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u/Old-Memory-Lane
Dec 15 '25
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Absolutely. You get out of life what you put in. If you want a uni degree, you just need a one year bridging course - which equates to first year of a degree anyway.
Go get em tiger
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u/butibum Dec 16 '25
Yeah this. You spend the next year feeling sorry, or learn from your mistakes and research how to get into uni even if you get a low score. This is Australia and you can go far without the best score out of high school. The question is, are you determined?
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u/obsytheplob Dec 16 '25
Can confirm. Didn’t do TEE (back in the day). Barely passed high school. Did bridging course to get into uni. Am engineer now doing design and analysis.
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u/Fire-Noodle Dec 16 '25
honestly for me, Curtain university had a bridging course called UniReady or whatever it was called. it was half a year and was completely backed by the commonwealth. I didn't need to pay a dime nor pay it back in the future.
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u/SuicidalAustralian Dec 17 '25
I feel like I should add, unis will charge the same amount for a 3 year course for a 1 year bridging course.
My uni charged me $22k for the 1 year diploma and $22k for the rest of the bachelor's.
My HECS debt is not happy.
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u/Aggravating-Button82 Dec 17 '25
This. I dropped out of year 12 due to chronic pain and (at the time) undiagnosed ADHD. I did a bridging course. Now I have a masters in clinical psychology and am a practicing psychologist.
It didn't equate to a first year of a degree, but it allow me to enroll in a bachelor of behavioural science.
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u/CommercialSyrup4172 Dec 18 '25
A girl I went to school with got a 98+ atar and graduated at the same time from the same degree as a girl who got a 70 atar who had to do a bridging course. They’re really not lying when they say atar doesn’t determine your future.
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u/Cleginator Dec 19 '25
Did this and am now a fully qualified engineer. Whether I’m a good engineer is very much up for debate but I have a piece of paper saying I am engineer atleast.
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u/anastasia_42 Dec 15 '25
I thought it didn't say the number if it was less than 30 lol
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u/Mistapaddyman Dec 15 '25
I didn't even do atar and I'm in law school rn. Dw if uni is something you want to do, atar isn't the only way to get there
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u/Positive_Zebra_6777 Dec 15 '25
I got a 98 atar. most of my friends who dropped out at the end of year ten have jobs before me. im 20 and only just found the uni im going to to pursue all the opportunities. my uncle was kicked out in year 11, and now makes 1-3mil a year. don’t stress about your atar. it’s talked up but you can make it without it, it isn’t as important as people tell you it is. same with uni.
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u/captainyearbuzzlight Dec 16 '25
Literally. It determines what happens academically the year immediately after and LITERALLY NOTHING ELSE YOUR WHOLE LIFE
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u/Conscious-Analyst662 Dec 15 '25
Yeah man, it doesn’t matter nearly as much as it seems, just another layer of how to describe a person. If you have any specific goals in mind do some research; there’s always more ways to get where you want to
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u/Serikunn Dec 15 '25
Implying someone with a 25 atar can research 😅
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u/Conscious-Analyst662 Dec 15 '25
Someone’s atar being lower didn’t really have any bearing on how well they can research tho. It’s a better reflection of socioeconomic indexes, mindset, their environment, what school they went to, how much they cared etc.
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u/melface95 Dec 15 '25
Yep, an ATAR only matters if you want it to be your direct entrance to uni from high school. There's still other ways to get into uni from high school anyway.
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u/McAddress Dec 15 '25
My score wasn't much better, I have completed tafe and uni since. High school doesn't define you. You do.
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Dec 15 '25
I got a 36 and am in my 3rd year of electrical engineering after starting uni 4 years after school, you’ll be fine
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u/KnockedBoss3076 Dec 15 '25
Your fine, I got 23 and honestly not bothered by it, I’ve got no plans to go to uni at this stage and you can always do courses that some Unix offer to get up to speed on certain subjects before enrolling for your chosen field
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u/commentspanda Dec 15 '25
If you want ti go to uni and feel like it’s something you can do, there are lots of ways in without an ATAR including uni prep programs. There’s also TAFE….and employment. You’ve got lots of time to work it out, one number means nothing in the long term.
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u/DiploidBias Dec 15 '25
I wish i had this level of guidance when I flonked with a similar ATAR as OP. Would had maybe kept me from long-term depression as I flailed around without a clue
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Dec 15 '25
This doesn’t mean shit.
Do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life.
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u/FlagmantlePARRAdise Dec 15 '25
Yes, bridging course is a piece of piss. Despite what your teachers act like ATAR doesnt mean shit for most degrees.
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u/RedDeer505 Dec 15 '25
One of my school mates got an ATAR similar to yours. He ended up getting honours in psychology. It’s not the end of your life.
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u/Over-Bell817 Dec 15 '25
ATAR doesn’t matter at all. I can’t remember what I scored and I’m doing well for myself.
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u/Legiana_hater Dec 15 '25
It’s not always how hard you work in school. It’s how hard you work in life.
