Ep 62 - Stop asking these questions if you’re in VCE

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What we’re talking about:

Today I’m sharing 3 questions that I hear a lot from VCE students (and parents), and I’m explaining what these questions tell me you’re worrying about, and give you an alternative question that will better support you to get the most out of VCE.

1:27 - How many hours do I need to study each night?

This question is really hard to answer, because it’s different depending on who you are, how well you understand what’s happening in class, whether or not you have an assessment task coming up, what resources you have access to, etc. Instead, I want you to ask “What do I need to do to get the most out of the time I spend studying?” This question changes your focus from ticking a box to actually giving yourself what you need to feel confident, learn the content and perform well at school.

5:15 What SAC marks do I need to get a study score or ATAR of…?

A SAC mark isn’t enough information by itself to let you know what study score or ATAR to expect. If you don’t know how this works yet, please go and listen to Episode 58 to find out how ATARs are calculated (www.roadmapeducation.com/podcast/58). Instead, I want you to ask “what are the pathways that I can use to get into the course or career that I’m dreaming of no matter what results I get?” This question supports you by giving you a task to do that will be helpful when it comes to applying for courses, and also takes the pressure off each individual SAC and exam, because you already can see all the ways you can still get where you want to go.

8:42 What’s the best uni for this course?

The fact is, the best uni or TAFE for a particular course is the one that prioritises the things that you need. Instead, ask “what do I want to prioritise, and what uni prioritises that?” The best course for you is the one that allows you to get the most out of the course, whether that means that it’s located close to where you live, whether they have a larger or smaller cohort, whether the university or TAFE has the support services that you need, etc. Please also forget about what your future employer might think. Firstly, in Australia we’re very lucky to have fantastic courses and institutions, and in a lot of industries, courses need to be accredited so it’s really easy to make sure that the course covers what everything that you’ll need to start your career.. Also, more and more, employers want to hire graduates who can show that they have the relevant skills that are needed for the job through the answers they give in an interview, or the internships or work placements they’ve done.

Links mentioned:

Discuss the podcast and get free career counselling advice here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vcecourseandcareerchat

My website: https://www.roadmapeducation.com