Choosing Between Universities and Offers

[CHStar]

Morning all! I received a CSP for UNDS Assured pathway med (7 years) before Christmas, and just received an offer to WSU Campbelltown med as a CSP as well. Anyone have any experience at either uni / thoughts on what offer to take up? Cheers!

Take the shorter degree at wsu!

Welcome to MSO.

You’ve listed a bunch of clear reasons why UWA objectively appears a far better choice for you.

A uni being the most prestigious is really not going to be of much value to you as a medical student, and should not factor into your decision making. A higher “academic standard” should also not be a factor (it’s also not true - there is no clear way in which to compare this between different universities, however it may be defined).

What matters is that you graduate with a degree which qualifies you to be a safe and competent intern, which a medical degree at any Australian university will allow for. To me it seems a huge bonus that you have the opportunity to do this in your home town, with the support of your family, friends and girlfriend, while being able to save on accommodation, and ultimately with less of a HECS debt than 7 years of study will result in.

Could you clarify which specific opportunities you are concerned you won’t have at UWA that might be offered in Melbourne?

This is such an incredibly helpful reply to all of us - thank you.

 

[otter!]

Hi all, looking for some advice to choose between a 7-year CSP place or a 5-year BMP place.

Additional info:
CSP is interstate, BMP is home state

Also would really appreciate some insight into the impact of BMP on career trajectory/life trajectory etc. TIA!

 

[Wish' you Well]

Home state: NSW
Offer 1: (CSP/BMP) Western Sydney Uni
Offer 2: (CSP/BMP) Adelaide Uni
Any scholarships offered:
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference:
Other important information: Are there any social life clubs you can join in WSU?

 

[A1]

Hi all, looking for some advice to choose between a 7-year CSP place or a 5-year BMP place.

Additional info:
CSP is interstate, BMP is home state

Also would really appreciate some insight into the impact of BMP on career trajectory/life trajectory etc. TIA!

Myself I would choose the 5-year BMP. Two years shorter plus in home state.

In WA we can arrange to work (intermittenly) 1/3rd of the terms at outer-metro or regional locations, 2/3rd at the main hospital to get exposure to the specialties interested in. That gives one year RoS out of the 3 intern/RMO years. The remaining two RoS years can be served post-vocational. If your chosen specialty is such that RoS is not possible you can opt out and pay back 2/3rd of the gov subsidies for the med course.

Home state: NSW
Offer 1: (CSP/BMP) Western Sydney Uni
Offer 2: (CSP/BMP) Adelaide Uni
Any scholarships offered:
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference:
Other important information: Are there any social life clubs you can join in WSU?

Are you asking about the social life clubs or choice of the offers?

For the latter I'd choose WSU. One year shorter + home state.

 

[CHStar]

Myself I would choose the 5-year BMP. Two years shorter plus in home state.

In WA we can arrange to work (intermittenly) 1/3rd of the terms at outer-metro or regional locations, 2/3rd at the main hospital to get exposure to the specialties interested in. That gives one year RoS out of the 3 intern/RMO years. The remaining two RoS years can be served post-vocational. If your chosen specialty is such that RoS is not possible you can opt out and pay back 2/3rd of the gov subsidies for the med course.



Are you asking about the social life clubs or choice of the offers?

For the latter I'd choose WSU. One year shorter + home state.

Great advice

 

[LWH]

Hi Guys - Would very much appreciate advice on the following :-

- VIC student with ATAR 99.95

- Received the following :-
- U of Melb's Chancellor's Scholarship with guaranteed MD program but need to pass MMI (7 years total, exempted tuition fees for first 3 years plus $5K scholarship per year and subsequently CSP fees (about $12K) per year for the next 4 years)
- Received offer from Monash Uni (B of Medical Science / MD with CSP) with $8K per year scholarship for first 4 years and subsequently CSP fees (about $12K) for the 5th year

What are the pros and cons for each in term of :-
- a medical student in each of the unis
- career progression after graduating (with the aim for specialization in the future)
- Any advantage/s with one uni over the other ? Which uni would you choose ?

