Disappointed With Your Results? See How Students Got Into Their Dream Course Despite Their ATAR

"To be honest, at first I cried when I saw my ATAR…"

Exams are over. Results are here. And for some, that’s when the real stress begins.

Across the country, students are learning their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which may decide their future study plans. And even though a recent report found that only 26 per cent of students end up using their ATAR to enter university, a disappointing ATAR can still come as a huge blow to those with very specific study hopes.

But it’s all good. We asked some high school graduates (who took Lil Wayne's advice, above) how they coped with a disappointing ATAR, and how they still managed to get into their dream course.

Let their words of wisdom serve as inspiration-fuel for your next move!

• My ATAR was slightly disappointing, and I was pretty mad because of scaling screwing me over and it being much lower than my predicted score. It did take me a while to accept that that’s what two years gave me, but hey, I still got into uni. It’s not the end of the world. You get over it and move on. There are other ways to get where you want, even if it’s not direct.
  Maddie S from WA
• During Year 12 there were various issues that had come up during the year which had greatly affected how I performed in terms of study. I did what I could to get a good score and thankfully it was enough for the university I wanted. To be honest, at first I cried when I saw my ATAR, mainly because I thought I had done so well with particular exams, which didn't turn out to be the case. So what I did afterwards was look at my options and which universities would accept me. And again, I was thankful the university I was aiming for was going to accept me with my result of 62. As many friends and family would say, a number does not define who you are.
  Samantha S from WA
• I would say to anyone who is disappointed with their ATAR to turn that disappointment into motivation. Don’t allow yourself to feel disappointed; instead be happy that you got through exams and start planning pathways. As someone who is now in university, I can tell you that motivation and the ability to work hard is what universities are looking for. It doesn’t matter what score you’ve gotten because there is a pathway for to get there; you just have to ask for help. I know it can be so disappointing to get a low score, but know that no one is remembered for their ATAR. People are remembered for how they deal with tough situations and come out the other side. Stay strong, stay motivated and above all stay determined.
  Annie R from VIC
• Waking up at 7am with the message that your ATAR’s out was a daunting experience. I was really hoping to reach the mid-80s in order to get into my dream course of speech pathology. I studied hard all year, but unfortunately I fell just short, getting 78.4. I was completely overcome with worry, but I got some wise words from my siblings, who said, in a few years, my ATAR won’t matter. And that is the truth. There are many pathways to get where you are going, and I ended up getting into occupational therapy (my second preference) and I love it so much that I’ve stuck with the course instead of transferring to speech pathology.
  Keely D from VIC
• The ATAR I got was what I was expecting; however, I was hoping for a little higher in order to get into my top preference. The way I coped was surrounding myself with people I trust and who were able to describe how I felt. I didn’t get into my top preference at first, but then I was able to transfer across to my top preference despite not getting the ATAR. So, to all Year 12s, don’t worry about your ATAR. Just get into the university and work hard in the first semester, and you can get into that dream course eventually. Don’t ever give up your dream because I didn’t and it eventually came through!
  Lauren B from VIC
• I got a much lower ATAR than I had anticipated in the end. I was so angry with myself as it meant I wasn't able to get into the course I originally wanted to do. In the end I went and did a Diploma of Counselling, as the entry requirements were more relaxed and I have not regretted it! After completing my diploma I was then able to get into a uni course the year after. Not doing well in Year 12 is not the end of the world. Being angry or upset with yourself is completely normal and it's best to let yourself feel those emotions. But just remember that you tried your best and what's done is done. My piece of advice to all graduates is to make sure you have a backup plan in case things don't pan out the way you want them to. Many universities look favourably on those who have done a TAFE course after Year 12.
  Shahira L from QLD
• I kind of gave up in high school because I didn’t want to deal with the pressure from my parents making me do subjects I didn’t want to do. Needless to say, I got a really bad ATAR. I didn’t really want to go to uni because it seemed too much like high school, so I started applying for full time jobs. I ended up doing a chef apprenticeship and met someone who is still my best friend half a country away and several years later. Once I completed my apprenticeship, I decided I didn’t want to be a chef so I used that qualification to get into uni.
  Rebecca K from ACT
• I graduated from Year 12 in 2016, and unfortunately, I did not receive the ATAR that I wanted. As someone who was so eager to be a student at a prestigious university, and having the pressure of Asian parents on my shoulders, I couldn’t help but think that my world was ending and that I had nowhere else to go. Well, that was definitely not the case. I was not able to directly enrol into the degree that I wanted. However, my university had pathways that allowed me to get there. I was enrolled in a diploma which allowed me to jump into the second year of the bachelor’s degree, and trust me when I say this: doing the diploma was the best decision of my life. There are many pathways to get to where you want to be, and moving around is so much more flexible after Year 12. And if you don't want to enrol into university, that's great as well! Choosing to do a trade is an absolutely amazing idea and it shouldn't be something to look down upon. University is not something everyone should have to complete. There are so many careers that do not require a university degree in this day and age.
  Zulaikha N from ACT
• Honestly I was rather disappointed by my ATAR as I didn’t believe it reflected the effort I put in. However, I realised that while it was disappointing, it wasn’t the end of the world. I went on to do Hospitality Training at a college on Greenhill Road, and then after that I did the Flinders University foundation course. So now I am at University and I couldn’t be happier. It just goes to show that if you don’t get in with your ATAR there are still different avenues you can take to get into University and study whatever you want.
  Katie A from SA
• When I was in Year 12, I didn't have enough units to get an ATAR. At first I didn't really care but when it got closer to the HSC I started regretting my choice. But I did my research and found that there are so many other ways into uni. Basically, I started to apply for everything that I could and I ended up with three uni offers even when I didn't have an ATAR (which the universities knew).
  Emmalene G from NSW
• I royally messed up Year 12 and when I got my ATAR I cried for about three days. It's okay to be disappointed. If you aren't happy with your ATAR, you don't have to pretend that you are. I still got into university though. I did a course for a year and then applied to transfer to my dream course at my dream uni, and you know what? I got in. I smashed out my first year studies and then transferred. Sure, I didn't get in straight away but I still got there. Also by the way, no one actually gives a damn about your ATAR. The only people who still care about their ATARs are the ones who peaked in high school...”
  Madeline S from VIC
• I was at work when I found out our ATARs had been released early. Telling my boss I had a personal emergency, I rushed home, opened my laptop and held my breath. I had never felt more anxious. The past year of my life had been the most nerve-wracking and mentally arduous I had ever experienced. My mental health completed dissipated, my physical health was even worse and as the exams drew closer my mock results only got worse and worse. Then the day came. After all my tireless effort, my attempts to please, my studying, reading, memorising, performing... I didn't get what I needed. I was shattered. Twelve years of work all led to nothing and I believed my life was over. But... I've just finished my second year at Curtin University, studying my dream degree at my first choice uni. I got in through portfolio entry, writing a letter expressing my interest in the course, getting a recommendation from a trusted teacher and handing in past reports. And I don't feel out of place at all, because I know that my passion is true, and I deserve to be here. After Year 12, no one talks about ATAR anymore, because it literally doesn't matter. There are so many ways of getting into your chosen degree if you want to go to uni. ATAR isn't the only way and isn't worth all the stress. It doesn't measure humour, kindness or empathy, and certainly not intelligence. It's just a silly number, and you're so much more than that.
  Peri W from WA

If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

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