Geography, convenience and a lucrative scholarship all played a part in Sandy Craze’s decision to study at Western. Now, he’s been offered a scholarship from Oxford University.

“I grew up in a country town named Bungendore, in south west NSW. There was no local high school, so I had to travel for more than an hour to attend school in Canberra. By the time I started Year 11, my family had moved to Campbelltown. I was living a five-minute bike ride away from Western’s campus – which was very appealing, after so many years of travelling to school. I did consider other universities – but I was ultimately swayed by the offer of an Academic Excellence scholarship.

I’m so glad that I chose Western, as it has opened so many doors for me. At Western I discovered my passion for Chemistry, and now I have secured a scholarship for a doctoral position at Oxford.

In my PhD, I will be working toward finding a solution for one of the world’s biggest challenges: the high levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. It’s very exciting.

If you are unsure of which University to choose – take it from me: at Western, doors will open for you!”

Lily Gosbell had a big decision to make when she finished high school in 2016.

The former house captain and prefect of Hornsby Girls High school achieved an ATAR of 99.45.

With a dream of becoming a doctor, Lily was practical in her approach of choosing the right university.

“There were three undergraduate medicine programs in NSW that I was considering. What it came down to, for me, is that the program structure at Western was very practical compared to the other unis. There were opportunities to get into hospitals and healthcare settings earlier on in the program, and to learn by doing - which really appealed to me.”

The final, deciding factor was Western’s offer of a Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarship, which recognised Lily’s involvement with local community organisations and charity groups.

“The scholarship has been life changing for me. At the moment I am living in a student residence at Bathurst, whilst completing a 12-month rural clinical placement. The scholarship has allowed me to be more financially independent and to support myself while I am studying.”

To other students who may be weighing up their options for university, Lily said: “Just go into it with an open mind. See what everyone is offering and make a decision based on what is right for you.”