VIC Internship explanation
Any further questions regarding this topic specifically should go in the appropriate thread.
-
Welcome to MSO!
We are an online community for current and prospective medical, dental and allied health students and early career professionals from Australia and New Zealand.Please read: About MSO | Annual Welcome and Important Information | MSO Rules
Quick Links To Forums
Tests/Interviews: UCAT | GAMSAT | Interviews Entrance Discussion: Graduate Medicine | Undergraduate Medicine | Dentistry -
Please consider registering on MSO. Benefits of registering are:
- Able to post and participate in the forum
- After 10 posts: Private Message Other Users
- After 25 posts: Access to the Chatbox
- After 100 posts: Custom user titles and Ad-free experience
If you would like to get involved with MSO or have ideas, suggestions, comments, criticisms or other feedback please Contact Us
Choosing Between Universities and Offers
- Thread starter bbydaisy
- Start date
VIC Internship explanation
Any further questions regarding this topic specifically should go in the appropriate thread.
Hi All, I would appreciate if I can have some opinions on choosing a university between UQ (7 years) and UTas (5 years) and UAdel (6 years) from the course duration and professional qualification perspective. What would be the significance of course duration in terms of obtaining professional recognition, qualification, advancing into specialist at the later stage of study ? (leaving all financial related aspects such as HECS-HELP loan, earlier income, interstate moving, etc.. out of the equation).
Happy New Year to all !
Happy New Year to all !
Absolutely no difference in terms of recognition. What does make a difference is you are only guaranteed an internship in the state you graduate, which may have an influence on your future progression to the specialist stage.
Course duration is irrelevant to career progression - at the end of the day you will graduate with a primary medical degree regardless of which university you attend. If you really don’t mind which state you study in (keeping in mind this will likely be where you end up working for at least one year - likely more - after you’ve graduated) then UTas is the clear winner here as you’ll graduate earlier and therefore be earning money and gaining professional work experience earlier.
Last edited by a moderator:
1) I don't think there is that much bias in terms of preferring a university's graduates over another. I know plenty of junior dentists who have graduated from interstate and work in Melbourne. At the end of the day, most employers will hire you based on how competent and your learning attitude as well as the way you treat patients so it shouldn't be an issue if you want to come back.
2) La Trobe has more exposure to rural dentistry than UQ I believe... although not too sure how their clinical placements work. At La Trobe, all your clinical placements are done rurally, so I guess you're exposed to a greater variety of patients and cases compared to metro placements.
3) To be honest, UQ is much bigger than La Trobe. If you visit the ADSA instagram page and look at their 'spotlight' story from UQ, it's a massive uni and their facilities are newer than La Trobe's. Their clinics are larger and have more of them... I believe they have a 7 storey dentistry complex, whilst La Trobe has a single level with our labs, simulated clinics and lecture rooms elsewhere. This is also due to our smaller cohort size and I'd imagine the dentistry curriculum in general is better organised than La Trobe's. However, the size of La Trobe's small cohort also means that you have a more intimate relationship with lecturers and generally a very close cohort since there are only ~50 people in each year. I haven't heard much about the teaching quality at UQ, but La Trobe is decent - not phenomenal but enough to teach you the required skills that are assessable for each year level.
4) I think both cohorts and student lives of UQ and LTU students are very fulfilling, and rewarding in their own right. Most people are skeptical about LTU since it's rural, but because everyone lives on campus, all the students are very close to each other. In semester 1 of year 1, we used to have physiology quizzes that opened at 12am every Friday and after the quizzes basically half our cohort would go out to maccas after to celebrate. Think of it like a massive sleepover, everyone knows each other very well and we often go out on the weekends together - a very close knit cohort. UQ is in metropolitan Brisbane, so I'd imagine the only people who live on campus are the people from interstate.
5) To be honest, I'm not too sure. I know some LTU graduates in the past have done very well in finding a high paying job as a junior dentist - I think this just comes down to the dental clinic that you end up working for
6) I'm not too sure about this one... perhaps someone who knows more dentists that own clinics would be able to answer this better for you?
7) Whenever the applications open (at least for the case of LTU)! To get the best rooms, you should apply as soon as the applications are open. It doesn't matter if you change your mind and decide to go to a different uni, just let the college know. If you apply too late, you might miss out on your preferred college, however some colleges might have different rules for application, so it's best to contact them directly for more information. Just be aware that there is a $100-200 application fee that is non refundable.
