[Undergrad] Am I Srewed?? (NZ Medical School)

[DrAlexander]

This will be a long one, thanks for anyone willing to spare their time into reading this post

Hi, I will turn 19 this year and I'm very interested in becoming a doctor.
I'm an Indonesian citizen but I hold permanent residency for New Zealand, so I will still be considered a domestic student there.

The problem is.... I'm kinda late because I'm still studying for AS level (Y11) even though I'm almost 19 and I'm 1,5 year older than the rest of my classmate. I'm pretty smart but I haven't been serious about my study all these years and my average school score is mostly B sometimes C, I do get A for very easy subject like Business Studies. My parents knew that being a doctor is my lifelong dream, but they have been really concerned about my age. I have researched about NZ medical school, mostly Otago University and I have found that apparently the University doesn't necessarily require me to complete my A level (Y12), as long as I manage to get three Bs in my AS level then I'm good to enter HSFY. I was very happy about it, I thought I was finally able to save 1 year and catch up to my lost.

My father wants me to enter HSFY using my AS level result and leave 1 year early. I, however don't think I can pass HSFY by only using my AS level knowledge, the university I have has also told me (through e-mail) that they recommend their students to finish A level rather than entering using AS level only. I have trouble convincing my father about this, he constantly told me that HSFY is just a repetition on high school lesson and even if I fail my first year, i can just retake HSFY. Is this true??

In the other hand, I am more confident to just continue to finish my A level next year and be more serious about it. I'm planning to use the next one year to make up to my mistakes, my current average score is B maybe C. But if I study seriously, I'm confident I can turn from C student to A student by next year.

So, I have two choices, please guide me:

1. Follow my father's plan and enter HSFY this year
pros: I can save 1 year
cons: I'm not confident, It felt really rushed,

2. Finish my A level in Indonesia and go for HSFY next year
pros: I'm confident, I can use this 1 year to really study hard
cons: I'm old, I will be 20 by the time I enter HSFY, I can't afford to fail HSFY, I will be 21 by the time I enter Medical School

I need your opinion about this. Anyone here has experienced HSFY or Otago Medical School? Any feedback, positive or negative will be appreciated

. So should I choose option 1 or 2? Can a person like me be a doctor one day?? Am I too late? What are my chances?? Am I screwed? Thanks !!

 

[Bluerock]

This will be a long one, thanks for anyone willing to spare their time into reading this post

Hi, I will turn 19 this year and I'm very interested in becoming a doctor.
I'm an Indonesian citizen but I hold permanent residency for New Zealand, so I will still be considered a domestic student there.

The problem is.... I'm kinda late because I'm still studying for AS level (Y11) even though I'm almost 19 and I'm 1,5 year older than the rest of my classmate. I'm pretty smart but I haven't been serious about my study all these years and my average school score is mostly B sometimes C, I do get A for very easy subject like Business Studies. My parents knew that being a doctor is my lifelong dream, but they have been really concerned about my age. I have researched about NZ medical school, mostly Otago University and I have found that apparently the University doesn't necessarily require me to complete my A level (Y12), as long as I manage to get three Bs in my AS level then I'm good to enter HSFY. I was very happy about it, I thought I was finally able to save 1 year and catch up to my lost.

My father wants me to enter HSFY using my AS level result and leave 1 year early. I, however have lost my confidence, I don't think I can pass HSFY by only using my AS level knowledge, the university I have has also told me (through e-mail) that they recommend their students to finish A level rather than entering using AS level only. I have trouble convincing my father about this, he constantly told me that HSFY is just a repetition on high school lesson and even if I fail my first year, i can just retake HSFY. Is this true??

In the other hand, I am more confident to just continue to finish my A level next year and be more serious about it. I'm planning to use the next one year to make up to my mistakes, my current average score is B maybe C. But if I study seriously, I'm confident I can turn from C student to A student by next year.

So, I have two choices, please guide me:

1. Follow my father's plan and enter HSFY this year
pros: I can save 1 year
cons: I'm not confident, It felt really rushed,

2. Finish my A level in Indonesia and go for HSFY next year
pros: I'm confident, I can use this 1 year to really study hard
cons: I'm old, I will be 20 by the time I enter HSFY, I can't afford to fail HSFY, I will be 21 by the time I enter Medical School

I need your opinion about this. Anyone here has experienced HSFY or Otago Medical School? Any feedback, positive or negative will be appreciated

. So should I choose option 1 or 2? Can a person like me be a doctor one day?? Am I too late? What are my chances?? Am I screwed? Thanks !!

