Tertiary Study and related information
Tertiary Entrance |
Consideration of Disadvantage | Student Assistance | Individual Student Programmes |
Resources for Investigating Course and Careers TERTIARY ENTRANCE
Tertiary institutions throughout Victoria have set down minimum requirements students must meet to be eligible for selection to their courses. The following details provide some insights on the way entry requirements work. For further information and clarification students should consult the Careers Coordinator and consult the VTAC guides.
Tertiary Entrance Requirements
The minimum entrance requirement for tertiary institutions is the satisfactory completion of both the VCE and English units 3 & 4 (or English ESL). Students may choose English, English Literature or English Language (not currently offered at DCC) to satisfy these requirements.
Prerequisite Studies
Students must also ensure satisfactory completion of any studies specified as prerequisite study requirements for tertiary courses that they wish to study. These requirements are published 3 years in advance in the VICTER publication and repeated in major metropolitan newspapers. The College holds reference copies of VICTER which students are strongly encouraged to consult.
Tertiary Selection
Approximately 50% of Victorian Tertiary Courses select applicants based on the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Ranking (ENTER). The remaining courses select on an individual basis based on a combination of ENTER, folio, interviews and/or auditions, as specified by selection officers.
Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER)
The ENTER is a percentile rank calculated by VTAC for each student who successfully completes the VCE. Ranks range from 99.95 to 0 in intervals of 0.05, determined from student aggregates based on scaled study scores.
Study Scores
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority gives study scores to students who satisfactorily complete units 3 and 4 of a VCE study. These scores give students a ranking in the cohort of students taking that study across the State in that year. A study score of 50 indicates a student has finished at the top of the cohort; 0 indicates a student finished at the bottom; 30 indicates a student finished in the middle of the cohort.
Scaled Study Scores
Scaling is a process, which adjusts VCAA study scores to allow a fair comparison of rankings across studies and takes into account the strength of competition within each study for each year. Scaling also allows students to choose their studies (particularly those they enjoy or are good at) without fear of being disadvantaged.
Calculation of the ENTER
The ENTER aggregate is based on the addition of scaled study scores. English plus the next best 3 scaled study scores (of an allowable combination) form the primary 4 studies and 10% of any 5th and 6th scaled scores are then added. In 2002 one VET study maybe included in the primary four and one as a 5th or 6th study. The ENTER aggregate is a number between approximately 210 and 0. Students are ranked in order of ENTER aggregates and percentile ranks are allocated.
Tertiary entrance consultation
University and TAFE entrance is a complex and time consuming process and should not be considered lightly. The College offers the necessary resources and counselling to assist parents and students in making these difficult decisions.
CONSIDERATION OF DISADVANTAGE
Consideration of disadvantage may be available to students whose work has been affected by:
- Extended illness
- Extended absence (eg. overseas, interstate)
- Transfer into the College with incomplete results
Any request for consideration of disadvantage must be made in writing to the VCE coordinator and each request will be assessed on individual merit.
Consideration of disadvantage does not permit the alteration of the grade awarded. The grade must be awarded according to the way in which the work presented meets the criteria as specified by VCAA. Disadvantage is acknowledged by the starring (*) of the grade awarded on the VCE certificate.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE
Every teacher at Donvale Christian College is a pastoral care teacher. In this role teachers are expected to keep an eye out for students who might be showing signs of stress, unease or unhappiness and to take steps to address these issues with the student.
Sometimes it might be that the matter is referred to the home group teacher or the Year Level Coordinator. Depending on the issue, the Student Counsellor may be called upon to provide assistance. If expertise is required, the Student Counsellor can arrange for professional help to be made available in collaboration with the parents and student.
Teachers as a group carefully review each student's progress regularly and contact is made with parents if concerns, be they academic, social or emotional, are raised. The Year Level Coordinator is the first point of contact in the event that a parent has a concern regarding their child's progress. Parents are encouraged to contact the Year Level Coordinator at the earliest sign of any problem.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PROGRAMMES
General Information
The VCE has been developed so that students are able to construct a two year programme from a variety of studies, a programme that leads to a range of post VCE career paths.
- A number of factors will influence a student's choice of units in Years 11 and 12:
- What VCAA requirements do I have to meet in order to complete my VCE?
- What prerequisite studies do I need to undertake a particular career pathway?
- What studies are available at my school?
- Have I consulted teachers about the ENTER 'conversions'?
- What studies are going to be the most challenging and interesting for me and I will enjoy doing?
The focus of a student initially may be very specific ("I want to be a Graphic Designer.") or very general ("I don't know what I want to do for a career but I've always enjoyed doing Art at school.") In either case, the initial focus of each student can be translated into a two year programme which best meets the student's needs.
The chosen programme needs to be flexible enough to enable students to change direction regarding career and subject choice. Staff will try to ensure, therefore, that as far as possible, students keep their options open when making their Year 11 choices. This is one reason why at DCC students are advised to do at least two Mathematics units at Year 11.
RESOURCES FOR INVESTIGATING COURSE AND CAREERS
The Careers Co-ordinator is available to assist students with career information or decision strategies and to discuss career issues with parents.
The College provides students with a wide range of resources to increase their awareness of career options and facilitate the selection of an appropriate course of study. These are available in the Careers Room and on the College computer network.
Job Guide for Victoria
This book provides information on over 460 jobs, describing the field of work, relevant training, employment opportunities, career paths and contacts for further information. It is an excellent starting point for career information and contains chapters on "Choosing a Career" and "Which Career is Right for You?" (See Job Guide website here)
TAFE Publication
This book lists courses available at Victorian TAFE Colleges. Further information is also available through the TAFE Course hotline on 131 823.
TAFE Courses Directory (Dept of Education) website
The TAFE Courses Directory gives you an up-to-date listing of more than 1400 accredited courses on offer from TAFE Institutes and other training providers across Victoria. See website here.
OZJAC
This computer package is installed on the College computer network and is very easy to use. The programme contains current information on most tertiary courses in Australia, at TAFE, undergraduate and postgraduate level. Both general and specific career searches can be initiated on OZJAC and it also allows the user to print relevant information.
JAC Directory
This book groups tertiary courses according to general interest areas and lists brief information about each course.
Course Scan/Career Easy
These computer programmes match students individual VCE programmes to all Victorian higher education courses. Students can then print a list of courses, which satisfy the necessary prerequisites. They allow students to compare programme combination and determine the outcomes.
Career Testing
The College holds copies of a range of career interest inventories, questionnaires and personality profile inventories to assist students in the decision process. The co-ordinator is accredited to administer these tests. |
If you have any questions, please contact Vivienne Stapleton via the college phone number or email.