quick and informative response. I have actually checked out the QCE articles and I agree, the articles are really useful which is why I'm writing two of my own (yay!). Ever since I was younger, the University of Cambridge as well as studying in England has always been my dream. I don't want to set my expectations too high but I also would like to use as many opportunities as possible. For example, I have worked out an alternate route to the University of Cambridge if my ATAR isn't high enough. I'm planning (as one of my options - it's not definite or set in stone yet) to study A-Levels at Bellerbys College and then if my grades are high enough (and if I get accepted into Cambridge of course), transition to university.

I'm thinking of doing a degree in Education, English or Psychology and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. But yet again, I completely agree with you -- top tier universities are not everything. Besides, I could be just as happy studying a similar course in Australia and then doing an exchange via the university program. At the moment, I'm just trying to keep my options open. But in the long-term, after my undergraduate degree and my Master's degree, I do imagine myself living somewhere in the countryside of England or in Melbourne. It just depends where fate takes me.

And while I have considered the financial aspects and my accommodation (the College provides accommodation for their students) of studying overseas (abroad), I haven't considered how I'm going to take care of myself at such a young age in a foreign country or the flight costs, amenities and study materials.

But of course, as always, I'll keep you in the loop of my university decisions :)

Thank you for your advice and kind regards,

Darcy Dillon.

No problem :)

If you have any more questions then please be sure to ask :)