As universities across Australia work to bring in special dispensations for HSC students disrupted by COVID-19, the University of New England is experiencing unprecedented demand for our Early Entry scheme.
The pioneering program UNE introduced 50 years ago continues to attract high praise from graduates, careers advisors and school principals alike - perhaps offering a beacon of hope to the HSC students of 2020.
UNE offered what is perhaps the first early entry program in Australia, in 1972, recognising that an individual is more than the sum total of their marks. Known then as the School Recommendation Admissions Scheme, it relied on principal assessments of student potential for tertiary study, which proved to be "no less effective a measure of success".
This year - maybe unsurprisingly - applications for Early Entry at UNE are already up 33% on the same period last year, according to Manager, Student Engagement, Cameron Loudon.
Here's how it works - and read on for the stories of UNE grads who started with Early Entry.
Early entry - why and how?
"What still sets our Early Entry program apart is that we guarantee all applying students an offer," Cameron says. "The introduction of Early Entry almost 50 years ago was ground-breaking and it continues to enable thousands of students to successfully complete tertiary study. It has consistently assisted people into university who had deselected themselves out because they may not have chosen suitable HSC subjects or performed as well as they hoped."
Students applying for Early Entry to UNE are asked to list three course preferences. UNE staff determine their suitability based not only on their academic results but also the recommendations of their careers advisor and/or principal. Offers are made to students in November, even before HSC results are released.
"At UNE, we invest in the potential of students rather than simply their scores," Cameron said. "We consider not what they come in with, but what they are likely to exit with. Students may not always get their first course preference, but an offer is guaranteed for either a degree, diploma or Pathways Enabling course.
It's all about providing opportunities and, particularly this year, we believe that no generation of Year 12s need be lost because they have had a disrupted HSC preparation.
UNE Manager, Student Recruitment, and careers advisor, Mark Stevens, said the power of Early Entry is that it gives many prospective students self-belief during a time of doubt. "We assess a student based on their ability, not an exam that happens over three weeks and carries with it a great deal of stress," he said.
"An offer demonstrates that we have faith in them, and generally our Early Entry students perform just as well as those who gained entry to UNE via their ATAR."
Alison Ryan, senior solicitor
Alison Ryan is now a senior solicitor with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service. She has worked for 15 years as an international human rights lawyer, but it all started back in 1992 with Early Entry to study Arts/Law at UNE.
"That offer really kickstarted my career," Alison said. "It was a critical stepping stone in me realising my ambitions. It encouraged me to think it might all be possible and gave me the courage to pursue my ideas and the confidence to make it work. Early Entry taught me that there are many different ways to do things."
Matt Coen, primary school teacher
Primary school teacher Matt Coen was attending a non-ATAR high school in Port Macquarie in 2012 when he decided he wanted to study Education. However, he was concerned that his choice of mostly vocational subjects might compromise his chances of a university offer.
"I am quite an anxious person," Matt said. "Knowing that Early Entry relied on my principal's recommendation and results in core subjects helped to relieve me of stress and to feel that university might be achievable. I could also continue to focus on doing well in my key assessments and enjoying community activities.
I don't believe that exam performance gives a clear indication of what you are capable of achieving.
"I liked the fact that Early Entry was based on who I was as a person and also the extra-curricular things I had been involved in while at school. I've given talks to senior students at my old school and always advocate Early Entry to UNE as a different pathway to university."
Robert Arranz, careers advisor
Careers advisor at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Robert Arranz, says Early Entry at UNE helps to boost the confidence of students and ensure that none are disadvantaged.
"Many secondary students take time to mature and to achieve the results they are capable of," he says. "Early Entry to UNE has provided many of our students with opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have had, because it takes into consideration the whole person. I think Early Entry will only become more and more attractive as the years go by."
Scott Barnier, high school deputy principal - and son Sam
Deputy principal of South Grafton High School Scott Barnier, now enjoying his 30th year of teaching (25 of those as a careers advisor), gained Early Entry to Armidale College of Advanced Education in 1987, just as it was merging with UNE. His eldest son, Sam, also gained Early Entry to UNE in 2014, to study for a Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
"UNE's Early Entry program is gold because school staff know the students and their potential to succeed," Scott says. "They can take all those variables and extenuating circumstances that have impacted on the student over two years into account - whether it be drought, flood, fire, COVID or a personal crisis.
"I expect a number of students across the state will achieve well below their potential in the HSC this year. While the Education Department and Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will put things in place, Early Entry offers an additional layer of support and I am sure that many will be very glad for that option to study at UNE. During my career I've seen countless kids go through Early Entry, flourish and make very successful careers for themselves."
Applications for Early Entry to UNE close 25 September. For more information, go to https://www.une.edu.au/earlyentry
