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Common pitfalls to avoid for year 12 school leavers and other medicine applicants
- Thread starter Mana
- Start date
Google SATAC UES, check whether your EAS qualifies for their 5 bonus marks. If yes go all out for 98+ ATAR, the bonus will boost it to 99.95. Then with 80th%ile you have good chances for a Flinders provisional offer (2 years accelerated Bach + 4 years MD).
WSU allocates half their interview spots to GWS applicants resulting in lower UCAT cutoff. But I am not optimistic that 80th will be enough. UNSW allocates just a handful of places to EAS so not really good chances there either (but still try anyway).
If you could do UoN I don't see why not Flinders. You could be eligible for Youth Allowance enough to pay the rent. Beg your parents for food money or get a part-time KFC job.
Gap year definitely not recommended for you. It's only for those with mid 99s AND willing to go interstate. If your focus is on the NSW schools a gap year gives NO advantage since these schools accept non-standard applicants.
In terms of which degree, first priority is one that can give you a reasonable career path should you fail to get into med. Second priority is potential for high GPA. For you GPA won't matter for WSU (ATAR already enough) or JMP (4.7+ hurdle). But you will need 6.5+ for UNSW and the grad-entry schools later.
ATAR is really not the issue for WSU as it is a hurdle requirement and is slightly lowered for GWS applicants anyway, UCAT will be your difficulty.
I’d be asking myself “what can I see myself doing long term if Med doesn’t happen” (as, statistically, this is the most likely outcome for most applicants based on sheer numbers). You mentioned an interest in pharmacology, so what about pharmacy? There are two students in my Med class who have pharmacy backgrounds, one of whom continues to work as a pharmacist which is a nice bonus for supporting themselves financially.
Do you have careers counsellors available at your school?
Often universities have careers counsellors you can access when deciding what to apply for, if there is a Uni near where you live, you could speak to someone directly (or organise a Skype appointment if they offer it).
The above situation you described of someone with a pharmacy background doing med whilst still working in a pharmacy honestly sounds absolutely perfect, and if worst comes to worst and med doesn’t work out I wouldn’t mind pursuing pharmacology at all. Just out of interest, do you know where the people you mentioned pursued pharmacy/alternatively, do you recommend any universities for an undergrad pharmacy degree? I don’t think UNSW offers pharmacology but I’m not completely sure.
I definitely do have a school counsellor however I just wanted to ask the opinions of people who’ve actually gone through the medical system to give me a realistic idea of what possibilities are open to me
One did it at UTAS and one at UQ. But there would definitely be NSW universities that offer the BPharm, so probably just a matter of checking through the ones closest to you.
Here’s USyd’s: Bachelor of Pharmacy
ETA: you can do a degree anywhere and still be eligible for WSU non-standard. I got in with UTAS degree.
Some very good advice above RE: choosing a degree that you can see yourself happy in as a long term career should medicine not work out.
I’m not sure whether you are using pharmacology and pharmacy interchangeably or not, but it’s important to make the distinction - one qualifies you to work as a pharmacist, and one does not.
A quick search of their website tells me they don’t, but USyd offers a pharmacy degree.
I’m not sure whether you are using pharmacology and pharmacy interchangeably or not, but it’s important to make the distinction - one qualifies you to work as a pharmacist, and one does not.
Thankyou so much for all your help! I feel a little less upset about my sucky UCAT Mark now
Oh, sorry about that. Definitely hoping to qualify as a pharmacist- would the USYD degree work? Also again I might be wrong but I couldn’t find any atar cutoffs on the USYD website for their pharmacy degree so I presumed it wasn’t an undergraduate option.
Yep, a Bachelor of Pharmacy qualifies you to work as a pharmacist. It’s definitely an undergraduate degree - ATAR is mentioned towards the bottom of the page from the link LMG provided above
Oh whoopsYep, a Bachelor of Pharmacy qualifies you to work as a pharmacist. It’s definitely an undergraduate degree - ATAR is mentioned towards the bottom of the page from the link LMG provided above
Thankyou so much for your help!Yep, a Bachelor of Pharmacy qualifies you to work as a pharmacist. It’s definitely an undergraduate degree - ATAR is mentioned towards the bottom of the page from the link LMG provided above
I would recommend, given the constraints of the OP, not to jump straight into Pharmacy. Instead, he may try this route to Pharmacy :
BClinSci --> 2 year accelerated degree (3 year equivalent degree)
Master of Pharmacy --> 2 Years
Master of Pharmacy | University of Technology Sydney
Both courses are in Sydney and you accomplish the same thing in the same amount of time (4 years). The advantage is that: MQ U. gives bonus points for doing BClinSci for entry into their full fee paying MD degree. This route is not recommended if full fee is not acceptable to OP.
