5 Facts for Students Applying Overseas with an ATAR

The ATAR refers to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It shows how well you performed academically compared to other students. It is a ranking so that universities can evaluate you on the basis of your academic performance.

When Australian students apply to international universities, they doubt whether their ATAR rank will be accepted into international universities for admission or not. In this blog, we will try to clear the doubts of the students in five points.

The fact is, yes, you can apply to international universities with your ATAR rank!

If you are studying the HSC, VCE, QCE, SACE, WACE, or any other similar local course in Australia, you are 100% qualified to use your ATAR rank as part of your application to international universities like Harvard, Oxford, Stanford and others. However, the highest rank one can get in ATAR is 99.95%.

Many Australian students and parents might be surprised to know that ATAR is an accepted rank even in the most prestigious international universities. Otherwise, people usually think students need to study for the International Baccalaureate (IB) to apply to universities outside Australia. The fact is, you can use ATAR and IB to apply anywhere outside Australia. However, here are five facts if you want to apply overseas with your ATAR rank.

Applying Overseas With An ATAR? Read on…

1. Do not wait for your ATAR score

Most of international universities ask for application deadlines between October and January, and it depends on where you apply. However, you have the option to submit an application to colleges with your predicted score. You will get this predicted score from your high school, and your career counselor is ideally the best person to talk to for this. This expected score, together with other aspects of your application, may, allow you full admission offers or conditional offers in some situations. Just in case you receive a conditional offer, it becomes an essential criterion requested by universities to submit your actual test results so they can evaluate your academic ability, skills, and performance more accurately.

Also, Read – Don’t stress, your ATAR isn’t the final call!

2. There are other factors besides ATAR rank

The application procedures for ‌universities in the US and UK are exhaustive. Therefore, they take into account factors besides your ATAR rank. This is with the assumption that they believe that accepted students will easily mix with the campus community and will have a great time on campus. This is very much true in the US, where extracurricular activities and essays make an impact on the admission process as they are highly valued. The two key lessons from this are that having a 99.95 ATAR will not guarantee you admission. And to improve your chances you will have to work on your application to the maximum possible. As a general rule, your chances of entry will be better if you start learning about how to complete the application criteria in Year 10.

Also, read – How to get into a university without ATAR?

3. No cut-off ATAR scores for entry to US Universities

You will need to download the International ATAR/IB Score Guide to find out what scores are needed for admission to top universities. In the UK, the cutoff scores for the test are a little higher than those in the US, so make sure you have prepared thoroughly and have put in a sincere effort.

4. Prior knowledge is a major factor when applying overseas

This is largely true for students who apply for US sports scholarships and those who apply in subjects like physics, economics, etc. No matter what career path you choose for yourself, you should be mindful that you will be evaluated by the institutes on the basis of academic performance in the subject you select. It means you should avoid enrolling in courses that are difficult or about which you are not aware. You can check the courses on the university websites or can discuss with your Academic Advisers for information regarding course selection and prerequisites.

Also, read – Reliable Lantite Tutoring in Australia

5. Top universities in US and UK seek high scores for admission

Whatever your course choice, the top universities in the US and UK universities have always been consistent in seeking high scores for admission, as compared to universities in Australia where cut-off scores differ majorly depending on the course you have chosen to enroll in. This is where you will need to work on your strategy if you want to apply to competitive colleges or programs (such as Electrical Engineering or Computer Science at universities like UC Berkeley). You will need to understand how your course choices like course selection, entrance rounds, and university selection can impact your admission in the US and UK. To understand the essentials you can take help from academic counsellors for admission to overseas universities.

The above points will provide you great relief, however, it is recommended that you consult with your Academic Advisors and Counsellors who can help you understand the full US or UK university admission application process.