Common pitfalls to avoid for year 12 school leavers and other medicine applicants

[KM7]

You’ll note I deliberately wrote “UMAT”, said “historically”, and pointed out that I’d not taken much notice of this year’s UAdel UCAT data. You could check out the preliminary info posted in our collated data thread yourself as a very rough guide for 2020 entry.

So, to clarify, you’re only interested in UAdel and Flinders? (Which is fine, btw, I much preferred a home state offer, too). And one final question, what exactly was your ATAR and are you eligible for UES?

ETA: whoops, that was two questions

Yes, only interested in those two unis. Not eligible for UES. Achieved an ATAR above 99.7.

 

[ucatboy]

Is the UCAT requirement actually lower through TT or is that just a thought/rumour?

I have asked the Uni that question you mentioned and am awaiting a reply.

I am also open to considering Flinders. The UCAT I achieved in 2019 was below 90 and not competitive enough for either uni last year.

The TT UCAT cutoff is considerably lower than the school-leaver one - rock.it.rocket scored an interview with 2730 (82nd percentile) while the school-leaver cutoff was 2860 (91st percentile).

Unfortunately, things have changed for Flinders and it seems that if you don't get a 99.95 selection rank, you're screwed. One of my friends is on the waiting list with a 99.90 ATAR and 3240 (99%ile) UCAT.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

The TT UCAT cutoff is considerably lower than the school-leaver one - rock.it.rocket scored an interview with 2730 (82nd percentile) while the school-leaver cutoff was 2860 (91st percentile).

Unfortunately, things have changed for Flinders and it seems that if you don't get a 99.95 selection rank, you're screwed. One of my friends is on the waiting list with a 99.90 ATAR and 3240 (99%ile) UCAT.

If you look at the offers thread (I just had a quick squizz), you’ll see the difference is even more marked, with someone getting a TT offer with 2540 UCAT, while lowest school leaver (non-rural) we’ve seen so far is 2860, I think (or 95th%ile... I have no idea how they convert, tbh... I miss UMAT ).

 

[KM7]

The TT UCAT cutoff is considerably lower than the school-leaver one - rock.it.rocket scored an interview with 2730 (82nd percentile) while the school-leaver cutoff was 2860 (91st percentile).

Ok, interesting. But with many uni students applying through this method getting 7.0 GPAs, don't I have a greater advantage by using my high 99 ATAR instead?

Because the cut-off for interview is lower, does that indicate there are less high-achieving applicants through TT (but they still need to reach the quota of min. 20) than school leavers?

This is my dilemma - is there a greater advantage by using my ATAR or through TT because it's easier (but more competitive GPAs)?

If you look at the offers thread (I just had a quick squizz), you’ll see the difference is even more marked, with someone getting a TT offer with 2540 UCAT, while lowest school leaver (non-rural) we’ve seen so far is 2860, I think.

Offer to interview or into the course itself (with 2540)? Is this at Uni of Adelaide?

 

[Crow]

Because the cut-off for interview is lower, does that indicate there are less high-achieving applicants through TT (but they still need to reach the quota of min. 20) than school leavers?

It indicates the greatly reduced size of the applicant pool in comparison to school leaver entry. The difference is very large - all Australian high school graduates applying for medicine vs a small subset of University of Adelaide students studying a select program who choose to apply for medicine.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Offer to interview or into the course itself (with 2540)? Is this at Uni of Adelaide?

Interview = “invite”, place offer = “offer”. And yes, of course UAdel, haha! As already prompted, I suggest you look at this data for yourself.

 

[UCATgirl11]

Hi so I had a previous dilemma of choosing between Deakin's Optometry 3.5 years opposed to ANU law/med sci 5 years. I was happy to do any of them but which do you guys think would have a better prospect of doing medicine whether it be non-standard or post grad?

 

[Sherlock]

Hi so I had a previous dilemma of choosing between Deakin's Optometry 3.5 years opposed to ANU law/med sci 5 years. I was happy to do any of them but which do you guys think would have a better prospect of doing medicine whether it be non-standard or post grad?

Both degrees provide you with equal prospect of studying medicine as long as you do well in them. There's no "recommended degree" that you need to do prior to studying medicine. Choose whichever one you are more interested in.

 

[Crow]

Discussion on medicine entry bonus schemes and sub quotas should go here: Discussion: Medicine Entry Bonus Points and Subquotas

Further posts related to that topic in here will be deleted.