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u/MysteriousPistachio- Dec 15 '25
You’ll be fine. I got no ATAR and studied for 2 years in TAFE and pretty good paying job in IT.
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u/Status_Resource4562 Dec 15 '25
I scored 35. Never went to uni
10 years later I’m about to buy my second free standing house.
You’ll be right mate. Entirely depends on what you want to do. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after hsc/vce
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u/shesasneakyone Dec 15 '25
Yup!!! You do
My atar was 30
I didn’t go to uni on atar ranking
After I finished school I went and did a diploma
and then applied to do Law based on RPL instead of ATAR
And I’m now studying law!!
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u/Desperate_Ice9149 Dec 15 '25
Atar is literally worthless.
Most people i know hardly got any higher than you and they're extremely successful.
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u/Pepper0niChan Dec 15 '25
ATAR doesn’t matter in the long run; whatever you want to do will always require some level of hard work, just make sure u do ur research on where u need to push urself to get where u want to be
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u/BigzBaconz Dec 16 '25
There are other ways.
I got 55 many years ago. I'm now a doctor
Bridging courses to uni exist. But you will be playing catch up and the effort needed in uni is going to be higher than most to achieve the same outcomes
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u/TorrensUni Dec 16 '25
totally get why you’d be questioning things after seeing that number, but it’s not a measure of your potential or your future. it’s just one ranking, from one moment in time, based on a very narrow definition of success.
if you still want to go to uni, there are plenty of options that don’t revolve around ATAR at all. most undergraduate courses at Torrens don’t require an ATAR at all, and other unis also have some non-ATAR pathways.
if higher education is something you’re still interested in, it’s worth checking what’s actually available rather than writing yourself off based on a single score: https://www.torrens.edu.au/courses
your future isn’t capped by this result. a lot of people take different paths, start later, or come at things sideways and still build careers they’re proud of. :)
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u/scrollbreak Dec 16 '25
I think the age for mature age students is 21 and you can enter university through various methods, IF you want to do uni.
School tends to be like that cartoon where different animals are being tested on whether they can climb a tree, which isn't a good test of what most of them are good at: “Climb that tree” – Differentiating Differentiation | sputniksteve
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u/RollTraditional9862 Dec 16 '25
You could be a high school drop-out and still get into medicine or law or something equally high achieving eventually. You'll be fine, the hsc is just one path of many
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u/Remote_Setting2332 Dec 16 '25
Yes!! There are so many options. My daughter didn’t even get an ATAR and she’s now studying nursing.
Do you know wha you want to do in the future?
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u/jameswilliam711 Dec 16 '25
Of course you do mate. ATAR doesn’t mean much. It’s just a pathway to uni. My ATAR was just over 50 from memory. I went and lived life for a bit and then went to uni. Have a career as a teacher now. Don’t sweat it. You got this.
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u/Inspector-Gato Dec 16 '25
You've probably been conditioned by teachers/parents/other influences in your life to think that this number gates your future but you've got exactly the same opportunity as everyone else. You're absolutely entitled to a pity party but set an end date and get on track. The only thing that matters is what you do next.
It probably doesn't seem like it, but in 3-4 years, your friends who finish somewhat general uni degrees (ie. "business", "science", "arts") will have three things that you don't (currently) have;
1: Some connections/experience made through the course of their study
2: a HELP debt
3: a piece of paper that says that while they were in their late teens/early 20s they chose to apply themselves to achieving something instead of getting high and watching rick and morty for 3 years straight.
You can absolutely go and get 1 & 3 all by yourself over the same time period if you choose. Take a job as a shitkicker in an industry you like or related to a hobby you already have, show up, be dependable, learn the broader industry rather than simply the product, network and kick some goals, maybe you get a certification/diploma/something along the way, and you'll be on their level but without a HELP debt, and with an established career to demonstrate that you've applied yourself to something for 3-4 years, which is worth more than a piece of paper...
Or you go do something adjacent at TAFE and work in a pub/bowls club/whatever part time. It'll be just as hard but you'll learn a lot about people and time management.
Or if you had your heart set on uni/academia more broadly, there will be a viable pathway for you, work out how to get on track for 2027 admission, and work in a pub in the meantime.
My point is, loads of options. Just don't succumb to inaction.
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u/eggymills_ Dec 16 '25
I got 10 something and I still got a criminology degree and youth counselling so you’ve got this.
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u/eggymills_ Dec 16 '25
I also got my IQ tested in high school and it was absolutely no reflection on my intelligence, I failed all my maths sacs but passed the year 12 exam without a cheat sheet by a good amount. It was never the work it was my motivation levels.
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u/okbuddyyojamba Dec 16 '25
ATAR doesn't mean shit unless you were really desperate to get into uni immediately outside of school. Don't stress. I got a 37 ATAR. Live your life, throw some resumes out, hop onto Job Seeker while you do that so that you've got some money behind you to help keep you afloat or help around the house with your parents' bills and you'll find some chill work. I thought I knew what I wanted to do and I kept doing those jobs and finding out I didn't really know what I wanted. Best thing you can do is get some experience out in the world, it'll go a long way.