8) LTU doesn't teach you this directly I don't think, and I'd imagine that most dental schools wouldn't. 5 years of dentistry is hardly enough for them to finish teaching the clinical skills and knowledge itself, let alone teaching business skills. I think most of that knowledge would be learnt whilst working, rather than in dental school since not everyone will want to open their own practice and even if they were, majority of people would want to work for a few years as a general dentist before owning their own clinic.
Hope that helps!
Neither of the people you mentioned, but I'm here to help
1. I imagine this is somewhat like medicine in that you're more likely to find a job in the state you studied in first up. There are a lot of graduating dentists and thus I imagine there is stiff competition already in Victoria from the La Trobe and Melbourne kids. Perhaps working some time in Qld is viable at first, and then moving back.
2. Probably worth asking people who go to the unis.
4. La trobe is in Bendigo whereas UQ dent is in the inner city from the best of my knowledge. Brisbane is quieter than Melbourne. Worth considering which you'd rather.
5. Dependent on whether you limit yourself to staying in a metro region, or are open to working in the regional and rural contexts.
7. As soon as you can.
8. Again, consult people who went to those unis and are in the higher years or are graduates with their own practice.
Griffith will see you graduate as a doctor in 6 years whereas UQ will take a minimum of 7. Assuming you’re happy to live on the GC for at least 4 years (and don’t necessarily have a strong preference to live in Brisbane), Griffith seems like the logical choice.
L
Logic
Guest
I think another important consideration here is you’re pretty likely to get a unbonded offer from UQ, while at Griffith your marks after the first two years decide whether you have a bonded or unbonded place. You would need to keep working hard at Griffith for the next two years and may end up with a bonded offer. I believe by the time you finish the first two years, a bonded place will require 3 years of service. (Crow could you confirm? )
Should also consider that you'll know whether you're bonded or not at UQ before starting the course, but not with Griffith I'm pretty sure.
And if you're from Brisbane or GC obviously. Living with your family and saving on rent might be a bigger factor than graduation time.
Plus consider the fact that you can choose your first degree at UQ, especially if you don't want to do biomed as your first degree.
Consider scholarships too. One of my friends at Griffith with 99.85 has a scholarship with research and networking opportunities, whereas UQ scholarships, at least for ATAR only (I don't know if you're rural/ have EAS, etc), seem to be for 99.90 or 99.95 (check this though).
And if you're from Brisbane or GC obviously. Living with your family and saving on rent might be a bigger factor than graduation time.
Plus consider the fact that you can choose your first degree at UQ, especially if you don't want to do biomed as your first degree.
Consider scholarships too. One of my friends at Griffith with 99.85 has a scholarship with research and networking opportunities, whereas UQ scholarships, at least for ATAR only (I don't know if you're rural/ have EAS, etc), seem to be for 99.90 or 99.95 (check this though).
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding between ordering UNSW and WSU. I currently have UNSW as first, but am second-guessing.
WSU is 5 years, and UNSW is 6. I also have a scholarship ($20 000) at WSU. Also, there is a chance I'll get Port McQuarie campus if I put UNSW as first, which means I'd have to relocate and pay for rent etc. WSU only has the Campbelltown Campus, which is 45 mins away from home.
I've heard people say that the research year at UNSW is helpful in specialising later on/ networking. The elective term for potentially going overseas is another plus. UNSW is older and more established, I'm assuming this would mean a greater quality of teaching? And UNSW has features like Medsoc and tends to have a better social life (according to some).
How should I order my preferences for the Jan 11 offers?
For the 2nd round offers, If I get selected for both WSU and UNSW, would swapping the order give me a second round offer for the other degree?
Thanks a lot
WSU is 5 years, and UNSW is 6. I also have a scholarship ($20 000) at WSU. Also, there is a chance I'll get Port McQuarie campus if I put UNSW as first, which means I'd have to relocate and pay for rent etc. WSU only has the Campbelltown Campus, which is 45 mins away from home.
I've heard people say that the research year at UNSW is helpful in specialising later on/ networking. The elective term for potentially going overseas is another plus. UNSW is older and more established, I'm assuming this would mean a greater quality of teaching? And UNSW has features like Medsoc and tends to have a better social life (according to some).
How should I order my preferences for the Jan 11 offers?
For the 2nd round offers, If I get selected for both WSU and UNSW, would swapping the order give me a second round offer for the other degree?
Thanks a lot
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding between ordering UNSW and WSU. I currently have UNSW as first, but am second-guessing.
WSU is 5 years, and UNSW is 6. I also have a scholarship ($20 000) at WSU. Also, there is a chance I'll get Port McQuarie campus if I put UNSW as first, which means I'd have to relocate and pay for rent etc. WSU only has the Campbelltown Campus, which is 45 mins away from home.
