2 sleeps until ATARs drop!
I thought I'd update again considering my previous post was a bit short and that this time of year is the most exciting for us ATARNotes users - it's in the name!
Off topic but yesterday I had the honour of seeing Kai (Kim Jong-in) and Chanyeol (Park Chanyeol) of EXO!! It was a complete surprise and I just happened to be in the particular shopping mall they were filming a reality television show (Return of Superman) in! I have stated on here before that EXO is my favourite group so it was an amazing, surreal experience!
Preferences
Since they have actually changed somewhat dramatically!
VTAC
1. 3800539051 - Science (Chancellor's Scholars) (University Of Melbourne (The), Parkville) (phat chance smh)
2. 2100211401 - Biomedical Science (Medical) (La Trobe University, Bendigo)
3. 2100111401 - Biomedical Science (Medical) (La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga)
4. 2800611241 - Pharmacy (Honours) Scholars program/Master of Pharmacy (Monash University, Parkville)
5. 2800611221 - Pharmacy (Honours)/Master of Pharmacy (Monash University, Parkville)
6. 3200231081 - Medical Radiations-Nuclear Medicine (RMIT University, Bundoora)
7. 3800538271 - Science (University Of Melbourne (The), Parkville)
8. 2800328451 - Science (Monash University, Clayton)
I officially removed Monash medicine from my course preferences. Kind of sad, but I figured nothing would come out of having them there. I guess I have come to fully accept that outcome. I think that's a positive thing.
Medical radiations is still on the list but I've added in pharm! A bit of unprecedented change, but now I wonder why I didn't consider it sooner. I like the idea of medical radiations leading to a practical occupation but I wasn't super mad on the idea of ~advanced physics~. Not only does Pharmacy appeal to my love of Chemistry, have practical career outcomes and fit snug in the health sector, it reminded me of an interest I've always had: drugs! Sounds a bit weird, I know, but I literally have the Drugs.com app on my old phone, and used to read pages upon pages on Wikipedia about (specifically) antipsychotic medications. I Every medication I have taken, I have read the leaflet included (even my contraceptive implant - which I googled since they don't give you one!)
I'm really stoked about this as a backup option. The idea actually came when I was looking at UQ! Read the QTAC spoiler tab if you are wondering why
P.S. I got Monash Guarantee! (Yay)
UAC
I'm just roughing it because of UAC's stupid operating hours bs. From memory:
UNSW Med
USyd Science/MD (fat chance lol)
Griffith Provisional MD
USyd Art/MD (??)
there may be more idk I'll update if so
So JMP and WSU (sad times) are no more. I'm still clutching on to the little hope I have for UNSW. It would be amazing if I got an offer but every time I imagine it I get rejected.
SATAC
I don't even want to talk about SATAC and SA unis. I elaborated fully on another forum but essentially I was disqualified from rural entry to UAdel because I submitted my stat dec a week late - I didn't know there was a deadline. But, actually, SATAC sent me a confirmation letter nonetheless so I thought it was all good. I had to email the head of admissions at the University to find out what had happened. I know it's my fault but, seriously, finding out you were unfairly disqualified due to not reading one email properly is just so… (I'm still rural can't you just process the damn document?
)
Nonetheless…
1 314552 Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery University of Adelaide
2 314553 Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (Bonded Medical place) University of Adelaide
3 214941 Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine Flinders University
4 114831 Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (double degree with Flinders University's Doctor of Medicine (MD) in the Northern Territory) Charles Darwin University
So… Flinders? Don't know if I'll get the ATAR rip.
QTAC
Bachelor of Medical Science (MD Provisional Entry for School-Leavers) - full-time 233422
Institution: Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus
Doctor of Medicine (MD) (Provisional Entry for School-Leavers) - full-time 721302
Institution: The University of Queensland, St Lucia/Clinical Schools
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Provisional Entry for School-Leavers (Bonded Medical Places) - full-time 721402
Institution: The University of Queensland, St Lucia/Clinical Schools
Bachelor of Medical Science (MD Provisional Entry for School-Leavers) - full-time 228272
Institution: Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Bachelor of Medical Science (Griffith MD Provisional Entry for School-Leavers) - full-time 013231
Institution: USC, Sunshine Coast
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery - full-time (Closed) 317012
Institution: James Cook University, Townsville Campus (Not eligible but I'm not wasting a change of preference to kick it off the list)
Griffith has a pretty high ATAR. I was once confident I could get that but recently not so much. I'm thinking UQ is most likely. It's a 7 year (minimum) deal in which you have to do a UQ undergraduate degree of your choosing before progressing to medicine. Courses that fulfilled my “practical career outcomes” criteria included nursing, speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy. It was by considering each of these courses carefully that pharmacy entered my radar. I thought about putting UQ pharm as a preference but I figure is be better to do it at Monash if I don't get a provisional medicine offer.
