Choosing Between Universities and Offers

[dotwingz]

Ok I see. Does JCU have a good program? I hear they're a pretty young university, but nevertheless quite good reputation and would be closest to me I guess. Have many of you people studied at interstate universities, or do you just go to the closest/local?

One thing about studying interstate is that state health agencies will allocate all of their junior doctor positions to graduates of their own states medical schools (for QLD thats JCU, Griffith & UQ) before allocating a single one to interstate grads, so theres very little opportunity to come back until you have completely finished your training, and by that point you're so settled in an area its unlikely you'll uproot everything to move back 'home'

JCU (like all Australian Universities) have to undergo rigorous accreditation requirements, so I wouldn't be too worried about them being a good program, by virtue of being an Australian Medical School they have to be pretty good.

The reason why they recommended it over Griffith, is that you will be allocated a CSP/BMP from entry, unlike Griffith where you will have to compete for a CSP position.

Realistically your best bet would be to choose the place closest to you. So that's Griffith if youre on GC, UQ in Brisbane, USC if youre on SC.

Wait what you compete for BMP and CSP?

Yeah with Griffith Provisional, CSP and BMP places are decided based on GPA's of the MedSci degree

 

[E_N]

Haha I would like to get as far away from home as possible...

 

[Crow]

Not if their family lives in Brisbane and they're cost conscious. Six years of living-away-from-home expenses in Townsville (or Gold Coast) would be quite substantial.

Sure, but the OP has said they want to do the shortest course that’s non-provisional. In QLD that’s JCU.

 

[ucatboy]

Haha I would like to get as far away from home as possible...

In that case, you shoulder reconsider whether that or wanting to take the cheapest route is the most important to you - you can only have one or the other.

 

[Crow]

Ok I see. Does JCU have a good program? I hear they're a pretty young university, but nevertheless quite good reputation and would be closest to me I guess. Have many of you people studied at interstate universities, or do you just go to the closest/local?

JCU’s program has been discussed extensively in the JCU sub forum. I recommend you have a read.

 

[Crow]

I think there are too many things that you want out of the one degree, and unfortunately you’ll need to prioritise which is more important to you. Luckily for you, you have literally two years to worry about that (assuming you get in on the first try at all, which most applicants do not!).

 

[DrDrLMG!]

This thread is very quickly becoming a stream of conscious question and answer that is messy and not achieving anything not already stated (often times repeatedly) elsewhere.

Please consider whether your questions (and the answers/commentary that follows) are on topic for this thread, which is about choosing between Universities when the person has multiple offers.

 

[Tomato]

The reason why they recommended it over Griffith, is that you will be allocated a CSP/BMP from entry, unlike Griffith where you will have to compete for a CSP position.

If in the case you only got a BMP (either at UQ or JCU), then to choose Griffith would at least give you a chance to compete CSP. Even you still got a BMP, it's one year shorter than UQ and the same as JCU.

 

[ah_s50]

Hey, I'm an international student and I received an offer from WSU and Newcastle University Malaysia. I understand that I'm not guaranteed an internship place in Australia but I'm also not guaranteed an internship place in the UK although its accredited by the GMC. I just want to know what you guys think is the safer option. Note that WSU is about 69000 AUD while Newcastle Malaysia is about 36000 AUD but money is not really an issue if there is a clear safer option.

 

[A1]

Hey, I'm an international student and I received an offer from WSU and Newcastle University Malaysia. I understand that I'm not guaranteed an internship place in Australia but I'm also not guaranteed an internship place in the UK although its accredited by the GMC. I just want to know what you guys think is the safer option. Note that WSU is about 69000 AUD while Newcastle Malaysia is about 36000 AUD but money is not really an issue if there is a clear safer option.

Overall about 50-60% of int'l med students in Aus get an Aus internship then continuing on to JMO. Find out how many Newcastle Malaysia students get a UK internship you can compare.

 

[kitkat1]

Hello! i was hoping someone could advise me on what to what to preference first out of WSU and JMP (ive preferred newcastle over une). in terms of travel, by public transport, wsu would be 2.5 hours away from home and uon would be 3.5 hours so id have to move closer to uni if i was to get in to any of them (the 2.5 hours to wsu would not be manageable on a frequent basis right?) , my family live in sydney but i have very close family in newcastle as well, so im not sure what else to look at when picking my first preference. i guess i could compare the areas close to wsu, uon, une if i was to stay on campus/close to campus, so does anyone who is currently staying close to either of those unis or anyone at all have any advice?! thanks everyone!!