Thank you so much

 

[JFB]

UMelb you will be a student with a guaranteed interview
Monash you will be a medical student

 

[SLM]

I was very fortunate to receive a Griffith Gold Coast offer today. I wasn’t sure if I would with the new local boosts to the ATAR.
I also have the Melbourne Chancellor’s.
( I am based in Sydney and my UCAT 3000 was too low to get home state and ATAR 99.90 too low for USyd)
1 Melbourne Chancellor’s is guaranteed but you still have to sit the MMI at end of third year so I would likely sit the GAMSAT still to keep my options open. Much easier undergrad, more fun. I have some accommodation organised- ish. HECS covered for science degree. I also would get $10K per year for undergrad.
2. Griffith- 2 years crammed ( a 3 year degree), no accommodation yet despite a wait list for four months so far. 28.5 % of of all the
Students who all had to get 99.90 get a bonded spot. (plus HECS off course)

All opinions appreciated, especially by those who may be doing either?( I tried to enroll in the Griffith undergrad course today and heaps of courses seemed to have overlaps.. but will ring them tomorrow and take a look)
I really don’t know

 

[Crow]

Hi Guys - Would very much appreciate advice on the following :-

- VIC student with ATAR 99.95

- Received the following :-
- U of Melb's Chancellor's Scholarship with guaranteed MD program but need to pass MMI (7 years total, exempted tuition fees for first 3 years plus $5K scholarship per year and subsequently CSP fees (about $12K) per year for the next 4 years)
- Received offer from Monash Uni (B of Medical Science / MD with CSP) with $8K per year scholarship for first 4 years and subsequently CSP fees (about $12K) for the 5th year

What are the pros and cons for each in term of :-
- a medical student in each of the unis
- career progression after graduating (with the aim for specialization in the future)
- Any advantage/s with one uni over the other ? Which uni would you choose ?

Thank you so much

Monash is by far the better choice. Shorter program, you'll be making money two years earlier, and there's no uncertainty of getting into the MD like with the Melbourne MMI. Your career progression/specialty will be unaffected by which university you go to.

I was very fortunate to receive a Griffith Gold Coast offer today. I wasn’t sure if I would with the new local boosts to the ATAR.
I also have the Melbourne Chancellor’s.
( I am based in Sydney and my UCAT 3000 was too low to get home state and ATAR 99.90 too low for USyd)
1 Melbourne Chancellor’s is guaranteed but you still have to sit the MMI at end of third year so I would likely sit the GAMSAT still to keep my options open. Much easier undergrad, more fun. I have some accommodation organised- ish. HECS covered for science degree. I also would get $10K per year for undergrad.
2. Griffith- 2 years crammed ( a 3 year degree), no accommodation yet despite a wait list for four months so far. 28.5 % of of all the
Students who all had to get 99.90 get a bonded spot. (plus HECS off course)

All opinions appreciated, especially by those who may be doing either?( I tried to enroll in the Griffith undergrad course today and heaps of courses seemed to have overlaps.. but will ring them tomorrow and take a look)
I really don’t know

That's a tough one, though from the way you've typed your post, it seems as though you may be leaning towards Melbourne? Would you prefer to live in Melbourne or SEQ? Would you prefer to work in QLD or Victoria for internship? Griffith does have the benefit of being one year shorter (which means you enter the workforce a year earlier and start making money earlier) and slightly less "risky" without the MMI. Also worth noting that if you do go with Griffith, you still have the option of sitting GAMSAT and trying to get into USYD or UNDS. I wouldn't worry about the "crammed" aspect - most students tend to cope with doing 5 subjects per semester instead of 4 reasonably well - particularly for those who did chemistry in high school, as the entire first year chemistry is basically repetition from high school.

