Winning stories from selective graduates

Selective schools are often judged by HSC leader boards, but families rightly wonder, “Where do graduates go from there?” To find out, we gathered stories from Selective school graduates whose careers span across elite sport and medicine, law and journalism, corporate risk and finance, and university study in commerce and economics. Their journeys show that a selective school education offers more than one path to distinction. It equips students with the ambition, networks and resilience to thrive in whatever field they pursue.

Jana Pittman – World-Champion Athlete & Women’s-Health Doctor

Jana Pittman’s resume reads like two full careers rolled into one: dual world champion hurdler, two-time Summer Olympian, Winter Olympian in bobsleigh and now an obstetrician-gynaecologist. Her journey began at Girraween High School, where teachers adjusted training timetables and accelerated her science courses so she never had to choose between the track and the lab. That flexible, high-expectation environment showed her that academic and athletic goals could co-exist. Today Dr Pittman brings the same resilience she learned hurdling 400 metres to supporting women through high-risk pregnancies and advocating for preventive health.

Jessica Looi – Enterprise-Risk Leader & Community Advocate

From ABC’s legal desk to Deloitte consulting and now leading enterprise-wide risk transformation at Port Authority of NSW, Jessica Looi has built a career on rapid learning and strategic thinking. She traces the roots of that agility back to her days at Baulkham Hills High School, where achievement was a team sport.

“Being surrounded by bright, motivated classmates pushed me to lift my game. It felt like one giant study group,” she recalls.

Inspired by passionate Ancient History and Legal Studies teachers, Jessica volunteered with AIME and community legal centres while studying Law and Journalism. Three competitive internship rounds later she landed at the ABC, then pivoted into risk advisory at Deloitte and Westpac, followed by Port Authority of NSW. Her journey shows how the selective school mindset of analytical rigour, collaboration and an appetite for challenge can translate into a career that evolves confidently across industries and leadership roles.

Sharman Singlachar – Recent Graduate, Aspiring Economist & Swot Shop Mentor

Fresh out of Baulkham Hills High School in 2022, with Band 6 results in Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2 and Physics, Sharman Singlachar is already applying selective school habits to life beyond Year 12. Now in his third year of a Commerce/Economics double degree at UNSW, he balances university study with a part-time role back where his journey began: the Swot Shop classroom.

“The best part of a Selective school was being surrounded by peers who were all striving to excel and willing to work together,” he reflects.

As a teaching assistant in our Selective Preparation program, Sharman now guides Year 5 and 6 students through the very Maths problems he once tackled himself. His story shows parents that Selective schools not only drive academic excellence but also nurture leadership and a spirit of giving back.

Across fields as diverse as athletics, medicine, corporate risk, law, journalism, economics and education, one pattern stands out: Selective schools cultivate the confidence to set ambitious goals and the discipline to attain them. Whether your child’s passion lies in science, sport, humanities or business, for the right student, a selective school environment can provide the mindset, mentorship and peer support that turn early promise into lasting success.

Selective Exam Preparation at The Swot Shop

The Swot Shop’s Selective Preparation Program is meticulously designed for high academic achievers, tailored to the rigorous demands of Selective high school entry examinations. A new cohort of Selective Exam preparation students will start in Term 4.

To seek enrolment, book an entry test below.