Admissions Centres Preferencing: General Discussion

[darkbox]

I am curious why do so many people preference UNSW over WSU. Careerwise WSU is the clear choice (as indicated by many doctors in this very thread) so then do people pick UNSW for the simple factor that it is more prestigous and/or because of better social life?

 

[cherry19]

I am curious why do so many people preference UNSW over WSU. Careerwise WSU is the clear choice (as indicated by many doctors in this very thread) so then do people pick UNSW for the simple factor that it is more prestigous and/or because of better social life?

One other reason could be convenience for some people (as it is in my case ~ UNSW is really close to home)

 

[A1]

Great, thanks! Also just when it comes to declining an offer on UAC, do you just let the offer lapse or do something else?

The offer email usually has a link/option to decline. If not you should call the uni to let them know you decline.

Hypothetically if you decide to keep UNSW and decline WSU, since you already accepted/enrolled WSU you should (1) call to let WSU know so that they offer the place to another applicant, and (2) withdraw from the WSU enrolment.

 

[cherry19]

The offer email usually has a link/option to decline. If not you should call the uni to let them know you decline.

Hypothetically if you decide to keep UNSW and decline WSU, since you already accepted/enrolled WSU you should (1) call to let WSU know so that they offer the place to another applicant, and (2) withdraw from the WSU enrolment.

Thank you. There was no decline option in my UAC offer email (for WSU) so I'd probably have to contact UNSW if I wanted to decline

 

[dltjwns729]

Today, in the hopes of receiving a top-up offer, I have changed my preference list on SATAC and moved Flinders Medicine from 3rd to 1st preference without being aware that 3rd of January was the deadline for making changes to preferences. Now, mySATAC displays ‘Not eligible for offer – late’ under the ‘offer status’ on my application page. Does this mean I will no longer be considered for an offer? Thanks

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Today, in the hopes of receiving a top-up offer, I have changed my preference list on SATAC and moved Flinders Medicine from 3rd to 1st preference without being aware that 3rd of January was the deadline for making changes to preferences. Now, mySATAC displays ‘Not eligible for offer – late’ under the ‘offer status’ on my application page. Does this mean I will no longer be considered for an offer? Thanks

It certainly reads that way but I’d for sure be calling SATAC first thing tomorrow to clarify +/- beg them to revert it/fix it if so (recognising that they may not).

 

[dltjwns729]

In universities with potentially high decline rates (just my speculation from MSO data ) like UAdel, Flinders, and Griffith Dent, do these universities tend to over-offer beyond their set quota during the first round?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

In universities with potentially high decline rates (just my speculation from MSO data ) like UAdel, Flinders, and Griffith Dent, do these universities tend to over-offer beyond their set quota during the first round?

Yes, there’s some historical evidence they do from memory (relating to JCU specifically). But UAdel also have a substantial and prolonged offer process which suggests maybe they don’t do this? Or at least not to any substantial degree?

I think I remember an NZ dent course had this habit bite them in the butt one year when accepts were higher than expected and they had to encourage some people to defer!

 

[A1]

In universities with potentially high decline rates (just my speculation from MSO data ) like UAdel, Flinders, and Griffith Dent, do these universities tend to over-offer beyond their set quota during the first round?

Agreed with DrLMG that UAdel doesn't seem to over-offer.

Otoh I'm 120% positive Flinders does. Flinders has about 30 provisional places, in a year that I happened to see the stats they made 60+ offers. More than half must have declined coz a few top-ups still came out afterwards.

 

[bigmac74]

SACE released ATAR today. So, SATAC also updated application. UAdel med and dent application shows 'Eligible to be considered for offer'. But, Flinders med shows 'Awaiting Results'. I don't know what difference is. In last year, Flinders med showed 'Eligible for consideration'.
But SATAC said "
The status for my preference(s) says ‘Eligible for consideration’. What does this mean?
This means that you have met the entry requirements for that course and can be placed into scheduled offer rounds for consideration of an offer. Once you are eligible, whether you receive an offer will depend on your competitiveness."

Who anyone who applied for Flinders med can confirm it.

 

[dltjwns729]

SACE released ATAR today. So, SATAC also updated application. UAdel med and dent application shows 'Eligible to be considered for offer'. But, Flinders med shows 'Awaiting Results'. I don't know what difference is. In last year, Flinders med showed 'Eligible for consideration'.
But SATAC said "
The status for my preference(s) says ‘Eligible for consideration’. What does this mean?
This means that you have met the entry requirements for that course and can be placed into scheduled offer rounds for consideration of an offer. Once you are eligible, whether you receive an offer will depend on your competitiveness."

Who anyone who applied for Flinders med can confirm it.

I applied for Flinders and mine says 'Awaiting Results' as well.

 

[bigmac74]

I applied for Flinders and mine says 'Awaiting Results' as well.

Thanks. I hope SATAC updates it shortly.

 

[Baljit]

Does Bachelor of Dental Science - CSU - Orange Campus offer second round interview offer ? Would anyone know - Based on that I can either keep or remove it from my preference list.....

 

[RainRainGoAway]

UNSW vs WSU preferencing.

Just to stir the pot a little have you guys realised UAC has made this preferencing a little easier for interstate applicants than for NSW students?

Assuming the general preferences are UNSW unbonded > WSU unbonded > UNSW bonded > WSU bonded. An interstate applicant can place WSU 1st pref for the 1st round, receive a place offer (whether bonded or unbonded) & accept it, do the UNSW interview, move UNSW to 1st pref for 2nd round, also get an offer. Then have 1-2 weeks to choose between the two depending on bonded/unbonded.

