Choosing Between Universities and Offers

[Crow]

A1 What's your advice on undergrad UNSW med course vs WSU course?

You need to be more specific in your questioning if you want a useful answer, please!

 

[Princess A]

You need to be more specific in your questioning if you want a useful answer, please!

Sorry for not making it clear. Choosing between the two courses to put on the preference list. My UCAT total is 3010, predicted ATAR low 99's or high 98's with EAS. Thanks

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Sorry for not making it clear. Choosing between the two courses to put on the preference list. My UCAT total is 3010, predicted ATAR low 99's or high 98's with EAS. Thanks

Your results are irrelevant for UAC preferencing. Place the universities in the order you would rather attend them.

ETA: unless you mean “choosing between” literally and are only going to apply to one of either UNSW or WSU, in which case I’d ask, why?

 

[Rhythm]

Hi all,
I just submitted my UAC application about a week ago but I can still change my preferences and I wasn't sure how to decide between putting the JMP or WSU medical program in order. I currently have the JMP above the WSU undergraduate medicine course but I wasn't able to find much information about the campuses for the JMP and WSU, which is my primary differentiating factor. I'm from interstate so would prefer to be in a more urban setting for the course. I've heard good things about both courses so I wanted to ask which program had more of a metropolitan focus rather than rural. I know the JMP is an older program than that of WSU and I also wanted to ask whether its teaching program was better than that of WSU or are both of a similar level. Thanks

 

[Princess A]

Hi all,
I just submitted my UAC application about a week ago but I can still change my preferences and I wasn't sure how to decide between putting the JMP or WSU medical program in order. I currently have the JMP above the WSU undergraduate medicine course but I wasn't able to find much information about the campuses for the JMP and WSU, which is my primary differentiating factor. I'm from interstate so would prefer to be in a more urban setting for the course. I've heard good things about both courses so I wanted to ask which program had more of a metropolitan focus rather than rural. I know the JMP is an older program than that of WSU and I also wanted to ask whether its teaching program was better than that of WSU or are both of a similar level. Thanks

I had the same question. Are you not putting UNSW? I am not sure to put UNSW (6yrs) or WSU (5yrs) in the top order.

 

[Scorpion]

I had the same question. Are you not putting UNSW? I am not sure to put UNSW (6yrs) or WSU (5yrs) in the top order.

Unless you have a very strong preference for the UNSW course, put WSU first. It's shorter and therefore less expensive, and you get into the workforce a year earlier. Say you preferenced UNSW first and got in. Once you get to 6th year, do you think you will regret not trying for the 5 year course and being in the workforce at that point in time instead of having to do another year of (unpaid) study? If so, preference WSU higher. If not and you have other reasons for favouring UNSW, preference it higher.

 

[A1]

I'm from interstate so would prefer to be in a more urban setting for the course.

Put WSU higher if you prefer urban. There are 10ish non-rural spots at CSU so if you get a WSU/JPM offer 10% chance you get allocated to CSU. Versus JMP 65% chance at Newcastle 35% at UNE.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Put WSU higher if you prefer urban. There are 10ish non-rural spots at CSU so if you get a WSU/JPM offer 10% chance you get allocated to CSU. Versus JMP 65% chance at Newcastle 35% at UNE.

On this note, what are 'chances' of getting Port Mac for UNSW if you get an offer? Or is it a different allocation system?

 

[garmonbozia]

On this note, what are 'chances' of getting Port Mac for UNSW if you get an offer? Or is it a different allocation system?

When applying to UNSW you can choose whether you'd like to be considered for a place at the main campus, at Port Mac, or both.

 

[Princess A]

Unless you have a very strong preference for the UNSW course, put WSU first. It's shorter and therefore less expensive, and you get into the workforce a year earlier. Say you preferenced UNSW first and got in. Once you get to 6th year, do you think you will regret not trying for the 5 year course and being in the workforce at that point in time instead of having to do another year of (unpaid) study? If so, preference WSU higher. If not and you have other reasons for favouring UNSW, preference it higher.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Rhythm]

Put WSU higher if you prefer urban. There are 10ish non-rural spots at CSU so if you get a WSU/JPM offer 10% chance you get allocated to CSU. Versus JMP 65% chance at Newcastle 35% at UNE.

Thanks. I'm putting UNSW first and JMP and WSU will be my second and third UAC preferences. I was just deciding between both of them because I've had people tell me about how the JMP is a course that has been running for a longer time and has a strong teaching program while I don't know much about the Western Sydney program, although I liked its campus and it seemed pretty nice as well. I know UNSW is really competitive anyhow so I've put it first also because it has the best location but I guess if WSU offers more of an urban setting I would definitely prefer that over UNE. I thought I heard somewhere that CSU had a preference for rural candidates anyhow (80% If I remember correctly) and so there would probably be a higher chance of staying in an urban area in WSU.

