Oh yeah, THAT'S why I didn't apply for uni
Uni life sucks with a low UAI (the NSW OP equivalent). I can't remember it off the top of my head but from memory it was rather low. It doesn't help that I've lost the paperwork too. And seeing that I need a ranking of about 78 for mechanical engineering, it doesn't go nearly far enough.
This doesn't mean I can't get in but it means a lot of stuffing around. Talking to QUT and QTAC, all I have to do is a few things to achieve a ranking. If I achieve a high enough ranking, I get in. Fair enough.
So far my options are:
1) Adult Tertiary Preparatory (ATP) course at TAFE
Similar to doing year 12 over again. If I score a GPA of 4.25+, I should get a good ranking of over 79. Trouble is that it takes 12 months and if I don't do so well, it won't get me in. Open Learning has this as a course and is self paced. This means if I concentrate, I can blitz it in about 6 months.
2) Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
A 70 question, 2 hour, multiple choice test similar to an IQ test. This will give a ranking of about 50 on it's own which is nowhere near enough. It can be combined with other items to boost the score. I missed out on doing the STAT course be a matter of days so I have to do the next one in September *grumbles*
Which leads to:
3) Vocational Experience
If I can get my work to write a formal letter outlining the work I have done, I can achieve a rank for fulltime work. I've been working for 6 years fulltime, and fit into the "Clerical Workers" category which means I rank between 54-73. And talking to QTAC, I would be classed as intermediate which would rank about 63 or so.
What does all this mean?
I'll enroll to study ATP over the next 6 to 12 months regardless. It will get my study skills back up to speed and my math brain working again. On it's own, I should at least rank 82 if I stick to it and get a GPA of 5+
I'll do the STAT test regardless of that score to boost the rank even higher just in case. If I ace the STAT, I can combine that to make between 82 and 93 (if I ace it).
I'll get work to write a letter and see if that will work on it's own. If I don't finish the ATP in time or if it's not enough, this may tip the balance. It will be about 63 on it's own and may make it to 80 with the STAT. Just enough.
So the bottom line:
Voc Exp = @63
Voc Exp + STAT = 80 ish
ATP (GPA 5.0) = 82 ish
ATP (GPA 5.0) + STAT = 88 ish
If Vocation Experience works and I get a good score on STAT I'll have 2 ranks more than needed - so only just and no guarantee for place. If VE doesn't work then I'm back where I started.
If I ace the STAT test (rather unlikely) I may get the needed rank on it's own. Another tall order seeing I need to score higher than 159. The STAT is good as it will add to anything else I do.
If I do the ATP, I need to score a GPA of 5+ to reach a rank of 80. If I do the course and the VE doesn't work, I still have a chance. The STAT will help regardless.
SO
Step 1) Apply for the ATP at TAFE
Step 2) Take the STAT test in September
Step 3) Ask work for a letter regarding Vocational Experience
This should be enough as long as I finish the ATP.
I've always hated cliffhangers :P
The moral of the story: "Work hard at school, kids."
This doesn't mean I can't get in but it means a lot of stuffing around. Talking to QUT and QTAC, all I have to do is a few things to achieve a ranking. If I achieve a high enough ranking, I get in. Fair enough.
So far my options are:
1) Adult Tertiary Preparatory (ATP) course at TAFE
Similar to doing year 12 over again. If I score a GPA of 4.25+, I should get a good ranking of over 79. Trouble is that it takes 12 months and if I don't do so well, it won't get me in. Open Learning has this as a course and is self paced. This means if I concentrate, I can blitz it in about 6 months.
2) Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
A 70 question, 2 hour, multiple choice test similar to an IQ test. This will give a ranking of about 50 on it's own which is nowhere near enough. It can be combined with other items to boost the score. I missed out on doing the STAT course be a matter of days so I have to do the next one in September *grumbles*
Which leads to:
3) Vocational Experience
If I can get my work to write a formal letter outlining the work I have done, I can achieve a rank for fulltime work. I've been working for 6 years fulltime, and fit into the "Clerical Workers" category which means I rank between 54-73. And talking to QTAC, I would be classed as intermediate which would rank about 63 or so.
What does all this mean?
I'll enroll to study ATP over the next 6 to 12 months regardless. It will get my study skills back up to speed and my math brain working again. On it's own, I should at least rank 82 if I stick to it and get a GPA of 5+
I'll do the STAT test regardless of that score to boost the rank even higher just in case. If I ace the STAT, I can combine that to make between 82 and 93 (if I ace it).
I'll get work to write a letter and see if that will work on it's own. If I don't finish the ATP in time or if it's not enough, this may tip the balance. It will be about 63 on it's own and may make it to 80 with the STAT. Just enough.
So the bottom line:
Voc Exp = @63
Voc Exp + STAT = 80 ish
ATP (GPA 5.0) = 82 ish
ATP (GPA 5.0) + STAT = 88 ish
If Vocation Experience works and I get a good score on STAT I'll have 2 ranks more than needed - so only just and no guarantee for place. If VE doesn't work then I'm back where I started.
If I ace the STAT test (rather unlikely) I may get the needed rank on it's own. Another tall order seeing I need to score higher than 159. The STAT is good as it will add to anything else I do.
If I do the ATP, I need to score a GPA of 5+ to reach a rank of 80. If I do the course and the VE doesn't work, I still have a chance. The STAT will help regardless.
SO
Step 1) Apply for the ATP at TAFE
Step 2) Take the STAT test in September
Step 3) Ask work for a letter regarding Vocational Experience
This should be enough as long as I finish the ATP.
I've always hated cliffhangers :P
The moral of the story: "Work hard at school, kids."