University

If you're dead-set on going to university, it's important you consider what "going to uni" actually involves and whether or not it's right for you.

Uni classes aren't like regular classes. You'll have to hold yourself accountable for getting assignments in on time, and if you need assistance, you'll have to be proactive and seek it out yourself. For some, the independence — and the freedom of not having teachers on your back - will be a dream come true.

The workload can be pretty hefty, and the timetable is only kind-of flexible; you'll get to ask for the class times you'd prefer, but you won't always get your first choice.

Most courses accommodate those who need to study remotely, from home or in rural areas. There is also HELP - it stands for Higher Education Loan Program - which helps (get it?) lessen the financial burden. What that also means, however, is that studying in uni can lead to a HELP debt, which you'll begin paying off once you begin work.

The shortest degree takes about three years to complete, so anyone heading into uni needs to know they're postponing travel - and earning money - for a little while. You can always defer for a semester or two, but that'll only push your graduation date further away.

Now, there are some jobs for which you absolutely need a university degree. You can't be a doctor, for instance, just by hanging around a hospital. The same goes for professional engineers and, for the most part, lawyers.

Then, there are jobs for which degrees aren't essential, but prospective employers will request anyway. If there's a specific profession you're aiming for, have a look through some relevant job ads to see if there's any application criteria.

University also offers the social life that comes with campus living: You'll get to hang with a community of like-minded students, be invited to heaps of events and get to fully exert your independence. You'll also get the chance to learn under and be mentored by experts and leaders in your field of study.

If you want to know whether or not you're on track for uni, you can estimate your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) here.

Bridging Courses

If you are interested in going to uni but are worried you don't have the marks to get in, there is a second chance available to you through bridging courses at different colleges across the state.

Basically, 'bridging courses' help students transition from high school to uni without them missing a beat. If your ATAR score isn't high enough for the uni course you're interested in, a bridging course — which can range from a few weeks to a full year — can offer you an alternate route back to uni.

However, just because "bridging courses" are there as a safety net for prospective uni students doesn't necessarily mean you should plan on flunking out of Year 12 and taking this as a shortcut.

Since bridging courses are so short, they're very intensive. That means the workload is a big one.

Bridging courses are also about the same price as your first year at uni, so you'll definitely only want to go through it once.

Sometimes, bridging courses are ideal for students who struggle with the pressure of Year 12 exams and feel that they didn't get a mark that best represented their knowledge on a subject.

And, just like uni, you can use HELP to pay for the course. If you pass, you can usually jump back into a uni degree in its second year, and still study alongside the rest of your peer group.