 

[mafkyhm]

I believe that UniMelb also has a GPA hurdle in place, achieving parity with UQ and USyd. Correct me if I'm wrong though. So instead of just GPA hurdle, it's got GPA hurdle AND MMI. Two "requirements" instead of one. Griffith is unique in a bad way, forcing applicants to COMPETE for bonded/unbonded places in the first two years on the basis of GPA. It's not a GPA hurdle like the other unis, it's almost like Year 12 and ATAR all over again. Since everyone would prefer unbonded, the GPA required to get an unbonded place is quite high and therefore demands much more work.

I see, thank you! If I am not mistaken there is no GPA hurdle for UniMelb.
May I please ask how hard it is to get the required GPA for USyd? And for Griffith, would GPA of 5 be enough to get a bonded place?
Would UTas or JCU be a more preferable option if she can get it than UniMelb, Griffith, Flinders?
Between UTas and JCU which one is better? I am sorry for such a long questions. Your patience and kindness is much appreciated!

 

[A1]

May I please ask how hard it is to get the required GPA for USyd?

Piece of cake for 99.95 students

And for Griffith, would GPA of 5 be enough to get a bonded place?

It's not GPA dependent per se. Griffith students do two years of undergrad first, based on their GPAs the top 71.5% get unbonded, bottom 28.5% get bonded.

Between UTas and JCU which one is better?

JCU is 6 years, UTas is 5 years. But more importantly which state will your daughter like to intern in?

 

[mafkyhm]

Piece of cake for 99.95 students



It's not GPA dependent per se. Griffith students do two years of undergrad first, based on their GPAs the top 71.5% get unbonded, bottom 28.5% get bonded.



JCU is 6 years, UTas is 5 years. But more importantly which state will your daughter like to intern in?

All your input are so valuable. Thanks so much!
Is it fair to say all GPA requirements are about Distinction average? Therefore the GPA hurdle will be similar between USyd, UniMelb (to keep the chancellor's scholarship) ?

You get intern in the state you graduate. After 1-2 years of intern, would you be able to move to other states (ie. go back to your home state say)?

So sorry my questions seems to be in a circle.

 

[Crow]

Is it fair to say all GPA requirements are about Distinction average? Therefore the GPA hurdle will be similar between USyd, UniMelb (to keep the chancellor's scholarship) ?

Nope, that’s unique to UniMelb. Most other provisional entry unis require a 5.0 to progress to the MD, but you need to check the specific university’s requirements for the ones you are considering.

Yes, you can move back to other states both for internship and afterwards provided you can find a job in your chosen state.

 

[dotwingz]

May I please ask how hard it is to get the required GPA for USyd? And for Griffith, would GPA of 5 be enough to get a bonded place?

Just want to chime in here that UQ Provisional Entry: General Questions and Discussion this post may be helpful in visually roughly* where a 5.0 GPA stands (In summary: an average student will be above a 5.0)

*when i say roughly i mean very very roughly

 

[mafkyhm]

Nope, that’s unique to UniMelb. Most other provisional entry unis require a 5.0 to progress to the MD, but you need to check the specific university’s requirements for the ones you are considering.

Yes, you can move back to other states both for internship and afterwards provided you can find a job in your chosen state.

So you are saying UniMelb requires higher undergrad result than most other provisional unis? GPA 5.0 is about credit average? Thanks heaps everyone!! Much appreciated.

 

[Crow]

So you are saying UniMelb requires higher undergrad result than most other provisional unis? GPA 5.0 is about credit average? Thanks heaps everyone!! Much appreciated.

Technically you can’t directly compare a WAM with a GPA but for simplicity purposes I’ll say a 70 WAM at UniMelb is probably equally as difficult to maintain as a GPA of 5.0 at UQ or USYD (noting that the latter unis consider a credit to be 65 and above whereas UniMelb considers a credit to be 60 and above). I wouldn’t make that particular factor the main driver in your choice between UniMelb and other unis - the main ones for me would be studying in the state you want to work in after graduation or one where your home is and total time length of the degree.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Technically you can’t directly compare a WAM with a GPA but for simplicity purposes I’ll say a 70 WAM is probably equally as difficult to maintain as a GPA of 5.0. I wouldn’t make that particular factor the main driver in your choice between UniMelb and other unis - the main ones for me would be studying in the state you want to work in after graduation or one where your home is and total time length of the degree.

Oh, good point, it’s not talking about a GPA, is it. I’ll delete my reply because it’s possibly a bit misleading (or, at a minimum, not entirely accurate and could be variable).

 

[mafkyhm]

Technically you can’t directly compare a WAM with a GPA but for simplicity purposes I’ll say a 70 WAM is probably equally as difficult to maintain as a GPA of 5.0. I wouldn’t make that particular factor the main driver in your choice between UniMelb and other unis - the main ones for me would be studying in the state you want to work in after graduation or one where your home is and total time length of the degree.

Is it worth taking a gap year and re sit ucat for that purpose?