Admissions Centres Preferencing: General Discussion

[A1]

I'm an interstate applicant and looking to revise my QTAC preferences since many interview invites have already been released. If I could get some advice on below preference list, I would be extremely grateful. While my preference lies with Medicine, I would also be happy with Dentistry.

My predicted ATAR is around 99.6ish
UCAT: 3080
SJT: 605

1. Griffith Dent - I have already had the interview
2/3. JCU Med
4. Griffith Med (SC)
5. Queensland Dentistry - (see UCAT and SJT above)
6. Queensland Med - No interview invite was received. Not sure if there is any top up, but if not, what should I replace this with?

On another note, since CSU has sent out rejection letters, would it be advised to remove it from my UAC preferences.

Thank you for all the help.

--------------------
Forgot to mention that I didn't end up receiving an interview offer for JCU. Sorry for not saying this in the same post.

1. If you have received CSU rejection you can remove it if you have a use for the vacated pref slot, otherwise no harm leaving it in.
2. JCU will be sending out round2 invites around 20ish December, leave them in.
3. Have you received UQ Med rejection? If not leave it in.
If yes I suggest you remove it and squeeze Griffith GC or Nathan in above Griffith USC. If you achieve actual ATAR higher than 99.6 you could get GC/Nathan and reduce the time length by a year.

 

[L-Bannana]

1. If you have received CSU rejection you can remove it if you have a use for the vacated pref slot, otherwise no harm leaving it in.
2. JCU will be sending out round2 invites around 20ish December, leave them in.
3. Have you received UQ Med rejection? If not leave it in.
If yes I suggest you remove it and squeeze Griffith GC or Nathan in above Griffith USC. If you achieve actual ATAR higher than 99.6 you could get GC/Nathan and reduce the time length by a year.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply, it was very helpful.

If I could ask just one more question, I heard that JCU only sends interviews invites if it is preference first. Is this true? If so, would you recommend putting it over Griffith Dentistry, of which I had already interviewed for?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thank you so much for the detailed reply, it was very helpful.

If I could ask just one more question, I heard that JCU only sends interviews invites if it is preference first. Is this true? If so, would you recommend putting it over Griffith Dentistry, of which I had already interviewed for?

Nope, not true. As long as it is in your preference list somewhere, then you're eligible for a JCU offer if your written application/ATAR combo is competitive.

 

[L-Bannana]

Nope, not true. As long as it is in your preference list somewhere, then you're eligible for a JCU offer if your written application/ATAR combo is competitive.

Thank you so much for the reply.

 

[ar456]

Hi all,

Just had some questions about preferencing for different states. I'm a QLD gap-year student with 99.75 ATAR.

QLD: Any thoughts on placing JCU over Griffith/USC? It's obviously shorter and heard it's more hands on/practical vs the others. Upside of Griffith is that I won't have to relocate (less of a concern I guess).
Current preference list:
- Griffith (x2)
- USC
- JCU (x2)
- Pathway (UQ Science)

NSW: I'm an interstate, so I've sat JMP interview but am yet to sit UNSW (will be in mid-Jan). Do the different offer rounds and interview dates affect preferencing? Is there one I should preference above the other to maximise my chances? I currently have the UNSW preference over JMP.

SATAC: Thoughts on Flinders vs UAdel med? People have told me Flinders is more hands on/more rural exposure too. Is there much chance to get Flinders med without a 99.95? Current preference is UAdel (x2) followed by Flinders.

Any guidance would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[A1]

QLD: Any thoughts on placing JCU over Griffith/USC? It's obviously shorter and heard it's more hands on/practical vs the others. Upside of Griffith is that I won't have to relocate (less of a concern I guess).

Are you averse to bonded offers (not regarding working rural, more about limiting your specialty options)? If yes then place JCU unbonded above Griffith/USC, JCU bonded below.

NSW: I'm an interstate, so I've sat JMP interview but am yet to sit UNSW (will be in mid-Jan). Do the different offer rounds and interview dates affect preferencing? Is there one I should preference above the other to maximise my chances?

It won't maximise your chances, but since you will see their any offers in different rounds best to place JMP first for the mid-Jan offer round then swap UNSW to first afterwards.

SATAC: Thoughts on Flinders vs UAdel med? People have told me Flinders is more hands on/more rural exposure too. Is there much chance to get Flinders med without a 99.95? Current preference is UAdel (x2) followed by Flinders.

