Top pick … While most students are lucky to get one offer from university, Jen Phan was able to choose. 59095 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
LAST week the fate of many former year 12 students was decided as first round offers for tertiary education was announced.
Only 82 per cent of VCE graduates were offered places causing some households to be the home of tears and disappointment as 5872 hopefuls missed out.
Jennifer Phan however only experienced tears of joy after receiving an offer from Melbourne University to study Biomedicine.
The icing on the cake for Jen was also being offered a $13,500 Melbourne Access Scholarship – something she didn’t even apply for.
She was also offered a place and Merit Scholarship at Australian National University in Canberra but opted for the Melbourne University place.
“I didn’t really want to move away to Canberra and I’m so used to Melbourne Uni because I did an extension program with them last year,” Jen said.
Despite receiving a score of 99.55 Jen said the scholarship offers came as a shock to her and her parents.
Jen decided on Melbourne because the university’s model allows students to take humanities subjects as well as science subjects.
The Maribyrnong resident plans to do a medical internship in India during her mid-semester break with Projects Abroad.
“It would be pretty interesting to see if I can deal with these kinds of situations – I think experiencing a third world country would be an amazing experience.”
Despite moving onto greener pastures Jen said she misses her friends and teachers at Williamstown High School.
“I kind of miss it – I’m a bit nostalgic,” she said.
“I think I’ll miss the support of the teachers in high school – in high school I had two teachers from Year 7 to Year 12 and they were amazing.
“Anna Lefever my literature teacher and Erin Boswell my French teacher were really supportive and Dale Ritchie our Year 12 co-ordinator made our year 12 experience amazing.”
