Bond Bond Medicine: General Discussion

[Bob12345678]

I understand the year he got 99.20 his UMAT wasn't high and the year he got 94th%ile his 99.20 wasn't admissible to UQ & several other schools. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful with the schools that accept non-standard applicants, so spare a kind thought for him.

Hey A1! I see what you mean, didn't mean to cause any offence, was just stating what I thought was a bit far-fetched. The post suggested that a 99.20 and a 94% together wasn't enough to get into any medical school.

 

[chinaski]

I am pretty sure you would have no problems getting into internship/residency in the UK especially with Brexit and depending on the specialty (e.g GP), you can simply return to Australia by mutual recognition (RACGP).

I wouldn't be so confident RE employment post graduation for anyone who doesn't hold British citizenship. The outlook for foreigners going forward in the UK is incredibly uncertain at the moment - certainly I wouldn't be making any positive assertions yet.

Be aware also that "mutual recognition" does not exist for all specialties. I'm not a GP, but I think the recognition process via the RACGP isn't as simple as you assume, either (and then there's the separate issue of provision of Medicare provider numbers etc etc).

 

[Numerouno]

I understand the year he got 99.20 his UMAT wasn't high and the year he got 94th%ile his 99.20 wasn't admissible to UQ & several other schools. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful with the schools that accept non-standard applicants, so spare a kind thought for him.

I was not advocating people to get into the UK for Medicine and it was purely my choice. I am not pulling anyone over, I could not afford to go to Bond at that point in time (2018) as I did not have the support to fund me immediately with my family circumstances. I should have been more specific as I was rushing this morning, the first time my UMAT was 82%ile and that was n't enough, the second time 94%ile was Ok for many universities Adelaide, Curtin, UWA , JMP - I attended JMP (unsuccessful) and the rest I declined due to eligibility criteria since I commenced Medicine already overseas. I should have written a full story about me rather than a one-line statement, I never thought that irked the feeling of someone. This person has been in the forum for less than a week from the join date.

Thanks, A1 for clarifying this to Bob12345678 who branded me as a "dodgy" poster. It hurts a bit, as I have no real interests anyway in Bond and my chapter for Med in Australia is long over, but since my cousin took the test, I was following this forum. A few people expressed interests to know more about UK universities' admission, costs etc...I was going to help those who wanted that information. But as the post from Bob12345678 has been hinted with rudeness, I need to keep up my dignity and if anyone wants info, please feel free to contact me individually.

Chinaski was right in his post, Nothing is guaranteed unless a position becomes vacant for Registrar 1 or SRMO level in an Australian hospital and then you apply to be considered for a placement after Foundation 2 in the UK with Full GMC Registration. Again, I am not too fussed about getting back to Australia if there is no chance immediately after F2. I have plans to get back after my Foundation years like a few who did last year to Med Reg 1 in a hospital here after F2. Of course, the positions were vacant at that time and got placements through the phone interviews. An internship in Australia for an IMG is like milking a bull, absolutely no chance, and I knew that VERY Well before I boarded the flight.

Enjoy your weekend and I am sure I will with a hectic load finished this week and the march continues on. Good luck with your psychometric results.

 

[MimmaE]

Hi all. Let’s not be distracted. The road to Medicine is different for us all. This site is the road to Bond. I’ve been aiming for it for a couple of years With good reason. ATAR 98.2. Fingers crossed for an interview. Try and be calm for the weekend. The cost of Bond is what it is. Not for everyone

 

[gengen]

You have done that exam (what...is that an exam?) ...Not a test for intelligence or mental acumen and definitely not to ascertain the "Inherent qualities" needed to become a doctor. It's a sham and a lottery and simply a culling process AND if you succeed congrats and you are just one step away from spending close to $0.5m in 4 y 8 m. If you don't, never despair...you are not second to those that "passed" and those previous batches before 2017 who went and still in Bond that were never tested on this and "don't they have these inherent qualities?"...they surely do and each and every good student who has the drive, motivation and enthusiasm will acquire those skills through the program.

It's the order of the day and you need to ride the wave or drown but you would still be alive and come out on top in the future. There are ample opportunities to become a medical doctor if that's what the apple of your eye. You just need to be brave and take the right decision and at the right time. You are ready to spend that life savings, so definitely you can take the right decision if the coin flips not in your favour now.

I know of three candidates, who after struggling through UMAT and GAMSAT for several times, (still very good students with great HSC ATAR), did not want to pursue Bond for $$$, went to Ireland and one in the 3rd year and the other two in the first year. They have all finished B.Med Sc from UNSW but took the decision now to join in the graduate program of Medicine although slightly delayed. So, when there is a will there is a way. I was fortunate to get a pleasing score in the UKCAT and took a similar decision early at 17 and went to the UK. So, did not attend the interview at Bond again for $$$. I am still younger than many of you, so please pardon me if there is anything wrong that I uttered. Can't wait to graduate ( hopefully) at 22 with a Med Degree. Good morning from across the miles! Good luck everyone.