 

[emistarrrr]

hi guys please help me decide:
1. unsw bonded wagga wagga
pros:
- one 3.5 hr train ride from home + 4 hr drive
- have school friends going here that i can sharehouse with + alrdy know a quarter of the cohort
-new updated campus they built - much bigger with more facilities
-cost of living is cheap
cons:
-6 years
-uni does not have its own accomo
-bonded. could have negative repercussions later
2. jcu unbonded cairns
pros:
- not bonded.
- also rural cohort so assuming if i go i’ll make friends easily
- on campus accomo
-bigger campus with more facilities
cons:
- one plane flight away from melbourne vic
- no friends that ik personally going there
-also 6 year degree
-cost of living may be higher

 

[SLM]

Monash is by far the better choice. Shorter program, you'll be making money two years earlier, and there's no uncertainty of getting into the MD like with the Melbourne MMI. Your career progression/specialty will be unaffected by which university you go to.


That's a tough one, though from the way you've typed your post, it seems as though you may be leaning towards Melbourne? Would you prefer to live in Melbourne or SEQ? Would you prefer to work in QLD or Victoria for internship? Griffith does have the benefit of being one year shorter (which means you enter the workforce a year earlier and start making money earlier) and slightly less "risky" without the MMI. Also worth noting that if you do go with Griffith, you still have the option of sitting GAMSAT and trying to get into USYD or UNDS. I wouldn't worry about the "crammed" aspect - most students tend to cope with doing 5 subjects per semester instead of 4 reasonably well - particularly for those who did chemistry in high school, as the entire first year chemistry is basically repetition from high school.

Thank you very much for the reply. Yes maybe I am leaning towards Melbourne as I do have accommodation sorted.. I am on a wait list for Griffith. Do you know if I sat the GAMSAT in “ second” year like end of first year would that count towards USYD with its within the past two years?

 

[Crow]

Thank you very much for the reply. Yes maybe I am leaning towards Melbourne as I do have accommodation sorted.. I am on a wait list for Griffith. Do you know if I sat the GAMSAT in “ second” year like end of first year would that count towards USYD with its within the past two years?

Yes, you'd just need to sit in March of second year for that score to be eligible for USYD's intake for that year.

 

[Crow]

hi guys please help me decide:
1. unsw bonded wagga wagga
pros:
- one 3.5 hr train ride from home + 4 hr drive
- have school friends going here that i can sharehouse with + alrdy know a quarter of the cohort
-new updated campus they built - much bigger with more facilities
-cost of living is cheap
cons:
-6 years
-uni does not have its own accomo
-bonded. could have negative repercussions later
2. jcu unbonded cairns
pros:
- not bonded.
- also rural cohort so assuming if i go i’ll make friends easily
- on campus accomo
-bigger campus with more facilities
cons:
- one plane flight away from melbourne vic
- no friends that ik personally going there
-also 6 year degree
-cost of living may be higher

Assuming your home state is Victoria, and if you wish to get back to Melbourne in your first few postgraduate years, I think JCU is a better choice courtesy of it being unbonded. A 4 hour journey home is quite decent and you may find it difficult to do frequently (i.e., it is not that much more favourable than a flight from Cairns to Melbourne, though is presumably cheaper). Don't worry about the facilities, you'll have great learning experiences at either campus I'm sure.

 

[emistarrrr]

Assuming your home state is Victoria, and if you wish to get back to Melbourne in your first few postgraduate years, I think JCU is a better choice courtesy of it being unbonded. A 4 hour journey home is quite decent and you may find it difficult to do frequently (i.e., it is not that much more favourable than a flight from Cairns to Melbourne, though is presumably cheaper). Don't worry about the facilities, you'll have great learning experiences at either campus I'm sure.

what disadvantages can a bonded offer have? from what i know it’s after you graduate, you have to work 3/18 years in a rural area. to me, this doesn’t sound so bad because i’ve lived in rural areas throughout my life, but is it true that a bonded offer can hinder your ability to pursue specialisations?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

what disadvantages can a bonded offer have? from what i know it’s after you graduate, you have to work 3/18 years in a rural area. to me, this doesn’t sound so bad because i’ve lived in rural areas throughout my life, but is it true that a bonded offer can hinder your ability to pursue specialisations?

