VTAC Preferences FAQ

[merlin]

down*

[Collin Li]

Yeah, what basically happens is VTAC apply for you to all the courses you have on your preferences. Then VTAC will receive offers from these unis. Then VTAC will take the offer which is highest preference and that's the one you get.

e.g. ENTER of 99
1) Arts - Melbourne
2) Arts/science - Monash
3) Law - Monash

You will get offers for all 3 courses - but the one you see on offers day will be the Arts at UoM because that's your highest preference.

This is why it's a little bit pointless putting courses with higher ENTER requirements below those with lower requirements, because no matter what you'll never get a chance at being offered the higher ENTER course

That is wrong. If you get your first preference, you are not offered a spot in your second and third preference. You must now make an irregular offer for it. This means you are up for second round offers.

[Mao]

Yeah, what basically happens is VTAC apply for you to all the courses you have on your preferences. Then VTAC will receive offers from these unis. Then VTAC will take the offer which is highest preference and that's the one you get.

e.g. ENTER of 99
1) Arts - Melbourne
2) Arts/science - Monash
3) Law - Monash

You will get offers for all 3 courses - but the one you see on offers day will be the Arts at UoM because that's your highest preference.

This is why it's a little bit pointless putting courses with higher ENTER requirements below those with lower requirements, because no matter what you'll never get a chance at being offered the higher ENTER course

That is wrong. If you get your first preference, you are not offered a spot in your second and third preference. You must now make an irregular offer for it. This means you are up for second round offers.

that is true from the student's perspective, but not from VTAC or the universities' perspective.

from the horse's mouth [VTAC manager at a recent info evening]:
you will be offered all the courses you meet the entry requirements to [i.e. ENTER, prereq, etc]
then, VTAC defaults the offer highest on your preferences list and give that to you, you don't see any of the other offers.

[ninwa]

That is wrong. If you get your first preference, you are not offered a spot in your second and third preference. You must now make an irregular offer for it. This means you are up for second round offers.

Yeah ... you get offers for all the preferences you are eligible for and then VTAC gives you the highest one ...

EDIT: yeah what Mao said

[xox.happy1.xox]

Filling out my VTAC application tomorrow... So scared, I don't yet know if I am making the right decision... But eventually, things will fall into place, and I will be rewarded for my effort

[wallah11]

VTAC gives you the course which is highest in your preferences if the particular Uni wants to make you the offer, even if you may be eligible for another course lower in your preferences.  Obviously the courses that are higher in your preferences are the ones which you would prefer to do.

[Collin Li]

I'm pretty sure you do not have an offer to your lower preferences, if you get a higher one.

It is highly likely you'll get it in the second round, as now you'll be competing with the run-offs (those who are near the margin of the clearly-in), but it is not guaranteed. Otherwise, university offers would take much longer to fill up (having to wait for your silent offers to expire). If you're eligible for Law (2nd preference), but your first preference was Arts (you're also eligible), VTAC will assign the Law offer to someone else - it's not reserved for you anymore. That is why you need to make an irregular offer and compete in the 2nd round.

[Monica]

  All you need to know about middle-band:

http://203.8.68.133/online/companion/middle.html?type=L

"....The second consists of those in a band in the vicinity of the projected 'clearly-in ENTER, ie. the middle-band. Applicants in the middle-band have ENTERs below that required for straightforward selection, but above that which would lead to automatic rejection/non-consideration.

Selection of applicants in this band is normally made on the basis of performance in course prerequisites, ENTERs and other published middle-band factors. These factors establish the basis for an academic judgment on the rank ordering of applicants from which the balance of the course's quota is to be filled. The criteria also includes consideration of studies additional to prerequisites, level of performance in external examinations, relevant work experience, interviews and other special requirements...."

[vexx]

this is so confusing, what if i got 95+ and i had biomedicine (UoM) first perference, but i decided i wanted to do science or arts at UoM which were 2nd or 3rd preference..how could that be done?

[clinton_09]

you can change your preferences after you get your ENTER score

[Toothpaste]

this is so confusing, what if i got 95+ and i had biomedicine (UoM) first perference, but i decided i wanted to do science or arts at UoM which were 2nd or 3rd preference..how could that be done?

Do you mean that you've got 95+ (get this score in December and you get a week or so to change prefs) and you've been offered biomedicine (in January since you left it at number 1) but you've had a change of mind and want something lower on the list?

In that case, you'll have to apply for an irregular offer.

Irregular offers

You can apply for an Irregular Offer if you:

    * Have received an offer but want to be considered for a course listed lower on your preferences than the offer you have already received.
    * Have received an offer but want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences.
    * Have not received an offer and want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences.

See the 2010 VTAC Guide for full details. The irregular offer process can only be used after first round offers have been made. The University of Melbourne aims to fill all places in Round 1 and is therefore unlikely to accept applications for irregular offers.

Then you wait for ROUND TWO of offers.


http://www.vtac.edu.au/current/offers.html
(halfway down the page)

[lacoste]

Is it essential to buy a VTAC guide 2010?

What is inside it and will it be useful?


Thanks!

[Gloamglozer]

If you give up your offer and make an irregular offer, there is no guarantee that you will get an offer in the 2nd or 3rd rounds, right?

[vexx]

Do you mean that you've got 95+ (get this score in December and you get a week or so to change prefs) and you've been offered biomedicine (in January since you left it at number 1) but you've had a change of mind and want something lower on the list?

In that case, you'll have to apply for an irregular offer.

Irregular offers

You can apply for an Irregular Offer if you:

    * Have received an offer but want to be considered for a course listed lower on your preferences than the offer you have already received.
    * Have received an offer but want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences.
    * Have not received an offer and want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences.

See the 2010 VTAC Guide for full details. The irregular offer process can only be used after first round offers have been made. The University of Melbourne aims to fill all places in Round 1 and is therefore unlikely to accept applications for irregular offers.

Then you wait for ROUND TWO of offers.


http://www.vtac.edu.au/current/offers.html
(halfway down the page)

Oh i get it. Thanks!

[tripz]

Hey guys, I've submitted my preferences on the VTAC site and I went to the credit card payment page but I accidentally closed the window and in my gmail, it said the application was sucessful, but I don't know how to pay VTAC now...help?