Thinking about applying for the Educational Access Scheme (inpUTS) or the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)?
Photo credit: Toby Burrows
We sat down to chat with one of our ambassadors (Kamil Abdullahi, B. Business) who used both inpUTS and SRS to boost her application into UTS. Here’s what she had to say.
Q: How did inpUTS help you?
A: InpUTS helped me a lot. It helped me gain access to my degree, and it also really helped my mental health during my final year of high school. Because I knew I was applying for this and I was eligible to get this help, I wasn't as stressed during the HSC because I knew that I had a backup plan If I didn't get the marks.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give students currently thinking about applying for inpUTS?
A: I would encourage students to focus on their mental health first. Depending on your situation, the application process can range from being streamlined like mine or having to get a lot of documentation, which can be difficult. If you're finding it stressful with collecting evidence for your application, definitely reach out to adults who can support you at home or at school to help ease your load. You don't want to be stressing more about this application than the actual HSC.
Kamil also applied using the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS). Because these two often go hand in hand, we thought we’d ask her about SRS too!
Q: Can you tell us a bit about SRS?
A: SRS is the Schools Recommendation Scheme. To apply for SRS for UTS, you have to be eligible for EAS even though SRS is a separate scheme. In applying for SRS, your school needs to write a recommendation that says you are a good fit for University, and despite not getting the ATAR, you should still have the opportunity to attend University.
Q: How did you apply?
A: I spoke to my school career advisor, and she made the application for me. She was the person who wrote my recommendation as well. I had to get statements from all my teachers vouching for me, and I used those statements in the recommendation.
Q: How did you find the application process?
A: I found the application process quite easy. This is primarily because I was already very well acquainted with my school's career advisor, so she knew me quite well. And I was very vocal about how UTS was my dream university, so she wanted to do everything she could to help me get in. Anyone who has to make a more extended application for EAS will find SRS a lot more streamlined because it has less to do with you collecting information and involves your teachers working together.
Q: What is one piece of advice that you would give to students currently thinking about applying to SRS?
A: During Year 12, I was just focused on getting into university – I wasn't stressed about what degree I would be doing as long as I was studying at UTS. Knowing what I know now, I would make sure to advise anyone I know in Year 12 that is thinking about applying for SRS to preference their absolute dream degrees, no matter the ATAR.
Find out more about our Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) today. For 2021, SRS has been expanded to recognise the considerable disruption many students have faced in their Year 12 studies due to COVID-19, as well as students that face a range of educational disadvantages.