Don't get the offer you want in first round - can you get it in later rounds?

[The Cat In The Hat]

I have a course I don't know I'll get into, as my top preference. Below that I have two courses I know I can get into. If, hypothetically, I didn't get an offer, could I refuse the first round offer of a course I don't want as much, and then next round have a chance of getting into what I really wanted?

[ritosno]

If the offer you want is higher up in your preference list than the other offer you have received, I believe you still have a chance of getting it (as long as it isn't already full by the next offer round). If you reject the offer that you have received (the one that is lower but that you don't want), you run the risk of having no offer at all if you don't get a higher preference later.

[The Cat In The Hat]

If I still don't get in, am I still eligible to get an offer for the third course on my list? (assuming I was offered the second one, first time)

[keltingmeith]

If I still don't get in, am I still eligible to get an offer for the third course on my list? (assuming I was offered the second one, first time)

If you're eligible for a course higher on your list than the course in that spot, you won't get an offer for it. Eg, let's say I have science at Monash in spot 1 and biomed at Melbourne in spot 2. If I have the ATAR for science at Monash, I will get an offer for that. I will not get an offer for my spot 2 course. If I get the ATAR for biomed, but that happens to be higher than the ATAR for science as well, then I will not get an offer for biomed - only for science. Rejecting the science offer doesn't change that, so I will not get a biomed offer.

My advice is - if you think you're likely to reject the course offer for the subject in spot 2, but not the course in spot 3, then swap those preferences. The VTAC preference list isn't a system that can be 'gained'

[The Cat In The Hat]

If you're eligible for a course higher on your list than the course in that spot, you won't get an offer for it. Eg, let's say I have science at Monash in spot 1 and biomed at Melbourne in spot 2. If I have the ATAR for science at Monash, I will get an offer for that. I will not get an offer for my spot 2 course. If I get the ATAR for biomed, but that happens to be higher than the ATAR for science as well, then I will not get an offer for biomed - only for science. Rejecting the science offer doesn't change that, so I will not get a biomed offer.

My advice is - if you think you're likely to reject the course offer for the subject in spot 2, but not the course in spot 3, then swap those preferences. The VTAC preference list isn't a system that can be 'gained'

The thing is: I want to get in to my first preference, but otherwise, my second and third ones are completely interchangeable, since they're just different unis, same course. Thus, if I were to only get an offer for my second preference, the second round could I get an offer for my first preference? or if I didn't, for my third preference?

[Sine]

The thing is: I want to get in to my first preference, but otherwise, my second and third ones are completely interchangeable, since they're just different unis, same course. Thus, if I were to only get an offer for my second preference, the second round could I get an offer for my first preference? or if I didn't, for my third preference?

Basically put your preferences in order for what you want to do not what you think you will get offered.

If you get a 1st round offer for your 2nd preference then in further round (if you don't change your preference order) you will be eligible for only your 1st preference (not your 3rd or below). If you initially sorted your preferences in order of what you want to do (not what you think you will get) you shouldn't even want to be offered your 3rd preference since you already got your 2nd.

Hope this helps

[AngelWings]

Seems like all the questions got answered above, but just putting it out there: there’s short periods between offer rounds to change your preferences. If push comes to shove and you have a career epiphany between rounds or simply decide “oh wait, I wanna go to Deakin not Monash now.” (purely as an example), then you can switch your preference order during those times. Just be careful it wasn’t an early closing course or a course that needs other entry criteria.