A helpful thread to look through/ask questions in:

[2020 entry and beyond] Guide to Bonded Medical Places

IMPORTANT: This thread only applies to those applying for / accepting a BMP for 2020 entry or beyond and those accepting a provisional entry medicine BMP offer in 2019. If you will be accepting your BMP to start medical school in 2019, or have already accepted it in an earlier year, please refer...

medstudentsonline.com.au

 

[shadow457]

Home state: QLD
Offer 1: UQ (BMP)
Offer 2: JMP at UNE - Armidale (CSP)
Any scholarships offered:
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference: QLD
Other important information: I have to move for armidale, whereas, I do not for uq

 

[2xq]

Home state: QLD
Offer 1: UQ (BMP)
Offer 2: JMP at UNE - Armidale (CSP)
Any scholarships offered:
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference: QLD
Other important information: I have to move for armidale, whereas, I do not for uq

1) UQ 7 years. JMP 5 years.
2) Moving away for JMP vs staying home for UQ
3) Internship preference QLD (Gaining internship when studying in the same state may be easier vs interstate studies)
4) If you are looking to explore other areas of interest before medicine, then UQ may be a better shout (given you don't start MD until after your Bachelors) than JMP where its pretty much med stuff.
5) BMP at UQ vs CSP at JMP - this may be a major consideration for you - maybe have a read of a few threads on the MSO forum regarding BMP stuff and online at the AusGovernment websites

Someone else can give you a more comprehensive outlook but I've made a few points here that you may wish to consider when making the final decision

 

[Crow]

Home state: QLD
Offer 1: UQ (BMP)
Offer 2: JMP at UNE - Armidale (CSP)
Any scholarships offered:
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference: QLD
Other important information: I have to move for armidale, whereas, I do not for uq

Another tough one. I’d go with Armidale. 2 years shorter AND CSP over BMP wins out, and you’re still close enough to be able to drive home on occasion (albeit it’s a big round trip). Assuming you want to get back to QLD - QLD is one of the states where currently, you can still land an internship position even as an interstate graduate - that’s not to say this will be the case in 5 years time, though, and it likely wouldn’t be in metropolitan SEQ.

 

[jaundice]

Home state: Queensland (Brisbane)
Offer 1: Griffith (Nathan Campus)
Offer 2: UniMelb
Any scholarships offered: Chancellor's Scholarship at UniMelb
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference:
Other important information: Will have to move regardless for MD for Griffith. bit worried about griffith social life and no scholarship.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Home state: Queensland (Brisbane)
Offer 1: Griffith (Nathan Campus)
Offer 2: UniMelb
Any scholarships offered: Chancellor's Scholarship at UniMelb
Any accommodation secured:
Internship location preference:
Other important information: Will have to move regardless for MD for Griffith. bit worried about griffith social life and no scholarship.

Internship location preference is a potentially important factor here that you left out. If metro Brisbane is your goal as a Brisbane local, Griffith gives you the better chance.

Griffith is also one year shorter so depending on your immediate need for cash via a scholarship, you’ll be earning a full time wage as a junior doctor 1 year earlier which equates to a pro of ~$120k. Of course, this doesn’t help if you need the scholarship to fund your time at uni so it really depends on the nature of your finances.

I think it’s also important not to underestimate the benefits (for most but not all) of having ready access to family support. A drive across the city (you’ve said you live in Brisbane now and Nathan is in South Brisbane, yeah? I don’t actually know much about the geography of where Nathan is) vs a not insignificant flight, up to you how you rate that factor.

Med cohorts largely come with a built in social life regardless of location so I wouldn’t be too worried about that.

If it were me, I’d choose Griffith.
Year shorter
Closer to family
Start working earlier
Qld weather

Congrats on your offers!