Registering with VTAC after First Round Offers 2017-18?

[JackBrady]

Hi,
My name is Jack and I finished Year 12 this year in Brisbane, Queensland. Initially, I had intended to study a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Queensland, and I was happy to receive my Overall Position (OP) of 3 just a week ago, and the requirement for my course is an OP 6 (the OP system is a scale from 1 to 25 where 1 is the best). However, a few days ago I received my ATAR equivalent, which was 96.80. Out of curiosity, I checked the University of Melbourne website and saw that the “Clearly-In-Rank” for their Bachelor of Commerce in 2017 was 95.00.

I discussed this with my mum (who is from Melbourne). She was excited and urged me to try and apply. Upon further investigation I discovered that the deadline for VTAC account registrations and course applications was on the 8th of December 2017, two weeks ago. Shit…
I did some more research, and discovered that after the main round offers, applications open from the 17th-22nd of January for second round applications. I am desperate to know whether I can create a VTAC account during this period, submit my application for Commerce at Melbourne University and potentially get an offer. I know that with my high ATAR, assuming some people in the main round defer or reject, there will be a second round and I may get in.

My parents are now pretty serious about giving me this opportunity, and have offered to finance my living expenses if I get accepted. I think that with my high ATAR I should get in, but I am concerned as to whether I can create an account and actually apply during this ‘17th-22nd’ period…

Please help.

Sincerest regards, Jack.

[Springyboy]

Hey Jack,

Based off of here http://www.vtac.edu.au/dates.html you are correct in your assumption that you can apply for a VTAC account from the 17th of Jan in order to receive a second-round offer. Based off of that, you should be able to put your preferences in via that newly created VTAC account including Commerce at Melbourne Uni.

Additionally, since the clearly-in ATAR is 95 and you have had your ATAR calculated to 96.8 then you should get in if there are any second round offers available for that course. That is, since the majority of offers are given in round 1, you would obviously have a lower chance of getting a second round offer as only a select few of them are available. However, I would say that you have a very high chance of receiving one of those offers, due to your ATAR being well above the clearly-in, which is where the majority of first-round offers are given.

As a backup though, I would apply for Commerce at UQ, just in case you don't receive an offer at Melbourne Uni.

Congratulations on doing so well and good luck to receiving an offer at Melbourne Uni,

James