Auckland OLY1 chat - archive

[skyglow1]

1 + 1 = 2....so yes.

 

[toaster]

Yes, that would be the logical conclusion. I would think about alternate options, if you didn't get in after 2 attempts.

 

[toaster]

I have a question about chem110 labs- what sort of grades do you need across your labs (1 being the best and 6 being the worst) to get a decent score out of 17 that they assign us after all the labs are finished?

Its hard to say, they use a strange way of working it out. Its not really based on what your score is, but how your score ranks you amongst everyone else, if I remember correctly. All I can tell you is what I got, which was, half 1s and half 2s, which got me a score of 16 out of 17. With a combination of 2s and 3s I think you can look to get a reasonable score for your lab. If you want to do as good as possible in the lab, I would do as much of it before the lab as possible, like answer any questions you can, write out the formulas you would use for other questions.

 

[lordgarlic]

1 + 1 = 2....so yes.

that is so cruel. but yes, what skyglow says is correct

 

[McNerdy]

i

Would anyone know any information about the competitive entry for Auckland/Otago Med?
(eg, candidate numbers vs numbers actually got in, avg GPA + UMAT scores needed?)

From what i know now, as said on the site, so its possible if i complete the Bsc (BioMed) degree in Auckland Uni then apply for competitive entry for Otago?

Would an avg of A- across the degree and UMAT of 80th percentile be at minimal chances of getting in again?

Thanks very much for your time to reply!

PS: i know about 50~60 places who got in this year in otago but not sure about the entry numbers vs numbers that actually got in, i also know the basic requirements (eg, B+ avg across the years, increase in weighting of GPA of progressing years, UMAT of minimum 25th percentile etc..)

I can tell you how many people applied for Auckland Uni med for the 2009 cohort, which is total applicants for all places.

1154 applied

220 were internationals

thus 934 applicants for the 150 places minus the international spots.

Total applicant numbers were up 9.1% from the previous year.

I can also tell you some on that list in the competitive grads are now at Otago since comp grads tend to apply to both schools, and accept the offer from which ever one they get into or prefer if they are offered both.

 

[McNerdy]

Its hard to say, they use a strange way of working it out. Its not really based on what your score is, but how your score ranks you amongst everyone else, if I remember correctly. All I can tell you is what I got, which was, half 1s and half 2s, which got me a score of 16 out of 17. With a combination of 2s and 3s I think you can look to get a reasonable score for your lab. If you want to do as good as possible in the lab, I would do as much of it before the lab as possible, like answer any questions you can, write out the formulas you would use for other questions.

Lol it's so funny reading this because when I was doing pharmacy at Auckland we all got into courses from bursary instead of having the competitive health science year and the med students were truly a very lazy bunch.

But don't sweat Chem110, it's the easiest paper of the year IMO.

 

[goldjin]

Its hard to say, they use a strange way of working it out. Its not really based on what your score is, but how your score ranks you amongst everyone else, if I remember correctly. All I can tell you is what I got, which was, half 1s and half 2s, which got me a score of 16 out of 17. With a combination of 2s and 3s I think you can look to get a reasonable score for your lab. If you want to do as good as possible in the lab, I would do as much of it before the lab as possible, like answer any questions you can, write out the formulas you would use for other questions.

Wow that's an impressive score Toaster! Thanks for the advice although there's not much I can do now since my last lab is next week (yy) nah, I still enjoyed the labs anway lol. Hey are the physics labs kinda like the chemistry labs? I heard it's 'make or break' if you get stuck with an incompetent ^_^ partner?

 

[toaster]

Wow that's an impressive score Toaster! Thanks for the advice although there's not much I can do now since my last lab is next week (yy) nah, I still enjoyed the labs anway lol. Hey are the physics labs kinda like the chemistry labs? I heard it's 'make or break' if you get stuck with an incompetent ^_^ partner?

Chem labs are fun, though I always found them high pressure, and so didn't really enjoy them as much as I could have. The physics labs are completely different. You may work with a partner for some things, but the marks really come down to the write-up you do on the results. I don't think the results themselves even get any marks. Its all about what you right in the discussion and conclusion, and calculations you make and stuff - nothing to do with your partner, unless you were planning to copy them lol.

 

[synapse]

Hey are the physics labs kinda like the chemistry labs? I heard it's 'make or break' if you get stuck with an incompetent ^_^ partner?

Physics labs are so boring and long (this coming from a person who actually enjoys physics!)

Don't worry too much about physics labs, though I can give some hints on how to survive them.
1) Make at least a half-as.sed attempt to read and understand the pertinent stuff before the lab
2) Shamelessly use your tutor (some tutors actually like being used coz the labs are so long and boring)
3) When doing the lab write-up, include the headings that they like. E.g. RESULTS blah blah....DISCUSSION blah blah. Note: for the "blah blah" bit it hardly matter what you actually write
4) GET AN INTERESTING LAB PARTNER!!
...for conversation, gossip, or some no-strings-attached flirting. This will make physics labs that much bearable!

The above is NOT said tongue in cheek

 

[Leafie]

I can tell you how many people applied for Auckland Uni med for the 2009 cohort, which is total applicants for all places.

1154 applied

220 were internationals

thus 934 applicants for the 150 places minus the international spots.

Total applicant numbers were up 9.1% from the previous year.