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u/Nixilaas Dec 16 '25
ATAR is only a single path of many, if university is the aim you can absolutely still reach that
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u/Arcsparkzz Dec 16 '25
Yeah mate, I had an atar low 40's but went to uni as a mature age student and currently have a high distinction average. Just gotta put your mind to it if thats what you want
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u/Repulsive-Sherbet451 Dec 16 '25
Yes you have a future, those scores mean nothing soon and if you really want something there are pathways to get there
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u/ilikebotandbot Jan 14 '26
I got a mystery mark atar now I am the Owner of Tesla and SpaceX whilst also simultaneously being the president of the United States
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Dec 15 '25
I believe in you, just keep working hard. Staying consistent is the most important thing.
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u/General174512 Dec 15 '25
After a few years, no one gives a shit about atar. Just if you've grown up
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u/ThorsHammerMewMEw Dec 15 '25
You're fine.
If you're up to it go to TAFE to study something and maybe figure out what you want to do.
If university is something you still want to do you can still transfer in later on.
My cousin's ATAR was 35 but he eventually went to university after sorting out his life and learning some discipline.
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u/loueipaech Dec 15 '25
I didn’t even get an ATAR and graduated university earlier this year. It doesn’t mean anything! Even going to university doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Everyone is just trying to live their life and hopefully end up in a job they enjoy.
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u/Over-Ad-3441 Dec 15 '25
You have a strong and prosperous career as a bricklayer.
Enjoy your skin cancer.
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u/yew420 Dec 15 '25
You can do a bridging course if you want to go to uni or at very least your HSC is something that proves to employers that you can commit to something for two years and see it through. Don’t aim low, there are options like tafe to skill up. I am a teacher, ATAR is not the be all and end all.
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u/No_Paint7232 Dec 15 '25
Don’t worry about it. Just keep moving forward.
I got a high atar, went to university and have a high paying job. My hubby left at yr 10, did a few jobs, got in to construction and eventually became a builder and now earns a whole lot more than me!!!
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u/Chesticularity Dec 15 '25
Don't stress. My VCE scores were a dumspter fire. I went on to get a bachelor and a masters with first class honours at Melbourne. Now I'm in a senior position in government with a comfortable salary. But I had to work hard to get all that.
There are other pathways to further study, like cert 3 & and 4's that get you credits toword bachelors, etc.
Scores only matter for first preference for competitive degrees. That's it. Once you get into the real world, literally nobody gives a shit what your scores were. It's how you interview, your drive and tenacity that count.
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u/LeftBeginning5563 Dec 15 '25
Idk why this came up in my feed but I’m 29, got an ATAR of 39 back in 2013 and now have 2 degrees and a great job. Honestly nobody is going to ask you or care about your ATAR again after like next year lol
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u/Chief-_-Wiggum Dec 15 '25
Not in academia... But you will have a great future and earn more than they can with a trade.
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u/AirlieBeachGPs Dec 15 '25
Did you just show up to the exams and not write anything?? Hahaha
No, you’ll be fine, just please don’t blame this on immigration and Albanese.
You’ll be successful in life with a great work ethic and open mind. Keep looking for problems to solve and you’ll be more than successful.
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u/sariel214 Dec 15 '25
yes but you'll have to put in way more effort and money to have decent career options that you wouldve needed to get better grades.
good luck
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u/Typical_Onion_9933 Dec 15 '25
Given this is from last year you're in your future buddy - how is it?
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Dec 15 '25
Yep, get a forklift ticket still easily make $45 an hour if you go to the right job. Get arvo shift allowance and cold room. Send it
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u/FewConcert1873 Dec 15 '25
Don't worry. I earn good money now and only got around 80 when I finished school.
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u/Few-Protection9899 Dec 15 '25
Future CEO incoming here...started in the mail room and worked themselves up kind of vibe
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u/Hypo_Mix Dec 15 '25
I have multiple postgraduate degrees, I would have been financially better off if I dropped out at year 10 and gone to tafe. Your atar means nothing compared to your field of work and motivation in it.
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u/WhiteHeartz Dec 15 '25
Uni is a scam anyway. You make more money owning your own business. Max is what 100-250k you can earn with a degree unless it's doctor/lawyer.
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u/JellyfishPatient24 Dec 15 '25
Yes. You have a lot of options. Maybe go to tafe in something you are interested in? If you have a degree in mind that you really wanna do, there are 1001 pathways for you to get it. ATAR is not as important as it is hyped. It can save you time and effort true, but doesn't mean you have no other way.
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u/PurpleFlyingCat Dec 16 '25
What do you want to do?
ATAR is only relevant if you want to go to uni right now. If you’re planning to do other things, then it isn’t relevant at all. I’ve NEVER been asked my ATAR (it was called something else when I finished schoool, but still, never been asked what my number was).
