An early entry university option that helps with exam stress

An early entry university option that helps with exam stress

Have you heard that RMIT has an early entry university option that counts your life experiences and skills towards your course application? Here’s the scoop on RMIT’s Early Offer program!

Share

If you’re a Year 12 student who has experience leading a team, working with different people, showcasing your creativity, or making a splash with a personal project, you should know about RMIT’s Early Offer program.  

The program allows your life experiences outside the classroom to count towards a conditional early entry into university. This means that if your Early Offer application is successful, you can be accepted into your associate or bachelor’s degree on a lower ATAR than usual. 

Here are just some of the reasons why RMIT Early Offer could be right for you. 

Two RMIT students walking together on the street in front of the RMIT Gallery

Get recognition for your experience outside the classroom

Part of making an Early Offer application involves telling us about two experiences you’ve had that show your ability to think critically, show leadership, think creatively, or communicate effectively with others (also known as the four application categories). 

The examples you choose for each category can cover everything from being the captain of your sports team to volunteering work.  The only limitation is that the experiences you write about can’t relate to schoolwork that is considered as part of your ATAR, such as School-Assessed Coursework (SACs). 

Current Bachelor of Engineering student and previous recipient of an RMIT Early Offer, Ebony Lampard, included her involvement in a musical ensemble as part of her application, showcasing her leadership skills. Ebony’s Early Offer application was the perfect chance for her to make her passion for playing the viola in the string ensemble part of her study journey! 

Get into your course on a lower ATAR 

Early Offers are available for select RMIT courses. You can check out the Early Offer page for the full list. Successfully securing an Early Offer means that you are eligible to get into the course, as long as you still meet the entry requirement. Early Offer ATARs are lower than the standard course ATARs though, so this helps relieve some of the exam stress you might be feeling. 

Ebony said that not only did this take a weight off her shoulders, but it was a relief to know that she could get into her specific course, the Bachelor of Engineering, with an ATAR up to 5 points lower than usual. This number varies course to course, so you should check out the full list on the Early Offer page to find out more.

A student drawing on a white board

Get peace of mind and ease your exam stress

If you apply for an RMIT Early Offer you’ll receive your application outcome by 28 September, which gives you plenty of time before your final exams to adjust your study plans. 

Ebony, like many students, tried to take Year 12 one day at a time, but she mentioned that her final exams and ATAR were always at the back of her mind.  

“[Having an Early Offer] made me not nearly as worried about my exams as I knew I had done ok during the year and I knew my content. I was more relaxed during exams, which in turn made me do better, as I wasn’t rushing or making mistakes.” 

Tips to help you apply

By this point you’re probably no stranger to exams, so the last thing you want is to feel tested while trying to fill out an early entry university application.  

Luckily RMIT’s Early Offer page has easy to follow, step-by-step instructions to help you through the application process.  

We’ve also got some fantastic tips from Ebony, who has been in your shoes. Here is her advice for students thinking of applying for an Early Offer:

Two students cleaning a local river
  • Get your Early Offer application in as soon as you can! Year 12 in Term 3 can get pretty busy and you don’t want to be worrying about applying for Early Offer while stressing about everything else that is going on. 
  • Plan out which experiences you’ll include for each category, then edit the list down to the best two. This mean that you make sure you get your best experiences that fit the categories rather than just the first ones that come to mind. 
  • Make dot points on your experiences of things that you want to include before you start writing so that you portray exactly what you want to. 
  • I would recommend to everyone to have a try at applying for an Early Offer. You’re not going to lose anything by applying, even if you don’t get the Early Offer.   

To help you get a grasp of what you might include in your application, Ebony also shared with us the experiences she used in her application.  

“In my application, I used my school production, in which I was the lighting technician. I talked about communication and how I needed to communicate to get the show running with the stage manager, director, and backstage, as well as the cast. 

“I also used my experience in the senior strings ensemble in Year 12. I used this in the leadership category. I talked about using leadership skills and taking on different tasks while maintaining a high level of schooling.”

We’re excited to see what experiences you include in your Early Offer application! Get peace of mind and take the pressure off your exams by submitting an application today.

Story: Jacob Johnston

uni-life-learn-the-lingo-landscape_SEH.jpg

Your guide to VTAC and RMIT terms

Uni lingo can seem like an entirely different language sometimes, but with this glossary, you’ll be fluent in no time.

Five students sitting in front of a mural

Five things I wish I knew before starting uni 

Ever wish you could share some wisdom with your younger self? We’ve gathered the advice of our students and alumni to give you some top tips for uni.

A student with a clip board wearing a high visibility vest

What is TAFE and how is it different from university?

If you’re in high school, you might be wondering what TAFE is. Both uni and TAFE are great options for what’s next, but the big question is: what is right for you?

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

More information
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information