If you have no UES your 99.75 is out of range for Flinders. I missed out with 99.80 + top UMAT and that was when it was much easier.

 

[darkbox]

Hi all,

Just had some questions about preferencing for different states. I'm a QLD gap-year student with 99.75 ATAR.

QLD: Any thoughts on placing JCU over Griffith/USC? It's obviously shorter and heard it's more hands on/practical vs the others. Upside of Griffith is that I won't have to relocate (less of a concern I guess).
Current preference list:
- Griffith (x2)
- USC
- JCU (x2)
- Pathway (UQ Science)

NSW: I'm an interstate, so I've sat JMP interview but am yet to sit UNSW (will be in mid-Jan). Do the different offer rounds and interview dates affect preferencing? Is there one I should preference above the other to maximise my chances? I currently have the UNSW preference over JMP.

SATAC: Thoughts on Flinders vs UAdel med? People have told me Flinders is more hands on/more rural exposure too. Is there much chance to get Flinders med without a 99.95? Current preference is UAdel (x2) followed by Flinders.

Any guidance would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Aren't JCU and Griffith both 6 years?

Edit: Sorry just realised you said USC

 

[pochacco12345]

It won't maximise your chances, but since you will see their any offers in different rounds best to place JMP first for the mid-Jan offer round then swap UNSW to first afterwards.

Hello!

Regarding this, I am currently a non-standard NSW applicant and am yet to sit for UNSW (in mid-Jan). I currently have UNSW > WSU > JMP in my preferences. Would it disadvantage me in any way if I do NOT put WSU and JMP as my 1st and 2nd preference respectively for Jan Round 1 and instead keep it as my 2nd and 3rd preference respectively (as I understand that I can only get UNSW from Round 2 onwards). Or is there a particular reason why you have suggested this above? Thank you for the help!!!

 

[ar456]

Are you averse to bonded offers (not regarding working rural, more about limiting your specialty options)? If yes then place JCU unbonded above Griffith/USC, JCU bonded below.

I thought there's no such 'bonded' or 'unbonded' for JCU, rather it's either JCU Townsville or JCU Cairns as the two options (correct me if I'm wrong)?

 

[A1]

I thought there's no such 'bonded' or 'unbonded' for JCU

Oops my bad, I thought the JCU x2 were for unbonded/bonded. Since it's Townsville/Cairns I don't know what to suggest. If you qualify for only one the prefs order doesn't matter. If qualify for both JCU & Griffith/USC the risk is placing JCU higher you get JCU bonded while you would have 71% chance for Griffith unbonded later, vice versa. It's a difficult call.

I am currently a non-standard NSW applicant and am yet to sit for UNSW (in mid-Jan). I currently have UNSW > WSU > JMP in my preferences. Would it disadvantage me in any way if I do NOT put WSU and JMP as my 1st and 2nd preference respectively for Jan Round 1

In normal course of events it doesn't matter that you have UNSW at 1st pref for the Jan round1. Since your UNSW offer isn't decided in that round the 1st pref is treated as not there, effectively making WSU JMP 1st & 2nd for that round.

However in the past, UAC used to *delay* a (lower pref) WSU or JMP offer until the outcome of the higher pref is known. It seems UAC no longer does that but who knows!

 

[ar456]

Oops my bad, I thought the JCU x2 were for unbonded/bonded. Since it's Townsville/Cairns I don't know what to suggest. If you qualify for only one the prefs order doesn't matter. If qualify for both JCU & Griffith/USC the risk is placing JCU higher you get JCU bonded while you would have 71% chance for Griffith unbonded later, vice versa. It's a difficult call.

Just read on JCU's FAQ website that JCU needs to be first preference...
From prior reading and conversations, I thought JCU didn't necessarily have to be first? Maybe I'm misunderstanding...

 

[darkbox]

Hey A1,
I live in NSW and I'm in a similar situation, I got 99.85 and am just wondering what order of preferences on QTAC would be optimal from Griffith/Gold Coast or Nathans and JCU (both 6 years of course). I noticed that above you said "bonded offers (not regarding working rural, more about limiting your specialty options)" and later said "risk is placing JCU higher you get JCU bonded while you would have 71% chance for Griffith unbonded later, vice versa". I don't understand this second statement but based on how you defined a "bonded offer", how would I preference it so that I minimise the chances of getting the "bonded offer".

Currently, I have JCU as first preference because I remember seeing that non-provisional is always better than provisional.

I'm sorry if this is a bit confusing to read, wasn't sure how else to phrase it.