Sorry Numerouno - I am incredibly skeptical / unsure of this comment... not choosing Bond because it’s too expensive, yet you chose to go to the UK (under exorbitant international fees, I too studied in the UK as an international). What’s the difference? I am understanding that everyone’s situation is different... however forgive me for innferring that the tone, and purpose, of your comment is seemingly unusual...

 

[Ian Naga]

I wouldn't be so confident RE employment post graduation for anyone who doesn't hold British citizenship. The outlook for foreigners going forward in the UK is incredibly uncertain at the moment - certainly I wouldn't be making any positive assertions yet.

Be aware also that "mutual recognition" does not exist for all specialties. I'm not a GP, but I think the recognition process via the RACGP isn't as simple as you assume, either (and then there's the separate issue of provision of Medicare provider numbers etc etc).

Don't be alarmist. One of my parent got the RACGP through this route. I am 100% sure that no further exams are needed to get the fellowship RACGP. It is as straight forward as it gets. RACGP - Specialist Recognition Program.
Regarding provider number, seriously? Really?. Hint: Areas of need exist in all major cities in Australia.

 

[Ian Naga]

This poster sounds very dodgy. With those scores, you would have been offered a place into UQ Medicine, so I don't see what you mean when you say "wasn't good for anywhere in Australia".

Although it may sound like a fabulous idea to go to the UK, you have to realise that the costs of moving internationally would most likely outweigh the costs of even going to Bond - well, at least it is the case for Australian/NZ students.

Your 1st three posts have been dodgy and has gibberish or the word dodgy. You are as dodgy as it gets IMHO. Don't shoot from the hip. There are many routes to the same thing. Just be open minded. Do proper analysis before attacking someone. Learn from the likes of A1 on this forum. I love the way he/she provides analysis. This person will be a great doctor. If you are aspiring to be a doctor, learning to use evidence. This will help in the practice of evidence based medicine!

 

[Crow]

Note to all: please keep your discussion civil. Spiteful comments that contribute nothing informative to the thread itself will be deleted.

 

[chinaski]

Don't be alarmist. One of my parent got the RACGP through this route. I am 100% sure that no further exams are needed to get the fellowship RACGP. It is as straight forward as it gets. RACGP - Specialist Recognition Program.
Regarding provider number, seriously? Really?. Hint: Areas of need exist in all major cities in Australia.

I'm not being "alarmist". Not requiring further exams doesn't necessarily mean a process is straight-forward. Areas of need do not exist in all major cities in Australia - you are over-generalising and simplifying a situation wherein maldistribution of labour is the major impetus to the country accepting overseas trained doctors presently. And again, for other specialties such as surgery and medicine, reciprocal recognition does not exist (so readers should beware if they are generalising breezy assumptions across all pathways).

 

[Ian Naga]

I'm not being "alarmist". Not requiring further exams doesn't necessarily mean a process is straight-forward. ).

For my parent to get the fellowship, it was as straightforward as it could get. Fill the form. Provide proof of local qualification/certification. Pay about $500 application fee. Fellowship arrived in the mail. What other complication do you expect?

Through my parents, I have come into contact with IMGs (with less than 10 years in Australia) who are happily working in major cities like Sydney,Brisbane,Melbourne. My parent is one of them if that helps to advance the argument. No questions there might be hurdles here and there but nothing that cannot be overcome. I also know of specialists in Medicine who trained in the USA. They were allowed to work conditionally here and had to complete the medicine fellowship exam within a few (3?) years.

 

[chinaski]

Your anecdotal evidence should not be used as evidence that "nothing cannot be overcome", and the ease with which your parent applied for recognition with the RACGP is not universal.

Take a look at the "areas of need" vacancies open presently (like this one: Area of Need Program Vacancies) . Look at how many jobs are available in the major CBDs, and compare to the proportion on offer in regional or remote areas. I come into contact with IMGs all the time. Most of them ain't working in the city.

 

[Ian Naga]

Your anecdotal evidence should not be used as evidence that "nothing cannot be overcome", and the ease with which your parent applied for recognition with the RACGP is not universal.

Take a look at the "areas of need" vacancies open presently (like this one: Area of Need Program Vacancies) . Look at how many jobs are available in the major CBDs, and compare to the proportion on offer in regional or remote areas. I come into contact with IMGs all the time. Most of them ain't working in the city.

