I was actually contemplating B.Design @ NIDA, but then I decided that because it was more focused on costume and set sort of things that it wasn't really my department because I've basically known or have been interested in Graphic Design since year 9 when I started mucking round on photoshop...and by the time year 12 rolled round I was doing design jobs for people and trying to complete my HSC at the same time - lol.
But yeah, heaps of people say that they only accept those who come fresh out of highschool at NIDA in 'exceptional' circumstances - so that was another reason why I decided it wasn't for me, as much as I love theatre and design for theatre. I did apply to a course at Charles Sturt Uni - I think it was called Design for Theatre or something, and that was more geared for what I wanted to do in regards to the theatre industry, although they wanted an audition for acting aswell, and acting was never really my forte, or so I though anyway.
But it was when I was in year 12 and doing all those jobs for people it was then that I decided I'd go to Newcastle Uni and do a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design, which is geared for advertising, corporate identity, marketing, the works of graphic design basically - so that's where I'm at now, I was lucky enough to get in, and the best thing is that I've got 30 units of general electives I can blow on Drama, so I still get to do both the things I love. So I'm majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Production Design, mainly in the Lighting department, cos I do lighting at youth rallies and concerts and stuff - and on top of all that, I have my own Design business now...
But yeah, it took me a lot of research into uni's and courses and whatnot to be where I am and what I'm doing at uni now because I wanted to make sure I was picking the right thing that'd eventually get me 'qualified' officially for what I wanted to make a career out of - but it's good you're deferring for a year, because you have lots of time to mull it all over and look into things to find out what's best for you.
I know I'm no 'professional' in the industry yet, but boy do I know you have an eye for design - I was just like WOW, that is INCREDIBLE! It's seriously the kind of standard I'd expect from a paid graphic designer in a firm - I nearly had a heart attack! lol.