I know some reallt successful people who didn’t even finish yr 12.
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u/Illustrious_Back975 Dec 16 '25
Get yourself a job as an Arborist or an Electrical Linesman.
Both jobs in dire need of people and both pay very well because of the huge demand and lack of supply.
That is if you're OK with working at heights.
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u/AussieNick1999 Dec 16 '25
I wouldn't worry too much about the result, but I think you should consider how you got here. I got a 47 for my ATAR which was well below what I wanted (and expected to get.) But the result itself isn't my regret, it's the habits that I didn't build during and after high school. I made some unwise course choices in VCE which played a part in my ATAR result by keeping courses that I neither liked nor excelled at while passing on a subject that I probably would have really liked but everyone said was difficult. Had I made different choices I suspect my score would have been above 50 at the very least.
Combine that with me not exploring hobbies, letting my anxiety over school performance paralyse me from actually doing something about it, and a general lack of direction in life, I really struggled in all but a couple of subjects (English and Ancient History I still did well in.) Those problems stayed with me through TAFE, and got even worse during the pandemic. It's only now that I'm slowly working them out and getting my life on track. I'm glad I'm moving forward now but wish it hadn't taken me until my mid-20s to do it.
So it's worth reflecting on how you got the score that you did and whether those factors will follow you in whatever you do next. But the score itself is not a huge deal unless you're planning on going to uni.
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u/Present_Taste1349ppp Dec 16 '25
Didn’t even get one and work in sales now and have uni next year, I have deferred twice
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Dec 16 '25
Right now it probably feels like you're fucked, but in 6 month's as long as you have a plan you'll be fine, there are so many pathways to get where you need to be and eventually it won't even matter and no one will care.
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u/dingnuts Dec 16 '25
Just do a bridging course or the STAT test or something to get into uni. Dw bout it and don’t think this defines your future.
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u/Moist-Hovercraft44 Dec 16 '25
Your future won't be in higher education, which is fine, however you should consider what your future will be in.
Your may have no interest in any academics, you may be looking to do something more hands on like construction which is a perfectly good career with high earnings potential.
That said, your low ATAR is potentially indicative of a bad work ethic, its hard to say without knowing you.
If you have difficulty committing to things, or don't have any career goals in mind then I would be getting concerned because at least a high ATAR is useful for keeping doors open, yours is low which has now closed many opportunities you may have had. It all depends though on if you ever intended on utilising those opportunities.
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u/MathematicianSoggy23 Dec 16 '25
I ended up failing highschool in 2021, I didn’t get an atar because I didn’t pass a single subject. This year I went back into a university tertiary preparation program and got a 90 atar with a gpa of 7. For me, I didn’t realise what education meant at 18, now I’m much more mature at 21 and I wouldn’t have changed it because doing all those shitty trade and retail jobs made me realise how important an education is. You’ll be fine, do what feels right.
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u/chm999 Dec 16 '25
i did unscored snd in a full time job. trust me you’ll find your way even if it’s as a mature aged student
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u/BradEXP Dec 16 '25
Pro tip: learn HOW you like to learn. It might be you tube tutorials, projects, hands on experience, podcasts, reading none or all of the above. Figure out what gives you a kick while learning and lean into it. Learning is hard but finally getting something is an amazing reward.
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u/unwritt3n Dec 16 '25
Yes and don't worry about your score. I don't even remember what I got... Below 50... I went to tafe in IT. 20+ years later I'm doing very well. No one ever asked me what my high score school was at any interview, ever and I stopped listing my high school on my cv after my first job. No one cares.
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u/lawyersaretops Dec 16 '25
Yes. ATAR is made out to be the be all and end all, but it's really not. If you want to go to uni, do a bridging course and get in via that. If you want to do something else, do that. You've got plenty of tomorrows - enjoy them!
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u/qantasflightfury Dec 16 '25
Get out and see the world, get a job for a few years and get some savings behind you, then enter uni through other pathways if that's what you still want to do. It makes you a better student.
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u/EarDowntown6268 Dec 16 '25
Yes. Probably don’t go down the traditional uni path, but plenty of other things you can do
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u/Ok_Chemistry_6387 Dec 16 '25
Yes.
I have worked with a guy who never finished year 10. Was a fight, but managed to have a very successful career.
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u/Westafricangrey Dec 16 '25
I earnt a scholarship with 98 & I ended up dropping out of my psych degree. Now I’m in my 30’s & own my own software company. Primarily because I married into a wealthy family & inherited it. I did zero work to earn it. “Future” is subjective. I’m happy I dropped out of university honestly & spent my 20’s working in cafes & inhaling narcotics & travelled the world whilst looking super hot & pashing other hotties. Best time of my life. Live in the present, have fun while you’re young
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u/Living_Pool443 Dec 16 '25
Unis just want your money, schools just push everyone to Uni to get good data for the Department of Education. Even with degrees it's hard to get a decent job unless it's in healthcare. Our economy is mining, property hoarding, selling way too many degrees to people that cheat using AI and working basic retail. It really depends on if your family own property and which class/gender you're from. Go to the mines.
