Admissions Centres Questions and Discussion

[ucatboy]

2. USYD (Also will I have a higher chance if i choose Arts/Med over Science/Med?)

No I don't think so, it's just a matter of personal preference as both pathways have the same ATAR requirement. I don't think there is a quota for each, per se.

 

[TKAO]

Why did u specify “as a local”? How would this change for an interstate applicant looking to maximise their chances?

There is no maximising of chances. It's not a percentage and a roll of a dice. That's not how it works. You either get it and it's the highest preference, or you don't and defaults to the next one. The reason I said local is because interstate rounds occur at different times meaning that you can hold onto offers or potentially do some switcheroos if you so choose.

 

[COOL KID]

Please let me know how this works. I have applied through UAC for 5 universities. How does this offer rounds works. UNSW is my 2nd preference and I get an offer from them but not USYD which is my first choice. very confused.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Please let me know how this works. I have applied through UAC for 5 universities. How does this offer rounds works. UNSW is my 2nd preference and I get an offer from them but not USYD which is my first choice. very confused.

I'm assuming you're an international student, so I'm not sure if it works in the same way that it does for domestic students. There could be a couple of things happening here:

1. You did not end up successful for a USyd offer, but you were successful for a UNSW offer, so you have been offered your second preference as it's the highest preference you are eligible for an offer to.
2. USyd have not made offers yet, and UNSW is the highest available offer you currently have, and USyd may still offer you something when their offers are released.

Do you have a message next to your USyd application in UAC giving you any indication? The messages are not always accurate, but it could be helpful.

 

[fishy87]

hi guys, this might be a bit of a weird question - but with the UNSW MAP application seeing as they have a very strict word limit (~30-50 words), does anyone have any general guidelines for answering the questions? for example with their question "in 30 words or less tell us who you are", should we focus more on academics, hobbies or something else? does anyone know if there is a particular style of answers they're looking for?

 

[Sokka]

hi guys, this might be a bit of a weird question - but with the UNSW MAP application seeing as they have a very strict word limit (~30-50 words), does anyone have any general guidelines for answering the questions? for example with their question "in 30 words or less tell us who you are", should we focus more on academics, hobbies or something else? does anyone know if there is a particular style of answers they're looking for?

(quick disclaimer, I’m a year 12 student too so try getting a second opinion)
Its not assessed, it’s just something they may bring up in the interview. Then again, try to give some insights on who you are (there’s no point saying “I’m a hard worker” because they are probably expecting that from a future med student anyway). Think about something they wouldn’t assume is my best advice.

 

[Crow]

hi guys, this might be a bit of a weird question - but with the UNSW MAP application seeing as they have a very strict word limit (~30-50 words), does anyone have any general guidelines for answering the questions? for example with their question "in 30 words or less tell us who you are", should we focus more on academics, hobbies or something else? does anyone know if there is a particular style of answers they're looking for?

Include something that you want to discuss in the interview. They’ll use that as a point of reference - so if there’s something that you believe will support your application and make you look good in the eyes of the interviewers, include it. I definitely wouldn’t focus on academics - that’s what ATAR is for. Try and show that you have a personality and interests outside of academic pursuits, as that’s likely what they want out of their applicants.

 

[fishy87]

Include something that you want to discuss in the interview. They’ll use that as a point of reference - so if there’s something that you believe will support your application and make you look good in the eyes of the interviewers, include it. I definitely wouldn’t focus on academics - that’s what ATAR is for. Try and show that you have a personality and interests outside of academic pursuits, as that’s likely what they want out of their applicants.

okay, thank you!!

 

[qUiCkMaThS]

Hey guys,
I graduated hs in 2019 with an atar of 97.95 from nsw and I had applied all over australia (even though I had a 44%ile ucat ) On satac last year, I checked and had gotten an atar of 99.8 and I assumed that satac just converted interstate atars and didn't think too much about it until now (also I don't have ues or any disadvantages). I was going to reply to someone else who had a higher atar (nsw) than mine and I thought that she/he may have a higher satac atar, so I was researching to make sure I was giving them right info and I was unable to find anything on atar conversions between states and territories. I also looked through quite a few of the threads and I wasn't able to find much about it. Knowing uac's impressive record, I reckon satac somehow made a mistake. I also doubled checked right know and my satac portal still shows an atar of 99.8, so does anyone want to confirm if they've had their atar converted too?

Thanks

 

[ucatboy]

Hey guys,
I graduated hs in 2019 with an atar of 97.95 from nsw and I had applied all over australia (even though I had a 44%ile ucat ) On satac last year, I checked and had gotten an atar of 99.8 and I assumed that satac just converted interstate atars and didn't think too much about it until now (also I don't have ues or any disadvantages). I was going to reply to someone else who had a higher atar (nsw) than mine and I thought that she/he may have a higher satac atar, so I was researching to make sure I was giving them right info and I was unable to find anything on atar conversions between states and territories. I also looked through quite a few of the threads and I wasn't able to find much about it. Knowing uac's impressive record, I reckon satac somehow made a mistake. I also doubled checked right know and my satac portal still shows an atar of 99.8, so does anyone want to confirm if they've had their atar converted too?

Thanks

I had no idea SATAC even displayed one's ATAR - can you show a snip of where you found it?