I've heard people say that the research year at UNSW is helpful in specialising later on/ networking. The elective term for potentially going overseas is another plus. UNSW is older and more established, I'm assuming this would mean a greater quality of teaching? And UNSW has features like Medsoc and tends to have a better social life (according to some).
How should I order my preferences for the Jan 11 offers?
For the 2nd round offers, If I get selected for both WSU and UNSW, would swapping the order give me a second round offer for the other degree?
Thanks a lot
Hi!
Ah, preference time! The best thing for you to do is to visit the campuses if you haven't done so already, and talk to people who have been to either university. (Post is a current UNSW student so he can help you out there. I don't think we have any active WSU members but I know a lot of them used to hang around this thread, so if you post there a few of them might magically appear!)
Better social life/medsoc/culture was a big factor for me when I preferenced universities, but honestly, university is what you make of it and there are plenty of networking opportunities outside of those in the research year (though there's no doubt there's plenty of benefit in the research year, especially if research is of interest to you!) And if elective is a huge consideration, go for UNSW.
An obvious advantage to WSU would be graduating faster, which means that 1) you spend less time at uni and can get out into the workforce faster and 2) less HECS debt! Yay! 45 minutes isn't too long of a commute for Sydney, unless of course UNSW is significantly closer, and older/more established universities don't necessarily mean a greater quality of teaching.
Nobody here can tell you how to order preferences- that's a choice you have to make yourself
I don't quite understand your last sentence so could you please clarify?
Hi Ruffle, sorry about the confusing question.
What I meant was: hypothetically, if get into both UNSW and WSU, and preference UNSW as first, I'll get UNSW in the Jan 11 round. Then if I place WSU as first preference for the January round 2 offers, would I get a WSU offer in the second round? (and vice-versa).
Thank you
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding between ordering UNSW and WSU. I currently have UNSW as first, but am second-guessing.
WSU is 5 years, and UNSW is 6. I also have a scholarship ($20 000) at WSU. Also, there is a chance I'll get Port McQuarie campus if I put UNSW as first, which means I'd have to relocate and pay for rent etc. WSU only has the Campbelltown Campus, which is 45 mins away from home.
I've heard people say that the research year at UNSW is helpful in specialising later on/ networking. The elective term for potentially going overseas is another plus. UNSW is older and more established, I'm assuming this would mean a greater quality of teaching? And UNSW has features like Medsoc and tends to have a better social life (according to some).
How should I order my preferences for the Jan 11 offers?
For the 2nd round offers, If I get selected for both WSU and UNSW, would swapping the order give me a second round offer for the other degree?
Thanks a lot
There are pros and cons for both medical schools and what you value will be unique to you(and therefore ultimately your choice) but I would gather the majority of people who were competitive for both universities would put UNSW over WSU in terms of preference. I would as well if I was in that position, especially if you're a school leaver.
Swapping preferences might give you an offer in subsequent rounds if there are places remaining. I assume there would be places left for WSU because they now interview interstate applicants as the same time as in-state candidates from this year. This means that a Victorian for example who also got a Monash offer might reject their WSU offer. A Victorian would be unable to get a UNSW offer for the January 11 round since UNSW do their interstate interviews in January so they would be ineligible for a January 11 offer from UNSW for example.
Good luck with your decision! Only 10 or so hours left!
Hi!
The best thing for you to do is to visit the campuses if you haven't done so already, and talk to people who have been to either university. (Post is a current UNSW student so he can help you out there. I don't think we have any active WSU members but I know a lot of them used to hang around this thread, so if you post there a few of them might magically appear!)
Better social life/medsoc/culture was a big factor for me when I preferenced universities, but honestly, university is what you make of it and there are plenty of networking opportunities outside of those in the research year (though there's no doubt there's plenty of benefit in the research year, especially if research is of interest to you!) And if elective is a huge consideration, go for UNSW.
An obvious advantage to WSU would be graduating faster, which means that 1) you spend less time at uni and can get out into the workforce faster and 2) less HECS debt! Yay! 45 minutes isn't too long of a commute for Sydney, unless of course UNSW is significantly closer, and older/more established universities don't necessarily mean a greater quality of teaching.
Nobody here can tell you how to order preferences- that's a choice you have to make yourself
I don't quite understand your last sentence so could you please clarify?
BethMark25 is a current WSU student who I’m sure would be happy to weigh in.
That's interesting - I would've thought the opposite given WSU's program is 5 years whereas UNSW's is 6.