If you find yourself in a situation where you haven’t received the marks and ATAR that you were hoping for, remember that there are still many options and pathways you can take.

No matter what, you should be extremely proud of yourself for completing your final year of school and making it through the stressful exam period.

Many areas can be studied through a number of degrees, and it is often possible to change from one degree to another after a year of studying.

Remember, degrees usually take three or four years to complete and many students will redefine their direction throughout this time.

If your ATAR was not sufficient for entry directly after the HSC, most universities offer a Mature Age Entry Scheme for those over 21 years of age.

TAFE delivers vocational programs as well as a range of practical, niche qualifications including Associate and Bachelor Degrees and Graduate Certificates.

Many TAFE Institutes also partner with universities to deliver graduate qualifications at your local campus, and there are many integrated programs that allow you to progress from a diploma to a degree.

They also offer a wide range of vocational qualifications with study focused towards hands-on skills for specific industries e.g. hospitality, property services, community services, light manufacturing and local government.

If you haven’t decided on a job or a career yet there is still time but it helps to know how to go about this. It’s no use just following your passion because surfing may be a sport and not a career option.

There are many websites with job quizzes so you can determine where your interests and job prospects may lie.

Ask yourself: How do my skills and interests match up with these occupations? Where are the gaps? What options do I have to gain these skills or qualify for these occupations? Where is the work? How can I get advice on my capability?

What you can do

Your priorities and objectives may change over time and you need to check up from time to time to make sure you are on track.