 

[A1]

I graduated hs in 2019 with an atar of 97.95 from nsw and I had applied all over australia (even though I had a 44%ile ucat ) On satac last year, I checked and had gotten an atar of 99.8 and I assumed that satac just converted interstate atars

SATAC doesn't convert all interstate ATARs per se. Your school may have behind the scene qualified as disadvantaged so SATAC gave you 5 UES bonus marks.

They first converted your interstate 97.95 to the equivalent SA aggregate, added 5 to it, then converted back to the 99.80 ATAR according to this table
> https://www.satac.edu.au/documents/aggregate_to_atar_conversion_table_2019.pdf

 

[ucatboy]

SATAC doesn't convert all interstate ATARs per se. Your school may have behind the scene qualified as disadvantaged so SATAC gave you 5 UES bonus marks.

They first converted your interstate 97.95 to the equivalent SA aggregate, added 5 to it, then converted back to the 99.80 ATAR according to this table
> https://www.satac.edu.au/documents/aggregate_to_atar_conversion_table_2019.pdf

That's what I was thinking but 97.95 -> aggregate -> +5 -> ATAR -> 99.95, not 99.80. Instead, it seems more like +4, leading me to believe OP got +2 for doing spec maths (or equivalent) and +2 for doing LOTE, but I'm not sure whether interstate students get the same bonuses.

 

[A1]

That's what I was thinking but 97.95 -> aggregate -> +5 -> ATAR -> 99.95, not 99.80. Instead, it seems more like +4, leading me to believe OP got +2 for doing spec maths (or equivalent) and +2 for doing LOTE, but I'm not sure whether interstate students get the same bonuses.

That's very true. SATAC gives you including interstate students the subject bonuses (+4 in this case) regardless, but the bonuses don't apply to med applications.

 

[qUiCkMaThS]

SATAC doesn't convert all interstate ATARs per se. Your school may have behind the scene qualified as disadvantaged so SATAC gave you 5 UES bonus marks.

They first converted your interstate 97.95 to the equivalent SA aggregate, added 5 to it, then converted back to the 99.80 ATAR according to this table
> https://www.satac.edu.au/documents/aggregate_to_atar_conversion_table_2019.pdf

I don't think I would've qualified for ues because I went to a private school in north Sydney (I highly doubt that it would be considered as being disadvantaged).

I had no idea SATAC even displayed one's ATAR - can you show a snip of where you found it?

I did apply for B. MRS (nuclear med) and I got an offer for that and that is where is had showed up (where it says Year 12 rank). So I do understand that bonuses would be added on considering that it wasn't a medicine offer but I didn't do spec maths equivalent. I did however do maths methods and english equivalent so that would've led to the addition of 4 bonus points - as ucatboy said and it says below.

​

Anyways, that makes so much more sense! Thanks A1 and ucatboy I really appreciate the help!

A1 adds: Haha I see you've edited LMG to A1. It was like that last year too, I helped answer a few people then they all thanked Crow

Edited: The whole time I thought LMG! had been replying until I read over your post above and I had a major facepalm moment

 

[kcx]

Hey guys,
I'm currently applying to interstate unis (I'm from vic) and my school wants us to submit these form letting them know which uni applications require additional documentation/information. I'm planning to apply to all unis that have an undergrad med course, but I haven't done all of them yet and the school form is due really soon. Would you guys be able to let me know which unis require this additional documentation (e.g. predicated atar, reports etc).
Thank you!

 

[dotwingz]

I believe only curtin requires an application that your school will need to fill out a form for at this stage.

 

[A1]

Hey guys,
I'm currently applying to interstate unis (I'm from vic) and my school wants us to submit these form letting them know which uni applications require additional documentation/information. I'm planning to apply to all unis that have an undergrad med course, but I haven't done all of them yet and the school form is due really soon. Would you guys be able to let me know which unis require this additional documentation (e.g. predicated atar, reports etc).
Thank you!

Afaik only JCU & Curtin will want a predicted ATAR from your school. UNSW in the past had asked schools *directly* for it, whether they will do this year is not for you to know to tell your school.

 

[kcx]

Thank you! would you be able to link me to the page where I can find this info (JCU and Curtin), would be greatly appreciated. I can't seem to find it on their website.

Btw do we also need references for any of the uni applications? Sorry I haven't familiarised myself with all the applications

 

[A1]

Thank you! would you be able to link me to the page where I can find this info (JCU and Curtin), would be greatly appreciated. I can't seem to find it on their website.

Scroll to bottom of this page you see the Curtin's requirement for predicted ATAR
> Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery application requirements - Study | Curtin University

Similarly google "JCU medicine application" you might see the requirement, or at least there should be a reminder in your QTAC application that it's needed.

Btw do we also need references for any of the uni applications?

Yes JCU asks you to (optional but strongly recommended) submit up to three letters of reference as part of the written application. They may but do not have to come from your school/teachers.

 

[kcx]

Hey, this may be a bit off topic, but with monash uni under SEAS they have a covid-19 difficult circumstance application. I think I may be eligible because our school had to undergo lockdown when face to face learning was still in place due to a member of the school testing positive. Do any of the other education institutions have this type of application where the school needs to write a statement of support and submit it to the unis? I've had a look at EAS but this circumstance isn't under any of the categories. Cheers