defer offer - gap year - repeating year 12 - getting into a different course

[strawberries]

hi guys,

I know this is too early to think about university courses/careers yet, and this might be a very stupid question too (I couldn't find anything about it), but I was just wondering:

I'm in year 12 this year and say I get accepted into a course for 2016, but then I defer to take a gap year
and during my gap year I repeat year 12 and potentially improve my ATAR, would I be allowed to apply again for university courses if I think I'm gonna get a higher ATAR, despite the fact I've already completed year 12 and been accepted into a course?

and please don't say "just work hard this year so you can get into your desired course"
I know I can change my mind anyway

idk if this makes sense.
thanks

[brenden]

I'm going to tentatively say yes, that seems legit, but don't take my word for it.

[Russ]

I don't think there's much value in repeating VCE subjects rather than starting university and attempting to transfer.

Additionally, I'm fairly sure you can't defer your place and then study at a high school level again, you have to choose one or the other.

[keltingmeith]

I'm with Russ - I personally reckon you're better off accepting your offer, doing a full year at uni, and using those marks to get a good transfer into your desired course. I know that I, for one, improved my marks upon entering university, because the environment made me a lot more motivated than any high school could hope to achieve. In fact, I could've very easily moved into many different courses that weren't available to me by my ATAR with the WAM (overall uni mark) that I achieved last year.

Unless you wanted to work/travel during your gap year, and you're only taking the extra VCE subject to give yourself some more chance, as opposed to repeating VCE being the main focus. Although, if this is the case, you may as well just apply for VTAC next year - you don't HAVE to apply in the year you graduate.

[Aaron]

I also agree with the above two posts. There is literally minimal benefit of repeating Year 12. You are definitely better off finding a pathway into your desired course (whether that be through a different course -> mid year transfer, or one of those bridging programs where you study for a year at TAFE then go into 2nd year university - I know both Deakin and La Trobe do this (not sure about others)).

Even if you failed VCE and didn't receive an ATAR, I wouldn't recommend re-doing it. There are other ways.

[slothpomba]

I've been on these forums for maybe 6-7 years. This is a perennial question here. Every time it comes up most people agree it is an inferior and usually downright bad choice to repeat year 12.

To be honest, year 12 is shit. The content, the workload, the environment, they are all inferior to university. I dont know why you would want to put yourself through it again. It's a waste of precious life.

It's a far superior choice to gain admission to a course (any course) and then do well in that course and transfer. Uni is a far better place for all the aforementioned things. Bonus points if you can get into a related course. If you want to do science at Melbourne, go to RMIT or La Trobe. Often you can transfer most of your subjects across so you don't have to repeat them. In this fashion you would have wasted no time and made progress in uni. If you repeat year 12, all you have done is thrown away at the end, you have made no progress. 

[strawberries]

Thanks guys for the replies.

I have always thought about taking a gap year anyway, but not for travelling (no money lol) - so it definitely be working or something.

With repeating year 12, I probably wouldn't be repeating the same subjects anyway. I'm currently doing EngLang, but say if I get a crap score for that I might do English or something etc
I'm not finding year 12 too stressed atm so it wouldn't be too much work for me etc

I know everyone keeps saying you can transfer, but isn't it really hard to do well in uni anyway? since it's a whole new step above high school and it's much harder

I know half the year hasn't passed and I'm thinking about uni already omg :/

[Aaron]

It is a waste of time to re-do Year 12. What is the outcome of Year 12? Get a somewhat-higher ATAR than previously? Like slothpomba has said, you can do one semester at university of a course and transfer mid-year. Therefore you're essentially saving half a year whilst claiming some credit (if it's a relevant degree).

Your attitude and dedication to university really depends on your ability to do "well". Everyone has their own definition of doing well. Some consider it as passing all of their subjects, others consider it as getting A's/H1's for everything.

I don't think that thinking about uni mid-year is necessarily a bad thing - it's good you're considering your options. However I strongly recommend against re-doing Year 12. What are your motivations behind it? You can achieve the same result in one semester at tertiary level.