My chances of Mid-Year Entry

[thedogsknowme]

Hello Atar Notes,
This is the first time I've posted on here so excuse the fact I may be a bit novice with well, with everything.
I'm thinking of applying for mid-year at Melbourne Uni, most likely for Bachelor of Science, the reason being is that a year off sounds far too long away from study for me, but going in straight away doesn't give me much time to get a few jobs and start earning. I'm saving to support my current partner and myself for later and to build experience, hence starting mid-year Uni sounds perfect.

However I'm not sure what my chances of getting an offer will be. I've read on another forum that the ATAR and Weighed Grade Point average both contribute, but as I don't plan to do any other tertiary studies before mid-year next year will that mean I'd be disadvantaged? I have the necessary prerequisites for The Bachelor of Science but obviously no study scores or ATAR's have been released yet. I have pretty much no doubt I can get at least a 25 raw in all my subjects, and here's hoping for an ATAR over 90 (as that is the entry standard since Mid-year is generally more competitive). Unless circumstances change, chances are I won't be applicable for Access Melbourne or anything beyond general SEAS.

I'm just curious if anyone can help me work out whether or not mid-year applicants who only have finished year 12 with no tertiary education?
Furthermore, how do courses that start mid-year actually work? Do they do the full year's worth in half a year, start behind or? I can't seem to find anything on it (And these forums are difficult to navigate)

Please help me out! Sorry this is a little long. I'll really appreciate any help.

- Dogs

[AbominableMowman]

You can definitely get in as long as you have the required ATAR. You will not be disadvantaged in any way. As for your course, you will still finish in the standard 6 semesters and will usually graduate mid-year(unless you overload or do summer/winter subjects or you choose a major that cannot be finished mid year).

[yarratrams]

When transferring mid year, your entire educational history is considered. If you don't undertake any tertiary education between VCE and when you want to begin your degree, your VCE is the sole component of that history. In that case, you could receive a round 1 offer (transferring students only receive round 2 offers, due to uni results not being released before that time). Note that mid-year entry is more competitive than semester 1 entry and the clearly-in ATAR can't be used as a guide for admission. Also, if you end up taking any other tertiary study before then, you must declare it on VTAC. Another option could be to apply for a deferral but I'm not too familiar with that process.

One final thing, starting mid-year could potentially put you "out of sync" and cause delays or force you to overload/take summer subjects (if you can't tolerate your degree taking more than 3 years). This is because some subjects only run in either semester 1 or 2, and the sem 1 subject is commonly a prereq for the sem 2. Transferring students usually get around this with prereq exemptions.

[Nightwing]

Another option could be to apply for a deferral but I'm not too familiar with that process.

Would recommend this option as well. Mid year entry will always be more competitive, and whilst it shouldn't technically disadvantage you, personally don't reckon it is worth the risk in comparison. The clearly in ATAR for a semester before gets effectively thrown out the window, almost becoming irrelevant. Depending on the competitiveness of places, they may be forced to look at particular subjects' study scores to try and differentiate between students.
Smarter thing is to apply, get in easy, defer for a semester and then start mid year. Much easier as well from what I've been told as a friend did this. She took a semester off for a gap 'year' then started uni. Don't know the exact process to go about deferring myself, but Stop1 can definitely walk you through it. Just go before the uni closes for the summer break which is in a week or two I think.