Choosing Between Universities and Offers

[DrDrLMG!]

Course Type: Med
Offer Received: YES
University: Curtin, Griffith (Nathan Campus)
Offer Type: CSP
Other Information: Interstate for both
Can anyone give their opinion between Curtin and Griffith.
Is there an advantage to MD over MBBS? MBBS is an AQF Level 7 course, whereas MD is an AQF Level 9 course. Does this make a difference? Are the future study pathways the same for a MBBS graduate and for a MD graduate?

Have a look through this thread

 

[A1]

Also there was a lack of internship places before Curtin had a medical school and it doesn't look like anything has been done about it.

What lack of internship places? I like to see your evidence/source of info before giving you my version of it.

 

[Jace]

What lack of internship places? I like to see your evidence/source of info before giving you my version of it.

Couldn't find the exact articles, but AMSA Internship Guide 2018 | Australian Medical Students’ Association under Western Australia shows internship places which I think is less than graduating students. Also international students studying here are failing to get internships: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/uwa-doctor-out-of-work-next-year-ng-b88335098z

 

[A1]

Couldn't find the exact articles, but AMSA Internship Guide 2018 | Australian Medical Students’ Association under Western Australia shows internship places which I think is less than graduating students. Also international students studying here are failing to get internships: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/uwa-doctor-out-of-work-next-year-ng-b88335098z

1) You will find that in every state Aus/domestic graduates are given higher internship priority than int'l student grads. Any lack of internship places that AMSA cries about has only been for int'l graduates. Citing that as a negative point for Curtin domestic graduates makes no sense.

2) For WA in particular I have shown on MSO annual reports for the last two years, only 85% of WA intern spots were taken up by WA-medschool graduates despite them having first priority to these spots. That means 15% of the places were not wanted thus filled by graduates from outside WA.

3) Australia-wide, last year after offering internships to all CSP/BMP grads, to all domestic FFP grads, they still had over 300 spots to offer to int'l grads. Then a few months later an additional 75 spots to int'l grads again (there were no CSP/BMP grads left to offer to). That's how short of domestic graduates we are relative to the internships available.

 

[Jace]

1) You will find that in every state Aus/domestic graduates are given higher internship priority than int'l student grads. Any lack of internship places that AMSA cries about has only been for int'l graduates. Citing that as a negative point for Curtin domestic graduates makes no sense.

2) For WA in particular I have shown on MSO annual reports for the last two years, only 85% of WA intern spots were taken up by WA-medschool graduates despite them having first priority to these spots. That means 15% of the places were filled by graduates from outside WA.

3) Australia-wide, last year after offering internships to all CSP/BMP grads, to all domestic FFP grads, they still had over 300 spots to offer to int'l grads. Then a few months later an additional 75 spots to int'l grads again (there were no CSP/BMP grads left to offer to). That's how short of domestic graduates we are relative to the internships available.

Thank you so much for taking the time to clear up my concerns A1. I decided to go with Curtin

 

[1234med]

Aside from home state vs interstate for Curtin vs UTAS, you might also want to consider the focus in the courses. From my understanding, Curtin is very rural-focused. It was created to alleviate the shortage of docs (particularly GPs I think) in rural areas and that's the only (?) reason they have been granted funding. Maybe someone more experienced in the Curtin curriculum and UTAS can weigh in on this e.g perhaps whether there is as much of a focus at UTAS.

 

[Deleted member 35034]

Thank you so much for taking the time to clear up my concerns A1. I decided to go with Curtin

Sounds a sensible decision Jace...Congratulations and good luck with Med at Curtin.

 

[HelloMango]

Hi guys, would love some advice on choosing between Flinders and Griffith Gc! Which one is better reputed, which course is better (for what), what kind of student life and atmosphere can I expect? thank you.

 

[Crow]

Hi guys, would love some advice on choosing between Flinders and Griffith Gc! Which one is better reputed, which course is better (for what), what kind of student life and atmosphere can I expect? thank you.

The biggest consideration here is probably where you can see yourself living and working (or where you’d prefer to live and work) for at least the next 7 years - South Australia or Queensland. Reputation is quite irrelevant here, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities for student social events etc at both universities.

ETA: Do you have a CSP at Flinders? A guaranteed CSP would be pretty hard to pass up if I was in your position if SA and QLD are both not your home states.

 

[cat123a]

Hi Moderator, if this posting is in the wrong place, please remove/modify.
I have been offered Curtin (5 Years MBBS) and hopefully Monash (5 Years MD - my interview today went very well).
With both Unis, they are 5 year courses but with Monash, the qualification is MD.

I am trying to decide which option to take. WA resident but am willing to move to Vic if Monash is clearly the better option.
Thanks for all your feedback.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi Moderator, if this posting is in the wrong place, please remove/modify.
I have been offered Curtin (5 Years MBBS) and hopefully Monash (5 Years MD - my interview today went very well).
With both Unis, they are 5 year courses but with Monash, the qualification is MD.

I am trying to decide which option to take. WA resident but am willing to move to Vic if Monash is clearly the better option.
Thanks for all your feedback.

