When Notre Dame College student Sanae Gagliardi opened her inbox to an email from La Trobe University, she wasn’t expecting an early entry offer.
“I was super excited when I saw the email,” she said.
“I actually didn’t even realise that I got the email, and then I looked into it, and I was like ‘Oh!’.”
Ms Gagliardi is one of 117 Year 12 students from regional Victoria that will finish their final year with a place at university secured for next year.
“I was just really grateful that I actually got the opportunity because of our circumstances this year, and everything going on with COVID,” she said.
The offer was part of La Trobe’s Aspire Early Admissions Program, which rewards students for their community engagement and well-rounded efforts in all aspects of life. Students receive a conditional early entry offer before they have completed their exams, along with additional opportunities for scholarships.
They also receive access to additional study materials such as practice exams and study guides to help them achieve the best possible marks.
Ms Gagliardi has been volunteering for Meal on Wheels for many years, and said the Aspire program was one of very few that took volunteering into consideration.
“It recognises other work that kids do, which I think is really important,” she said.
Greater Shepparton Secondary College student Harvir Singh Gill is another early entry recipient from Shepparton. The offer is in recognition of volunteering his time at the Sikh Gurduara Sahib Temple.
“It feels good to have this early offer, it takes away a lot of stress,” he said.
La Trobe Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Speed said he hoped the offers provided some relief for students.
“We’re all feeling for this cohort of Year 12 students, who have completed the final two years of their secondary schooling in really challenging circumstances,” he said.
“Though this won’t replace the hours of missed face-to-face classes, or cancelled social and sporting events, it will hopefully give them a bit more certainty for their future.”
Ms Gagliardi and Mr Singh Gill both said staying motivated had been hard over the past year, but the thought of finishing school was enough to keep studying.
“The support from my teachers has been really great, and just knowing that it’s almost the end, I just may as well keep going,” Ms Gagliardi said.
“Getting things done quickly makes you feel good,” Mr Singh Gill said.
Mr Singh Gill was accepted into a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at La Trobe’s Bendigo campus and hopes to go on to study medicine.
“I want to be a doctor, so this (degree) leads to the career outcome that I want,” he said.
Ms Gagliardi has chosen to study a Bachelor of Health Science at the Bendigo campus and is hoping to specialise in an area such as psychology, nursing or social work down the track.
“I’m interested in health, and I enjoy helping people, so I thought that was a good avenue to get into,” she said.
La Trobe is accepting applications to the Aspire program until September 17. To apply, visit www.latrobe.edu.au/study/aspire