 

[TYTCML20]

Hey MSO!
Has anyone ever heard of med hopefuls doing 2 consecutive gap years?
I have called the unis I wish to apply for and they all said it is fine, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience (or knows someone who has done so).

 

[Crow]

Hey MSO!
Has anyone ever heard of med hopefuls doing 2 consecutive gap years?
I have called the unis I wish to apply for and they all said it is fine, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience (or knows someone who has done so).

Yes, people have done this. The question is whether it’s actually worth doing (refer to the pitfalls of a gap year post on the first page of this very thread). If the first gap year doesn’t yield success, it seems rather unusual to attempt it another time.

 

[TKAO]

Hey MSO!
Has anyone ever heard of med hopefuls doing 2 consecutive gap years?
I have called the unis I wish to apply for and they all said it is fine, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience (or knows someone who has done so).

If you had to do two gap years to get into an undergraduate medical school, the shortest possible period of time that you can finish your medical education is 7 years (2 gap years + 5 year MBBS or BMed/MD type). It also takes 7 years to finish graduate medical school (3 year bachelor + 4 year MD). The question then becomes whether it makes any real difference to your whether you go through the graduate root or constantly want to try for undergraduate medicine. In my opinion, you might as well get a useful bachelors degree out of it all and then go through GAMSAT in the same number of years. At least if you fail GAMSAT, you have a bachelor's qualification to look for a job instead of having your secondary education as your only educational qualification if you are looking for work during your gap year.

 

[Crow]

That’s not to mention the fact that you’ll have all non-standard universities open as options too if you follow the graduate entry pathway.

 

[TYTCML20]

Yes, people have done this. The question is whether it’s actually worth doing (refer to the pitfalls of a gap year post on the first page of this very thread). If the first gap year doesn’t yield success, it seems rather unusual to attempt it another time.

Ah, thanks for the response. I do agree with the points raised in the gap year post, but they do not apply to my situation. The first gap year was a flop only because I was perhaps too haughty in my interview prep (or lack thereof). I will remember to use the MSO Interview portal next time!
I do recognise that I may not be accepted again, and it is then that I will enter a different course (whilst undergoing GAMSAT preparation).
I just feel as if I will gain way more in my gap year (which is jam-packed!) than starting an undergraduate course, and even in the worst case scenario, I will be satisfied with my growth during the year.
What are your thoughts on improving interview technique (specifically for MMIs) throughout the year?

Added by LMG. Interview prep questions (and responses) should go in the appropriate thread, please.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Ah, thanks for the response. I do agree with the points raised in the gap year post, but they do not apply to my situation. The first gap year was a flop only because I was perhaps too haughty in my interview prep (or lack thereof). I will remember to use the MSO Interview portal next time!
I do recognise that I may not be accepted again, and it is then that I will enter a different course (whilst undergoing GAMSAT preparation).
I just feel as if I will gain way more in my gap year (which is jam-packed!) than starting an undergraduate course, and even in the worst case scenario, I will be satisfied with my growth during the year.
What are your thoughts on improving interview technique (specifically for MMIs) throughout the year?

Added by LMG. Interview prep questions (and responses) should go in the appropriate thread, please.

What did you do in your first gap year, and how will this one differ?

 

[TKAO]

Ah, thanks for the response. I do agree with the points raised in the gap year post, but they do not apply to my situation. The first gap year was a flop only because I was perhaps too haughty in my interview prep (or lack thereof). I will remember to use the MSO Interview portal next time!
I do recognise that I may not be accepted again, and it is then that I will enter a different course (whilst undergoing GAMSAT preparation).
I just feel as if I will gain way more in my gap year (which is jam-packed!) than starting an undergraduate course, and even in the worst case scenario, I will be satisfied with my growth during the year.
What are your thoughts on improving interview technique (specifically for MMIs) throughout the year?

Added by LMG. Interview prep questions (and responses) should go in the appropriate thread, please.

I would also reckon that you'd need to consider your ATAR. How high/low is it? If it is sub 99, then it might not be worth trying to 'save' your ATAR and you might as well move onto using GPA by starting a course then applying via non-standard/graduate pathways.

