Science starts early entry scheme for students

29-November-2002

Daniel this week visisted UOW to attend a welcome lunch for applicants for Advanced Degree programs in Science and to meet the academic staff in each Science department. He is pictured chatting with the Dean of Science, Professor Rob Whelan

The Faculty of Science has offered students the opportunity to apply for early entry into the University of Wollongong for the first time this year.

Students can learn that they have a place at the University before they even complete their final Higher School Certificate examination. Places are offered on the basis of overall school assessment results and interviews.

The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Rob Whelan, said other faculties at the University have done this in previous years and it has proved very successful.

Professor Whelan said that students who apply but do not receive an early entry offer, have nothing to lose. At interview, they have a chance to talk to staff about what they hope to study. They then know who to contact in the Faculty when they have their final HSC results.

Eighty students attended interviews on campus on 4 October, and of these, 55 were offered places in a Science degree.

One student who applied for early entry was Daniel Ward from Raby in south-western Sydney. Daniel visited the campus for an interview in October. On the strength of his interview, his HSC trial results, and his performance in other work at school, he was offered a place in the Bachelor of Environmental Science degree before he began the HSC exams.

It means that he is assured of a place in his chosen degree when he enrols at the University on 31 January.

Daniel said he has always been interested in Environmental Science and was delighted to be offered a place in the four-year Honours degree. He has since visited the Faculty again to obtain information about the degree and attended the end-of-year conference talks given by this year's Honours students.