So you didn't get your university first preference. And let's face it: VCE was a hard slog. Surely, the merry-go-round of assignments, SACs and exams would deliver you to the country's most respected higher education institutions, and ultimately, to the career of your choosing. But today you're feeling like things didn't quite go to plan.
So let's think about your next steps, because as nearly every career advisor will tell you, there is always an alternative route to getting the job you want.
Re-think your preferences
If you missed out on getting into your course by a small margin, you may choose to sit tight and wait to see if an offer is made in the subsequent rounds. (Keep in mind that not all courses participate in first round offers.) But if you've missed out on your first preference and you think changing your preferences is the best option, you can do this from Thursday 10am until January 31 at 4pm, by adding or removing courses from your list on the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre website.
Ask for help
Most universities, TAFEs and schools have qualified career counsellors who can offer advice on what to do next. Academic advisors often work within individual university faculties to help you better understand the field, while universities also offer workshops on the changing demands of the job market.
You could also go to the MyFuture website and build a "career profile" online. Or, as the chair of advocacy at Career Development Association of Australia, Rebecca Fraser, suggests, you could call up an employer and ask for advice about the industry, and the required skills. They may give you some work experience, too.
"Go in there and ask questions, talk to people who are already working. It might help in learning about a different course and opening your eyes to new things."
Choose a broad-based bachelor degree
Perhaps you have a broad interest in say, science or design, but haven't yet settled on a specific area within these fields. Martin Smith, president of the peak body for careers counsellors, the Career Industry Council of Australia, suggests choosing a broad-based course.
"The general programs can be very reliable for students who still need time to get a better sense of themselves ... you might want to change your subjects or program half-way through, or at the end of the year, or even change universities," says Smith, who is also director of graduate career development and employability at Wollongong University.
Forget about the university 'brand'
Careers counsellor Ms Fraser says considering options like TAFE or a private college, could serve as a positive transition for students who feel they are not yet up to studying at a university.
Mr Fraser, who has worked with "hundreds" of students who missed out on their first preference, says students needed to stop thinking about university "brands".
"Consider other institutions offering the same qualifications and don't get stuck on a university brand."
The government's new Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website could help you compare universities and other higher education institutions.
Take a gap year to travel, or work
According to Mr Smith, gap years should be "mandatory".
"I don't have the power to make this mandatory, but my thinking is that a gap year between the VCE and first year university is a terrific opportunity to grow and reflect and be more informed about your choices," he said.
Mr Smith says there is no single road to a career, and anyway, employers are "not interested in pieces of paper, they're interested in broader experience".
Involving yourself in sporting, musical, cultural and creative activities outside of academia can help you find your passion, he advises.
"There are so many examples of people who didn't go straight from school to university and worked in their community … people who at 23 or 28 started studying and had an incredibly rewarding career and performed well."
timna.jacks@fairfaxmedia.com.au