Access scholarships?

[jejak]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the Melbourne Access scholarships have been given out? Is there any kind of "second round" of sorts?

The only reason I ask is, I had a pretty convincing SEAS application IMHO, plus a fairly high ENTER, but haven't received any indication of an Access scholarship. While I'm willing to accept that I mightn't have qualified , I'm wondering if it's really because my SEAS application didn't go through properly - I should mention that my "impact statement" thing for SEAS was handed in late via snail mail. The VTAC person I spoke to said this should be fine, but if it didn't go through, would I have some avenue of recourse?

[Gloamglozer]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the Melbourne Access scholarships have been given out? Is there any kind of "second round" of sorts?

The only reason I ask is, I had a pretty convincing SEAS application IMHO, plus a fairly high ENTER, but haven't received any indication of an Access scholarship. While I'm willing to accept that I mightn't have qualified , I'm wondering if it's really because my SEAS application didn't go through properly - I should mention that my "impact statement" thing for SEAS was handed in late via snail mail. The VTAC person I spoke to said this should be fine, but if it didn't go through, would I have some avenue of recourse?

Yes, Melbourne Access scholarships have already been handed out.  However, do not despair, because there is a "second round" as you mentioned.  This will take place at around the same time as we all receive our first round offers.

With regards to the impact statement, if you submitted that late and a VTAC representative said it was fine, then I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about.  Also, there is nothing you can do to amend or change your SEAS application now.  I called up VTAC and asked about this in November (just after the exams) and they said that it was not possible because they had already processed the SEAS applications and have them stored on a database, ready to distribute them to all the unis individual SEAS applicants applied for.

Additionally, a high ENTER does not necessarily mean that you will get a Melbourne Access scholarship.  To get one, every case is looked at individually and I've heard stories where someone who got 98+ didn't get an Access scholarship whereas someone who got 90.** got the scholarship.  So it all depends on a number of factors.

[jejak]

With regards to the impact statement, if you submitted that late and a VTAC representative said it was fine, then I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about.

Thanks for your reply. I should clarify though that I meant a VTAC representative said it would be fine for me to send in the statement by mail, but once I did send it, I never received any response indicating that it had in fact been received. (Hope that made sense.) I guess what I mean is, would there be any point in calling up to check that it's on file?

So it all depends on a number of factors.

I know what you mean, and not to bitch haha, but I really thought my SEAS statement was Oprah-grade sob-story material! Oh well.

[Gloamglozer]

With regards to the impact statement, if you submitted that late and a VTAC representative said it was fine, then I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about.

Thanks for your reply. I should clarify though that I meant a VTAC representative said it would be fine for me to send in the statement by mail, but once I did send it, I never received any response indicating that it had in fact been received. (Hope that made sense.) I guess what I mean is, would there be any point in calling up to check that it's on file?

Oh right.  In that case, I'm not too sure because would it still be classified as "late" since VTAC did explicitly say that you had to apply for SEAS and submit all relevant documentation by 5:00 P.M. October 9 2009.

Despite this, I've found this in this year's VTAC Guide:

Late documentation
Documentation received at VTAC after documentation closing dates will be processed by VTAC and forwarded to selection officers, however VTAC cannot guarantee that it will reach institutions in time to be considered for selection.  Therefore if submitting documentation after documentation closing dates you should make multiple sets of certified copies and forward one set to VTAC and one set to the selection officer for each course preference you have listed.

[ZachCharge]

I think you should call and check if your response has been received just to put your mind at ease (somewhat).

[Gloamglozer]

I think you should call and check if your response has been received just to put your mind at ease (somewhat).

Definitely recommended.  Call up VTAC.  And if you remember the name of the VTAC representative you spoke to before, that would be great.  If not, don't stress.  Most of them that I've spoken to are really nice and helpful people.

[jejak]

Cool. Thanks so much Gloamgloazer and Zachcharge.

[Gloamglozer]

Cool. Thanks so much Gloamgloazer and Zachcharge.

Your welcome.  If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to ask them. 

[jaja]

hey im in the same boat as you, i send the evidence a day late....
My bro got a scholarship and last year my sis got one even though she got a lower enter than me.
What about Monash? did they already send scholarships? I already know they sent one for those who got a high mark, but what about the other ones?

[ItsSKC]

hey im in the same boat as you, i send the evidence a day late....
My bro got a scholarship and last year my sis got one even though she got a lower enter than me.
What about Monash? did they already send scholarships? I already know they sent one for those who got a high mark, but what about the other ones?

Both Monash and Melbourne have finished their first round scholarship offers by this point. The second round offers(for melbourne and monash atleast) will begin to roll 7am on the 18th of January. Good luck guys