Horrible school...90+ ATAR...is it still possible?

[vantrancan]

Hi guys,

Unfortunately, I don't go to a very prestigious/good school. In fact, the school is majorly disadvantaged and the chances of getting an ATAR over 90 seems quite minuscule at the moment. Overall, the cohort seems quite hopelessly (with the exception of a dozen of students) and honestly, my grades seems extremely mediocre compared to those attending greater and better schools.  I'm afraid that after the exam, my school's reputation and poor performance will drag my results down, effecting my ATAR.

The following are my average scores for unit 3. Are these the marks I need to keep achieving to get an ATAR over 90? Or do I need to improve? May someone please explain to me?

English: 98%
Legal Studies: 92% (first sac of unit 4: 97.5%)
Accounting: 92%
Psychology: 88%
Methods: 81% (my background in maths is extremely weak, no excuses but just saying)

My goal is to get into commerce next year and an ATAR over 90 is what is required.

Thank you in advance!

[Mieow]

I can completely empathize with your concerns since I was in the exact same situation last year.
My high school:
- barely ranked in the top 380 schools in the state
- had an average ATAR lower than the state average
- median study score of 28

Knowing these things definitely wasn't empowering or uplifting during my Year 12, but I was determined to not let these statistics limit what I, myself, could achieve so I kept my head down and I worked hard the whole year and got an ATAR way higher than I thought I could get. So yes, a 90+ atar is still very possible for you(i daresay even a 95+). It's not like VTAC/VCAA says "Only people from selective schools are allowed to get 90 atar scores >:]" Just keep working hard, working smart and the numbers will sort themselves out 

[sjayne]

It's absolutely possible. Your scores are up there and while you might be disadvantaged slightly scaling-wise if you go to an underrepresented school, you may qualify for SEAS which can be really beneficial. Just because you're not at the best school it doesn't mean that you can't achieve amazing results and the students at these schools do put in a lot of hard work you just might have to put in a little extra.

I went to what most people would call, a pretty mediocre school in the west. Despite not having a high average we did still have some really high achieving students and people who excelled in certain areas. I wasn't even in this  group of high achieving students but by choosing subjects that worked for me and putting in the effort, I got what I needed to get. And you can too.

In a lot of ways I'm glad that I didn't go to a prestigious school because it made me 'want' it more. I don't know if I would have had this passion to succeed otherwise.

[heids]

Just repeating what everyone else has said.  You can DEEEEEEEFINITELY achieve 90+.  Check out {SAC RANKINGS} -All you need to know about it-: if you're at the top of the cohort, your personal exam performance is the key factor in your score.

Not to say that others at better schools don't have the advantage over you - just like if they can afford a gazillion resources and tutors in every subject, they're advantaged.  But if you start blaming everything on this, and give up without a fight, you're just keeping up that cycle.

So, this is your chance to rise above that.  To achieve despite it.  I considered myself at a bad enough school (we've had duxes in the 80s), but another user round here got 99.70 or something, at a school with a median SS of 26, and ranked like 350.  There are countless stories of this, because ultimately you decide your own performance.  In the end, it's more satisfying to say that you've done it, against the odds, despite your circumstances, than to say, 'My school, my tutor, my money achieved that score for me'.

[iNT]

Hi guys,

Unfortunately, I don't go to a very prestigious/good school. In fact, the school is majorly disadvantaged and the chances of getting an ATAR over 90 seems quite minuscule at the moment. Overall, the cohort seems quite hopelessly (with the exception of a dozen of students) and honestly, my grades seems extremely mediocre compared to those attending greater and better schools.  I'm afraid that after the exam, my school's reputation and poor performance will drag my results down, effecting my ATAR.

The following are my average scores for unit 3. Are these the marks I need to keep achieving to get an ATAR over 90? Or do I need to improve? May someone please explain to me?

English: 98%
Legal Studies: 92% (first sac of unit 4: 97.5%)
Accounting: 92%
Psychology: 88%
Methods: 81% (my background in maths is extremely weak, no excuses but just saying)

My goal is to get into commerce next year and an ATAR over 90 is what is required.

Thank you in advance!

those are some damm good results mate..unless u r being marked easy then u should be aiming for 95+..keep going at that rate and u might get 99 atar good luck... and by the way if u ranked 1 in your cohort, u technically cant be dragged down..rank 1 on sacs.. ace the exams.. 48+ study score

[vantrancan]

Wow, thanks guys. My school is not even ranked in the top 420 and had a median SS last year of 26

This is the perfect encouragement and reassurance that I needed. My school's reputation is a real knock to my confidence and often makes me doubt my potential and capabilities.You just can't help it but have these demons at the back of your mind. But after hearing first hand experience, my morale has been lifted.

Thank you so much. All the best with your VCE/studies. Best wishes. 

[SXR19]

The performance of your cohorts doesn't define your overall performance in VCE. I've known numerous people who went to 'poor educational performance' schools and they all manage to get pretty good ATARs (one of them even got a perfect!).
Thus, like the other people who replied, just study hard, take the extra mile and go for it and also even if you don't get the ATAR you want, there are SO many ways to get into the course you want, because in the end, nobody will give a shit whether you got a 90, a perfect, 66 or whatever.
Hopefully you'll get something out of this reply and I wish you luck for the exams!