ATAR not important

Georgie was scouring the internet one night when she discovered details of a unique TAFE NSW course that arms graduates with an ATAR equivalent.

Eighteen months on and Ms McDaid, 20, is in her first year of a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at university and plans to transfer to a Bachelor of Biotechnology next year.

She credits the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation with lighting her pathway to success.

‘‘After missing my HSC, I really didn’t know what I was going to do and feel blessed that I found the TAFE NSW course,’’ Ms McDaid said.

‘‘There are so many people who didn’t fit into the rules of school or just weren’t ready for that environment. Why should they miss out on having the career they want?’’

She said with HSC exams looming in NSW, it was important Year 12 students knew there were other options out there if they didn’t receive the marks they hoped for.

Ms McDaid thrived in an adult learning environment, eventually scoring an impressive 288 out of 300 and earning a place at university.

‘‘It’s just so different to high school, it’s a much more adult environment,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s very similar to tutorials at uni, where you’re treated like a person, not a number.

‘‘The teachers were great and if you didn’t understand something, they had study sessions at the end of class where you could get one-to-one tuition.

‘‘I just wish more people knew about the TPC because its amazing.’’

TAFE NSW Deniliquin career pathways teacher Amanda McCrabb said Tertiary Preparation students were an eclectic group but most often were students who were not happy with their ATAR and wanted to re-sit the HSC, people who need a Year 12 equivalent or current members of the workforce who wished to change career and gain entrance to university.

‘‘It’s a great way for those who haven’t studied in a while to  improve their confidence, research and writing skills and gain entry to higher education,’’ Mrs McCrabb said.