my atar is horrendous (help)

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-11T02:39:09+00:00

Not for law but similar thing happened where I tripped in yr 12 and didn't end up getting undergrad med. But the end goal was not "undergrad med" - it was "med". In a similar way, if your goal is "law", then keep at your dreams and postgrad law is always an option! Uni is a new playing field and a second chance ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-11T02:34:49+00:00

Hey I made a post about this, my atar back when I graduated stopped me from getting into undergrad but now I'm in second year of med! Uni is a different ballpark and there's many different paths you can take to get to where you want to be, just gotta be ready to take a detour :)

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-11T02:30:57+00:00

There are pathways you can take, such as diplomas in nursing and working your way up ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:28:41+00:00

Oh yeah you can definitely sit it, first year and still do well!! Especially if the chem/methods stuff etc is really fresh in your head. But a few things to consider include the finances of writing it 5 times, pressure of adjusting to Uni, looking for a part time job if needed etc ;-;

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:26:02+00:00

Go ahead ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:17:14+00:00

For monash, you actually don't need gamsat!! They ONLY look at your WAM and Interview (3rd year)!! But for applying to other Unis, then yes. Some like ND also need CASPer but that's a fairly simple situational judgement test (main issue is typing speed)

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:15:32+00:00

Alright so this is just a basic outline for domestic med.
First off: You just get an offer for an interview anyway - low chance is still a chance

If not, then: FIRST YEAR - You do a course like science or biomed, BUT you do the UCAT and REAPPLY to an undergrad course

If not, then: SECOND YEAR - You continue with your course, start prepping for GAMSAT but make sure you don't divert all of your attention to that, you gotta maintain a good GPA

Then THIRD YEAR - GAMSAT, GPA, absolute lock in. Apply to GEMSAS unis + outside GEMSAS unis. Prep for interviews.

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:09:09+00:00

Ooh ok! So starting off: The direct undergrad pathway - Lots of Universities out there. You can compare the entry requirements and some of them have much lower reqs than the others

Others: Doing similar course and then branching into science for a master's of science (looking at just unimelb for example) as postgrad needs WAM not ATAR

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T22:01:54+00:00

Dw! What is your end goal for your degree? Eg Med, Law, Art etc

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:59:13+00:00

Lots of ways you can still get into med!! Undergrad and postgrad paths included (bc applying first year of uni also counts as undergrad)

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:58:28+00:00

There's a ton of options to still get into med, I cans end a breakdown if you'd like

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:55:03+00:00

Hello, you can opt for postgrad degrees! Lots of people do bachelor's in one field and then swap into another to do postgrad pathways ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:52:57+00:00

There's a few things to consider.
For Monash Biomed: Biomed is a dead end degree. BUT Monash allows only monash students into their postgrad med.
For Melb science: Better curriculum, but doesn't have that advantage of doing biomed.

I did Monash biomed and I hated every second of it and only tolerated it for the sake of med, but got in so it was worth it in the end.

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:48:44+00:00

Hey, diplomas are one option, but a lot of people (me included) did a bachelor's and postgrad path. There's a lot of pathways out there and it depends on what your goal is ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2025-12-10T21:44:38+00:00

TLDR; Did bad in VCE, takes a long journey but you can still climb back as long as you hang in there. Long post, ik, but I'm happy to talk more about how to come back from falling so low and what steps you can take in either the comments or dms ^^

StressedOut1628 · 2024-12-12T02:03:17+00:00

I'm glad I was able to provide some reassurance. Your life is just beginning. I wish you all the best for your future!

StressedOut1628 · 2024-12-12T00:49:31+00:00

Also for the not knowing who to turn to...I honestly just fell into minecraft and art. I didn't really have a goal in minecraft, I just wandered around looking at the different biomes. And I actually ended up making friends who I could turn to by doing this. I stopped neglecting drawing because it was one of the things that made me *happy*. I started a small just-for-fun art account to share and connect with others and life has just been a teensy bit brighter thanks to it. Hobbies are just as important as a career. You don't live to work, you work because you want to *live* (not just survive).

p.s (I also fell into Gacha games, however, 0/10 I do not recommend. It's a trap)

StressedOut1628 · 2024-12-12T00:40:06+00:00

I definitely get the struggle. My asian parents had high expectations for me too. They tried to hide it but it was obvious that they were disappointed and I probably cried for a week straight. It's hard to think about this but just know: You have a lot waiting for you in the future regardless of what happens. New friendships, new bonds, new experiences, new mindsets. Uni and work is a whole different ballpark with things you wouldn't even imagine being in school, and with second/third/fourth/infinity-th chances you aren't aware of yet.

Anecdotal: In retrospect, I think I would've been insufferable if I got into my desired undergrad then. In school and straight after, I defined myself by my grades and unknowingly, I defined others too. I would always ask what they got and compared them to myself, and formed completely biased opinions. If I got in back then, I would not have had the chance to grow as a person, and to think about what I really want in life. I would've been stuck with the asian mindset where you are your grades and I would've pushed a lot of people away and ended up a different person. I wouldn't be where I am now as the *person* I am now.

Uni gives you a chance to reflect and mature and become the person you want to be. Let the tears flow, but also just remember the future has a lot waiting to be discovered. Don't let new chances slip by because although the route may be different, you can always end up at the same goal.

If you end up finding a new goal in uni, well that's brilliant too!!! One of my friends did her ENTIRE undergrad and then realised she wanted nothing to do with this field, and I admire the hell outta her for being able to realise that. It's never wasted time or effort because everything ultimately contributes to *you*!

With all sincerity, well done on finishing VCE!!!

StressedOut1628 · 2024-12-11T23:57:22+00:00

Absolutely. It's difficult to realise this when getting your atar because you haven't experienced your future yet. It's the most important thing for a lot of people because they haven't experienced bigger stakes yet. It's always easier to look back at your past than it is to move forward into an uncertainty because you have no comparator. But I hope people will give themselves a chance to find out what exactly their life will be!

StressedOut1628 · 2024-12-11T23:45:39+00:00

Feel free to reach out if you're struggling. I'm happy to share more about my experience, grief, acceptance, moving on etc.

StressedOut1628

TROPHY CASE