 

[ucatboy]

Ah, thanks for the response. I do agree with the points raised in the gap year post, but they do not apply to my situation. The first gap year was a flop only because I was perhaps too haughty in my interview prep (or lack thereof). I will remember to use the MSO Interview portal next time!
I do recognise that I may not be accepted again, and it is then that I will enter a different course (whilst undergoing GAMSAT preparation).
I just feel as if I will gain way more in my gap year (which is jam-packed!) than starting an undergraduate course, and even in the worst case scenario, I will be satisfied with my growth during the year.
What are your thoughts on improving interview technique (specifically for MMIs) throughout the year?

Added by LMG. Interview prep questions (and responses) should go in the appropriate thread, please.

May I ask you what unis you plan on applying to this year, your ATAR and your UCAT score last year (past performance is the best indicator of future performance)?

I say this because despite one of my friends decided to take a gap year with a 97 ATAR and only intended to apply to UAdel and Flinders, despite how much I strongly advised against the idea. He didn't have SEAS so his chance of getting into Flinders was zero and his chance of getting into Adelaide even with a 99th percentile UCAT (which he didn't get) and top interview score were slim to none.

 

[Crow]

Ah, thanks for the response. I do agree with the points raised in the gap year post, but they do not apply to my situation. The first gap year was a flop only because I was perhaps too haughty in my interview prep (or lack thereof). I will remember to use the MSO Interview portal next time!
I do recognise that I may not be accepted again, and it is then that I will enter a different course (whilst undergoing GAMSAT preparation).
I just feel as if I will gain way more in my gap year (which is jam-packed!) than starting an undergraduate course, and even in the worst case scenario, I will be satisfied with my growth during the year.
What are your thoughts on improving interview technique (specifically for MMIs) throughout the year?

Added by LMG. Interview prep questions (and responses) should go in the appropriate thread, please.

Very often people will say that their situation is unique or the advice doesn’t apply to them. In almost all circumstances I disagree with this. There’s nowhere in Mana’s posts that say “l’d support gap years more if people did more interview prep” because everything in the posts still apply. Of course the decision is up to you, but I just like to make people aware of these things before they go ahead with it.

 

[TYTCML20]

What did you do in your first gap year, and how will this one differ?

Honestly my first gap year was quite unproductive, and I have no one to blame but myself. To put it bluntly, it was a waste of a year
As for this year, I have already gotten a job which I really enjoy, pays well, and I will be looking to work it long term throughout my university life, and possibly even longer (as opposed to merely 1 year of retail just for money. Note that I am not putting down retail, it was just an example. I actually think retail would be quite interesting).
I have also set clear goals for myself, which I will share if you are still curious.
I do believe failure is the best teacher (or something else wise), and I have finally scraped myself out of the bottomless pit I dug in my first gap year.
My 2020 has already gone off wonderfully in the right direction, and I am eager to see how far I can grow in just one year.
Although it may seem highly unlikely that one simply bounces out of an unproductive rut (as past performance is the best indicator of future performance ), I am extremely happy with my current mental health and day-to-day progress.

tldr; I have developed a great zeal for life!

 

[TYTCML20]

I would also reckon that you'd need to consider your ATAR. How high/low is it? If it is sub 99, then it might not be worth trying to 'save' your ATAR and you might as well move onto using GPA by starting a course then applying via non-standard/graduate pathways.

May I ask you what unis you plan on applying to this year, your ATAR and your UCAT score last year (past performance is the best indicator of future performance)?

I say this because despite one of my friends decided to take a gap year with a 97 ATAR and only intended to apply to UAdel and Flinders, despite how much I strongly advised against the idea. He didn't have SEAS so his chance of getting into Flinders was zero and his chance of getting into Adelaide even with a 99th percentile UCAT (which he didn't get) and top interview score were slim to none.

Oops I should have provided more context. My bad!

ATAR: 98.15

UCAT: 3360 (99 Percentile)
VR - 790
DM - 800
QR - 880
AR - 890
SJT - 650

The unis I am going for are WSU and Newcastle. I will also apply to every other undergrad med course aswell, but those two are my main (and I believe obtainable!) universities. These two do not look at ATAR for final selection, and base interviews off UCAT performance.
If the saying goes ucatboy , (past performance is the best indicator of future performance), it is safe to say I will receive a competitive enough UCAT to snag an interview!

Thanks for all the fast replies (what a fantastic and supportive community!), and perhaps these stats will provide a little context to the ambiguous question.