I can also tell you some on that list in the competitive grads are now at Otago since comp grads tend to apply to both schools, and accept the offer from which ever one they get into or prefer if they are offered both.

Hmmm...strange, i thought they told us that they interview twice the amount of places available, which means about 300 people interviewed last year?

 

[Leafie]

Thanks I just got your message now (after the test). How do you think it went? I barely had time to check my answers... Yeah that Prof Bumblebee (?) and Harry Potter thing was hilarious..nice to have a fun chemistry lecture for once!

Yeah i agree the test was pretty long, but i actually think it was slightly easier than the first one. Thankgoodness they get back to us really fast so we don't need to wait that long. Judging from the speed of our last test we may get it back before the weekend.

 

[McNerdy]

Hmmm...strange, i thought they told us that they interview twice the amount of places available, which means about 300 people interviewed last year?

Yeah, how is that strange or incongruent with the numbers?

 

[toaster]

Hmmm...strange, i thought they told us that they interview twice the amount of places available, which means about 300 people interviewed last year?

Thats right, but the stats that McNerdy put up are right (as far as I am aware) too. Lots and lots of people apply, not many get interviews, even less make it in. This year my class is around 185, so theres probably going to be more like 400 interview spaces this year?

 

[McNerdy]

Thats right, but the stats that McNerdy put up are right (as far as I am aware) too. Lots and lots of people apply, not many get interviews, even less make it in. This year my class is around 185, so theres probably going to be more like 400 interview spaces this year?

Correct.

Although this of course will all be changing in the next few years as both Auckland and Otago move towards more post-graduate entry spaces and less of this HSFY business. Although I hope they have some evidence for this move. Most of the hoops we jump through to get into med school are not really proven to select better cohorts. Although having some sort of hurdle does reduce drop out and failure rates.

 

[Leafie]

Ah i get it now, so lots of poeple apply anyway even though they know they don't have the grade to get in. That makes sense

 

[goldjin]

Hey guys so I was wondering what GPA across the 4 common papers would give a good or even average chance at doing well (ie hope of getting into med?) I know obviously the best GPA would be 9 but some say that you have a chance if you get as low as 8?

 

[goldjin]

Ah i get it now, so lots of poeple apply anyway even though they know they don't have the grade to get in. That makes sense

Hm? Do you mean they got the A- average for their 8 papers which gets them the interview but unless they do fantastico on UMAT and interviews they don't really have a chance?

 

[McNerdy]

Ah i get it now, so lots of poeple apply anyway even though they know they don't have the grade to get in. That makes sense

There are a few reasons why FMHS might deny you an interview without you having a "terrible" GPA.

That person denied could very well be you out in the cold without an interview in a few months. Remember med schools reject more good doctors than they ever let in.

I'm of the opinion, and opinion only, that Auckland's admissions process is very flawed. Which is perhaps why they are looking to open more PG places at the expense of UG places.

Hm? Do you mean they got the A- average for their 8 papers which gets them the interview but unless they do fantastico on UMAT and interviews they don't really have a chance?

A- minus might be a bit dicey. I had an A average in my first year at Auckland which I can't imagine is that different now. I wasn't trying to get into anything since I was already matriculated.

 

[synapse]

Correct.

Although this of course will all be changing in the next few years as both Auckland and Otago move towards more post-graduate entry spaces and less of this HSFY business.

Sorry to be anal, but it isn't post-graduate entry, but graduate entry. Graduate entry require that you already have a degree which is not, or not equivalent, to the undergraduate medical degree. Post-graduate entry would imply that the candidate already has a medical degree (e.g. the College Exams are considered postgraduate exams.)

Most of the hoops we jump through to get into med school are not really proven to select better cohorts. Although having some sort of hurdle does reduce drop out and failure rates.

Auckland uni uses 3 factors for selection. The most important of which is academic history. It has been proven by various British studies (according to Prof Des Gorman, Head of Auckland Uni Med School), that academic ability is the best (not saying that it is perfect or near-perfect) indicator of competency as a doctor. I'm sorry i cannot supply the data for this, I no longer have the powerpoint slides!

Obviously I can't comment on the UMAT. I mean, how am I, a person with no formal training in psychology, supposed to be competent in judging the usefulness of such a test

I am sincerely interested, however, in why you are able to reach the conclusion that Auckland's intake process in "highly flawed"

Hm? Do you mean they got the A- average for their 8 papers which gets them the interview but unless they do fantastico on UMAT and interviews they don't really have a chance?

Nobody cares about the average across the 8 once it is at or above B+. If you have B+ or better across the 8 papers, then you are eligible to compete for an interview. The top 350-400 or so people with the highest grades across the 4 common papers and the UMAT will receive an interview. Once you get an interview, you statistically have 50% chance of being selected into MBChB II (but of course, your exact chances will depend one your grades across the common 4 papers, UMAT, and interview).

 

[toaster]

Hey guys so I was wondering what GPA across the 4 common papers would give a good or even average chance at doing well (ie hope of getting into med?) I know obviously the best GPA would be 9 but some say that you have a chance if you get as low as 8?

You always have a chance as long as you make it into the interview. But lets say you're not really expecting to get auto-entry from the interview. You would probably want 8.5 to have a good chance of getting into med. 8.75 + a decent interview would almost definitly get you in, I think.