Auckland OLY1 chat - archive

[synapse]

So when they say that plussage applies for pophlth111 what does that mean exactly? Also do you have to attend every single tutorial to qualify for it?
I agree with Leafy chemistry is a little worrying just because we get graded against everyone else in labs lol
So which of the common courses do you think was the hardest to get good grades in? ^_^

Pophlth plussage: your test either count, or do not count, towards the final grade, whichever gives you a better grade.

Chem: I wouldn't worry too much, the number of students each tutor looks after is very large.

Hardest common paper: MEDSCI 142 by a long shot. Medsci is also the most med-like paper you will encounter in year 1, but just a lot easier (no I'm not kidding, all the first year papers look breezy compared with what you will have to do in second year).

 

[goldjin]

Pophlth plussage: your test either count, or do not count, towards the final grade, whichever gives you a better grade.

Chem: I wouldn't worry too much, the number of students each tutor looks after is very large.

Hardest common paper: MEDSCI 142 by a long shot. Medsci is also the most med-like paper you will encounter in year 1, but just a lot easier (no I'm not kidding, all the first year papers look breezy compared with what you will have to do in second year).

Great, thanks. Yes I heard MEDSCI142 is really hard but because it's the most 'medicine-like' paper I think it should be interesting.
Also I was just wondering if the 4 common courses directly affect entry into med, and do the grades in the other papers just affect getting the interview in the first place, then if you do well they take an average of your marks in the 4 common courses?

 

[lordgarlic]

Great, thanks. Yes I heard MEDSCI142 is really hard but because it's the most 'medicine-like' paper I think it should be interesting.
Also I was just wondering if the 4 common courses directly affect entry into med, and do the grades in the other papers just affect getting the interview in the first place, then if you do well they take an average of your marks in the 4 common courses?

as far as I'm aware, the rules state you need a B+ average overall across your 8 papers AND a B+ average in your 4 core papers.

medsci142 is an interesting paper but difficult. Make use of your lab tutors if you don't understand things. Usually there is one session (thursday afternoon) that is run by 3rd year med students. At least that's what it was when I did it last year

 

[Leafie]

How did your poplhlth test go, Leafie?

I don't think i did really well Toaster. I know that i definitely lost 2 Qs, hopefully those will be all i got wrong:cry:. How did you study POPLHLTH that got you such great grades lol?

 

[Leafie]

Amendment made

 

[hugo0123456]

Hi, Im currently a year13 student in Auckland, just joined MSO =]
I would like to ask a few questions:

1) If I attempt HSFY at Otago but fail to get in, can i then apply for Auckland Uni Bsc (Biomed) and still be selected for the interview for MBChB if i meet the addmision requirements?

2) If the above is possible, would the selection/ interview be biased at all?

3)also, would a GPA of avg A- and a 80th percentile avg for the UMAT be sufficient chance for Otago? Or the chance of getting in is quite minimal?

4)Would anyone please have any information on the English Diagnostic Test in Otago Uni? (eg, assessing areas/syllabus/website etc...)

ps: i have emailed the HSFY admission advisors and they say there is no sample paper but there is detailed information of the English Diagnostic Test on the HSFY handbook which i cannot find.. any ideas?

Thanks HEAPS!!
a miserable year 13.....

 

[goldjin]

Hi, Im currently a year13 student in Auckland, just joined MSO =]
I would like to ask a few questions:

1) If I attempt HSFY at Otago but fail to get in, can i then apply for Auckland Uni Bsc (Biomed) and still be selected for the interview for MBChB if i meet the addmision requirements?

2) If the above is possible, would the selection/ interview be biased at all?

3)also, would a GPA of avg A- and a 80th percentile avg for the UMAT be sufficient chance for Otago? Or the chance of getting in is quite minimal?

4)Would anyone please have any information on the English Diagnostic Test in Otago Uni? (eg, assessing areas/syllabus/website etc...)

ps: i have emailed the HSFY admission advisors and they say there is no sample paper but there is detailed information of the English Diagnostic Test on the HSFY handbook which i cannot find.. any ideas?

Thanks HEAPS!!
a miserable year 13.....

Hey welcome to MSO I'm currently studying Biomed at Auckland.
I'm not sure about 1) and 2) but I heard that last year's students at Otago
who got entry into Med, their average was over 90 (which is close to A+) because they don't have an interview, I would assume they place more weight on your grades.
Oh and the English Diagnostic Test is really easy it's just so they can help out people who's English may not be their first language/or are really terrible at it.. I wouldn't worry. ^_^ Good luck on making the decision though!

 

[goldjin]

as far as I'm aware, the rules state you need a B+ average overall across your 8 papers AND a B+ average in your 4 core papers.

medsci142 is an interesting paper but difficult. Make use of your lab tutors if you don't understand things. Usually there is one session (thursday afternoon) that is run by 3rd year med students. At least that's what it was when I did it last year

Thanks for the advice lordgarlic! I like lab demonstrators they're so cool (yy)

 

[hugo0123456]

Hi, Im currently a year13 student in Auckland, just joined MSO =]
I would like to ask a few questions:

1) If I attempt HSFY at Otago but fail to get in, can i then apply for Auckland Uni Bsc (Biomed) and still be selected for the interview for MBChB if i meet the addmision requirements?

