What the University is looking for

 Authenticity: 

Genuine and well-written responses that accurately represent who you are and your achievements throughout high school. We each have an individual tone of voice and it is what differentiates us from others. Use your strengths. Whether it be intelligent humour, story-telling, conversational tone or other, let your personality shine.

Well-rounded: 

Academic and extra-curricular activities and achievements will bring your application to life. If you have reached (likely to reach) the minimum ATAR requirements, the focus of assessors will quickly turn to your interests, hobbies and high-school “life resume”. By listing out every activity, program and memorable experience you have had in high-school, you will be able to identify quickly which stand out the most. Think about… Why you did it? What you learnt from it? How is it relevant to your future? Alongside your academic achievements, a language trip overseas, Duke of Edinburgh adventure, part-time job that led to training a new staff member, mentoring a junior student, volunteering your time on a consistent basis or that work experience ah-ha moment that set you on a different life course is what the assessors are looking for. Dig deep into your memory and make yourself stand out!

Commitment:

A student with a plan for succeeding at university is a student who is ahead of the game. A very common interview question revolves around this theme and can be the deciding factor. If you have demonstrated proactivity in high-school, it is a good indicator that this will continue in your tertiary studies. You will need to have an idea of how you plan to build your University Life Resume with new experiences, programs and activities. Whether it’s internships, gap years or becoming a University Ambassador, involvement in “super-curricular” activities can really set you up for employment success and alumni kudos. Do some research into possible opportunities, as they will support your answer to …“WHY” this University.

Passion:

A strong reason and ambition for pursuing a chosen pathway is a key contributor to making your application standout. A response that resembles indecision or uncertainty will not help you. There is every chance that you will change your mind and go in a different direction down the track, but don’t let them know that!  Passion is obvious, it’s conveyed in the way you write, speak, and in the opportunities you pursue. It all comes down to your story. You may be able to articulate a moment in time when it all became clear, or perhaps a series of events that led you to where you are today. Whatever your story, learn to tell it in the most compelling and authentic way possible.  Both written and spoken. Clear, concise and genuine.

Potential:

Like your future employer, a university wants to know what you can do for THEM. A strong five year plan (that may or may not change completely within 12 months), shows organisation and planning skills, industry insight and knowledge, research and critical analysis, self-management, passion and ambition. All strong qualities that a university is looking to acquire in an individual. But why? Like you, every university wants a great story to tell. They are looking for potential in that you may be the person they tell a story about five or twenty years down the track. Were you the alumni who took down Facebook, the alumni who cured Alzheimer’s, the alumni who spearheaded Richard Branson’s new Virgin enterprise, or piloted his Virgin Galactic, the alumni that eradicated world hunger or the alumni that gave us the REAL hoverboard! Like it or not, they bring you in to make them look good too, and as a result, you get the support you need to make that hoverboard!

Global Citizen:

Universities want to know that you know what the makes the world spin and that you are a global player when it comes to work, life and contribution. Not only has globalisation made the world a smaller, more collaborative place but it has given everyone the opportunity to play a part in making the world a better place. Social awareness can be demonstrated through your extra-curricular activities including volunteering and leadership and is often on articulated on the list of graduate outcomes for universities across the country.

Innovation:

It is no coincidence that UTS have launched their Bachelor Degree in Creative Innovation and Intelligence, and many other universities have invested in entrepreneurial hubs. We are moving into a time where innovation and creativity are highly valued and conceptualising new ideas with execution commitment will set you apart from your competitors.  Whether you can demonstrate creativity through project based learning at school, running a personal blog, website or Instagram account, or are consistently conceptualising and presenting new and innovative ideas to improve processes or customer service in your workplace, innovation is highly desirable.

Attention to Detail: 

Capitalisation]incorrectgrammer,, sppeling mistkaes and misdirected personalisation can be VERY off-putting for a the person reading your application. Ensure you invest the time in editing your application, reading it backwards, sentence by sentence and seeking a second opinion. Attention to detail is very important.