I'd really love to go to Griffith or UQ especially because my uncle's family lives in the area. Fingers crossed!
ATAR Day
If our flight isn't delayed, I'm due to touch down at Tullamarine airport a mere 20 minutes before our main event.
It takes a while to disembark, though, so I wonder whether I'll be too busy to check. I've also considered waiting until I got home (probably three hours later) to find out my results because I would be more comfortable. If you read my UMAT result day experience you might know why I'm a bit concerned. The cons of doing so would probably be missing the hype (lol) and having to wait knowing my ATAR is there. My mum's also going to be with me so she'll probably pressure me into opening it asap, too…
If any graduates want to give me their opinion I'm all ears!
Which first?I actually replied to a thread on this saying I would “absolutely” open my study scores before my ATAR, trying to appeal to the conventional wisdom that “baby steps”. Now, however, I'm not so sure.
I figure that if I open my study scores first I'll analyse them and try to predict what my ATAR is, which probably would just add to the stress. I can just see myself going “oh god… 35, 35, 35, 35…? That's totally an 80…” and freaking myself out. Seeing the big picture would just be like ripping off the band-aid. It might sting but at least it's over - the pain from tugging at the tape adhered to skin and delaying the inevitable is unneeded!
So, despite my own advice, I think I will just go for ATAR first. I can get over that and then tackle the next problem: will I get over 25 for methods?
Disclosure of results Despite feeling that I would like to keep my results private, I have never been in a position to do so. In my family, amongst my friends and in my school I have always been expected to disclose my results - usually, of course, because they were “good”.
I guess it's pride and fear of failure wanting me to keep it to myself.
Of course, I won't. ATARNotes won't be hearing long to hear of my results either! I'm happy about that though. To be honest, I think that I'll have a mixture of excellent results, above average results and maybe some below average. I think that's okay and if I can be an example of “I didn't do so good in this, but I worked to my strengths and this is what I achieved”, i think I'll be proud.
I'm not sure about a reaction video or anything. I'm not much of an exhibitionist so I doubt I will. I think perhaps a Facebook post is the extent of broadcasting I'll do.
Things to do I'll probably be changing my preferences!
If need be, I'll head to school to discuss with my careers counsellor (I also need to return a library book lol). She has been an amazing support to me this year and seen me at my worst, so if things go belly up (e.g. I get 24 or below for math) I know she can help me.
I'll also probably coerce my mum into a celebratory dinner (despite spending all our money overseas!!). Even pizza would do. In any case, I don't think she will want to cook so a dinner out is probably in order.
I also got an offer for accommodation at Monash that I have to provide documentation for within 7 days. Hopefully by that time I might have a better idea of whether letting the offer lapse is okay!
Pre-ATAR advice
Distract yoself Honestly, I have barely thought about results day. The thought of it isn't even that sickening. I think my calm is generally attributed to the fact that I went overseas and have been living my best life (lol) without a care in the world! In some ways, it also showed me that I could obviously lead a fantastic life if all failed. It has also grounded me and shown me what really matters.
Be productive As an extension of that, though, is to distract yourself wisely. I could have easily spent a whole month working, watching YouTube/Netflix and partying with friends. But doing that would just cause me to question myself: what are you doing with your life!? That's what I did every school holiday! Doing something meaningful and productive made me feel so much more at ease
Don't talk about it To be honest, despite what you may think, no-one wants to talk about it. It drives me up the wall trying to explain to my mum that the ATAR is just not an appropriate topic of conversation (with her or between my friends and I). It's like talking about a breakup. Before it happens, you don't want to talk about what it is going to be like, you don't want to give reasons to other people - it's between you and your partner. When it happens, you don't want dialogue. Whether you took it badly it you took it well, there is the “too soon” factor. But most importantly, all breakups are different and everyone's reaction is different. It's a touchy subject… don't touch.
Have something after the ATAR to look forward to That way, you can have an endpoints to your ATAR saga and walk away happy.
I'll probably update Saturday! Stay tuned and best wishes to everyone.
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.