You’re jumping the gun a bit given you don’t have a Monash offer, but have a read through here and Mana’s guide: A guide to choosing between medical degrees

 

[tree32water]

Heyy, so I have received an offer to study medicine at the university of Adelaide (UOA), but I don't know any med students from the uni and would really appreciate honest feedback from current or past students about what it's really like to study med at UOA- as I have received an offer to study at UNSW and WSU too and am trying to make a decision as to where to study.

 

[FlyingAce]

Guide to First Year Medicine at University of Adelaide

 

[Crow]

Heyy, so I have received an offer to study medicine at the university of Adelaide (UOA), but I don't know any med students from the uni and would really appreciate honest feedback from current or past students about what it's really like to study med at UOA- as I have received an offer to study at UNSW and WSU too and am trying to make a decision as to where to study.

What's your home state, and are these offers bonded or unbonded? Would you prefer to live and work in South Australia for the next 7+ years or would you rather be in NSW? Based on the very limited information you've provided so far I would select WSU due to the program being 5 years over 6 years at the other two, but obviously other factors come into play.

 

[Presto]

Hi all,
I've been lurking this forum for some time and thank you all so much for the useful info.
I recently received a UNSW unbonded January round 1 offer as well as a UWS bonded January Round 2 offer.
I am a GWS resident so the commute to WSU is much shorter (20 mins Vs 2 hours to UNSW) and have already completed my first year of uni in an unrelated degree.
I read on a previous thread that an unbonded offer is always better. However, that thread was based on the pre-2016 BMP scheme. If someone has some insight on whether or not the 12 months RoS period for the post-2016 BMP scheme is really that bad compared to choosing a longer program, it would be really helpful.

 

[hyperbole]

Hi all,
I've been lurking this forum for some time and thank you all so much for the useful info.
I recently received a UNSW unbonded January round 1 offer as well as a UWS bonded January Round 2 offer.
I am a GWS resident so the commute to WSU is much shorter (20 mins Vs 2 hours to UNSW) and have already completed my first year of uni in an unrelated degree.
I read on a previous thread that an unbonded offer is always better. However, that thread was based on the pre-2016 BMP scheme. If someone has some insight on whether or not the 12 months RoS period for the post-2016 BMP scheme is really that bad compared to choosing a longer program, it would be really helpful.

Well obviously on its own an unbonded offer is better than a bonded offer.

The 2019 bonded conditions aren't too bad (1 year) and if a bonded offer was the only offer it is worth taking.

However, it does limit flexibility somewhat post graduation. It can really complicate things for certain specialties because the area of need's hospital may be incapable of accommodating a certain specialty for example. This is if you do your bonded obligation much later on.


If you do your ROS in your intern year to "get it out of the way" , NSW Health (since youre choosing between UNSW and WSU) signs new interns to 2 year contracts so you're more than likely going to be at a smaller rural hospital for 2 years. (I checked the modified Monash model map and all the major hospitals in Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Wollongong are not included.) Now there's nothing wrong with that and some may want to go rurally. If you're thinking about specialties though, it does make it more difficult to build references and do networking during those two years compared to those at a major metro hospital. So while not impossible to overcome, it is a disadvatage compared to your colleagues at RPA, Westmead etc.

Also, it seems youre 20 min from Campbelltown from your post. You're only at Kensington main campus for first few years. Teaching hospitals for the rest of the degree. One of the major teaching hospitals you can choose is Liverpool for UNSW. So that may actually be closer to you than Macarthur or Blacktown? (If you're 20 min away, I assume that is around Glenfield, Casula, Liverpool area?)

UNSW being a year longer on its own is a disadvantage when comparing unbonded to unbonded but at the same time, it is only one year(compared to two for USyd) and when comparing UNSW unbonded to WSU bonded, the former inevitably gives more flexibility to post graduation options.

 

[cat123a]

Hi everyone,
I have been offered Curtin (MBBS) and Monash(MD). I live in WA. My goal is to be a heart surgeon on day.
Based on all the advise I have read in this forum, the logical choice is to go to Curtin (as this is closest to home).
There are some factors which I am weighing:
1. The Curtin course is new
2. If I goto Monash, I will do my internship in Vic which will may provide more opportunities in the surgical area. And more opportunities for work as well.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[lowlee]

Hi everyone,
I have been offered Curtin (MBBS) and Monash(MD). I live in WA. My goal is to be a heart surgeon on day.
Based on all the advise I have read in this forum, the logical choice is to go to Curtin (as this is closest to home).
There are some factors which I am weighing:
1. The Curtin course is new
2. If I goto Monash, I will do my internship in Vic which will may provide more opportunities in the surgical area. And more opportunities for work as well.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hey, just wondering, are u a rural student or have any special considerations because I heard that Monash offers for interstate students only come out on the 4th of feb. thanks

 

[pi]

2. If I goto Monash, I will do my internship in Vic which will may provide more opportunities in the surgical area. And more opportunities for work as well.

Interns in Victoria don't rotate through cardiothoracic surgery - so it makes little difference in that regard.

 

[H_______]

Really struggling to decide between UNSW Port Macquarie and UTAS... Can someone help me out ? From Canberra, so both a decent distance, obviously one more so...