The Change of Preference period gives you the chance to make changes to the list of TAFE and university courses you have applied for.
The Change of Preference period usually takes place towards the end of the year. If you've ended up with a higher ATAR score than you expected, or a lower ATAR score than you had hoped for, the Change of Preference period allows you to re-think the courses that you have applied for.
Here's a nice little five-step list of advice for making the most of the process so that you can get out there and enjoy your summer.
Step 1: Do your research
Once you've got your ATAR score you need to start doing some research so that you can make appropriate and sensible changes to your list of preferences. Some places to get that information include:
- The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) guide or the VTAC website (new window)
- The Clearly-in ATARs from the previous year - these are listed each year in the VTAC Guide (but remember that ATARs change every year, so last year's numbers are only a rough guide, not a certainty)
- The tertiary liftouts in the Age and the Herald Sun that are printed on the second Monday of December each year - these include contact details for all Victorian universities and TAFEs and details of the information services they offer during the Change of Preference period
- Publications and websites put out by the TAFEs and universities (and the schools and faculties inside them)
- Information that your careers adviser can provide
Step 2: Revise your list
When making changes to your list of preferences, it's important to remember a few things:
- Be realistic - there's no sense in adding a course to your list that has an ATAR 20 points higher than your actual score; restrict your changes to adding courses that had an ATAR last year which is reasonably close to yours
- Be informed - find out if there are any additional requirements for the courses you're adding (e.g., subject prerequisites or folios of work) - you can find out about this kind of thing in the VTAC Guide
- Be safe - don't bet everything on getting into the one course - make sure you've got at least two courses on your list of preferences that you are confident you will be accepted into
- Be honest - only list courses that you know you are prepared to do the work for - there's no sense in signing up for a six-year medicine degree if you don't plan on being at uni for the next six years
- Be calm - take your time making a decision - don't decide on a new course based on your emotions
- Be sensible - don't feel obliged to pick another course at the same institution just because that institution was your first preference - check out similar courses at other universities and TAFEs - they might have something to offer that's close to what you were originally wanted (and they might require lower ATAR scores, too)
Step 3: Get advice
Most universities and TAFEs can give you advice about their courses and programs during the Change of Preference period. Remember that entrance requirements are different depending on whether you've just finished year twelve or you finished it more than a year ago - the different requirements are listed in the VTAC Guide.
The tertiary liftouts in the Age and the Herald Sun list various sources of information and advice including:
- Telephone hotlines
- Email addresses
- Websites
- Special information sessions
If you still need more advice:
- Check out the pages on youthcentral about Choosing a course and Choosing where to study
- Check out our Career profiles pages for the low-down on heaps of different jobs and what kind of study people did to get them
- Ask friends who have been to university or TAFE
- Ask your parents and other family members
- Talk to people working in the industry you are interested in
- Contact your careers adviser or a careers professional
Step 4: Make those changes
Okay, so you've done your homework, you've got the advice you wanted, and now it's time to actually make the changes to your list of preferences.
The way you do it is you get online at the VTAC website (new window) - the same way you did when you made your first application. You'll get prompts from the online application forms all the way through the process.
Step 5: Chill
That's it. Done deal. Your new preferences, your ATAR and all other relevant documentation will be sent to the TAFEs or universities institutions you have applied to. Now you can sit back, relax and prepare for what the future holds.
If you're going to be away in January when offers come out, make sure you've got someone back at home who can open your mail for you so you don't miss your letter of offer.
The letter of offer will also have enrolment details in it. If your summer holiday sees you away during the enrolment period, don't stress - most courses let you send someone along to enrol on your behalf.
Good luck!
Links
VTAC
The VTAC website has information about what courses are offered and how to get into them, and advice on changing your preferences.
VCAA
The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority sets the guidelines for what students study in Victorian primary and secondary schools.
Australian Universities
List of all universities in Australia. Search by name of university, or the state they're based in.
Australian Colleges
List of all major TAFEs in Australia, grouped by state.
