Offers through the Schools Recommendation Schemes (SRS) were released on January 5, and main round offers were released through UAC at 6pm on Wednesday night.

While former St Mary’s students Keely Murphy and Sam Koenig received offers through SRS, former Gunnedah High School student Michaela Langdon was waiting on a main round offer.

Michaela is currently away in Katoomba at a NextGen conference with Keely, and said she often overheard fellow HSC students talking about the approaching release.

“I knew I would get something because the ATAR I got would definitely get me into university but I was just freaking out a bit thinking, ‘What if I don’t?’” she said.

Michaela received an offer from the University of Newcastle for her second preference, a Bachelor of Creative Industries.

“I was pretty excited,” she said.

Bachelor of Creative Industries is a new course so there was no ATAR available to give Michaela an idea of her chances.

“It’s a relief. It’s no longer on the forefront of my mind,” she said.

While Michaela is deferring her course until 2018 so she can save money, Keely and Sam are heading off to Newcastle on February 11.

The pair received offers from the University of Newcastle with Keely to begin a Bachelor of Music on February 26, and Sam beginning a Bachelor of Business on February 27.

Keely has signed a lease for a share house, and Sam has secured accommodation on campus. Both of them are currently working to save money before they head off next month.

Keely was originally considering a gap year but said she was relieved that her plans were now “set in stone”.

“I want to get going and I didn’t realise at the time what I already had and what I had in store,” she said.

“I had a job lined up and stuff like that but then I thought, ‘It’s going to take five years to do my course, so I better get going’.”

While she will miss the familiarity and friendships of home, Keely said she was looking forward to living in the same town as her sister Chloe.

Sam was away when the SRS offers were released and had no phone reception, however he said he knew he would get his first preference because of his ATAR.

“I was like ‘Good. It’s sorted’. Confirmation,” he said.

“I’m pretty excited to move away.

“Being independent, to an extent. Meeting new people, learning new things.”