preferences order & another query.

[paully08]

ok, here is the deal.

Firstly, when you submit your preferences with VTAC, I've heard two things and want to know what's true.

1. So you have 12 preferences - do they send 12 applications to all, and when uni's recieve it, is it unknown where you placed it on your preferences so they accept you souly based on your enter?
OR
do they take into consideration whether its your first preference or not. For example, if you place three courses with clealy in's above your enter, and your clearly in enter is your 4th preference - does your fourth get overlooked because it's your fourth, and therefore should you move it up? (i hope that makes sense)

2. If there is no middleband - does that basically mean you wont get in if you did not get clearly in.
In my case  -> Business @ Monash = 82.50 ... I have 82.35. There is no middleband, but they look at seas - and only around 6 or 7 people get in, below the clearly in. (I didnt apply for seas - but damn, i qualify).

3. With SAC marks, if it gets scaled down - do they display it, or do they display them as they should be, but its just reflected by your study score?
For example, i got A+ A+ sacs for a subject (international studies *shudders*), but did poor on the exam, got C+. My Study Score was 30 with A B+ C+. (and the B+ was originally 92/100, so that got dragged down hardcore. is that normal? cos I seriously need just any extra mark.)

Whoever helps with this, your a legend!

thanks guys.

[cara.mel]

1. Your first answer is more right.
Your put your preferences in preferential order, not in 'oh I think I'm most likely to get this' order. Why would they overlook you for having it in 4th preference? Only VTAC knows that.
VTAC aren't playing mind games with you. You simply put them in the order you want them, there is no need to move your 4th course up unless you want your 4th course the most

2. Probably not then, but the clearly in generally changes every year so don't write it off cos you're so close

3. VCAA adjusts everyone's SAC marks. 92/100 is essentially meaningless [does this mean you were the best in your class? one of the best? did everyone get 90+/100?] It is normal, if it wasn't everyone would be getting A+ for their SACs. There are better explanations if you search through the forum
What do you mean by displayed though? If you got A B+ C+ 30 then you got A B+ C+ 30 =/

[champorado]

I have another question regarding preference order. Say I put a course down as my first pref, change of preference period is over, and it's offers day. If I unexpectedly get in, but have changed my mind, can I reject that offer, and take my second pref (assuming my second preference's enter requirement is lower than my first, of course)? I know that you can do the opposite (accept your first pref if it comes up in the second round), but I'm not sure if it's possible to do what I asked.

paully: To be blunt, your SACs don't mean squat. It's your external performance (ie, exams) that determine what you get for your sacs. I did methods last year, and they basically spoon fed us, which makes you feel smart for most of the year, and then crushes you like a little measly bug in exams. I was averaging around 90%, and I ended up with a B+ (around the low 70s, iirc) for sacs. Basically, blame your cohort.

[cara.mel]

I have another question regarding preference order. Say I put a course down as my first pref, change of preference period is over, and it's offers day. If I unexpectedly get in, but have changed my mind, can I reject that offer, and take my second pref (assuming my second preference's enter requirement is lower than my first, of course)? I know that you can do the opposite (accept your first pref if it comes up in the second round), but I'm not sure if it's possible to do what I asked.

In a word, no. You only receive one offer per round, you can't decide you want a lower one. You also will not be offered your 2nd preference in later rounds because you have received the course you (at the time) most wanted to do. In later rounds you are only offered courses for higher preferences
What you would do is look into something called irregular offers if you want a course that is lower on your preferences than the course you are offered. I am not too sure about how that works but that is the pathway.

[champorado]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll leave it up to fate.

[jess3254]

If I unexpectedly get in, but have changed my mind, can I reject that offer, and take my second pref (assuming my second preference's enter requirement is lower than my first, of course)?

Yeah, if that happened, you would have to apply for an irregular offer.

Information on irregular offers:

Irregular offers:
After Round 1 offers have been released you may obtain an Application for Irregular Offer form.

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.

Irregular offer forms must be hand delivered, with all supporting documentation, to the selection officer of the course. If the selection officer advises you that there are no places available you can submit the form to another course. Only one Irregular Offer form can be submitted at a time.

The form can be lodged with the institution after Round 1 offers. If the Irregular Offer application is successful, the course preference listed on this form will override all other preferences

http://www.vtac.edu.au/faqs/cop.html

[chlloe]

Caramel -

I heard thats not the case. I was wanted the answer to the same question.

At a VCE expo thing our school went too alongside other schools, apparently If say you get an offer for your second pref, but decided you would rather your 4th for example. They said you can contact the University about it with a form.

But then again, Im not too sure.


(edit, yup as per above!)

[cara.mel]

Yeah, in my post I mentioned irregular offers. THere's nothing incorrect in my post.

I was saying that you can't just from your first round offers decide you want something else lower on your preferences and magically receive it as your first round offer.
Also don't be reliant on irregular offers, get your preferences in the right order now, you have a week to think about it after results in addition to most of this year

[jess3254]

^^

I heard thats not the case. I was wanted the answer to the same question.

At a VCE expo thing our school went too alongside other schools, apparently If say you get an offer for your second pref, but decided you would rather your 4th for example. They said you can contact the University about it or something.

But then again, Im not too sure.

Yeah... they are referring to an irregular offer. You contact the university, and ask whether realistically they will accept you. Then you submit an irregular offer form. It is sent directly to the institution.

There's more info here too: http://www.vtac.edu.au/current/offers.html

First you must ensure that you meet the requirements for the course. If you are applying for Graduate Entry Teaching courses you must also qualify for the method.

Next you must contact the selection officer for the course to find out whether there are any places available and whether they are prepared to consider making you an offer in the following round. At this stage you should also check if the selection officer requires any documentation.

Then you must print and complete the 'Application for Irregular Offer' form. You can access your personalised form via MyInfo. Your name and VTAC ID will be printed at the top of the form.

Finally you must take or send your completed form to the selection officer to sign – do not send the form to VTAC. VTAC recommends that you hand-deliver or fax the form to the selection officer instead of sending it by post. VTAC also recommends that you request a copy of the signed form for your own records.

[jess3254]

Also don't be reliant on irregular offers, get your preferences in the right order now, you have a week to think about it after results in addition to most of this year

Very good advice, lol

[champorado]

Thanks jessie for all the extra info! It seems like an awful lot of trouble trying to get in through an irregular offer.

Also don't be reliant on irregular offers, get your preferences in the right order now, you have a week to think about it after results in addition to most of this year

Yep, I'm gonna try and read up on it now. Really though, I don't think I had the whole year. I was expecting a max of 85, which would've meant I wouldn't have had to change my preferences at all. It was only after I got my results that changing them has crept into my mind.

[paully08]

thanks guys! so looks like the best bet would be to leave my preferences as they are ...