An early offer to university has added to the excitement and emotion of finishing high school for three House Captains from Maryborough’s St Mary’s College.

Isabella Muza, Abbey Crompton and Holly Carvolth are among about 50 Fraser Coast students who received early offers from USC last Friday, well ahead of their final results and Overall Position (OP) scores or ranks, which are not released until mid-December.

“It was an incredible feeling to walk out of school for the last time knowing I have certainty around what is going to happen next year,” said Abbey, who has accepted an offer to study a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at USC’s Sunshine Coast campus.

“Not having to be nervous about my results really took the pressure off during Year 12,” she said.

“I still worked hard to do my best. However I think I actually performed better at school because I wasn’t so stressed.

“Now while others are still waiting and worrying until the QTAC offer round in January, I am going to go away to celebrate the end of school already enrolled in my preferred course with my uni plans basically all sorted.”

Holly also is planning to move to the Sunshine Coast to study a Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning, while Isabella will stay closer to home after receiving an offer to enrol in the Bachelor of Primary Education at USC’s Fraser Coast campus.

The popularity of the USC’s Early Offer scheme continues to grow, with more than 700 students applying this year for places across the University’s various campuses at the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Caboolture and Moreton Bay.

The offers are based on the recommendations of school principals instead of Year 12 results, OP scores and ranks.

Students are assessed on their academic performance, motivation, talents, passions and abilities to succeed at university and need to complete prerequisite subjects for their chosen program.

More than 100 undergraduate degrees are on offer through the scheme, however some health and science related programs are not available.

Applications are open to study at USC next year.

— Clare McKay