Although the decision to go to university is your child’s, your opinion still matters and your support in working through that decision is vital. Here are some of the ways you can support your child:
- Talk with your child about your own experiences.
- Talk with your child about what interests them. Help them to identify their strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes.
- Find out how much they already know about possible pathways. Encourage flexibility when thinking about pathways, such as exploring the range of occupations related to an industry they are interested in.
- Encourage your child to explore resources at their school and on university websites, the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) Guide and VTAC website at www.vtac.edu.au and the Commonwealth Government’s Going to Uni website at www.goingtouni.gov.au.
- Encourage your child to use work experience to get a realistic view of the career a course may lead to.
- Go with your child to university open days, where they can talk to current students and lecturers, gather information and get a feel for university life.
- Find out if your child is eligible for a special entry access scheme, which can assist university entry for students who have had some form of disadvantage during their secondary schooling. See What are special entry schemes? and Financial assistance as an example.
VTAC offers a variety of booklets to download, including information on special entry access schemes, assistance working out the jargon and hints on how to research options and make decisions about which VCE subjects to study. See: http://www.vtac.edu.au/publications/index.html