HSFY is a once off. Once you have sat it, you can't re-sit it. If you don't get into medicine through HSFY, you will have to get a degree and then re apply. It also is not in any way a repeat of high school knowledge, it is an expansion on the things you already know. If you don't have the foundations from high school, you won't have anything to expand!

I've never experienced schooling in Indonesia so my knowledge here is limited. However I'd recommend staying and finishing your high school years. You've admitted yourself that your grades are average, and that you're not confident leaving school to go straight to university. This is not ideal.

Also, don't worry about "being old". We have people in our class in their 40's. If you were to get in through HSFY, you'd be the same age as the post graduate students and they make up around a third of the class!

 

[Kception]

"cons: I'm old, I will be 20 by the time I enter HSFY, I can't afford to fail HSFY, I will be 21 by the time I enter Medical School "

I'm 21, entered Medicine this year through post-grad - are you suggesting I should be ashamed that I entered slightly older? I would advise you should be careful in terms of how you define your self-worth.

 

[frootloop]

Silly comment, but 21 seems a long way away when you're at high school. I can't see anything to suggest the OP was even aware that grad entry is a thing, so I wouldn't take it personally.

 

[DrAlexander]

HSFY is a once off. Once you have sat it, you can't re-sit it. If you don't get into medicine through HSFY, you will have to get a degree and then re apply. It also is not in any way a repeat of high school knowledge, it is an expansion on the things you already know. If you don't have the foundations from high school, you won't have anything to expand!

I've never experienced schooling in Indonesia so my knowledge here is limited. However I'd recommend staying and finishing your high school years. You've admitted yourself that your grades are average, and that you're not confident leaving school to go straight to university. This is not ideal.

Also, don't worry about "being old". We have people in our class in their 40's. If you were to get in through HSFY, you'd be the same age as the post graduate students and they make up around a third of the class!

Thanks, for your respone !
I see.. so age is not quite of a big problem, I'll try to convince my father about this matter (cos I have been known for years as "that one old guy" during my highschool years xD)

And, I cant repeat HSFY once I failed?? well, that's new to me

Silly comment, but 21 seems a long way away when you're at high school. I can't see anything to suggest the OP was even aware that grad entry is a thing, so I wouldn't take it personally.

Yeah, you're right I still don't know a thing about postgrad entry, mind to briefly explain it to me? Is it what I would be doing if I fail to enter Medicine trough HSFY?

"cons: I'm old, I will be 20 by the time I enter HSFY, I can't afford to fail HSFY, I will be 21 by the time I enter Medical School "

I'm 21, entered Medicine this year through post-grad - are you suggesting I should be ashamed that I entered slightly older? I would advise you should be careful in terms of how you define your self-worth.

wowowow.. easy there.. I'm sorry if I offend you through my wording. No, I didn't suggest that you should be ashamed, Instead i think you're great and amazing to be able to enter medicine! What I mean was that i'm a bit old for a HSFY student and my parents really want me to leave early because I have always been that "old one" during my entire highschool years.

 

[Facebook]

What I mean was that i'm a bit old for a HSFY student.

In this year's HSFY there are easily a couple hundred people older than you. You would be well in the normal range and would not stand out. A handful are even in their 40s and even 50s.

Why set yourself up to fail? Finish your school as well prepared as possible. HSFY is tough if you're not ready (hell, it's tough if you are ready) so there's nothing saved by rushing ahead.

For your other questions about routes into medicine I would suggest you have a look at this forum and the University's website for entry paths.

Best of luck.

 

[DrAlexander]

In this year's HSFY there are easily a couple hundred people older than you. You would be well in the normal range and would not stand out. A handful are even in their 40s and even 50s.

Why set yourself up to fail? Finish your school as well prepared as possible. HSFY is tough if you're not ready (hell, it's tough if you are ready) so there's nothing saved by rushing ahead.

For your other questions about routes into medicine I would suggest you have a look at this forum and the University's website for entry paths.

Best of luck.

Thanks

I'm not concerned about my age anymore, it's better for me to stay focused and be as prepared as possible rather than rushing my way and end up failing the course

 

[Voldemort]

Yeah, you're right I still don't know a thing about postgrad entry, mind to briefly explain it to me? Is it what I would be doing if I fail to enter Medicine trough HSFY?