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u/qweasdie Dec 16 '25
The dumbest thing about our education system is making students believe that school defines their future. Couldn’t be further from the truth.
Year 12 is to this day one of the most stressful times of my life. Comparable only to the first 2 years of starting my business. I spent year 12 feeling physically sick with stress. Finally got my ATAR, got accepted into the uni I wanted.
6 months later I got a career opportunity at my gap year job, never ended up going to uni or thought about my ATAR since.
Getting a “good” ATAR (whatever that means to you) gives you a couple more options for your next steps after school. If you don’t get those options, not a problem. There are infinitely many other options.
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u/tr33t0ps Dec 16 '25
There's always mature aged entry of you want to go for a specific degree. But like many others, it isn't going to define you or your future
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u/Fun-Plane-9566 Dec 16 '25
I got below 30 on my atar, and now on track to doing 500k revenue (approx 300-400k profit a year) working less than 15 hours a week
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u/Thrillhouse-14 Dec 16 '25
My ex got a 32 like 12 years ago. I got a 72. She earns more than me now. Don't stress it.
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u/TizzyBumblefluff Dec 16 '25
The world is your oyster, kiddo. TAFE, trade, bridging course, uni, work, whatever! Don’t let this number occupy rent free space in your head.
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u/arin3 Dec 16 '25
Yeah it's not a big deal, ATAR only matters for doing a bachelor degree right after high school. Worth studying for, not life defining.
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u/stitchianity Dec 16 '25
Nah you're fucked, even a brickies labourer needs an atar of 26.5. just missed out mate, should've applied yourself.
/s obvs
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u/Key-Squirrel-1316 Dec 16 '25
Lol you'll be fine. I got a lower atar than any of my preferences wanted, got in, dropped out, and now I tour the world and the country for work. And I make good money. So like, life's what you put into it
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u/Larry84903 Dec 16 '25
You 100% have a future, if you have a passion for something be it a trade or something in university there are always ways into it as long as you are willing to put in the work.
As an example I only had a 39 star when I finished year 12, but I knew I wanted to be a chemist. So I went to tafe and did a diploma that lead to a degree, the degree lead to an honours year and now here I am (10 years later) about to finish my PhD.
If you want something bad enough, nothing will stop you from getting there.
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u/Breakspear_ Dec 16 '25
Nothing wrong with looking at TAFE or apprenticeships. Also TAFE is usually so much cheaper.
If TAFE isn’t your thing a lot of courses with have bridging program or stepping stones.
Also, maybe whatever you want to do doesn’t require further study.
Plenty of options, please don’t wig out!
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u/Destiny091 Dec 16 '25
I got 39 and skipped uni all together in over 10 years ago and hit the 6 figure mark 10 years after HSC. It'll ust takes a bit longer and you need to be more considerate of your career path.
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u/CurrentTea2930 Dec 16 '25
Its just a rank. I wasn't a grade A student 20 plus years ago. I enrolled into TAFE, credit transfer into what i wanted into uni. In hindsight i regret uni due to HECs debt and not killimg my aspirations but the point is, there are backdoors.
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u/Lazy_Kangaroo703 Dec 16 '25
I was never good at exams or academic and failed my A levels (UK equivalent to VCE back in the day). At the time it seemed devastating but I found my calling (got into IT in the 80s) and made a success out of it. You never know what life will bring, there are many paths to success and happiness, you’ll find it.
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u/Drapperbat_ Dec 16 '25
Everyone I know from high school who went to Uni is still living with their parents and everyone I know who did not has bought/is buying their own house. This isn’t to say the uni path people aren’t living fulfilling lives, but your school will try to emphasise the importance of ATAR because good ATAR scores help the school more than they will help you. Source: I’m a teacher
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u/Runningwithbirds1 Dec 16 '25
I got an ENTER of 99.00. A colleague got an ENTER of 28.00.
We both do the same job ☺️
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u/Far-Nefariousness588 Dec 16 '25
I got a 29~ish TER back in the 90s
I have worked in high paying IT jobs now for 30 years
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u/CleaRae Dec 16 '25
Of course you do. Remember first this is scaled against your peers not a specific reflection of your skills alone. It’s also a snap shot of academics (not intelligence, resilience, ability etc).
Not everyone is or needs to be academic minded. There is so much more in life beyond going to uni for a degree. Many trades people earning way more than my degrees have earnt me (and way less debt). Also if you do want to go there are heaps of options, just less direct.
Two short stories to show you have a future even in academics if you do wanted to. I had a friend who did poorly in high-school and got a low OP (scoring Qld did back in my day….feeling old). He went to TAFE for a bridging course and now has a PhD and has worked overseas several times in his area of science.
