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There’s always a way forward!

Going directly to university can feel like the only acceptable path to travel after you finish school. It’s generally the first thing someone asks about your future plans: ‘So, are you going to uni?’ But times are changing. There are alternate routes for students who either don’t want to go to university, don’t yet know what career path they’d like to pursue, or don’t achieve a high enough score to be accepted into their desired course. Don’t start thinking that university is the only option, because there are many other avenues that are open to you.

You may want to think about:

•     TAFE courses
•     TAFE credits to get you into university
•     Work experience or volunteering
•     Life experience
•     Recognition of prior learning
•     Your passion

Starting out at TAFE

Starting out with a TAFE course can give you further education, without the pressure of being selected on the basis of your tertiary entrance score. Some courses will require you to have completed Year 10 or Year 12. Other requirements can include: other qualifications, specific school subjects, skills and experience. You may be asked to perform a self-assessment to show whether you would be able to cope with the demands of a particular course.

TAFE offers a huge range of courses across a wide variety of vocations. The good news is you can learn about trades, tourism, hospitality, construction, engineering, secretarial and administrative skills, visual arts, computer programming or community work. Depending on the number of contact hours and the course you choose, the fees can vary but are generally less than a university course.

Credit Transfer

If you successfully complete a TAFE course but ultimately want to go to university, consider articulation or credit transfer. Articulation is the process of connecting two qualifications, often from different levels and education sectors, so that students may progress from one course to another.

If you’re considering using TAFE as an avenue to get into university, then make sure you contact the TAFE so that you know the correct application procedures. Also keep in mind that although you who may qualify for credit transfer you do not automatically receive entry to a university course. There are often additional pre-requisites and selection criteria necessary for entry, which may place another applicant above you. So it’s wise to contact the university you wish to enter to understand how to apply successfully.

If you complete your TAFE course a number of years before applying for university, then you will have to meet the university’s requirements on time expired since your TAFE studies. This is measured by the ‘currency’ of your qualification. This refers to your acquired skills and knowledge and if they have been used or updated in current workplace environments. For instance, if you completed a TAFE diploma in Creative Writing five years ago, and have been working as a copywriter since, then this related working experience will grant you positive currency, and improve your chances of entrance.

Work Experience or Volunteering

Work experience or volunteering can be an active and productive method of pursuing your career. If you gain relevant work experience it can benefit you in a number of ways.

It can give you real life experience in an occupational field, which can help you figure out whether it’s an area you enjoy. You may form contacts that can help you get a job in a field closer to your passion. This valuable work experience may also count if you later decide to apply for university and want to take advantage of Recognition of Prior Learning status.

Not all workplaces or fields offer work experience or use volunteers; however you’ll never know unless you try. Contact the company or organisation and ask whether they offer work experience places. Contact your school Careers Practitioner, as they may be able to help you find suitable work experience relevant to your desired field. Or if you’re at TAFE, search for work experience opportunities in the industry of your choice, or discuss opportunities with career advisors.

You can find work experience or volunteering opportunities with places like hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, schools and kindergartens, RSPCA shelters, theatre companies, newspaper offices, hairdressers, accounting firms, television and radio studios, or sporting organisations. If you would like to work in the environment join your local creek, river or park ‘friends’ group. You get to know the people who are getting paid to be outside working and this can be a way into an organisation. You will have heard the expression ‘It’s not what you know it is who you know’.

It is also possible to get work experience while you are traveling overseas. Check with the relevant embassy before you go as many countries have strict working visa requirements that take months to process.

Life Experience

Life experience is about having knowledge and practical experience in your field, but no formal qualification to show for it. Applying for life experience recognition when applying for Recognition of Prior Learning can give you the credit you deserve. You are reviewed for what you have learned outside the classroom.

You may have learned a language while traveling overseas, or gained industry-specific experience and knowledge while doing work experience. You might have worked in reception and developed sound typing and data entry skills, or performed computer programming for professional use.

To make your life experience count towards a related course, look into the following steps. Firstly, search for an institution that credits life experience when offering Recognition of Prior Learning. Secondly, contact the institution to learn how to apply for the credits. Thirdly, draw together all evidence of your experience to form a portfolio, if requested. And lastly, present your life experience portfolio in a convincing manner.

A friend was physically and emotionally drained after a long, arduous and unsuccessful Year 12. He could not face further study, so instead he delivered pizzas for the next six years, went surfing, played sport and socialised with whoever had time. A bright bloke, who one day woke up at age 23 and decided to be an architect.

So he enrolled in a drafting course at TAFE, passed numerous subjects over the next two years and applied to university for special consideration for entry into their Bachelor of Architecture course. His credentials included his poor Year 12 pass, prior high grades from school, quality TAFE results, excellent personal references together with an explanation of why he took six years off, what he had learnt in that time and a justification as to why the university should grant him special consideration. He packaged it all up and made a polished, personal presentation to the Faculty Head.

At the age of thirty, he graduated with his architecture degree. This fellow is now a respected architect with his name associated with many successful projects. He just needed time to clear the way forward, become passionate and never gave up his dream.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is acknowledgement of a student’s current skills, competencies and experience, regardless of where and when the learning occurred. These abilities and knowledge must be related to the required learning outcomes or standards of entry to a course. Students can support their application with any combination of formal and informal training and education, work experience or life experience. Your application will need to be based on real competencies. ‘I can type a little bit’ is not going to be approved as RPL.

You will need to contact the TAFE or university you wish to attend for information on their particular RPL procedures. Generally, you will need to complete an application form and supply supporting evidence. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Evidence can be provided in the following forms: 

•     Interview or professional conversation
•     Observation and questioning
•     Portfolio of work
•     Assessment tasks or tests
•     Trade test
•     Authentication of evidence by employer(s)

Your passion

What do you love spending your time doing? Sometimes your interest can lead to your future career. It is worth finding out what career you could follow that combines your passion with earning money. Perhaps you love traveling. Why not work as a flight attendant? Love going to the movies - perhaps being a film critic is the career of a life time for you? Love food? Is a chef the career of your dreams?

If you can’t meet the requirements now, find out about companies that employ people in your dream job. Then apply for other jobs with that company in a different area. Many jobs are only advertised internally. While you are working there as the receptionist you could enroll in a subject and study for your dream job. That shows the company you are passionate and motivated and will do whatever it takes to pursue your dream.

University isn’t the Be All and End All

Whilst a university degree makes a statement, there have been plenty of highly successful people, high achievers and those who have made a difference who have not gone down that path.

Some careers might not require a tertiary degree. TAFE might get you into the field you want, or work experience might get you a permanent job that you enjoy.

Do what makes you happy. And if taking time to achieve your dream career in cardiology, brings you to happiness as a script writer, then so be it.

Conclusion

Remember that if you have a goal you want to achieve, don’t let a low tertiary entrance score or reluctance for further study stop you. There are other pathways to get you there. Be proactive. Get out there and get work and life experience, go to TAFE as further education, and gain credits. Times are changing – there’s always a way forward.