It’s not easy deciding what you should do with your future, especially while you’re still at high school. Rest assured, you aren’t alone in having questions and concerns about doing the so-called ‘right’ thing. Maybe you aren’t sure if university is right for you, maybe you don’t think you’re academic marks are strong enough for university, or you don’t want to lock yourself in to study one thing, or maybe you aren’t sure about what your career options are – which is why we have put together some information to bust some of the most common myths about studying at university.

Why university is a great choice 

While we can’t tell you individually exactly what you should do, we do know the benefits of higher education and the overall experience of being at university. Studying for a degree is so much more than just gaining knowledge and skills for a particular job.

University offers:

• Greater earning potential.
• The opportunity to delve deep into a topic you enjoy.
• An introduction to a career or industry without being locked into a job role.
• Learning about a wide variety of new subjects.
• The option to swap courses entirely if you change your mind.
• Growth as an individual and expanding your thinking.
• Being surrounded by like-minded people, and meeting new friends and future colleagues.
• Unique opportunities such as study abroad, internships, and accessing innovative technology.

It’s no exaggeration that choosing to enrol at university could be a sliding door moment that changes your life.

Busting common myths about university 

University is just an extension of high school

No, it really isn’t. There are many happy and settled university students, and very successful graduates, who didn’t like or excel at secondary school. This can be for a whole host of reasons, personal to each individual. University is entirely different, so don’t write it off because of past learning experiences or you could be doing your future self a great disservice. Here are ten ways university is different to high school.

I’m not the academic type

This is another big one. It might come as a surprise that many of our university courses are practical and active, and balance the academics and book-learning in equal measure.

For example, Forensic Biology and Toxicology is a hands-on course that will take you out into the field, digging around at Whitby Falls. Or there’s courses like Entrepreneurship and Innovation where you’ll create and develop your own business idea, and have the chance launch it in your final year. Then there’s Nursing and Teaching where you get countless hours of on-the-job training in real work places as well as our on-campus simulation suites. Or you could even study a variety of gaming degrees, building computer, mobile and video games!

I should already know what career I want

You might think so, but students change their mind all the time. Nothing is set in stone, and once you’re in at Murdoch, you have a world of potential careers opened up to you. Learn more about what you should do when you don’t know what to study, and get your head around majors and minors.

It’s a big decision and I’ll be locked in

It’s understandable you might have concerns such as costs of a university degree and the time commitment involved. However, you are never locked in. You can always defer your studies until you feel ready, and you can drop units before a set date each semester without any financial penalties.

What’s university like?

It can be whatever you want it to be. In general, university is a welcoming, inclusive, and social environment filled with people from all walks of life, with a huge variety of interests, personalities, and backgrounds. This is one of the very best things about university culture: you are free to be yourself, whether that’s reserved, athletic, analytical, serious, or cheerful.

Most people are interested in making friends and having a good time, and there are plenty of social opportunities on campus. For example:

• More than 110 different clubs and societies, with everything from esports to bubble tea, politics to scuba diving, cat lovers to writing groups.
• Exercise and sporting teams with Murdoch Active.
• Year-round events on campus.

Need more inspiration? Here are five very good reasons why you should join a club.

Options after high school

If you’re worried you might not meet entry to university, there are several different pathways into Murdoch. These pathways include OnTrack Flex, OnTrack Sprint and the STAT test, amongst others. Find your pathway to Murdoch.