As long as you have fellowships from UK/Irish/Canadian GP colleges, yes it is straight forward
As to your 2nd point, Remote Australia is also Australia

 

[Cali]

Hey all love this discussion but can we please direct it to a new forum and keep this to strictly bond med discussion

 

[greengem]

Guys just remember we are all hoping to be future doctors, this requires respect for everyone! So let's divert back to the main topic bond and cross our fingers for that interview!!!! All the very best to everyone

 

[Perplex]

As long as you have fellowships from UK/Irish/Canadian GP colleges, yes it is straight forward
As to your 2nd point, Remote Australia is also Australia

I'm not looking to argue with you, because I'm not an IMG myself and I am not sure of the training pathways.
I am just going to caution you in providing absolutist statements and presenting them as infallible truisms.
The process can vary for people, and it's difficult to judge the climate for anyone. I just don't want your anecdotal evidence to be seen as reality. I'm sure there are plenty of people who miss out (International Students who study in Australia miss out on jobs).
Please be cautious before presenting information which may unnecessarily misguide a person reading this forum.

EDIT: Agreed, please return to appropriate discussion for this thread.

 

[Numerouno]

I don’t want to be too intrusive as I got bad remarks for my previous post and don’t want to be sounding “Dodgy”. I know three young families with small children migrated from the UK to Australia recently and set up theirs GP practices...I don’t know their full background and they are not Australian Citizens yet, they are friends to my family now. My decision to take up Med in the UK over Bond last year was my choice as it is estimated to save nearly $120k ( in comparison to Bond in 5 years) on Tuition Fees.
Now it could be different due to a decline in A$ value. So for Internationals it is a huge risk.

I work limited hours of part time to help with sustenance to some extent. Again please don’t be swayed into what’s mentioned here and do your homework, talk to experts, doctors, universities, AMC, MBA and what not if you really want to head your way to UK for Medicine when you do not succeed with Bond. If you can afford, your first choice must be Bond in my opinion. Wish everyone of you the best, so all in this forum can grab the interview spot and that includes my cousin not in this forum.

For the UK, keep options open and look for advise for a pessimistic view of what if you can not come back to practise med in Aus? With changing political climate anything can happen and the fate of IMGs could go from bad to worse.

Optimistic view: All my seniors (internationals) have all gotten into FY programs...no issue so far from what I have seen and heard. Those Aussies ( a few students only) from my university who completed FY have got placement in Australia within a few months when the vacancy happened dispersed mostly in Rural hospitals. Now tge hospitals are supporting their application for registration with MBA. So it seems like all is not doom and gloom for me but there is an element of risk always there. I was prepared to take that risk as my position is different now ( as explained by A1). If the FY placement changes due to political climate in four years... I have no control over it. I will battle that as and when it happens. My top priority is to pass all the years and graduate with Medical degree. Good day.

ps: A1, Ian Naga.. thanks for batting for me. I really appreciate your kind words.

 

[drpkjr]

Here are my thoughts, I agree with the posters lets keep the discussion based on Bond... look I don't think anyone gets into medicine without working hard and really wanting to do it. But unfortunately there are more applicants than there are spots. Every person should be able to do what they need to do regarding pathways to medicine without being judged. We are suppose to support each other through this med journey. Quite frankly MSO has been a huge support to me for the last several years and provided me with option and info I would never have had. I would ask everyone to take a breath... this is a stressful time for everyone...be kind when you write something...

Getting back to Bond.... fingers crossed for all of us that we all get an interview! I called Bond Friday and they said offers are going to roll out Monday through Friday... it is going to a long week! ( Although QTAC said offers would be on Monday and Tuesday only) so go figure!

 

[WH-1234]

Here are my thoughts, I agree with the posters lets keep the discussion based on Bond... look I don't think anyone gets into medicine without working hard and really wanting to do it. But unfortunately there are more applicants than there are spots. Every person should be able to do what they need to do regarding pathways to medicine without being judged. We are suppose to support each other through this med journey. Quite frankly MSO has been a huge support to me for the last several years and provided me with option and info I would never have had. I would ask everyone to take a breath... this is a stressful time for everyone...be kind when you write something...

Getting back to Bond.... fingers crossed for all of us that we all get an interview! I called Bond Friday and they said offers are going to roll out Monday through Friday... it is going to a long week! ( Although QTAC said offers would be on Monday and Tuesday only) so go figure!

But isn’t Bond sending out the offer? So probably Qtac has no idea anyway lol

 

[greengem]

But isn’t Bond sending out the offer? So probably Qtac has no idea anyway lol

I think QTAC will change the interview section to 'selected to sit interview' or something along those lines as well tho

 

[lordyx]

Hi guys,
I was just wondering what the format the Bond interview will be like. I've only really heard that the interview is MMI. Does anyone know the specifics of the interview or where I could get some information on it?

Cheers.