Decisions, decisions, decisions. Now that results are out, it’s time to gather all the information you need to make those crucial last minute decisions.
The good news is an army of students, academic experts and course advisors are here to help. The even better news is that you can access them all at once via one useful number:
1300 362 006
The Sydney Uni Helpline is the first port of call for all your Sydney Uni-related questions. The Helpline is staffed by a trained group of current uni students who have previously been in your shoes and know how confusing it can be to choose the right course and uni for you. We can help answer all your questions. If we don’t know the answers, we will lead you to people and resources that do.
So, what sort of questions do we get on the Helpline?
Everything, really. Inquiries about particular courses, uni life, getting into uni, alternative entry schemes, fees and costs and what to wear on the first day are just some of the few questions we get!
What is the Helpline there for?
The Helpline is there to help you (funnily enough) find the information you need to make the right choices for you. It is also there to help remove some of the stress and anxiousness you may experience at this time from this scary thing called “uni”. We will give you information that is useful, in plain language that you can understand. We have all been in the same position as you, so you get advice straight from the horse’s mouth.
Not sure who you need to talk to, or what you need to ask?
This is the beauty of the Helpline. If you contact us and we cannot answer your question directly, we will lead you to people and places that will be able to. Sometimes, we might also highlight things about a course that you were not aware of, which can be useful in helping you know the right questions to ask so that you get the correct and relevant information.
Can parents call the Helpline?
Yes! If you are a parent, Helpline can be an important source of accurate information and parents are very welcome to give us a call. We know that this is an equally stressful time for parents! Don’t forget however, university demands each student to take charge of their own affairs. If you are a parent, one of the best things you can do is encourage your child to call the Helpline in addition to you, so that they learn to seek out information for themselves too.
If my UAI was better/worse than I expected, should I change my preferences?
Some of the most frequently asked questions we get come from people who received a UAI that was better or worse than they expected. Sometimes, those that receive a better UAI than they expected feel pressured to change their preferences to courses with higher cut-offs. Those that receive a lower UAI than they expected may want to find out about alternative options for getting into the course they really want to do. We can help you by giving you accurate information on your options, as well as things to ask yourself if you are reconsidering your preferences.
Don’t forget that UAI cut-offs for a course are NOT an indication of the quality or difficulty of the course, but just an indication of how popular the course is. If your UAI is better than you expected, it does widen your options – but remember, a high UAI should widen your options not reduce them. In other words, law and medicine is not for everyone! Please don't think that you are "wasting" a good UAI if you opt for a course with a lower cut-off. You worked your butt off to get into the course you want to do!
Got any questions? Go on! Give us a call: 1300 362 006
Comments
During what time can I call the HelpLine?
Posted by: val | December 23, 2006 03:44 PM
So when is the hotline open from?
Posted by: Winey | December 27, 2006 09:58 PM
Great advice for those people with a good UAI, but not those like me with a UAI lower than expected.
It is a pity that the indicator for talent is a stupid number which universities seem to place so much emphasis on.
I am now left with going to a university that places more emphasis on the person rather than the number, and I am happy with that. At least they care.
Posted by: Matthew James | December 27, 2006 11:16 PM
Hey Matt,
I can completely understand your frustration as I had the same feeling when I missed out on my dream course the first time round. I also felt that the UAI was an unfair measure for a number of reasons, including the unequal amount of resources available to different people at different schools. Unfortunately, universities need something with which to measure everyone against each other. It tends to turn everyone into a number - which is definitely not a complete picture of person's unique talents. The UAI system tries its best to compare students according to how they perform throughout their final year, as well as during their exams. This is an improvement on a previous system where your exams counted for 100% of your mark. In that way, the UAI and current HSC are more fair than in the past. But any numerical measure will always be imperfect at comparing real people and it's devastating for some - like you and I - who missed out on our first preferences.
The point of the story though, is that there is hope beyond the UAI. For starters, Sydney Uni offers a range of special entry schemes and flexible ways of getting into your dream courses: http://blogs.usyd.edu.au/sydneylife/2006/10/just_do_your_best.html#more. These aim to address some of the inequalities and imperfections with the UAI system. Also, many specialist degrees are based on more than a UAI - but also interview (e.g. Medicine), special tests (e.g. Pharmacy), portfolio (e.g. Visual Arts) and auditions (e.g. Music).
I think good on you for finding out about what other options are out there. I wish you all the luck with your degree at your chosen university. Go kick some ass!
Posted by: Ghassan | December 28, 2006 12:14 AM
The Helpline is open most days. It is closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Even if it is closed, you can call anytime and leave a message, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Posted by: Jo | December 29, 2006 09:30 AM
If I hand in a portfolio, (for say Architecture), do you have any suggestions on how to present it? And should I hand in photocopies, or will I be getting the portfolio back?
Posted by: Ali | December 30, 2006 03:43 PM
Hi Ali,
For that type of question, I would contact the Faculty of the degree you want to study: http://www.usyd.edu.au/start/contacts/index.shtml (for all contact details).
Posted by: Ghassan | December 31, 2006 12:33 PM