Why studying Advance to University in Year 12 was the best decision Charlotte made
Open Day is your ticket to exploring the classrooms you'll study in while chatting to the lecturers and support crew who'll help you transition to uni life with ease.
If you’re heading into Year 12, thinking about uni might feel like one more massive thing on the to-do list. But what if you could ease into it early, while doing your VCE? What if you could have a go at studying a real university subject, get to know the student systems and how everything works, and start your degree ahead of the pack? That’s what Federation’s Advance to University program does. It allowed many students to confidently start uni, having been there done that.
What's the sitch on Advance to University?
Thinking about uni can feel like a big step. Add it to everything else you’ve got going (hey there exams, finding a job, catching up with mates) and it’s no surprise you sometimes wish you could “just have it all sorted”. If you’re feeling unsure about what’s ahead, umm-ing and ahh-ing about what course and which uni, Advance to University might be your ticket to figuring it all out.
So what is Advance to University? Think of it as an introductory program that will give you a taste of uni life by studying real first year units alongside your VCE. Not only is it free, but it can boost your ATAR (yep, there’s 5 increments up for grabs) and guarantee your place in a relevant bachelor’s degree thanks to Federation’s Early Offer Program. Plus, you’ll get credit for the units you complete, putting your ahead from the start.
Think it’s too good to be true? Hear how Charlotte transitioned from Year 12 to university with confidence, thanks to the Advance to University program.
Charlotte's Advance to University experience
“I found out about Federation’s Advance to University program through my careers team at high school. They told my year level about it and that you could get early entry into university through it.”
For Charlotte, choosing to study Advance to University wasn’t just about getting a head start, it tied directly to why she wanted to study Biomedical Science in the first place. Diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, a kidney disease, when she was in Year 7 sparked an early interest in the medical and research world. By Year 10 she already knew biology was where she wanted to push herself. But getting there meant she had to dig deep and do the work, even when she missed a lot of class.
“With my diagnosis I did miss a fair amount of school and my school careers team didn’t want me to do Advanced VCE because of it. But one teacher really fought for me because I’d been doing the work outside of class. So yeah, I ended up doing it early because she fought for me.”
That determination and the support she received is what led her to Advance to University. It felt like the right next step: a chance to extend herself and prove that she could take on uni-level science subjects, even before finishing school.
Charlotte's best advice: get to class! That way you'll never miss important information or in-class assessments.
“I did Psychology, English and Chemistry in Year 12 along with the first year of Biology through the Advance to University program. I didn’t find it too challenging to juggle university study with year 12 subjects. The course was flexible, and I found the first semester uni subject (Principles of Biology) was very similar to VCE Biology. In the second semester I did Systems Biology where we went through different body systems which drew on similar things I’d learnt in high school science class earlier.”
The course gave her a clear picture of what uni life would actually feel like. By the time she started her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree, she wasn’t just prepared – she was ahead.
“By doing the course, I learnt that university class was a lot more structured. You had proper assignment dates and use uni systems like Moodle which not all high school students would be familiar with.
It put me ahead a fair bit in terms of where I am now because, while I’m in the first year of my Bachelor of Biomedical Science course, I’ve already done a second-year subject.”
Why I secured a place in Federation's Early Offer Program
Whether you’re in Year 11 or 12, knowing what’s next feels like the biggest relief. That’s why Federation’s Early Offer Program can be such a game changer. For Charlotte, the decision to apply felt like a natural next step after doing Advance to University and Berwick Campus made the decision even easier.
“I actually applied for an Early Offer from Federation. After doing Advance to University for the past year, I knew I was leaning towards Fed the most. I really love the Berwick Campus. It’s closer to home and that’s one of the main reasons I chose it. Living at home is a lot cheaper and like on busy days I’ve sometimes got class to 5:30pm and then work until 10:30pm. Mum will usually make food and just leave it in the fridge for me. It’s one less thing I have to think about – thanks mum!
A lot of my friends travel for over an hour and a half to get to uni in Melbourne City every day, where my trip is maybe 30 minutes with traffic and it’s easy to find a park.”
Getting an Early Offer also came with a few bonuses that helped during VCE.
I also got a one-on-one meeting with my Course Coordinator so I could ask them lots of questions before starting the course. "
"I asked Indu how the Advance to University units I finished in school would fit into the Biomed course and they told me exactly what I needed to do, which was really helpful to prepare for the next year."
Advance to University gave her a head start, Early Offer gave her the security of where to next. Together, they meant Charlotte could walk into uni knowing she’s got this.
Charlotte's top tips for starting uni
It’s the best advice you’ll get from someone who’s been exactly where you are right now.
1. Apply for credit early
“Don’t forget to apply for credit for all Advance to University units before you start your degree. You can always ring the university, and they’ll show you what to do.”
2. Come to Open Day ready to ask questions
“Always look at the facilities and areas you’ll be spending the most time in. When I was going to Open Days, I would always look at the labs because that’s where I was going to be spending most of my time as a science student.
Ask lots of questions and speak to people to make sure you’re being seen and heard. At Federation the staff knew what they were talking about and were very helpful so I knew I’d be supported here.”
3. Get familiar with systems early
“The hardest part about uni is navigating new systems like MyStudent Centre and figuring out how to sign up for classes, apply for scholarships and all that sort of stuff.”
4. Show up to class
“I knew from the Advance to University program that they don’t tell you when things are due. Like, if you don’t go to classes, or don’t pay attention and look at your course page, you can easily miss assignments because they don’t keep hounding you like they do in high school.”
5. Check your emails (all of them)
“Checking your university email is very important. In my first year we did a few group projects, and I found out not everyone knows that they actually have a university-appointed email. So doing group projects and communicating with people who don’t realised that they have a federation email is extremely hard. You have to agree on the right mode of communication before you leave class!
Checking emails is also how you find out about when to enrol into classes, key university dates (including breaks) and it’s how your lecturers might message you too if not by Moodle.”
Looking forward – how Advance to University helped her find her path
Like Charlotte, Advance to University can be that first step to you figuring it out – which course, what uni, your career path and all. With Federation backing you, starting uni won’t feel like as big a leap.
Heading into Year 12 next year? There’s still time to apply! We’re taking applications for Advance to University until 8 December.