The students who spoke to the Mail-Times all received their first preference for courses.

Horsham College 2016 dux Lochie Bull will be off to the University of Melbourne to study commerce with an eye to following up with a Master of Engineering.

“I felt really excited. I was expecting it but it was my first preference so I was pretty excited,” he said.

“I’m more nervous for the scholarship.”

Lochie said a University of Melbourne scholarship would help him pay to move to the city. 

“I checked my emails today to see if my scholarship came through. It hasn’t but I should know by the end of the week,” he said.

“I got a Monash University vice-chancellor’s scholarship on Tuesday but it was smaller. I know a couple of other rural students got that as well.”

Lochie said a lot of his friends in Horsham received their first preference.

“They’re really happy about it,” he said.

“A lot of them are going to Deakin University in Geelong.”

Dimboola Memorial Secondary College 2016 dux Courtney Dove received an offer for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

“I picked a bunch of different courses, mostly in the arts at unis such as Melbourne, Monash, and La Trobe. My first preference was the arts at Melbourne University at Parkville,” she said.

“Luckily I received an offer for that course on Wednesday.”

Courtney said she was nervous ahead of getting the offer.

“Melbourne University is my dream uni. I’m beyond excited that I got in,” she said.

“I plan on majoring in media and communications, specifically in public relations.

“I was so nervous. I couldn’t sleep at all on Tuesday night and cried tears of joy as soon as I saw the offer.”

Courtney said she would continue to enjoy all of her free time as well as working before university starts.

“I’m saving up as much money as I can,” she said.

Brimpaen’s Catherine Chincarini, who was 2016 dux of Hamilton’s Monivae College as a boarding student, also received her first preference.

“I was accepted into arts and Melbourne University and residency at Newman College,” she said.

“It was definitely a relief to have it confirmed that yes, I have a place at university and a place to live.

“It was basically saying yes, you can start your life now.”