A journey to self discovery...

[porcupine]

Hello everyone, I’m new here, though I’ve known about the ATAR Notes forums for quite a while (seriously, who doesn't?). I’ve always kept a private journal but I figured it’ll be a good change to have a public one, so that I can hear advice and suggestions from others much wiser than I. Truth is, I’m a bit lost at the moment and need some pointers.

A bit about myself first. I’m in year 12 and go to a selective school. I’ve done two VCE subjects so far, and am doing 4 this year.

My VCE subjects are:
Biology, 45 (2017)
Maths Methods , 46 (2018)
Specialist Maths
Physics
Chemistry
English Language

I also did the UCAT really recently and received a 3010. My best was abstract reasoning and worst was verbal.

Now with the facts out of the way, here comes the feelings stuff:

If it’s not clear by now, my subject choices and the UCAT all leads to my hopes and dreams of studying medicine. Except when I say “my” hopes and dreams, I really mean my parents. You see, I have two very caring and loving, yet very stereotypical Asian tiger parents who wants, more than anything else, for me to do Monash med.

Except I don’t want to work in the medical field at all. I cannot stand the sight of blood, needles, scalpels, you name it. I hate the idea of working in a hospital, and I dread the hectic schedule of a doctor. I have nothing against doctors or surgeons or the medical field itself, it’s just not something for me.

Instead, I like artsy stuff. Things like photography, music, art, design. Fields that allow me to create. I am also a big fan of magic trick. Last year, I had spent all my savings to see Penn and Teller live in Vegas.

I’d love to study fine arts or design at Melbourne University, unfortunately my older brother went down the route of graphic design so I am my parents’ last hope.

At this moment I feel like I’m at the crossroads. VTAC applications are only a few days away and I still don’t know what I want to do. Med, or art? Here's my issue - I know about the dangers of doing something like fine arts, much lower rates of employability barely scratch the surface. But at the same time I doubt I'd survive med school (if I get in, that is).

Well that's quite the introductory post, isn't it? I'll leave it here for today. Would love to hear some advice if anyone has some.

P

[Snow Leopard]

Congrats on the amazing scores for Bio and Methods!
Also, great UCAT score.
Looking forward to reading your journal
I'm probably not the most qualified to answer you career questions but at the end of the day I think you've got to choose a career that you want to pursue, not one that your parents are pressuring you into.

[caffinatedloz]

I'm probably not the most qualified to answer you career questions but at the end of the day I think you've got to choose a career that you want to pursue, not one that your parents are pressuring you into.

Could not echo this more. Certainly not qualified to give career advice, but PLEASE do not pick something that you do not think you could stand doing. You have to spend so much time at work and it should be something you are passionate about!

Congratulations on fantastic scores thus far! Wishing you all the best.

[Joseph41]

Broadly agree with posts above re: career stuff, but just also wanted to welcome you to the forums! You're right in that VTAC applications will soon open, but it's not like you have to decide right then and there. Does your school offer any sort of careers service? I'd really recommend chatting with them if you haven't already.

P.S. Congrats on your scores so far. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and about your progress as the year goes on!

[yourfriendlyneighbourhoodghost]

Hi, you are doing so well so far.

I also have that problem, well I had that problem. I was condisering fine arts too, but the employment rate was a bid downfall, it's a very big risk. What I plan to do though is complete a Bachelor of Arts at Melbounre, and with their model, I can take fine art breadth subjects.

but yes, you should do what you are passionate about, there is no point waking up in the morning for 50 years feeling your heart lies somewhere else, money is good, but it is not everything.

I wish you all the luck in your future.

[porcupine]

Congrats on the amazing scores for Bio and Methods!
Also, great UCAT score.
Looking forward to reading your journal
I'm probably not the most qualified to answer you career questions but at the end of the day I think you've got to choose a career that you want to pursue, not one that your parents are pressuring you into.

Thanks for the pointers. I do want to choose a career that I am passionate about, but I'm also super worried about employability. What can a fine arts degree possibly give me?

Could not echo this more. Certainly not qualified to give career advice, but PLEASE do not pick something that you do not think you could stand doing. You have to spend so much time at work and it should be something you are passionate about!