2) If the above is possible, would the selection/ interview be biased at all?

3)also, would a GPA of avg A- and a 80th percentile avg for the UMAT be sufficient chance for Otago? Or the chance of getting in is quite minimal?

4)Would anyone please have any information on the English Diagnostic Test in Otago Uni? (eg, assessing areas/syllabus/website etc...)

ps: i have emailed the HSFY admission advisors and they say there is no sample paper but there is detailed information of the English Diagnostic Test on the HSFY handbook which i cannot find.. any ideas?

Thanks HEAPS!!
a miserable year 13.....

Thanks very much for your info, so there would be a reasonable change of getting in Otago with GPA avg A and UMAT at 80~90th percentile?
Or it would still be not enough...? in other words, a gpa less than A+ would reduce the chance of getting in by an immense amount?!

 

[goldjin]

Thanks very much for your info, so there would be a reasonable change of getting in Otago with GPA avg A and UMAT at 80~90th percentile?
Or it would still be not enough...? in other words, a gpa less than A+ would reduce the chance of getting in by an immense amount?!

Erm I'm sure it wouldn't be by an immense amount although like I said they take your grades into more consideration (also UMAT) than at Auckland from what I've heard. Why not try asking folk at the Otago forum? ^_^

 

[hugo0123456]

oh? there is an Otago Forum?
woops, never knew coz im new here, haha

 

[toaster]

Pophlth plussage: your test either count, or do not count, towards the final grade, whichever gives you a better grade.

Chem: I wouldn't worry too much, the number of students each tutor looks after is very large.

Hardest common paper: MEDSCI 142 by a long shot. Medsci is also the most med-like paper you will encounter in year 1, but just a lot easier (no I'm not kidding, all the first year papers look breezy compared with what you will have to do in second year).

I personally would have said Poplhlth was the most difficult paper, based on the fact that its normally the paper that people get the worst grades in. The content of Medsci 142 is probably harder, but medsci is examined really quite easily, the final exam is multichoice and fill-in-the-blanks type questions mostly (except for Malpas' massive flow diagram questions.)

Last year I would have thought you were kidding about the difficulty of papers, but I have to agree that any first year paper seems pathetic compared to what I have to handle now, but don't let that discourage you from med haha

 

[Leafie]

Hi, Im currently a year13 student in Auckland, just joined MSO =]
I would like to ask a few questions:

1) If I attempt HSFY at Otago but fail to get in, can i then apply for Auckland Uni Bsc (Biomed) and still be selected for the interview for MBChB if i meet the addmision requirements?

2) If the above is possible, would the selection/ interview be biased at all?

3)also, would a GPA of avg A- and a 80th percentile avg for the UMAT be sufficient chance for Otago? Or the chance of getting in is quite minimal?

4)Would anyone please have any information on the English Diagnostic Test in Otago Uni? (eg, assessing areas/syllabus/website etc...)


ps: i have emailed the HSFY admission advisors and they say there is no sample paper but there is detailed information of the English Diagnostic Test on the HSFY handbook which i cannot find.. any ideas?

Thanks HEAPS!!
a miserable year 13.....

Welcome!!
1) I know someone doing Biomed this year who went to Otago and didn't get in so i think it could be possible. I don't know about the bias though. My thoughts are if there are 2 people at the bottom line for med and the interviewers know that person A has learned all the courses before they might favour the ones who didn't go to Otago, just for fairness' sack! But that's just my thought lol.
3) I'd say A- is a bit risky especially your grades count for everything in Otago. From what i heard from the people got got into Otago med last they got at least like a GPA of A and UMAT like 90th percentile or something. But you better check out with the Otago folks.

My personal advice is that go to the school you like and you think you've got best chance of getting in. I wouldn't want to waste a year for a second chance like that. You never know if you gonna get into Auckland if you fail Otago. Also if you do Biomed at Auckland and didn't get into med you can always apply as graduate entry. Which will just take one year more than the "Otago first then Auckland" option.

About the English test, don't worry about that. It's really easy and apparently even if you failed it you can still do the courses as long as you have your NCEA English qualifications.

 

[Leafie]

Hi Goldjin what do you think of that POPLHLTH test lol?

 

[toaster]

Hi, Im currently a year13 student in Auckland, just joined MSO =]
I would like to ask a few questions:

1) If I attempt HSFY at Otago but fail to get in, can i then apply for Auckland Uni Bsc (Biomed) and still be selected for the interview for MBChB if i meet the addmision requirements?

2) If the above is possible, would the selection/ interview be biased at all?

3)also, would a GPA of avg A- and a 80th percentile avg for the UMAT be sufficient chance for Otago? Or the chance of getting in is quite minimal?