 

[A1]

JMP is a course that has been running for a longer time and has a strong teaching program while I don't know much about the Western Sydney program

You can compare their accreditation reports from this link
> Accreditation reports

Quote: "The AMC is satisfied that the UoN/UNE Joint Medical Program meets the approved accreditation standards", subject to the monitoring of 5 conditions. WSU 6 conditions. Little different.

 

[bigyikes]

Thanks. I'm putting UNSW first and JMP and WSU will be my second and third UAC preferences. I was just deciding between both of them because I've had people tell me about how the JMP is a course that has been running for a longer time and has a strong teaching program while I don't know much about the Western Sydney program, although I liked its campus and it seemed pretty nice as well. I know UNSW is really competitive anyhow so I've put it first also because it has the best location but I guess if WSU offers more of an urban setting I would definitely prefer that over UNE. I thought I heard somewhere that CSU had a preference for rural candidates anyhow (80% If I remember correctly) and so there would probably be a higher chance of staying in an urban area in WSU.

Also, just gonna chime in here and shamelessly advertise for WSU by saying that WSU's program gives you in-hospital clinical days where you work with real patients from week 1 of first year. This is something unique at WSU medicine afaik, and is a significant advantage in terms of clinical experience over the JMP, or even worse, UNSW where it's essentially purely mind-numbing medical science for the first two (three?) years.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks. I'm putting UNSW first and JMP and WSU will be my second and third UAC preferences. I was just deciding between both of them because I've had people tell me about how the JMP is a course that has been running for a longer time and has a strong teaching program while I don't know much about the Western Sydney program, although I liked its campus and it seemed pretty nice as well. I know UNSW is really competitive anyhow so I've put it first also because it has the best location but I guess if WSU offers more of an urban setting I would definitely prefer that over UNE. I thought I heard somewhere that CSU had a preference for rural candidates anyhow (80% If I remember correctly) and so there would probably be a higher chance of staying in an urban area in WSU.

JMP’s course has only been running since 2017 and, from friends who were in that first cohort, had LOTS of issues (some of them teething, some of them systemic). I’m not sure what kind of job they’ve done smoothing them out (though no doubt they’ve at least addressed some of them by now).

That said, I think WSU’s program is newish, too, though. Possibly even newer.

 

[bigyikes]

JMP’s course has only been running since 2017 and, from friends who were in that first cohort, had LOTS of issues (some of them teething, some of them systemic). I’m not sure what kind of job they’ve done smoothing them out (though no doubt they’ve at least addressed some of them by now).

That said, I think WSU’s program is newish, too, though. Possibly even newer.

WSU started their medicine program in 2007. However, their MD program only began last year for the first time (previously MBBS). However, at this stage, it seems they're pretty much the same...? The only difference to my knowledge is in 3rd year there is a research project that needs be completed, and slightly differently arranged clinical placements, but obviously we don't know about the issues there yet given that the first MD cohort are still only in 2nd year.

EDIT: I've since learned this is not true, a friend pointed out to me that the course has changed slightly with new topics and a heavier emphasis on certain subjects such as pharmacology etc.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

WSU started their medicine program in 2007. However, their MD program only began last year for the first time (previously MBBS). However, at this stage, it seems they're pretty much the same...? The only difference to my knowledge is in 3rd year there is a research project that needs be completed, and slightly differently arranged clinical placements, but obviously we don't know about the issues there yet given that the first MD cohort are still only in 2nd year.

Interesting that the courses are the same despite the switch at WSU. My friend in the first JMP cohort said theirs was almost completely re-written (and, at many points, seemed to be being made up on the spot). The assessment structure also completely changed.

/secondhand but (what I’d consider) reliable information from an ex-MSO regular.

 

[chinaski]

This is something unique at WSU medicine afaik

Not across all medical schools, it's not. Perhaps you mean unique to schools that admit school leavers?

 

[ucatboy]

We were meant to be have GP clinic visits in the second week of Semester 1, but then, y'know..

 

[bigyikes]

Not across all medical schools, it's not. Perhaps you mean unique to schools that admit school leavers?

Something unique to NSW undergraduate schools, since the OP was talking about their UAC application.

 

[Mana]

That said, I think WSU’s program is newish, too, though. Possibly even newer.

WSU's program opened in 2007 (back when it was still called UWS), and while there are always teething issues for early cohorts, I believe the course was actually purchased from Melbourne University (whose last undergraduate cohort was also 2007).