You've got your ATAR – now what?

What to do if your ATAR is higher than you anticipated

Mic drop! Firstly, take a minute to celebrate your amazing achievement.

It might be tempting to jump right in and switch your uni course preferences to ones with higher ATARs but Deakin’s Future Student Engagement Coordinator, Luke Ridgewell, has some great advice.

‘Your ATAR score is not a gift card; you don’t have to spend it!’

Ridgwell advises that it is important to keep your ultimate course at the top of your course preference list. ‘You’ve done a lot of research to this point. You’ve found the one that’s for you,’ he explains.

Instead of messing with your preferences, he suggests checking out scholarships and extracurricular opportunities.

What to do if your ATAR is what you expected

Go you! This is a great place to be.

If you’re happy with your list of course preferences, then it’s time to sit tight and wait for university offers.

However, it’s worth revaluating whether you’ve listed the course you most want to do as your #1 preference.

Deakin’s Future Student Campaigns and Events Manager Jenny Rowell’s advice is to always list your course preferences in order of what you most want to study – not what you think you will get into.

‘My best piece of advice when changing your preferences is to make sure you check prerequisites and extra requirements for any new courses that you want to include on your list.

‘It’s important to remember that each institute has got different prerequisites and different extra requirements, so make sure you do your research,’ she adds.

What to do if your ATAR is lower than you had hoped

Don’t panic! Of course it sucks to not do as well as you expected. But it’s important to remember there’s always a pathway to Deakin.

Connect with us when it suits you, on campus or at home to get the support you need to find the right path to your dream course.

We also recommend keeping the course that you’re most wanting to do at the top of your preference list because that’s the course you’re most passionate about.

The minimum selection rank can be unpredictable year on year and, although you may not have got the ATAR that you were looking for, it still may be enough for this year’s intake.

'Now you’ve got your ATAR, this is the time to be realistic about your options,' says Luke Ridgwell.

Use the Change of Preference period to connect with Deakin’s expert advisers and attend Deakin’s Change of Preference events to get the support you need to make an informed choice about your preferences.

Get help from our team of experts

Having a menty B about how your ATAR affects your course preferences? Don’t miss the opportunity to get personalised advice at our Change of Preference events.

Attend our Change of Preference events to chat one-on-one with staff and students, get expert advice about course preferences, take student-led campus tours and gain the insight you need to make the best choice for you.

Can’t attend an event? Don't worry, we’ve pulled together plenty of info to help you make an informed choice about changing your course preferences.

Connect with us when it suits you

Getting your ATAR (finally!), changing your preferences and waiting for Deakin offer dates – it can all be stressful. But remember you’re not alone and there’s lots of support available.

Connect with us how or when it suits you, on campus or at home. Our experts are here to give you course advice, help you find a pathway to uni, discover scholarships and guide you through applications.

Call 1800 693 888 or connect with us on live chat. We’ve also pulled together some helpful information about change of preference to help you feel confident about your future.

And, importantly, don't forget to celebrate this major milestone, finishing school!