hey, i got into mac.rob for year 10 but im not sure if i should go. are there any past/current students at mac.rob? i have heard they have a great atar reputation - but as all public schools are, they have some 'not so good' teachers. if i am considering taking chem and bio in vce is mac.rob generally a strong school in those areas?? i am planning to study medicine after school and i am not sure whether mac.rob or a science specialist school is better for my path. any help is appreciated, thanks!!
Hey OP,
Past macrob student here. The way Macrob works and is able to hold its high ATAR ranking is mainly because of the students and their effort ( I think this is applicable to any school honestly). While I acknowledge how supportive the teachers are, as previously mentioned, there's a lot of independent learning. I was quite shocked to know how things especially in year 9 and 10 were a bit unstructured and you have to be internally motivated and self-guided to do well. It got better in VCE, however, almost every student I knew had external help (i.e. tutors) for at least one of their subjects.
As compared to JMSS, I know they're very science focused so even in their English classes, I believe the prescribed text (for non-vce) was science based. If you are super passionate about science, it's a good school. Although, I do believe it limits career options, whereas, in Macrob you're really able to test different subjects that don't evolve around science and develop further interests. For example, many students aiming for med take up eco or accounting, mainly to get a taste for a different field. Also, it's useful if med doesn't work out - since they know what eco/accounting etc is like, they might end up doing commerce.
For bio: The sacs are designed to be difficult, so the exams feels easier. The difficulty of the sacs also allows for a LOT of scaling (scaling sacs) at the end of year. I reckon bio is one of Macrob's best subjects and has a strong cohort (subject to every year).
In terms of school environment, Macrob students are very supportive and you'll find your niche/group somewhere. There are a ton of extracurricular opportunities and there are great academic resources.
Also, please do consider travelling time but don't let it hinder your decision. Just be aware that you will be spending a lot of time travelling (depending on where you live), since it's a city based school, so come prepared with a mindset and plan on how you're going to tackle this challenge! Either way, whichever school you end up in, I wish all the best!