To help students choose the study options that best suit them, Charles Sturt University, Southern Cross University and the University of New England teamed up to visit the students at Orange High School yesterday as part of the Regional University Road Show.

While the students are still a long way from even sitting their Higher School Certificate, Orange High School careers adviser Carol Waterer says it is important for the students to know their options early on.

“It is vital at this time of the year,” she said.

“This sets the scene for the research they have to do so they can make these choices at the end of the year.”

The road show included vital information that is often overlooked by students, such as how to fund the enormous costs associated with university life.

“We are giving them the generic information to help them make an informed decision,” student adviser Katy O’Brien said.

“The feedback we have been provided with is that we have given the students things to think about.

“It is a call to action, they need to start thinking now and not leaving it to the last minute.”

Yesterday’s information session was successful in giving students the “wake-up call” that organisers were hoping to get across.

“It was good, I really had no idea about any of this,” year 12 Orange High School student Brittany Robertson said.

The cost of living and budgeting, something most students aren’t aware of until they leave home, was one factor that really made the audience think.

“Probably the money issue is definitely something most of us are concerned about,” Brittany said.