Taylah didn't let a low ATAR stand in her way

October 07, 2023

While Taylah didn't ace her high school exams, she was able to enter the degree she'd set her heart on, by studying and passing single subjects first.

When Taylah was in Year 12, tension was running high in the school hallways. Career dreams were at stake, and it was an ATAR score that could make or break a year (if not 12 years) of hard work. But Taylah wasn’t one to buckle under the pressure.

“Teachers always told us that exams were important… (that) you need to get a high ATAR score or you won’t have many options,” Taylah recalls. “But I never felt too much pressure because I knew that no matter what, I would always have an option to get into what I wanted”.

Taylah was focused on the field of law and justice, with her sights set on a degree in forensic science. While she knew she had options regardless of her ATAR, she was still disappointed to learn that she didn’t score high enough.

But it didn’t get her down for long. While browsing online, she found Open Universities Australia, and was attracted to a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice with Griffith University.

One of our student advisors explained to Taylah that she could still qualify for entry despite her ATAR, if she passed a few of the degree’s core subjects first.

Taylah did just that—proving herself capable, and she was accepted into a degree that she was excited about. The subjects she completed were even credited towards her degree, so it took her no extra time to progress to where she is today. 

A career in the justice system is what Taylah is working towards. She intends to continue studying with Griffith University through us, and move into the graduate certificate or masters degree. 

“At the moment, I’m really just enjoying criminology theory—learning why people do what they do, and working on preventing that,” Taylah says.

Her advice to high school students entering or finishing Year 12 is to understand that a lower ATAR score isn’t a closed door.

“As much as I can say don’t stress about it—you’re always going to,” says Taylah with a grin. “Getting straight into the degree may be the easiest way, but it’s not the only way.”

Get into uni, no matter your ATAR

Through Open Universities Australia, you can:

• Find the right course – Choose from hundreds of degrees and thousands of subjects, all delivered by top Australian universities.
• Earn the same degree as an on-campus student – When you enrol through us, you study online with your chosen uni (and graduate with them too).
• Study, regardless of your history – If you don’t have a strong academic background, we can help you access subjects without entry requirements.
• Gain credit towards your degree – With the right work or study experience, you can finish faster.
• Feel supported from start to finish – Get help from a student advisor right through to graduation.

Explore related courses

Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice – Griffith University

Bachelor of Criminology – University of New England

Diploma of Legal Studies - University of Tasmania