A NSW applicant needs to put UNSW above WSU for the 1st round, let's say get a UNSW bonded offer. Now what?

- Move WSU to 1st pref for the 2nd round hoping for unbonded? Unfortunately WSU doesn't have a formal 2nd round for med.

- Imitate an interstate by putting WSU 1st pref for 1st round then UNSW 1st pref for 2nd round? I'm not sure anyone will be brave enough to do that. Not me since I wouldn't want to miss out on a UNSW offer 1st round (due to getting a WSU bonded for example) while there's no guarantee of a UNSW comeback in the 2nd round.

The interstates turn the table on the instates for once haha.

Hey,

I have another question

If I put WSU as my first preference and then move UNSW to the top for the second round, who am I competing with for spots and how many are there? Are there spots reserved for the second round offers or are they mainly top ups for UNSW? Am I more likely to get a first round offer if I interviewed in the first round, meaning I am at a disadvantage in the second round? Would it then be worth putting UNSW first?

Also, will my ranking change? Ie if I was ranked 35th for an offer in the first round, once people shift around and accept/decline offers, does my ranking change?


EDIT: Just read thru the whole thread and realized I’m just going to have to pick , I’ve had my q answered!

 

[A1]

Are there spots reserved for the second round offers or are they mainly top ups for UNSW?

UNSW does reserve a generous number of spots for the 2nd round. This should not be seen as favouring 2nd round, there's a reason for it.

The 2nd round interviewees + the 1st round missing-outs are put into one pool for these reserved spots + any 1st round declined spots. This ensures 1st rounders & 2nd rounders are subject to the same offers ranking cutoff.

If I put WSU as my first preference and then move UNSW to the top for the second round, who am I competing with for spots and how many are there?

Who you are competing against is as explained above. But there's another issue.

1. If you qualify for & get WSU being first pref, and you DON'T qualify for UNSW 1st round then you can do as above.

2. If you happen to qualify for both WSU + UNSW (in the 1st round) and get WSU being 1st pref, UNSW won't put you into the 2nd round pool (UNSW confirmed this by email to me). Reason is UNSW views it as you were made an offer but you declined it (actually UAC declined it on your behalf due to your WSU 1st pref) so no 2nd round consideration.

 

[CHStar]

Have had a few interviews, some that went better than others. ATAR was ok but not mind blowing. Am wondering about changing preferences from med to dental, or adding those on qtac, uac etc?

 

[A1]

Have had a few interviews, some that went better than others. ATAR was ok but not mind blowing. Am wondering about changing preferences from med to dental, or adding those on qtac, uac etc?

Unless you need to remove one from the pref list to make room for another, please don't swap around your prefs without good reasons.

Moving them around does NOT increase your offer chances. In fact it can decrease.

Example your actual preference is A then B. After the interview you think you did better at B so you change the prefs to B higher than A.
If it turns out you qualify for both then you get B, thus decreases your chance of getting A.

 

[RainRainGoAway]

UNSW does reserve a generous number of spots for the 2nd round. This should not be seen as favouring 2nd round, there's a reason for it.

The 2nd round interviewees + the 1st round missing-outs are put into one pool for these reserved spots + any 1st round declined spots. This ensures 1st rounders & 2nd rounders are subject to the same offers ranking cutoff.


Who you are competing against is as explained above. But there's another issue.

1. If you qualify for & get WSU being first pref, and you DON'T qualify for UNSW 1st round then you can do as above.

2. If you happen to qualify for both WSU + UNSW (in the 1st round) and get WSU being 1st pref, UNSW won't put you into the 2nd round pool (UNSW confirmed this by email to me). Reason is UNSW views it as you were made an offer but you declined it (actually UAC declined it on your behalf due to your WSU 1st pref) so no 2nd round consideration.

I am confused then, as to why people’s preference UNSW first as I was thinking of putting Western myself, but I want to see the other side of it before making a decision.

Also, would it be a stupid idea to put the uni I feel I did worse in the interview first? Then if I don’t get that I know and I get my second preference?

 

[A1]

I am confused then, as to why people’s preference UNSW first

People preference UNSW first because they prefer UNSW, maybe for its location not so far out west maybe for misguided "prestige".

Also, would it be a stupid idea to put the uni I feel I did worse in the interview first? Then if I don’t get that I know and I get my second preference?

Your interview is ranked relative to other applicants, not relative to you at another uni.
Meaning you feel you did worse but if other applicants did worse than worse you're still in front for that uni.

Your pref order has no impact when you qualify for none or one offer - you get none or that offer regardless of pref order.
It only matters when you qualify for multiple offers, then in this case which one do you actually prefer?

Try this scenario. Say you prefer UNSW, you feel you did worse in the WSU interview so you put WSU at 1st pref. Explain to me what advantage you think you will gain doing that.
I only see the disadvantage of locking yourself out of UNSW if you qualify for both in the 1st round.

 

[RainRainGoAway]

People preference UNSW first because they prefer UNSW, maybe for its location not so far out west maybe for misguided "prestige".


Your interview is ranked relative to other applicants, not relative to you at another uni.
Meaning you feel you did worse but if other applicants did worse than worse you're still in front for that uni.

Your pref order has no impact when you qualify for none or one offer - you get none or that offer regardless of pref order.
It only matters when you qualify for multiple offers, then in this case which one do you actually prefer?

Try this scenario. Say you prefer UNSW, you feel you did worse in the WSU interview so you put WSU at 1st pref. Explain to me what advantage you think you will gain doing that.
I only see the disadvantage of locking yourself out of UNSW if you qualify for both in the 1st round.

All good points A1, Thankyou!

I am honestly happy with both unis, I am just trying to see where I’d get a CSP tbh