If the OP is OK to go elsewhere, I may have some other suggestions. For example, doing your Bachelors degree in a rural area (e.g Darwin). Flinders (Northern Territory Medical) program requires you to be a resident of NT for just 2 years (at least last time I read). HTH.
Update: Other issue is that B Pharmacy is a content heavy course which may or may not suit OP. Depending on it, it may be easier to achieve a higher GPA with BClinSci which may help with application to other Graduate entry MD program.
Update 2: Have a look at ucat scores posted by students taking gap year. It is quite impressive. Do your risk analysis and decide for yourself. I generally wont recommended gap given your constraints plus ATAR (<99).
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Hmm I don’t think going out of state is an option for me unfortunately but I’ll definitely consider doing a BClinSci and Masters in Pharmacy as my main motive at the moment is to apply to either non-standard or graduate med.I would recommend, given the constraints of the OP, not to jump straight into Pharmacy. Instead, he may try this route to Pharmacy :
BClinSci --> 2 year accelerated degree (3 year equivalent degree)
Master of Pharmacy --> 2 Years
Master of Pharmacy | University of Technology Sydney
www.uts.edu.au
Both courses are in Sydney and you accomplish the same thing in the same amount of time (4 years). The advantage is that: MQ U. gives bonus points for doing BClinSci for entry into their full fee paying MD degree. This route is not recommended if full fee is not acceptable to OP.
If the OP is OK to go elsewhere, I may have some other suggestions. For example, doing your Bachelors degree in a rural area (e.g Darwin). Flinders (Northern Territory Medical) program requires you to be a resident of NT for just 2 years (at least last time I read). HTH.
Update: Other issue is that B Pharmacy is a content heavy course which may or may not suit OP. Depending on it, it may be easier to achieve a higher GPA with BClinSci which may help with application to other Graduate entry MD program.
Update 2: Have a look at ucat scores posted by students taking gap year. It is quite impressive. Do your risk analysis and decide for yourself. I generally wont recommended gap given your constraints plus ATAR (<99).
Also in terms of the gap year I’m quite sure that won’t be a smart option for me to undertake, as you said my atar is a little low. Quite sure at this point I’ll start a degree next year and try my luck at the UCAT again
I understand totally.
You are not international by any chance. If so, MQ U has a direct entry option
MQ U. has introduced 2 pre-reqs as well:
You must have completed approved prerequisite tertiary units or groups of units in:
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
I am sure their BClinSci meets this.
Also this might be important:
Adjustment factors and Indigenous Australian Pathway
Adjustment Factor Schemes
The following applicants will automatically receive a three per cent adjustment to their weighted GPA:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (domestic applicants)
- Rural (domestic applicants)
- Macquarie University Bachelor of Clinical Science graduates (domestic and international applicants).
More information on their website including about cost etc:
Macquarie University – Medicine & Health Sciences – Macquarie MD Admissions
The students who succeed in our MD do not only have a high level of academic achievement. They are engaged with a variety of experiences and activities. They have good interpersonal skills, resilience, and are committed to improving the health of local and global communities.
I understand totally.
You are not international by any chance. If so, MQ U has a direct entry option
MQ U. has introduced 2 pre-reqs as well:
You must have completed approved prerequisite tertiary units or groups of units in:
Prerequisites must be completed less than 10 years from intended enrolment.
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
I am sure their BClinSci meets this.
Also this might be important:
Adjustment factors and Indigenous Australian Pathway
Adjustment Factor Schemes
The following applicants will automatically receive a three per cent adjustment to their weighted GPA:
If applicants belong to two or more of the above categories, a maximum five per cent adjustment will be applied to the weighted GPA.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (domestic applicants)
- Rural (domestic applicants)
- Macquarie University Bachelor of Clinical Science graduates (domestic and international applicants).
