And on Wednesday, when main round tertiary offers hit thousands of students' inboxes, he became the first to be accepted into university.

The former Thornbury High School student was accepted into his first preference – a bachelor of laws and global studies at Monash University.

Jakob was among seven VCE students who agreed to be filmed by Fairfax Media when they received their ATARs in November. There were plenty of gasps, deep breaths and "oh my gods".

The experience of waiting for a university offer was similar.

"It was like the ATAR all over again," he said. "I was holding my breath."

The 18-year-old expected an ATAR in the low 80s, but achieved a 94.65. He initially thought he had put in the wrong password and accessed someone else's results, but then the good news sunk in.

"You think about that number all year and then when it is assigned to you it is a weird feeling."

He is applying for scholarships to help him with the cost of university. "It's going to be a bit of a challenge," he said. "But it will open a lot of doors."

VCE student Natasha Kennedy getting her ATAR score  (with mother Trixie Kennedy).

You might remember Natasha Kennedy. She was the student who received a text message with her results five days early due to a technical glitch but resisted the temptation of opening them.

The former Aquinas College student received her second preference, film and television at Deakin University.

The aspiring film maker said she was initially a little bit disappointed that she missed out on her first choice, a similar course at Swinburne University.  But she was relieved by the end of the day.

"I was just excited I got into uni," she said.

Lachie Collie

Lachie Collie was in a ski lodge in Wyoming when he received his offer.

He had been eating lunch after a morning on the slopes when his phone pinged and an email confirmed he had been accepted into his top choice – Communication (advertising) at RMIT.

The Brighton Grammar School alumni was accepted into the degree based on his folio, an interview and his ATAR.

"I have always been creative and I was drawn to advertising because you can create a career out of these skills," he said.

Jack Arnott

There were no lengthy and dreamy summer holidays for Jack Arnott.

He started his chef's apprenticeship at the end of Year 12 at a modern Australian restaurant in the Docklands precinct called Cargo.

This meant the former St John's Regional College student, who received an ATAR of 50, was relaxed when results came out.

While hospitality hours are a change from his school routine, Jack says he loves his job.

"It's fast-paced, fun and you get to create stuff. I've always had a passion for food," he said.

"It is better than going to uni for a years and not knowing what I'm doing and racking up debt."