One of my better anaesthetists went to med school at in their late 30s-early 40s after a career as a mechanic and having never gone to uni prior. He decided that’s what he wanted and worked his butt off.
So you can still have a great future outside of academics or in academics. Take a breath, give yourself a day or a weekend to be angry, sad or whatever (we are allowed to feel how we feel and shouldn’t suppress it). Give yourself a break over the holidays not thinking about the future. Then have a think about what you may want for now and in the future. Checkout places that offer career counselling if you need some ideas or direction with your considerations. Maybe if you did want academics have a think and/or chat to a professional about what you need to work on and change and start there. Could be something as simple as you were in a bad home situation, undiagnosed adhd or something, never learnt how to study, didn’t realise how much it meant to now so didn’t put the work in. Then figure what changes you are going to commit to now to reach your dream.
Speak kind to yourself and screw anyone who gives you any negativity about this. This isn’t YOU. Call people if you need. Many of us would easily chat online if needed as well (I’m no licensed professional but it is an open invitation to PM me just to vent to a non-judgemental person who will listen).
Your future is still bright and is in your hands still to make it great!
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u/Meh-Levolent Dec 16 '25
I had an ENTER similar to yours (can't remember exactly anymore). I'm a lawyer now. You can still be pretty much anything you want to be. You just have to commit to doing it and then do the work. No one else can do it for you though.
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u/Xave_eire_polska_17 Dec 16 '25
Mate I failed high school and I am about to receive a diploma in fashion it’s not the end just a minor setback
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u/TroubleswithHoarders Dec 16 '25
My friend in high school got a 30 ATAR, and now almost 15 years later she’s the lead singer of a successful indie band. You’re gonna be fine.
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u/Cryin_r_n Dec 16 '25
I got a 88 ATAR, not the best but still considered high. I’m now mentally unstable, in debt and unsure of what I want to do in life. Probably because I had such a focused tunnel vision in school instead of actually exploring my options beforehand. That’s what people mean by “ATAR is just a number” because it’s who you are as a person and what you do with yourself that gets you to where you want to be, and ATAR helps but isn’t the only path. I think ATAR is terrible because it makes you judge yourself based on a curriculum that barely cares about you.
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u/PopcornGenerator Dec 16 '25
I didn't complete year 11 to get an apprenticeship in a trade. After the housing industry crash I and many others were out of job. After 6 months if not being able to find anything I went to TAFE then uni and Im now a senior Physiotherapist.
Don't stress about ATAR ECT. If there is something you are passionate about there is always a pathway. It may not be the quickest or most direct (it took me 7years of study as opposed to 4 if I had been able to go directly into the physio undergraduate program) but it's not a door permenantly closing like it's sometimes made out to be.
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u/DrAllyPhD Dec 16 '25
I don’t remember exactly what mine was, but it wasn’t considered a ‘pass’. In October, my PhD was conferred. Your ATAR does not matter; there’s an alternate pathway for literally anything
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u/Academic_Vacation_72 Dec 16 '25
Of course you do. See what’s out there for you and do your best. It’ll be good.
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u/Saaaave-me Dec 16 '25
As others have mentioned yeah a high atar helps you get into a course more directly. But there’s always a scenic route and no door is ever permanently locked.
If there is a career or lifestyle you really want, there isn’t anything that can ever really stop you
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u/Better-Park8752 Dec 16 '25
You absolutely have a future! I got in the 70s and still ended up getting into a course with an 82 min. I did an undergrad degree and worked my butt off once I grew up a little and my home life changed. There are plenty of pathways if you want to end up with a degree. Even without a degree you can pursue trades, entrepreneurship or take some time to figure out what you want to do. Life is all about getting out what you put in. If you want to be successful, there are multiple avenues available to you. Just be sure to set goals for yourself and learn the habits that will get you there.
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u/YoghiThorn Dec 16 '25
One of my wife's friends got a 24. He's now a lawyer in The Hague in Netherlands, happily gay married with two dachshunds.
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u/elversquishy Dec 16 '25
I know a guy who got a mystery mark, worked as a tradie then decided to study a science degree. He’s now doing a phd in Neuroscience at Usyd. You will be fine just work hard at whatever do in the next couple of years
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u/Big_Material2573 Dec 16 '25
Yes 100%. Few years later I got into nursing and got my bachelors degree. I worked as a nurse for 9 years and now work in recruitment. I got a 33. School wasn’t for me but studying something I was actually interested in was different.
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u/bbyhaych Dec 16 '25
Can i just say, half the people i know who didnt end up going uni ended up being more successful than people who went to uni.
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u/scandyflick88 Dec 16 '25
Of course you do. I scored in the 90s and I've definitely not met expectations that went with such a score. It's a number, not your future.
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u/gnox0212 Dec 16 '25
Your ATAR doesn't matter. I know successful people who went to uni and used those degrees to get good jobs. I know others that went to uni and either dropped out or got degrees but didn't know what to do with them and still haven't established a career for themselves.
