Future Pathways
Before you know it, your time at high school will have come to an end. Congrats! But...then what ? After the celebrating dies down, that's the question that strikes most students.Whether you leave in Year 11 or 12, you're about to enter the world outside school and start making moves towards your dream career.A lot of students find themselves overcome with the burden of choice, because there are just so many options suddenly available. First of all, don't panic. Having heaps of options is actually a good thing, because each of them can be considered a pathway to get you wherever it is you want to go. Let Network College explain what those options are, exactly, and what each can offer you. 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. VET - TAFE & Apprenticeships Uni isn't for everyone. The good news is that there are plenty of learning opportunities outside of university for students to consider. Vocational Education and Training (VET) covers the different pathways that can help you get skilled up for a range of industries and careers without university. TAFE, Registered Training Organisations (RTO) and apprenticeships fall under the VET banner. TAFE, for instance, is where you can get certificates and diplomas (which can also help you to cross over to university, but also skill you up for particular vocations). RTOs are Registered Training Organisations that also offer certificates and diplomas. And then there are apprenticeships, which offer you hands-on experience in your chosen profession. There are a lot of benefits to these options. For instance, there are certain jobs for which you'll require a certificate or diploma not available at university, and this might be the only way to learn about — and get qualified for — certain trades. That's not just limited to plumbing or electrical work: A trade is something that requires special training. So, it might be hairstyling and beauty you want to get qualified for, or something technological, such as IT, or even nursing. As with uni, you'll get to work with experts who've been professionally practicing out in the wild. In fact, with apprenticeships, you'll get on the job training alongside those practicing professionals. You'll also get to earn while you learn, taking home a payday for your study. Certificates and diplomas usually take between one to three years, meaning you can enter the workforce sooner, if that's what you're hoping to do. These study options are also slightly cheaper than those at universities. HELP is still available, mostly, but be wary as some courses require up-front payment. If you're still not sure what job you want after you've finished school, you need to consider that TAFEs, RTOs and apprenticeships train you for very specific trades; you might not want to rush into a course straight away, unless you think that's the trade for you. Browse Australia's directory of training courses here. Taking a Gap Year Still not sure how you want to spend your days after graduation? We get it. You might be so overwhelmed with your high school workload, you'll want to take a break and decompress before plunging into the next stage of your life. Sometimes, that's the best thing to do, which is why a lot of students consider a gap year — or gap years — after high school. You could travel, using an organisation to help plan your trip, or, you could backpack around the world by yourself and volunteer abroad. You could start working; save up a bunch of money at a casual job, or gain some work experience. Or, you could chill: Catch up on your reading, watch a bunch of movies, learn a new language, donate your time to different organisations, or, simply, unwind. Gap years have plenty of benefits: They get you out of the study bubble and help you gain some life experience, either by leaving home to see the world, or by putting others first through volunteering. Working helps you save money, if you want to move out before studying, or pay off your travel without having to take out a loan. Even the 'chilling' option helps you reboot if you're burnt out from study, and give you the time and mental breathing room to think about what it is you want to do with your life. And in all these scenarios, the hours can be pretty flexible. Still, if you're not working, a gap year can be expensive. Also, when it comes to working, your options will be limited without a qualification. You might also find yourself a year behind your peers when it comes to study, if that is the pathway you want to return to afterwards. Though this may sound very, very tempting, a lot of thought and certainly some deep discussions with your parents need to take place before you agree to a gap year. No matter what, use your gap year productively. (Yes, chilling can be productive!) Joining the Workforce For some, the transition to work right after high school will be a permanent one, and that can be another pathway to your dream career. You may start casual, which means flexible, usually minimal hours. There's also part-time, which is for roles that only require you to work a few hours or days a week, and full-time, which means you'll be working around 38 hours a week in your role. Some contract positions will limit the length of time you're employed. There are also Fly-In, Fly-Out work opportunities, usually on mining sites, and shift work, which can mean work for multiple days in a row or at unusual hours. There are plenty of benefits to working: You get to start earning money immediately and begin building your superannuation, which is money set aside from your pay to help you later on in retirement. (Believe it or not, you have to start thinking about that now!) You'll gain some great experience and learn how to navigate professional environments, which is its own very valuable skill. No further study also means… no further study. Also: no HELP debt or study loans. Of course, some employers — like the Australian Defence Force and plenty more — offer their own pathways towards qualifications, so you can start work and still be on track to get a degree or diploma. It's a great option for those who don't want to accumulate a HELP debt. If you work first and decide to study later in life as a mature age student, you'll be bringing some very valuable, practical knowledge with you. There are still a number of things you'll need to keep in mind though. By jumping straight into work, you might be limiting your opportunities for structured, formal learning later on. Your routine may not sync up with your studying friends and impact your social life. You also won't be able to take off months at a time for travel. Also: once you start earning money, you'll start getting taxed. Again, everyone gets taxed, so maybe the sooner you experience them, the better?
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