More information on their website including about cost etc:
Macquarie University – Medicine & Health Sciences – Macquarie MD Admissions
The students who succeed in our MD do not only have a high level of academic achievement. They are engaged with a variety of experiences and activities. They have good interpersonal skills, resilience, and are committed to improving the health of local and global communities.www.mq.edu.au
That sounds like a pretty good option as well.. I think i’ll consider doing clinical science at either USYD or MQ and applying for non-standard entry in the first year or graduate entry later on. I think for now I’ll just have to settle down and focus on maximising my atar as my trial exams are in the next few weeks, which might dictate where I eventually end up applying. Thankyou so much for your help! I had no idea there were so many options to get into med, so this is all really reassuring
I would recommend, given the constraints of the OP, not to jump straight into Pharmacy. Instead, he may try this route to Pharmacy :
BClinSci --> 2 year accelerated degree (3 year equivalent degree)
Master of Pharmacy --> 2 Years
Master of Pharmacy | University of Technology Sydney
Both courses are in Sydney and you accomplish the same thing in the same amount of time (4 years). The advantage is that: MQ U. gives bonus points for doing BClinSci for entry into their full fee paying MD degree. This route is not recommended if full fee is not acceptable to OP.
If the OP is OK to go elsewhere, I may have some other suggestions. For example, doing your Bachelors degree in a rural area (e.g Darwin). Flinders (Northern Territory Medical) program requires you to be a resident of NT for just 2 years (at least last time I read). HTH.
Update: Other issue is that B Pharmacy is a content heavy course which may or may not suit OP. Depending on it, it may be easier to achieve a higher GPA with BClinSci which may help with application to other Graduate entry MD program.
Update 2: Have a look at ucat scores posted by students taking gap year. It is quite impressive. Do your risk analysis and decide for yourself. I generally wont recommended gap given your constraints plus ATAR (<99).
That sounds like a pretty good option as well.. I think i’ll consider doing clinical science at either USYD or MQ and applying for non-standard entry in the first year or graduate entry later on. I think for now I’ll just have to settle down and focus on maximising my atar as my trial exams are in the next few weeks, which might dictate where I eventually end up applying. Thankyou so much for your help! I had no idea there were so many options to get into med, so this is all really reassuring
So... correct me if I am wrong here... but "Clinical Science" sounds very much like "Medical Science" to me, in terms of its content and its own inherent career pathways (or lack thereof without the addition of further study which could be accessed in undergrad entry courses) as well as the inherent cohort that it will attract (i.e. people who also want to do medicine therefore competing with you for GPA). There is no guarantee that the Master of Pharmacy will accept you after 2 years (it may even be that the Masters degree could exclude applicants who have not completed at least a 3 year degree) and furthermore the 2 year accelerated degree is likely to not be accepted by most grad entry medical schools (I know for a fact that the university I interview for does NOT accept 2 year accelerated degree applicants into its MD program). On the other hand, if you did a 4 year pharmacy degree this would satisfy the prerequisite requirements to get into all the graduate entry degrees in the country (and you'd still be applying as non-standard to the undergrad unis in the meantime).
Given this, I don't see any real advantage of the 2 year B. Clin Sci degree over pursuing a reasonable Plan B career pathway other than the very small chance that you would get into one of the most expensive medical degrees in Australia (ie Macquarie), and in doing so you'd forgo your eligibility for many of the grad entry medical schools, most of which require at least three years of full time study to be eligible; this far outweighs the small advantage you get at MQ.
Be careful of this advice above; it sounds very much like pitfall #2 to me.
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I'm not sure whether you would be able to pull this off but would you consider doing the DUS (Defense University Scholarship)? If I'm not mistaken, they do pay you a reasonable salary to be studying full time, with the caveat that you must work in the defense department for double your study years + 1. I'm also pretty sure you need to apply when you are in the first year of uni, in this case med. As I understand it (I have not researched it extensively), but some pros of this scheme is the money and the guaranteed job, however cons of it is that I'm not sure how well it plays with BMPs or whether you would like to be working in the military for up 9~ years.