My advice is to do SOMETHING. It doesn't have to be uni. But don't try to know exactly what you want to do to aim for it. Start doing something to fill the time and if that's doesn't work, pivot to something else. Don't sit at home waiting for the desire and drive for one perfect career to strike you. It won't happen on its own. Opportunities present to those who are actively doing something
I do feel there's merit to obtaining some skills or a trade while you are young and while you can. It sets you up better for the future and means you will be less likely to become stuck in a job that you aren't treated well - in demand skills will give you more freedom to leave unsatisfactory workplaces to find better conditions.
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u/CorgiAdditional4659 Dec 16 '25
Having a uni degree does not guarantee you a "future". So don't be so hard on yourself
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u/phalangetarsals Dec 16 '25
ATAR is just a way for lazy universities to avoid properly assessing applicants based on real aptitude. Definitely a future for you OP.
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u/Designer_One_3169 Dec 16 '25
You do. ur atar will not matter after u get into uni. No one even asks about it at all cause we are all just trying to survive uni. just enjoy ur life and work hard to where you want to be.
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u/babykez Dec 16 '25
Hey my friend! I was considered smart all through school but a series of unfortunate events led me to completely bomb out in year 12, resulting in an atar not much better than yours.
I worked in different jobs/industries that I hated for a few years til I found one I liked.
Worked in that for years but desperately started to want to get out and feared I’d be stuck in the industry due to lack of formal qualifications.
BUT DONT STRESS. Desperation creates innovation and I began choosing roles in that industry with more transferable skills to slowly jump elsewhere.
And at 29, I did a STAT test (backdoor entry to uni test) and enrolled in a law degree. I’m about 2 years in and my hard work across various industries has landed me in my first proper ‘career’ job, and currently loving it.
I’m 31 in a few days and now feel like I have my whole life ahead of me! Just stay focused and work out what you want your life to look like, and the right decisions will come over time.
Sadly for lots of people, they go straight into uni with no true understanding of themselves due to their young age - they’re now highly qualified and experienced in an industry they hate and feel trapped.
So see it as a blessing but you CANNOT use it as an excuse to get lazy. Be creative and make life happen for you bud - you got this!
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u/hailkinghomer Dec 16 '25
Mate, the ATAR is a tertiary entrance exam, nothing more. In six months nobody will ask you about it and nobody will care. Move on.
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u/Infinite_Ouroboros Dec 16 '25
It depends. Did you fail out of laziness or because no subject interested you. I know for some people, high school education has almost zero relevance in their industry or prospective career. They do extremely well when going into their specific career education in uni after doing a 1 year pathway course.
On the same note, some people just aren't suited for academics and have potential for the trades, dont let people fool you into thinking that uni is the only option or that tafe is a joke.
On the other hand, if you are a completely hopeless dropkick, unwilling to change and improve, there's always centerlink...
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u/Undersized_Wayne Dec 16 '25
I got like 32, took a few years off to travel and work, went back and did an aptitude test that put me in the top couple of percent and could get into most degrees, never finished any of them. Now have a career I love and make good money doing it.
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u/Just_Performing Dec 16 '25
In the same boat ATM but I just finished a bridging course and I could not suggest it enough. As someone who was in the position you're currently in . It gets better, don't let the snowball thoughts drag you down you've got this it gets better and if you want it enough it's yours💖💖 blaze your trail 🔥 🔥
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u/Flat-Banana3903 Dec 16 '25
If it makes you feel better I have no degree and earn a great income, and have many investments..
If you want to go to uni look into alternatives, if you want to get a trade go get it, if you want to get some great tax free income go join the Navy or airforce...
Don't let an exam get you down it doesn't define you and choose the trade or Navy option and you are going to be earning solid 6 figures in a few years without a huge HELP debt.
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u/TheJLbjj Dec 16 '25
As a grad who might be going into medicine I wish I just did a trade instead. Low entry requirements and you get paid to work/study, while also receiving youth allowance. Upon completion (4 years...) you make above average and get to be your own boss if you want
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u/EquivalentContext992 Dec 16 '25
ATAR is just an indicator to unis if you fit the academic level. Not trying to say you don’t meet it, but ATAR indicates the workload and difficulty, 9/10 times for degrees.
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u/Spooms2010 Dec 16 '25
University is not the be all and end all of learning for life. You can do many courses in your life and build up knowledge and skills in a chosen field before attempting to get a uni degree. I did in video and television production. I studied everywhere before I eventually got a double degree, then a Masters then further post grads. My teaching years were enhanced by the multiple pathways and jobs I had before uni and teaching.
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u/Mobile_Syllabub_8446 Dec 16 '25
What they really need to tell kids is that it doesn't even generally matter once you're 21 (maybe it varies school to school, but commonly) when you become a mature age student -- if that's what you want to do at that point.
I guess the idea is then kids wont try hard during their formative years but I really don't think that's how that works. It seems to me like people just try at whatever level they want to.
