High School Is Over. What Next?

Congratulations on getting this far in your studies.

If the time has come to consider tertiary education, you may find the choices a little overwhelming, and the costs fairly daunting.

When it comes to choosing a course, it might be useful to consider the following.

What do I want to do, career-wise?

It seems like such a simple question, yet it stumps so many young people. (Cue: shrug).

It helps so much if you know what you want to be, because it gives you a focus and you will choose the right course to help you get there. Best of all, having that focus means that it’s more likely that you will soak up every morsel of information you come across in your course. Courses out there can cost a lot of money, yet too many of us enrol in tertiary courses and muddle our way through, and still don’t know what our career options are. Doing a course “because it was there”, “because my friends are doing it” or “because my parents wanted me to” is just going to end badly.

There are heaps of sites on the Internet offering free career assessments or you could try My Career Match, an Australian service which offers a pretty comprehensive assessment and list of careers which might be right for you. The service costs under $20, but is well worth a look.
Must I go to Uni rightaway?

Of course not. Some people come to the realisation that university is not for them, at least not right away, and choose to take a Gap year.

Others decide that they do not wish to spend the next 3 or more years pursuing a degree and prefer a pathway that will get them working soon and start making money, while learning on-the-job. Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs could be the way to go.
Can I get into the course?

Most courses will have minimum entry requirements.

Use the ‘Find a course’ feature on the Student Edge website to get a detailed list of undergraduate courses, with links to their respective entry requirements, and course fees.

VET programs are available at a wide range of government TAFE colleges, universities and private providers across Australia, and you should contact your approved VET provider to check their entry requirements.
Can I afford the course?

Sure, courses may seem expensive, but look at it as an investment in yourself.

The good news is that Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of Australian Permanent residency visas studying in Australia may be eligible for a HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) loan.

HELP is available for approved University undergraduate courses, as well as VET programs. Please note that there are strict deadlines when applying for HELP. You will also need a Tax File Number prior to applying for HELP.

You will only begin repaying your loan after you finish your course and begin earning over a threshold amount. The repayment threshold for the 2014-15 income year is A$53,345.

Of course, leaving school and joining the workforce right away is also an option. The important thing is knowing that everyone’s journey is different; it pays to do the research, consider the options and choose the right path for you.

For more information about potential pathways, visit the MyFuture website.