Congratulations on fantastic scores thus far! Wishing you all the best.

Thank you. I always think that if I study med, I'll start to enjoy it eventually lol. But still, thanks for your (much needed) advice.

Broadly agree with posts above re: career stuff, but just also wanted to welcome you to the forums! You're right in that VTAC applications will soon open, but it's not like you have to decide right then and there. Does your school offer any sort of careers service? I'd really recommend chatting with them if you haven't already.

P.S. Congrats on your scores so far. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and about your progress as the year goes on!

I have chatted to them -- what they said was to work backwards: start with what job I hope to do and then see what courses lead up to it, instead of thinking about what I want to study and what job prospects there would be after graduation. I want to do become an animator or graphic designer or something like that but the job availabilities put me off.

Hi, you are doing so well so far.

I also have that problem, well I had that problem. I was condisering fine arts too, but the employment rate was a bid downfall, it's a very big risk. What I plan to do though is complete a Bachelor of Arts at Melbounre, and with their model, I can take fine art breadth subjects.

but yes, you should do what you are passionate about, there is no point waking up in the morning for 50 years feeling your heart lies somewhere else, money is good, but it is not everything.

I wish you all the luck in your future.

Thanks. I have looked into Melbourne (like, do biomed or science with fine arts breadth) but both biomed and science as standalone degrees are practically useless unless you go and do postgrad.

Good luck with you too.

[AngelWings]

Also not qualified either, but could architecture be a potential compromise? This way you’ll be doing something involving design, it has reasonable job prospects and has a relatively good reputation. However, this is merely an idea, so, by all means, feel free to say that’s not your thing and, of course, please do what you believe is best. Either way, I wish you good luck in your decision.

Besides this, I genuinely want to ask: what’s your favourite magic trick?

Slight tangent: I also used to be afraid of blood, beyond my own. Totally understand where you’re coming from there.

[porcupine]

Also not qualified either, but could architecture be a potential compromise? This way you’ll be doing something involving design, it has reasonable job prospects and has a relatively good reputation. However, this is merely an idea, so, by all means, feel free to say that’s not your thing and, of course, please do what you believe is best. Either way, I wish you good luck in your decision.

Besides this, I genuinely want to ask: what’s your favourite magic trick?

Slight tangent: I also used to be afraid of blood, beyond my own. Totally understand where you’re coming from there.

I'm looking into architecture at RMIT or Melbourne. I don't know too much about the field but it definitely interests me. Thank you for your suggestion

I love all sorts of magic tricks but sleight of hand is probably my favourite. I like ones without large props because they seem more difficult and more genuine.
This is my favourite by Penn and Teller: A Physicist's Deck of Cards

[AngelWings]

I'm looking into architecture at RMIT or Melbourne. I don't know too much about the field but it definitely interests me. Thank you for your suggestion

I love all sorts of magic tricks but sleight of hand is probably my favourite. I like ones without large props because they seem more difficult and more genuine.
This is my favourite by Penn and Teller: A Physicist's Deck of Cards

I applied for Monash architecture back in the day, so if you ever need help in the selection process, please let me know. That magic trick is pretty cool.

[readiii]

I'd love to congratulate you on your scores, very impressive! Your UCAT is phenomenal.

Definitely understand you with the asian parents, I didn't really want to get into the health field (I'm a nurse currently), but soon later I've developed a love for it. Now, nursing and medicine aren't technically the same, but for medicine (or at least I think), you're less hands on with stuff whereas for nursing you use more medical appliances. Me reading that part where you said you hate blood, needles, scalpels is giving me nostalgia. I too hated all those stuff (I almost fainted once when I was drawing blood from a patient. Ah, the good old days), but it became second nature to me because I deal with them everyday. You'll soon become 'immune' to them once you keep on getting exposed to it (look up exposure therapy).

You could probably look into game design (if you're interested), this was one of my backup because I loved drawing and animating a lot (I also wanted to be a cartoonist).

It's okay that you don't want to study medicine, you get to call the shots so don't think anyone can dictate that.

