Tertiary Education and Careers

• Work experience is an integral part of the formal Careers program at Ascham. It aims to develop the students interests, research skills and decision-making skills as well as the introduction to the ‘World of Work’ and some of the careers in it.
• Year 10 students must compulsorily complete a designated week of work experience following their annual examinations each November.
• Year 11 and 12 students are encouraged and supported to explore further work experience opportunities however, this commitment must be fulfilled during their own school holidays.

The Careers Adviser will assist with Canadian, USA, New Zealand, Oxbridge and other UK tertiary institutions applications. Students, interested in study in the USA, are encouraged to sit the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) during Year 10 and the SAT during Years 11 and 12. PSAT is held annually at Ascham each October and SAT registration and test dates are available on The College Board website.

Ascham Careers hosts the biennial ‘Study Overseas Information Evening’ in August in an ‘expo format’ with a diverse range of stalls from international universities managed by their admission and recruitment staff, visiting exchange students and local alumni.

The Careers program commences from Year 9 with informal ‘incursions’ during term 4 to the Careers Centre located on the ground level of the Belgiorno-Nettis Languages Centre.

Students are introduced to the Careers Centre staff, shown available resources and given an explanation of the exciting Careers program that will formally commence in Year 10.

Each term, Year 10 students will attend one Careers lesson to learn about their abilities, interests and skills, purpose of community service, expectations and planning of work experience and develop their résumé writing skills.

As part of the Year 10 Careers program, in Term 1 each student is offered a careers assessment opportunity. The program begins with a half-day assessment session where students will complete several questionnaires and assessments specifically designed to assess a variety of factors including aptitude, occupational interests and a personality style assessment. The results are scored and analysed and each student will have a one-on-one half hour appointment with a career specialist to discuss her specific results and potential career alternatives.

The results gathered will assist students with planning their work experience placement, their HSC subject selection for Years 11 and 12 as well as a great start for research into potential tertiary courses and future career pathways.

During Terms 2 and 3, all Year 10 students will attend two hours per week for one term visiting and helping those in need in our local community including a variety of locally community-based organisations.

The main objectives of the Community Service program is to develop students to:

• Understand and assist those in need in our community
• Be responsible and reliable as an ambassador of Ascham’s values
• Experience the ‘World of Work’ and compare it to School
• Learn how to make independent choices and decisions.

In Term 4, immediately following the final examinations, each Year 10 student shall participate in a compulsory work experience week. Each student is encouraged to apply the knowledge gained from her personalised careers assessment to a work environment. Each student is responsible for securing her own work placement. The work experience program aims to develop the student’s interests, research and decision-making skills and expose her to the ‘World of Work’. Parents may promote particular destinations but we actively encourage students to engage in the process of applying their job-seeking skills to secure their own placement.

Each week during Year 11 students will attend our Careers Mentor Lecture series. Students will be introduced to a variety of guest speakers, typically Ascham Old Girls from a diverse range of professions and industries. Speakers will share their tertiary pathways, experiences and wisdom gained from their career journey to date.

Students are encouraged and supported to explore further work experience opportunities during Year 11, however this commitment must be fulfilled during their own school holidays.

Each Year 11 student will have a compulsory appointment with the Careers Adviser to discuss future plans and careers pathways during term 4 at the start of her HSC preparation.

Year 11 students are encouraged to attend seminars, information sessions and College and University Open Days throughout the year. These invitations are regularly communicated to students by email.

In Year 12, the Careers focus shifts towards exploring tertiary study options across NSW, interstate, and overseas. The program runs twice weekly and integrates university presentations with pastoral care, offering resources in stress management, personal finance, interview skills, and future workforce insights.

Each June, students attend the HSC and Careers Expo, engaging with representatives from universities and private providers nationwide.

For applications requiring school input, students must submit a formal reference request via the Careers Centre. References are confidential and sent directly to institutions on the student’s behalf.

Following Trial exams in Term 3, every student meets with the Careers Adviser to refine her tertiary preferences and application strategy. The cohort also receives guidance on university applications and alternative entry pathways.

Students are encouraged to attend seminars, information sessions, and Open Days throughout the year, with invitations shared regularly via email.

University Applications

• There will be dedicated lessons throughout Terms 1, 2 and 3 on university options and the application process required. In Term 3, each student will be issued with a free copy of the University Application Centre (UAC) handbook as a reference guide.
• There will be international sessions for those individual students who make a specific request to the Careers Centre.
• It is the student’s responsibility to compile the criteria requirements and complete applications with the correct information.
• It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with any additional requirements (i.e. portfolio, auditions etc.) for the application.
• It is the student’s responsibility to register, pay and attend any pre-admission tests; the student must seek Special Leave from the Head of School should the pre-admission test conflict with normal classroom obligations.

References

• Ascham School writes fully confidential and personalised reference letters to support each application.
• All references and letters of support for COOP, cadetship, residential college, scholarship and international applications are coordinated through the Careers Centre.
• The specific reference procedure will be outlined to the students in Term 1.
• Reference requests are uploaded by the student via the Careers Canvas course. There will be a mandatory three-week lead time for staff members to compose a reference. This will be strictly enforced.

Scholarships

• There is a wide range of scholarships available for Australian universities including those for academic, faculty-specific, residential, merit-based and sporting ability.
• The number of scholarships offered, their selection criteria and financial value are widely varied amongst the universities.
• Many elite academic scholarships are automatically awarded for the highest ATAR, but many require a specific application. These applications typically require an Ascham School supporting reference. It is the student’s responsibility to understand and assemble the scholarship criteria.
• Applications are typically online and 30 September is the key date for most scholarship applications, to coincide with the ‘on time’ university application deadlines.

International

• Ascham students may be interested in international tertiary study at the conclusion of their high school studies.
• International study will contribute to one’s personal growth, self- development, foster independence, immersion in a different culture and new perspectives and create networking opportunities.
• The Careers Centre will support a student’s international applications including institutional research, personal essay feedback, academic transcripts, test gection, examinations and interview preparation alongside their domestic tertiary applications.
• The Careers Centre often hosts international university presentations and information webinars, especially for our students.

Year 11 and 12 students are encouraged to attend the Open Days for each of the universities. This will give students the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the various universities, take in a lecture, take tours of the faculties and facilities, meet lecturers, get one-on-one advice about courses and admissions and check out the accommodation options available.

Many universities stage their Open Days on the same day so forward planning is essential. Head to the various university Open Day schedules to find out everything from times of campus tours, general information lectures, student accommodation tours and pathways and scholarships. Some of the unis have created their own Open Day apps to help navigate the busy programs. Importantly, Year 11 students who are considering study either locally or interstate are encouraged to choose one university or State this year and investigate another university or State the following year.

Students are encouraged to ask questions of current students, lecturers, find out about course content, how it is taught, whether there is a chance to study abroad and don’t forget to investigate the non-academic aspects including transport accessibility, sporting facilities and support services.

Universities

University admissions resources

Career resources