Thanks!

 

[A1]

Just read on JCU's FAQ website that JCU needs to be first preference...
From prior reading and conversations, I thought JCU didn't necessarily have to be first?

They mean JCU needs to be 1st (or the highest) pref if you want JCU out of multiple eligible QTAC offers.
If JCU is going to be your only QTAC offer it can be any pref.

you said "bonded offers (not regarding working rural, more about limiting your specialty options)"

I said this^ to be inclusive i.e. some applicants say they don't mind a bonded offer for the rural working part, but it does have some effect on having certain specialty options available to them so should be kept in mind.

and later said "risk is placing JCU higher you get JCU bonded while you would have 71% chance for Griffith unbonded later, vice versa". I don't understand this second statement

Two bad-scenario examples:
1. You placed JCU 1st pref - then you qualify for JCU bonded + Griffith.
Outcome is you get JCU bonded and forfeit the 71% chance unbonded Griffith.
2. You placed Griffith higher pref - then you qualify for Griffith + JCU unbonded.
Outcome is you only get 71% chance unbonded Griffith while forfeiting certainty unbonded JCU.

It's a difficult choice because right now you don't know if you get JCU will it be unbonded or bonded. There's no sure way to pref to minimise the chances of bonded offer.

 

[ar456]

They mean JCU needs to be 1st (or the highest) pref if you want JCU out of multiple QTAC offers.
If JCU is going to be your only QTAC offer it can be any pref.

I think I'm still just misunderstanding... I thought you can only ever get one QTAC offer per round?

A1 adds: Oh I see. To make it clearer I've edited it to "if you want JCU out of multiple *eligible* QTAC offers."

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I think I'm still just misunderstanding... I thought you can only ever get one QTAC offer per round?

Yes, this is correct.

Say you are eligible for offers at (for arguments sake)
Pref 1: Griffith - Dent
Pref 2: USC - Med
Pref 3: JCU - Med

You’re only going to get the Griffith Dent offer because (and this is where the JCU comment comes into play) it’s your highest preference.

However, if you’re ONLY eligible for the JCU Med offer and your preferences are as above, QTAC will skip over the first two, as you’re not eligible for them, so JCU Med effectively becomes your highest preference and so that’s the offer you get.

In other words, preference in the order you actually want. There are no ways to game the system. Weigh up the pros and cons of locations and BMPs, make a decision, and commit to it.

 

[darkbox]

Two bad-scenario examples:
1. You placed JCU 1st pref - then you qualify for JCU bonded + Griffith.
Outcome is you get JCU bonded and forfeit the 71% chance unbonded Griffith.
2. You placed Griffith higher pref - then you qualify for Griffith + JCU unbonded.
Outcome is you only get 71% chance unbonded Griffith while forfeiting certainty unbonded JCU.

It's a difficult choice because right now you don't know if you get JCU will it be unbonded or bonded. There's no sure way to pref to minimise the chances of bonded offer.

Oh I see, thanks. Just to confirm, whether or not I get JCU bonded depends on my interview performance whilst whether or not I get Griffith bonded depends on how I did in the medical science degree in the first 2 years (or is it dependant on the atar upon enrolment in the course)?

 

[A1]

Just to confirm, whether or not I get JCU bonded depends on my interview performance whilst whether or not I get Griffith bonded depends on how I did in the medical science degree in the first 2 years (or is it dependant on the atar upon enrolment in the course)?

To make it short : Yes - Yes - (No).

 

[alluli]

I am on waiting list in USyd dentistry which I have E12, I changed USyd Med on top of dentistry on 16/12. But till now I haven’t received any interview invitation from USydn med. My Atar is 99.8, so for E12 should be qualif for med. I contacted them to change my E12 course course from dentistry to med, but I got the reply is placing dentistry in the higher preferenc. Should I listen to them? or placing USyd med on top of dentistry to hope intervie invitation from USyd? Any advice.

 

[iluvsej]

Hello
Has anyone been able to confirm when WSU will be releasing their offers?
Their website just says ‘in line with UAC key dates’.
When I chatted with someone at WSU they said it was 25 Jan.
I know CSU says it will be on 12 Jan. So, could CSU and WSU release offers on different days?

 

[Desperatebaby]

Hi MSO, I have 3200 ucat and 99.80 atar. I prefer Griffith but think I have a better chance at UQ. I have UQ as my first preference at the moment. Would UQ change the ranking whether I have them as first or second preference?