Hunter students wait for main round university offers

The Universities Admissions Centre will publish the offers on its website and the My UAC app at 6pm on Wednesday.

Former Whitebridge High student Jacob Hill, 18, hopes to study primary teaching at the University of Newcastle (UON).

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher because I enjoy working with kids and have helped to train some kids soccer teams,” Jacob said. “I feel like it would suit me - I’m going with my gut instinct more than anything else.

“Being a primary teacher and physical education (PE) teacher were neck and neck, but there’s not much demand for PE teachers and it’s hard to get jobs. The fact that there is higher demand for male primary school teachers was definitely a factor in my decision. My year five and six teacher at Redhead Public, Mr Halbesma, was a great role model –  he found a good line between being friends with everyone and a firm leader in the classroom.”

Students required an ATAR of 61.15 for the degree last year. Jacob received an ATAR of 77.6 and will be given an additional four points under the university’s Regional and Rural Bonus Points Scheme.

“I’m pretty hopeful about getting an offer, so I’m more excited that nervous.”

Former Macquarie College student Alex Bodkin, 18, had been hoping to get into medicine at James Cook University, but now has her sights set on physiotherapy, also at Newcastle.

“I’m really interested in the human body – how it works, what it needs and does not need and about disease,” she said. “I’m pretty confident about getting into physio – right now it’s a pathway into medicine, but it’s also a viable career on its own.” Students required an ATAR of 96.15 last year. Alex received 97.7.

UAC’s institutions will make 44,190 offers on Wednesday. There are three more offer rounds to commence study in semester one. The next is on February 1. UON will hold information sessions at Callaghan, Ourimbah and Port Macquarie on Thursday for students who didn’t get an offer.