Kia Ora [MENTION=21802]DrAlexander[/MENTION]!
I know what you mean about the whole age thing. It is a common concern (my brother gets it heaps, but more from other people - he entered med school at 24). In reality it's not an issue at all. You're still going to be young when you graduate, with a whole career ahead of you! And there will be a number of people in HSFY who are much older than you!
Now: If you miss out on entry through HSFY, you would have to go through graduate entry (you can only apply through each category once). This means you would have to transfer to another degree (e.g. BSc/Biomed), and complete the remaining 2 years of that degree. As you are completing that degree, you can apply to med school again. They will take into account your GPA (correct me if I'm wrong guys), and another UMAT score.
It looks like you'll need to explain this to your father, because you really want to give HSFY your best shot. More than anything else, not getting in through HSFY would be annoying, and, especially for you, expensive (are you aware that you don't automatically qualify for a Studylink student loan?) Though remember, even not getting in through HSFY is not the end of the road!
All the best.

 

[Facebook]

are you aware that you don't automatically qualify for a Studylink student loan?

Students who are not New Zealand citizens, refugees or protected persons (or have not been sponsored into New Zealand by a family member who was recognised as a refugee or a protected person) will now need to have been entitled to reside indefinitely in New Zealand, and been living in New Zealand, for three years before they will qualify for a Student Allowance or Loan.

Changes to StudentÂ*Allowances and Loans - StudyLink

 

[Lego Man]

Hi @DrAlexander !

It's great to hear that you're thinking of Otago.

I wouldn't lie, HSFY is a very tough and competitive year. As suggested earlier, I would recommend giving yourself as big a headstart on HSFY as possible. Use your last year at school to try and really get a good grasp on your subjects, particularly biology, chemistry and physics. These form the foundation of HSFY: the better prepared you come, the less work you need to put in during the year. And time is short enough without having to revise content from final year school subjects as well as content from university level.

As for age, it's reasonably common for New Zealand students to take gap years between school and university. Many students enter HSFY with many years of work experience. Others complete degrees, or come from a career in other fields before entering medicine. Age is no barrier, particularly when you're still only 2 years older than what is normally roughly the youngest age: people in our class don't really care how old you are. I completed a degree prior to entering medicine and was 22 when I started. I never considered it to be an issue at all

You only have one shot at HSFY. If you are unsuccessful gaining a place, you could either go through graduate entry or you could try your luck up in Auckland in OLY1. OLY1 is Auckland University's equivalent to Otago's HSFY. You can complete OLY1 following HSFY, but not the other way around.

For an international student, study fees are very expensive. HSFY alone costs $30,000 in study fees and ~$70,000 per year across the five years after that. Your family may want to take this into account.

You are going to be the one who will possibly be sitting HSFY in the future, and your success in that year depends on your own performance. Adding an additional year to school study would definitely give you a much better chance at getting offered a place in medicine.

Good luck, and all the best!

-LM

 

[Facebook]

For an international student, study fees are very expensive. HSFY alone costs $30,000 in study fees and ~$70,000 per year across the five years after that.

I hold permanent residency for New Zealand

So domestic rates apply.

 

[Lego Man]

So domestic rates apply.

Didn't see that detail, thanks Facebook Should be alright then! New Zealand residents are also eligible for financial assistance through Studylink in the form of student loans/allowances.

-LM

 

[DrAlexander]

Thanks all for the reply!
It really helped me a lot !!
once again thanks guyss

 

[Voldemort]

Didn't see that detail, thanks Facebook Should be alright then! New Zealand residents are also eligible for financial assistance through Studylink in the form of student loans/allowances.

Students who are not New Zealand citizens, refugees or protected persons (or have not been sponsored into New Zealand by a family member who was recognised as a refugee or a protected person) will now need to have been entitled to reside indefinitely in New Zealand, and been living in New Zealand, for three years before they will qualify for a Student Allowance or Loan.

I may be wrong, but does this not mean that DrAlexander needs to have lived in NZ for 3 years to get assistance?

 

[Facebook]

I may be wrong, but does this not mean that DrAlexander needs to have lived in NZ for 3 years to get assistance?[/FONT][/COLOR]

The rules, as they currently stand, assuming that you have the right kind of visa, are that you need to be in the country (more in the country than out, basically) for 24 months as a resident, after which you can convert your visa to a permanent resident (PR) status. Another 12 months (36/12 total) and you will qualify for a study allowance and/or loan. However, you can get domestic rates either immediately upon arrival or after 12 months - it depends how strict the institution is. Otago isn't too strict, I think. If the OP already has PR, s/he is fine for domestic fees, and is probably okay for allowance and loans too. Easy to check - try to apply for a Community Services Card. If you can get that (assuming you have no income) you can get the others, also.