Scotch College

PREPARING FOR 2010/2011

VCE students should use every available opportunity to increase their awareness of the options available to them during and after their VCE years. The school attempts to assist in the transition to post-secondary education and employment in a number of ways.

VCE ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible for tertiary entrance:

• a student must have obtained his VCE

• a student must have satisfactorily completed Units 3/4 in the same year of study by completing one of English, English as a Second Language (ESL), Literature or English Language

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SEMINARS

The Course and Careers Services and Heads of Year will invite representatives from universities, institutes of technology, colleges of advanced education, etc. to visit the School and answer students’ questions. Recent Old Scotch Collegians will also address the students on a variety of tertiary courses they are currently studying.

OPEN DAYS

Most tertiary institutions hold Open Days during the year, usually in the months of July, August or September. These are publicised in the daily press. A comprehensive diary of all open days will be issued to all VCE candidates when it becomes available. VCE students are urged to attend at least some of these. They have proved invaluable as a source of career and tertiary education advice.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Scotch College frequently receives information about such awards. Information is posted on the Heads of Year notice board, in the Course and Careers Centre and the Physics Foyer. It is each student’s responsibility to apply for scholarships. While the School provides information and assistance, each tertiary applicant is responsible for timely application and provision of supporting information.

VICTORIAN TERTIARY ADMISSIONS CENTRE (VTAC)

Most applications for admission to tertiary institutions in Victoria are processed by VTAC. Applicants should nominate twelve course preferences. Year 12 students register their preferences through MyInfo on the VTAC website. A comprehensive VTAC guide providing details of all tertiary courses in Victoria, is issued to all Year 12 students in Term 3.

Throughout the year information and explanations of the tertiary entrance system will be provided to students. VTAC sends details of students’ preferences to the tertiary institutions. Applicants not selected for first preference are considered equally with all other applicants for second preference.

UNDERGRADUATE MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES ADMISSION TEST (UMAT)

Students who wish to study Medicine, Dentistry or Physiotherapy must undertake a UMAT. Most medical faculties around Australia require students to have sat the UMAT to be eligible for consideration for medical studies. Details are advertised at Scotch College and students must be cognizant of requirements and dates for the examination. Registration for 2009 opens in April 2009. The UMAT will be conducted on Wednesday, 29 July 2009.

APPLICATIONS TO INTERSTATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

Details of interstate universities and colleges as well as application forms, may be obtained from the Course and Careers Centre. The University of Adelaide and University of NSW often have an early closing date for Medicine. If interested check with the Course and Careers Centre.

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND, ARMIDALE NSW AND BOND UNIVERSITY QUEENSLAND

The University of New England and Bond University operate a special admissions scheme. This allows some promising applicants to be admitted to degree programs on the basis of school recommendations, independent of VCE results. Students will be informed of the details of the scheme during the year. A scholarship is offered by Bond University to one Scotch College student each year. Information about this scholarship is available from Course and Careers Centre.

RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES AT LATROBE UNIVERSITY, MONASH UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

If considering residence in a university, students are advised to lodge an application early. Forms may be obtained from the Course and Careers Centre during the course of the year. The University of Melbourne residential colleges have a scholarship examination in October for which an additional application must be made.

TECHNICAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES (TAFE)

TAFE offers a range of courses developed in consultation with business and industry. Advanced Certificate, Diploma Courses and Advanced Diploma (offered full-time) are listed in the VTAC Guide. Application for these courses is made through VTAC.

COURSE AND CAREER SERVICES

The Course and Careers Centre advisors are available throughout the year to provide information and advice about subject choice and post school options. Individual interviews are available at any time and students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Organised interviews are arranged in Terms 3 & 4.

The Course and Careers Centre has a comprehensive collection of career pamphlets and an up-to-date set of university and college handbooks. They also assist with preparing students for entrance interviews for various tertiary courses.

The Centre provides the latest information on all university and TAFE courses and the subjects required. A program of visiting speakers is arranged throughout the year. Small group excursions to tertiary institutions and workplaces are also organised to provide students with hands on knowledge and experience.

Details are announced in Assembly, via House Tutors and the fortnightly e-newsletter (sent to parents) and are also posted in the Course and Careers Centre.

ASSISTANCE REGARDING CHANGE OF PREFERENCE

The school offers advice and assistance, after the VCE results are announced, for those applicants to tertiary institutions who have to change their plans in the light of their VCE scores. Information is distributed in November.

TERTIARY OFFERS

Offers are sent via email, in groups or rounds, on certain dates. All details regarding the posting of offers, the acceptance of offers, irregular offers, enrolment and deferment are described in the VTAC Guide to Tertiary Courses provided to all Year 12 students.

REFERENCES

Students may request from any member of the School Staff a reference or testimonial. However, Heads of Year are responsible for the preparation of official School references. If a student wishes to give the name of a teacher as a referee to a potential employer, enrolment officer, College Dean, etc., he must consult with that person beforehand. If a student requires an official school reference, he should arrange an appointment with his Head of Year to review his school record. All Year 12 students are provided with a formal Scotch College reference at the end of Year 12.