Hi,
I'm hoping to attend usyd next year (09) and I'm looking around at colleges because i live in quite literally the middle of nowhere (a property about an hours drive out of Newcastle). I have a couple of questions that maybe someone with a spare 5 minutes could answer?
1. I'll only be 17 when i hit uni, and i'm not keen on drinking now - i nearly throw up after eating a rumball! Will this ostracise me at college? Im not a hermit and i'm more than happy to get sugar high and party it up with everyone else, but my crowd at school now generally steer clear of drinking, and I'd like to preserve that practice for a year or two more, as would my parents, who have told me if i touch alcohol before 18 they'll excommunicate me or something :S So i guess what i'm asking is, is the drinking culture at college that huge that you won't have a life if you dont drink?
2. When scholarships ask for evidence of sporting success, does that mean state champion or could it be as simple as playing netball for the same team for 8 years and winning most improved a couple of times? I'm not good at sport, but i like to play and love to support others.
3. A lot of colleges say that undergraduate scholarships are awarded only after 1st semester. Are there any that award upfront? My parents cant afford to put me through college without one, even for six months, yet I'd fail a means test based on their incomes.
4. Does anyone know how rural/isolated you have to be to be eligible for a centrelink or university scholarship based on disadvantage through geographical isolation?
5. When should I put in my application for college? A lot of the colleges haven't uploaded their 09 application forms to the net yet, but if i call will they be able to send them to me in the mail?
6. {By far the most challenging and open to bias} Based on the information above, as well as my academic and community service inclination and the availability of scholarships, could anyone recommend a college to me? I've literally read this entire thread and have gone on a rollercoaster from getting a vibe for each college to being completely confused, so if there is something specific you think a college has to offer to me, or i have to offer a college, please let me know!
Thanks so much for reading and any feedback!
Sophie