uac preference help (1 Viewer)

[morgan stanley intern]

I received an ATAR of 83 and am hoping to study International Commerce, which has a published ATAR requirement of 96. My second preference is Commerce, which has a requirement of 94. I am eligible for approximately 5 bonus points through UNSW HSC Plus, and I will also receive additional points through the EAS scheme, although I am unsure of the exact amount. I do have multiple documented disadvantages as well as being aboriginal.

My question is whether I should place International Commerce or Commerce as my first preference. Last year, the lowest selection rank for International Commerce was 84.9, while for Commerce it was 81.15. Given this, would it be unrealistic to keep International Commerce as my first preference, or would it be wiser to place Commerce first instead? Even though UAC's website states:

1. Put your dream course first: Even if your ATAR wasn’t what you’d hoped for, leave your first preference in place, because lowest selection ranks change from year to year.

can anyone give advice on what to do, are both courses out of reach? @jimmysmith560 would u be able to give advice?

 

[Flux]

U should wait.
Even if your ATAR/selection rank is lower, there is a chance less ppl do the degrees you listed, and you get in anyways.
Just wait until the first offer round, in all likelihood you should get in though I think.

 

[jimmysmith560]

You should place your desired course as your highest preference. In your case, that means placing the Bachelor of Commerce (International) as your first preference. The order of your UAC preferences dictates the priority and consideration given to the degrees that you have added to your preferences, with the first preference being the one that is prioritised. In the event that you do not receive an offer for your first preference, this is when priority will shift to your second preference, and so on.

While the standard Bachelor of Commerce may have a slightly lower academic requirement for admission (technically giving you a slightly better chance of receiving an offer, especially if you manage to maximise your adjustment factors), you should only place it as your first preference if it is your desired course. If you do so without it being your desired course, you would be taking the chance of receiving an offer for it, and when you receive an offer for your highest preference, your other preferences are no longer considered. This is because it is assumed that when a student receives an offer for the first preference, they received an offer for their dream course. Conversely, not receiving an offer for the Bachelor of Commerce (International) as your first preference still gives you the opportunity to be considered for the standard Bachelor of Commerce.

I hope this helps!

 

[herbimycin]

To add to the above, have a look at if there might be a similar course or area you would also like to study in but with a lower ATAR. This might be a similar degree or a degree at another uni. The important thing is that you fill your preferences, and do it in order of the courses you would like to do.

There's no point going all or nothing and only listing two or three courses and getting none. Make sure there is at least one course on there that you are confident you will get based on your ATAR (+adjustment factors) so that you have an option for a degree to do from every round of offers. But like others have said - still put your 'dream' course(s) first. Sounds like you may be eligible for a fair few bonus points + particularly in later rounds offers can be made to people with an atar a bit below the published one. Of course the only offer you get each round is the first course in your preferences that you are eligible for. No point ruling yourself out of a dream course by putting it below something easier to get into (unless the lower atar course is what you would prefer).

To reiterate what jimmysmith said - definitely put international commerce first. Worst case scenario you don't get in and it goes to your second preference (commerce). The only thing I would add is to look at including fourth and fifth preferences, and making one of which something you are fairly confident you will get into (but that you still want to do). If you don't get higher preferences, then at least you have something. You can then remove it for later rounds and see if you can get into a dream course.

Last thing - atar requirements fluctuate and people reject offers and uni's make more offers as this becomes more clear. Just bc you might not get your ideal course first round doesn't mean you can't get an offer in a later round. And even if you never get the offer, uni's are way more flexible and open than schools - you can easily change later on, take related subjects to your ideal area, or specialise more by doing a masters or something. Don't stress too much about getting into exactly what you think you will like most immediately... you've got a long time to work things out. Good luck and I hope you enjoy whatever you end up doing!!