Yes, you can.
I'm not here to blow my own trumpet - just to give you some evidence that it can be done as I know I looked for some inspiration after i missed out the first time.
I got an atar of 96.6 in 2013 and in the 2013 UMAT i got 66, 62, 47 (86th%ile) - narrowly missing out on interviews for the JMP and presumably UWS.
I spent a few hours every week practicing s3 questions and completing practice exams, improving my technique and overall familiarity and efficiency during my year out before the UMAT.
In the 2014 UMAT I got 65, 64, 54 (92nd%ile) receiving interviews from JMP, UWS and also JCU (improved my written application - they don't consider the UMAT). Even more remarkably i have a friend who went from roughly 40odd, 40odd, 55 in the umat (50odd %ile?) up to 57, 65, 83 (ish, but was defs 97th%ile). I don't know how, but he did.
I got rejected by JCU but we both received offers from the JMP at Newcastle today - our first preferences.
If you put your mind to it you'll get there eventually - just make sure you want it more and are doing more to make it happen than the other candidates will be.
Someone once told me, if you don't get in through the door then you'll get in through the window. So stick at it. Good luck. But you don't need it - just go make it happen.
Jake
I'm not here to blow my own trumpet - just to give you some evidence that it can be done as I know I looked for some inspiration after i missed out the first time.
I got an atar of 96.6 in 2013 and in the 2013 UMAT i got 66, 62, 47 (86th%ile) - narrowly missing out on interviews for the JMP and presumably UWS.
I spent a few hours every week practicing s3 questions and completing practice exams, improving my technique and overall familiarity and efficiency during my year out before the UMAT.
In the 2014 UMAT I got 65, 64, 54 (92nd%ile) receiving interviews from JMP, UWS and also JCU (improved my written application - they don't consider the UMAT). Even more remarkably i have a friend who went from roughly 40odd, 40odd, 55 in the umat (50odd %ile?) up to 57, 65, 83 (ish, but was defs 97th%ile). I don't know how, but he did.
I got rejected by JCU but we both received offers from the JMP at Newcastle today - our first preferences.
If you put your mind to it you'll get there eventually - just make sure you want it more and are doing more to make it happen than the other candidates will be.
Someone once told me, if you don't get in through the door then you'll get in through the window. So stick at it. Good luck. But you don't need it - just go make it happen.
Jake