4)Would anyone please have any information on the English Diagnostic Test in Otago Uni? (eg, assessing areas/syllabus/website etc...)

ps: i have emailed the HSFY admission advisors and they say there is no sample paper but there is detailed information of the English Diagnostic Test on the HSFY handbook which i cannot find.. any ideas?

Thanks HEAPS!!
a miserable year 13.....

1) Yes, I think I know at least one person who has done that, and actually gotten into med at auckland. But I'm pretty sure you cant do it the other way around, and do Biomed, fail then try HSFY.
2) No, theres no reason why it would even come up in the interview, unless you mentioned it for some reason - you might use it to your advantage to show your absolute commitment to medicine. Interviewers as far as I am aware do not know your grades or academic record. They only know whether you are an undergrad or grad applicant. Theres really no point in the selection process, as far as I am aware, at which it would come up, or be important.
3) Ask Skyglow in the Otago forums. I can say though that A- average wouldn't get you through at Auckland. You would get an interview, but unless you absolutely wowed the interviewers, it would be quite difficult to get in. A good comfortable GPA would be 8.5 which is A+/A+/A/A, or above.
4) Ask Skyglow, but I really wouldn't worry. The version at Auckland, the DELNA is really quite pathetic, and ridiculously easy, as anyone who has done it on this forum would probably tell you.

 

[goldjin]

Hi Goldjin what do you think of that POPLHLTH test lol?

Hey Leafie!
I thought the second test was better than the first! But I know I got at least 2 wrong :cry: lol how did you do? Oh yeah and are you living in a hall? It's just that I'm flatting with my friends and was wondering what living in a hall is like

 

[synapse]

I personally would have said Poplhlth was the most difficult paper, based on the fact that its normally the paper that people get the worst grades in. The content of Medsci 142 is probably harder, but medsci is examined really quite easily, the final exam is multichoice and fill-in-the-blanks type questions mostly (except for Malpas' massive flow diagram questions.)

Last year I would have thought you were kidding about the difficulty of papers, but I have to agree that any first year paper seems pathetic compared to what I have to handle now, but don't let that discourage you from med haha

I think people get poor grades in poplhlth for 2 main reasons:
1) the grade for A+ is 90%+ (remember poplhlth is not a science paper)
2) most people have no f'n clue what exactly is expected of them for the tests and exam. E.g. "Do I have to memorize the list of significant causes of health burdens in NZ presented on this slide??". YES YOU DO, and in order too!!
Poplhlth is , imho, is the number 1 most annoying and tedious subject. If you want A+ in poplhlth, not only do you need to understand the concepts, but you literally need to memorise the sh!t out of everything.

I enjoyed appreciating the important concepts from poplhlth, and find those concepts quite useful for my study in Medicine, but omFgoodness, the endless lists that are to be memorised... :wacko:

@toaster:
Biomed 1st year is loads harder than 7th form. MBChB II is LOADS harder than Biomed 1st year. You may (or may not be) thinking that MBChB III is much harder than MBChB II, but I've got good news for you! MBChB III is conceptually more difficult imo, but the volume of work is not as crazy as 2nd year. And the timetable is way way way better! ^_^ ...(however it's another major jump again when you start clinical, so I've heard...)

 

[Leafie]

Hey Leafie!
I thought the second test was better than the first! But I know I got at least 2 wrong :cry: lol how did you do? Oh yeah and are you living in a hall? It's just that I'm flatting with my friends and was wondering what living in a hall is like

I thought they are equally bad lol! Yeah i think i got two wrong too. One of them was the Scurvy one with Captain giving them lemons and shipmen recovering. Lots of poeple put VitaminC wasnt discovered then! What did you put?

Yep i'm in a hall. I pretty like it, you never get lonely here, there's always something going on lol. Hows flatting by the way, are you in city too?

 

[goldjin]

I thought they are equally bad lol! Yeah i think i got two wrong too. One of them was the Scurvy one with Captain giving them lemons and shipmen recovering. Lots of poeple put VitaminC wasnt discovered then! What did you put?

Yep i'm in a hall. I pretty like it, you never get lonely here, there's always something going on lol. Hows flatting by the way, are you in city too?

I can't remember what I put but I don't think I chose that one. At least we get plussage for the first test eh? If only we got plussage for the other papers- although that would make biomed waaay too easy ^_^

I'm flatting in the city, it's great. Not sure how it compares to living in a hall but you definitely feel more independent than living at home! How's your chem study going? For some reason I thought it was on wednesday <_< instead of monday haha

 

[goldjin]

How true is it that people who has done heaps of extracurricular activities (like volunteering at resthomes, shadowing a doctor) are more likely to get a place in med?

I understand the logics that having experienced what your chosen career is really like makes you more certain that you want to continue, but seriously, the looooooong lists of volunteer work/leadership positions/fundraising activities that some people have under their belt is kinda intimidating..:bored: