My daughter is going into Year 12 next year (Victoria) and wants to go unscored. This means she doesn't do exams and doesn't get an ATAR (tertiary score to get into Uni). She says she wants to do year12, work for a year and travel. After 2 years she can apply to uni as a "mature age" student. She struggles a lot with exams and never does well so I understand where she is coming from. I have brought her up to know that the more options you have, the better and I know she gets it (as best as a teenager can). I am a single mum on a very good wage because of my education and she is aware of this.
I have discussed this with a few people including her teachers. Some say school and uni are not for everyone, her teachers say do not let her go unscored. The problem is that at what point to do you tell a young adult what to do with their life? She is very head strong and stubborn so I don't know how I would change her mind anyway. I would be interested in your thoughts, especially those with daughters who have gone unscored or have kids where one got an ATAR and one didn't. I just need some guidance on the best way to go forward with this.
9 Replies
My son is not doing ATAR, he plans on finishing having a year or so off then doing a bridging course into uni if he hasn't decided on something else. ATAR is not everything. If she is still undecided about what she wants to do she is better off not doing it, having a few years of work/travel to experience life then she may have more of an idea of what path she wants to follow. Kids that jump into something without really wanting to do it end up wasting a lot of time as many change careers later anyway.
For me, my approach would depend on her scores.
If her grades are just scraping through this year I probably wouldn’t rock the boat. If she has half decent grades I’d encourage (not force) on the basis of if she happens to get a good score she can still defer her studies but will have more options and may be able to use her scores versus going through adult re-entry (which also has some testing involved).
I’d also let her know that learning a trade is also an option. Hairdressing, plumbing, electrician, mechanic etc. but again, any job/trade has some level of testing/exam process.
Would she consider talking to a professional about some coping mechanisms?
Does she know what she wants to do at uni? Or is she palming you off slowly because its what you want her to do?
If she doesn't have a goal, she wont finish anyway. If she doesn't have a score she's making it really hard to get back into, at 20 or even later, she will have more work to do and most people don't want to do it with younger years plus real life adult pressure, it only gets harder.
The plus side is that they get to it when they really want to. Its harder, but they want it. And they'll be proud and enjoy their career, and probably be mature and experienced enough to get straight into work.
So for me it all comes down to her plan. Her goals. If she has a uni course in mind, the easiest thing is to get the score, get the place, then defer for a year and go for her gap year. If she doesn't, then I would want her to work on that beyond travel and time out, and the answer to the scores will come to her.
I should add that she’s not sure she’s even interested in Uni and has no idea what she’d like to do yet
Then I wouldn’t push uni or an ATAR.
I would make it clear, she has to study or have a job (specify number of hours per week). I would not accept 2/3 hours work a week.
I only did year 12 because I was waiting for a hairdressing apprenticeship. Which I got in September of year 12 so I ditched school and never got the ATAR score either. In my defence, its what I had always known I wanted to do and I'd be applying for apprenticeships since year 10.
But I think this personally shapes my views. I dont think the score is everything, especially not these days when you have bridging course options and/or reach a mature age where your ATAR score doesn't even really matter.
I teach seniors in high school and I am a mum, honestly I wouldn’t push her! Some of these kids have so much pressure and stress on them because they are doing subjects just to appease parents. If she is happy to finish without an ATAR (as some of my students will be) then let her! The unscored subjects teach such great life skills they will give her a great starting point for when she leaves home. She sounds like she has a great plan and not every student will leave school knowing what they want to do (with or without ATAR). Let her follow her plans and support her where you can. Congratulations on raising such a strong willed and confident young lady.
I'm 25 now and studying my bachelor of Commerce. I went unscored much to my parents disapproval.
Honestly was the best for me as I had enough going on personally during my final year that the exams would have sent me overboard with the stress.
I also didn't know what I wanted to do with myself after high school. Since finishing year 12 I've worked, had two kids, moved states and then moved back. And now I know what I'm doing with the rest of my life career wise.
The no ATAR didn't affect me going into uni either. I did a few bridging subjects which really helped give me a feel for uni life and the degree I was going into, plus the subjects counted towards it so they weren't a waste.
Is there someone else that she respects who could have a chat to her about the benefits of getting a score? I know I chatted to a young lady a few years ago to encourage her. In the end she ended up doing quite well and got into a course. I think she lacked confidence and needed someone different from her parents to encourage her, as she saw it as them meddling. Good luck!