Santa comes early to deliver OPs and uni dreams

Alex Tedman achieved an OP 1 and plans to study medicine at the University of Queensland. (posted 20.12.09)

AT 11.59pm Friday, December 18, hundreds of school leavers across the Coast hit the refresh button on the SmartOP website and discovered the OP they had been dreaming about for months.

For Alex Tedman, Matthew Flinders Anglican College's 2009 Captain, it was a moment of pure relief when an OP1 popped up on the screen.

“I was literally hitting the refresh button for an hour, a lot of my friends were online talking on Facebook ready to get their OPs,” Alex said.

An OP1 means Alex will be off to the University of Queensland next year to study medicine.

Another Matthew Flinders Anglican College student, Xanthe Dobbie, was “stoked” with her OP2 especially considering she spent most of the year in the art department.

The budding artist did not need an OP as she has already been accepted into three fine arts programs.

Her first choice is RMIT University, followed by the University of Melbourne and Monash University.

“I didn’t need an OP but I thought, why not,” Xanthe said.

Xanthe Dobbie self-portrait. “I spent most of my time in the art department not studying, but serendipity came to the fore and I did well,” she said.

Xanthe hopes to major in drawing at university.

An OP1 means Alex is in the top 3% of all school leavers who received an OP this year.

More than 26,000 school leavers received their OPs yesterday and 761 achieved the top mark.

That is an increase on the 640 students who received the same mark last year.

Minister for education Geoff Wilson said there had been a significant rise in the number of school leavers who had received an OP between one and 15.

There were 19130 Queensland students who received an OP1 to 15, which was 1000 more than last year.

Students had the choice of receiving their OP online, via SMS or in the post.

Those waiting on the mail will have to hang on until Monday to find out their OP.

For further information on OPs go to the QSA information hotline on 1800 772 457.

Story: Sarah Crawford. Photo: Nicholas Falconer, Sunshine Coast Daily

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