All the best, my friend

[porcupine]

Okay so I realise that I literally have never updated this ever since I started this thread loool... And now we've already graduated and everything and exams are literally right around the corner!

But I guess I didn't make this thread to talk about my studies and exams, because as I've said before, my biggest problem is what the heck am I gonna do when I yeet out of high school. I've been doing a lot of thinking for the past few months, and have talked about it with pretty much everyone, getting different suggestions every single time.

And then I came across this post on Subtle Asian Traits on Facebook of someone who is pressured into studying medicine but instead pursued their dreams of animation against the wishes of their parents. Reminds you of anyone??

So I think I have finalised my preferences. Well, I can't really make much changes now anyway, but my indecisive ass has somewhat settled on:

   1. Fine Arts (Animation) - UniMelb
   2. Fine Arts (Design + Production) - UniMelb
   3. Animation and VFX - Collarts
   4. Design - UniMelb
   5. Digital Media - Torrens
   6. Animation - SAE

A lot of people I know who work in the art/animation industry all suggest that I put Collarts and Torrens before UniMelb, because apparently UniMelb (being the "world renowned university") isn't the best with vocational fields as they focus more on theory over the practical. But I am not too sure about the reputation of the other three.

Out of my 6 preferences, only 2 of them (UniMelb Design and Torrens) require an ATAR. UniMelb fine arts both require folios and entrance to SAE is based on an over-the-phone interview. Collarts require both. My interview with SAE is on the day of my Eng Lang exam!

[caffinatedloz]

Wow! So glad that you've put down some courses that you really want to do. Would love to see some of your work if you'd be keen to share.

[porcupine]

Wow! So glad that you've put down some courses that you really want to do. Would love to see some of your work if you'd be keen to share.

Thank you Laura! I would love to share some of my work, I'm working on my folios for Collars and Unimelb at this moment and will post them when I'm done!

[AngelWings]

Okay so I realise that I literally have never updated this ever since I started this thread loool... And now we've already graduated and everything and exams are literally right around the corner!

But I guess I didn't make this thread to talk about my studies and exams, because as I've said before, my biggest problem is what the heck am I gonna do when I yeet out of high school. I've been doing a lot of thinking for the past few months, and have talked about it with pretty much everyone, getting different suggestions every single time.

And then I came across this post on Subtle Asian Traits on Facebook of someone who is pressured into studying medicine but instead pursued their dreams of animation against the wishes of their parents. Reminds you of anyone??

So I think I have finalised my preferences. Well, I can't really make much changes now anyway, but my indecisive ass has somewhat settled on:

   1. Fine Arts (Animation) - UniMelb
   2. Fine Arts (Design + Production) - UniMelb
   3. Animation and VFX - Collarts
   4. Design - UniMelb
   5. Digital Media - Torrens
   6. Animation - SAE

A lot of people I know who work in the art/animation industry all suggest that I put Collarts and Torrens before UniMelb, because apparently UniMelb (being the "world renowned university") isn't the best with vocational fields as they focus more on theory over the practical. But I am not too sure about the reputation of the other three.

Out of my 6 preferences, only 2 of them (UniMelb Design and Torrens) require an ATAR. UniMelb fine arts both require folios and entrance to SAE is based on an over-the-phone interview. Collarts require both. My interview with SAE is on the day of my Eng Lang exam!

I have a good friend and high school classmate who went on to do the Game Art course at SAE directly after Year 12. She was, like you, initially pressured by family to pursue something other than artsy fields after high school, but she never relented and, being headstrong, her family gave up on pressuring her. I’m glad that, like her, you’re not letting yourself make a decision you know you’ll be unhappy with.

I wish you all the best of luck with your exams and your interviews!

[porcupine]

I have a good friend and high school classmate who went on to do the Game Art course at SAE directly after Year 12. She was, like you, initially pressured by family to pursue something other than artsy fields after high school, but she never relented and, being headstrong, her family gave up on pressuring her. I’m glad that, like her, you’re not letting yourself make a decision you know you’ll be unhappy with.

I wish you all the best of luck with your exams and your interviews!

Thank you Angelwings, it’s great to hear about others having similar experiences haha! Thanks for the encouragement <3