High-achieving students leading the way in transition to university life

Melbourne students Ryan Oakley and Vincent Pang have already experienced university life. 

Both participated in the University of Melbourne Extension Program in 2012, completing a first year university subject as part of their year 12 studies. Each excelled in their chosen area of study and were awarded prizes for academic excellence in mathematics. 

The extension program has helped more than 200 high-achieving secondary students ease their way into university this year, by providing skills that help them transition to university life. 

For Vincent Pang, the opportunity to study at university level allowed him to consider where mathematics could take him.

“Classes were small but you still engage with everybody there: people were very friendly. I found it very exciting, very stimulating. It was fun going to class each week,” he says.

This year, Mr Pang has accepted a first-round offer to study for a Bachelor of Science at the University and is “pretty excited” to continue his Melbourne experience.

Ryan Oakley also studied mathematics in the extension program and will begin a Bachelor of Science as a Chancellor’s Scholar at the University this year. 

He says he was “absolutely stoked” when he received the offer and chose to study science, with the intention of becoming a vet later in life.

“Being a Chancellor’s Scholar guarantees me a placement into a post-graduate course of my choice, and having a secure position down the track is a fantastic and stress-free feeling,” he says.

Mr Oakley found the UMEP program motivating and thinks it will give him a leg-up during his first year at university.

“I can skip certain introductory subjects and jump right into the deep end,” he says. “I was actually surprised at how little the program intruded with my year 12, and the close friendships you form in the program definitely help keep you motivated.”

In its 21st year, the extension program has grown to offer 21 different subjects and is enrolling new students. 

Biology student Jennifer Volaric chose to study the subject because of its dynamic content.

“What we study keeps changing…It was really nice going to the study school each week. It was a really small class and that was really good. But also because I’d done year 12 Biology last year, it was really good to continue with it so I didn’t forget things. The practicals were something I looked forward to,” she says.

At the extension program prize ceremony for academic excellence, Faculty of Arts Dean, Professor Mark Considine acknowledged the benefits and skills students gained by participating in the program.

“As extension program students you have extended your knowledge of your chosen subject area, and have adapted well to new teaching styles, more independent learning and, for those students whose extension subject was based on campus, very different teaching and social environments. The maturity you have demonstrated while managing your study schedule and workload will prepare you well for your move to full-time university study.”

Program Coordinator Kellie Henderson said the program has many benefits for year 12 students including meeting like-minded high-achieving students and preparing them for the transition to university study.

“Extension program students receive a university experience during year 12, which means their transition to full-time tertiary study in the following year is much easier – they have already orientated themselves around the campus, used the libraries, completed tertiary-level assignments, sat exams at the University, and so on,” she says.

The program is strongly supported by passionate academic staff at the University who see it as a valuable opportunity for the University to provide a challenge and exciting opportunities to Year 12 students, according to Ms Henderson.

Depending on the subject area chosen, classes are held on campus at the University of Melbourne in Parkville and taught by University lecturers or tutors, or off campus at a participating school taught by teachers trained by the University to teach the subject area

Secondary schools involved in the program promise a diverse cohort from a range of Victorian secondary schools. 

In 2012, the extension program had 220 students from almost 90 different schools successfully complete the extension program. Students came from a mix of public, independent and Catholic schools and the 2012 extension program cohort included domestic and international VCE students.”

Future plans for the extension program include increasing the number of extension subjects and their availability.

“At present we are in the very early days of discussions about the viability of offering some Extension Program subjects in more accessible ways so that students from regional areas can participate (for example, there has been some talk about the mathematics subject being streamed online to classes of students in various regional locations,” Ms Henderson says.

Perhaps the value of the extension program is best summarised by Vincent, who recommends future year 12 students consider the extension program.

“I would encourage them, they have nothing to lose. You meet a lot of new people, you see what the work is like at uni. It’s a great experience.”

www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/info/school-students/extension-program