Re: Whats the hope for people to get around ATAR 30? There should be some way for the
I think if they're deadset on going to university, then a foundation programme like Newstep would be the best option for them. [I know Newcastle University offers it, my sister did open foundation a couple years back and achieved an UAI of 85. something... Pretty good effort considering she didn't get one at all when she left school.]
Sometimes the time of the HSC just isn't good for people. A friend of mine is a good example of that; he worked very hard all throughout the year [there was not a day when he didn't study - he put in at least 4 hours each day, sometimes getting up early just to do it] but due to the personal factors in his life [family - there was a lot of fighting] he wasn't able to perform at his best even though he is a very smart boy. It's just that everything else got in the way, and its cases like this when the ATAR is not indicative of the person at all. And it probably is the case as well for your friends. Even if they simply do a foundation course just to get a better mark, then the option of uni will always be there for them, even if they don't decide to go straight in.