One of the biggest problems I remember debating before the beginning of Year 12 was just how contradictory the whole thing seemed to be. Here was this jam-packed year laid out in front of me, supposed to be filled with significant ‘lasts’, senior privileges and exciting events, but also intense study and preparation for the HSC. On top of this already hectic load, I’d decided I wanted a career in medicine which meant preparing for the UCAT and interviews. Attempting to navigate it all was daunting to say the least.
However, looking back on the experience, I’m pleased to say I have incredible memories of Year 12, of being a prefect, of debating and social justice, of enjoying every last carnival and mufti day with my friends and cohort. Parallel to these happy times, I also managed to band 6 all 12 of my units, receive a 98th percentile UCAT and multiple offers to study medicine. I’m very proud of my achievements but don’t at all believe they came from some kind of natural aptitude, rather a structure and realism that anyone can apply to their year. So, below, I’ve compiled a couple tips I believe made my life a little easier, and can hopefully do the same for you.
1. Plan and research as much as you can
Taking time to understand the HSC and university admission timeline was the best thing I could’ve done. The year can seem so overwhelming and while this ‘advice’ may seem obvious, it goes heavily overlooked and can prevent so much unnecessary stress. The last thing you want to do is realise a week out from trials that an account needs to be made, or that a scholarship application closes in two days. While schools try their best, I recommend taking a couple hours to sit down on your own and do these few things.
- Check out the official UAC timelines.
- Look into the websites of major unis and note down any interesting scholarship opportunities.
- Research or ask someone to explain how scaling and HSC marks actually work.
- If you know you want to pursue a field that requires separate criteria like the UCAT or LATs then look into those timelines + any study or preparation materials.
This strategy in no way means you have to know exactly what you want to do in uni or life after high school, it simply allows you to work towards maximising your marks and saving time.
2. Getting creative with time but also being realistic
Something I had to get proficient at during year 12 was studying at odd times, in odd places. I didn’t “not have time”, I just had to “make time”. This didn’t mean not sleeping (we’ve all experienced the consequences of an all-nighter. never again.) or letting study take up every second of the day, it just meant re-evaluating my schedule.
For me this included using my mornings to wake up and get in a few practice tests, using travel time on the train (I think I read the majority of my Extension 1 English texts on the way to Epping) and getting to tutoring early to finish maths exercises. These sacrifices meant I could allow myself downtime to see friends, enjoy events, and get in a doom scroll.