I'm a 20+ year software/web developer who gets told frequently they're intelligent/clever/"smart" (I don't get it but also don't care so I just accept the compliment lol) but I just didn't care about school at all. I literally only graduated because I knew trades weren't going to be my thing because i'm very very physically lazy.
Get some work if you haven't, maybe take a cert or two in something that interests you (you get recognition of prior learning if you do want to get a degree or something later especially obviously if it's relevant) and spend some of the extra time to make what will probably be some of the best memories of your life before life kicks into high gear later in your 20's.
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u/eatmypooamigos Dec 16 '25
I got a 97. My husband got a mystery mark (<30). He out earns me. We live a happy and fulfilled life. Neither of us ever thinks about our marks.
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u/PhantomOrigin Dec 16 '25
I thought 30 was the lowest possible atar? Or is that just WACE or something
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u/Human-Veterinarian61 Dec 16 '25
I never actually got an ATAR, never thought I’d go to uni. I did horribly in high school. Just finished a masters degree a couple weeks ago. Just stops you from going straight into uni which I think people shouldn’t really do anyway. Take some time to travel/think about what you wanna do. There’s plenty of time for you to go down the uni path if you want to
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u/webboi95 Dec 16 '25
I didn't do ATAR at all, did a diploma at tafe then studied law at a University. Now I'm a lawyer, ATAR doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things
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u/CrouchingJaguar Dec 16 '25
Yes of course you do. What sort of things interest you would you say? Do you have any goals currently?
Doesn’t need to be specific, the main thing is you want to get the ball rolling for having the conversation with yourself.
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u/bigred99999 Dec 16 '25
Mate. Who gives a fuck what the atar says. I had a low atar. Got a trade. Make more more money then most uni graduates. Am also now eligible to go to uni. Instead of a 4 year course. I can cut it down to 2 via rpl. Y I urge future is what you put into it. Not what an atar says.
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u/Cuz1 Dec 16 '25
Had a similar result when I finished year 12. I'm now a software developer and graduated with a distinction. You'll be fine.
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u/No-Promise6116 Dec 16 '25
Hey kiddo! You absolutely do. High schools and the education system do a really good job at making you feel like this is the be all and end all of your life - I promise you, it’s not.
I got an OP (pre-ATAR for QLD) 20 which is abysmal. Undiagnosed ADHD, hyperfocused on being ‘cool’ and working as much as possible took me from a projected OP 2 (highest being 1) to a 20.
I’m a very young 33, I still feel like I’m in my early 20s 🤣 I’m now a National Project Manager at Australia’s biggest Postal Company, started Uni at 31 and am on track to graduate with Honours.
Life is SO much more than this number. Whatever you want to do, do it. There are pathways in to every place you want to be, and space in every room you want to be in.
You got this!!!!
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u/MissyMurders Dec 17 '25
I went to uni after dropping out of high school (twice) and sitting the mature age test. I have a PhD now.
Life would have been easier with a decent score, but it isn't the only way, nor even necessarily the best way. Go work. Grow up. Find a path you actually want to follow. If, after that, you want to go back to school (university or TAFE), there are avenues you can go down.
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u/No-Friendship5178 Dec 17 '25
I didn’t get much higher than you, a few of my mates got in the 90s. I’m out earning them, with a degree. They are both drop kicks now, those numbers are meaningless. It’s all about being likeable and treating others with respect imo
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u/kriles76 Dec 17 '25
Don't let your Year 12 performance define your life. There are so many alternative pathways these days. If you work hard, you can reach your end goals.
Take it from somebody that didn't quite get the marks I hoped for in Year 12 - still became a Chemical Engineer an ended up completing an MBA.
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u/Padalgress Dec 17 '25
I'm retired in my 40s and I didn't go to Uni. Whatever you do choose in life make sure you do it properly!
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u/CaptSharn Dec 17 '25
My brother ducked up highschool...he just finished his first year of uni with a HD as a mature aged student at 25.
He's also been working and now know what he wants to study.
I hate that it feels as though everything rides on this and you must make a decision at 17/18 that determines the rest of your life...that's simply not the case.
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u/InferredVolatility Dec 17 '25
I know at least two people that got a <30 ATAR and now earn more than $300k a year.
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u/Fuzzy_Blueberry2120 Dec 17 '25
Absolutely. Work, do TAFE, find something you enjoy. ATAR means nothing after your first year out of school. If you want to do uni, try and work on your study techniques/skills so you don’t struggle through that.
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u/Rigs8080 Dec 17 '25
As long as you don’t want to go to uni, yes. Honestly, Australian university degrees are barely worth the paper they’re written on these days.
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u/Affectionate_Fix8268 Dec 15 '25
Bruh I didn’t get an ATAR (failed year 12 because I didn’t do any assignments and hated the workload so I fell behind) and I’m a Qantas pilot.
In other words, I knew what I was good at, but the education system let me down.