CSU CSU Dentistry: Interview Prep

[Gs1]

There is no way to accept the interview this year. Last year you used to be able to book in your interview date and time but now it’s pre selected. You can only decline it by personally emailing them however it’s already been allocated and ‘accepted’

Ahh I see, thank you for your insight and information Denty!

IKR. But what documents are you sending? I'm not a regional nor a first nation applicant. do I still need to send any documents?

For me, I am from rural origin - that's the document I'll be sending to them. But from Denty's information, apparently the interview is already 'pre-selected' by default it is accepted unless you email them.

 

[garfield30]

Hello. I would like to ask any interviewees for the 2022 and 2023 intake whether you found that the questions they asked were similar to those posted for 2021 entry?

 

[denty]

Hello. I would like to ask any interviewees for the 2022 and 2023 intake whether you found that the questions they asked were similar to those posted for 2021 entry?

I know this is a late reply but yes they were very similar to 2021. I had my interview last year and received questions like;

What qualities do you possess that would make you a good dentist?
Follow up: Any physical qualities?
Can you tell me a time you struggled to communicate with someone and how did you overcome it?
Tell me about a time where you were in a team?
Scenario Question: something about a women not being able to pay for treatment and then finding her wallet filled with cash.
What are some issues faced by rural dentists?
How will you adjust to moving rurally?

 

[medphoenix]

Hey,
If I am asked if I did work experience, and/or what I learnt from my work experience at the dentist, given that I have no work experience, is it okay for me to say that unfortunately I wasn't able to get any work experience at a dentist (I did try but I was only able to get work experience at hospitals - I think it would be best not to say this because it may seem like I am trying for dent as a backup?), and just talk about the experiences I had going to the dentist?
Will this put me at a huge disadvantage?

 

[mikmikeden]

those who finished their interview how did you find it?

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Could have gone better. There was one particular interviewer who focused more on the time than anything I had to say which threw me off, but everyone else was lovely.

 

[la pulga]

Hey guys, do you know if I'm eligible to apply for CSU (Orange) Dentistry as a non-standard applicant from an NZ university? I did a bit of research and it seems that I can only apply if I'm a high school leaver or current CSU student (which I'm neither of).

Could someone let me know if I'm even eligible to apply, with my 1st & 2nd year of uni grades, high school grades + UCAT I do this July? Thanks!

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Hey guys, do you know if I'm eligible to apply for CSU (Orange) Dentistry as a non-standard applicant from an NZ university? I did a bit of research and it seems that I can only apply if I'm a high school leaver or current CSU student (which I'm neither of).

Could someone let me know if I'm even eligible to apply, with my 1st & 2nd year of uni grades, high school grades + UCAT I do this July? Thanks!

You should be able to. If in doubt, call the university. CSU uses GPA for non-standards(the higher the better, but averages at 6.5). Going through the UCAT route means needing a rather high UCAT score (there's not enough data about the UCAT score unfrotunately becuase most people don't use that route for admission, but think >85% non-rural) and understanding that the preference for places generally goes to rural CSU students and that your admission is based heavily, and I do mean heavily, on your interview.

 

[la pulga]

You should be able to. If in doubt, call the university. CSU uses GPA for non-standards(the higher the better, but averages at 6.5). Going through the UCAT route means needing a rather high UCAT score (there's not enough data about the UCAT score unfrotunately becuase most people don't use that route for admission, but think >85% non-rural) and understanding that the preference for places generally goes to rural CSU students and that your admission is based heavily, and I do mean heavily, on your interview.

thanks so much for this info!

 

[mikmikeden]

You should be able to. If in doubt, call the university. CSU uses GPA for non-standards(the higher the better, but averages at 6.5). Going through the UCAT route means needing a rather high UCAT score (there's not enough data about the UCAT score unfrotunately becuase most people don't use that route for admission, but think >85% non-rural) and understanding that the preference for places generally goes to rural CSU students and that your admission is based heavily, and I do mean heavily, on your interview.

I thought the average was 5.5 ?

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

I thought the average was 5.5 ?

The average has never been a 5.5. GPA 5.5 was the bare minimum to be eligible for lateral transfer into dentistry for existing CSU students. For those studying outside of CSU, the average would be substantially higher (for non-rural). Most of these non-CSU students are applying for multiple medical and dental schools; therefore the GPA is skewed to be in the upper tier 6's or a perfect 7 (again, non-rural). In a sea of hundreds of applicants, a non-rural, non-CSU GPA 5.5 would not be the first choice if you haven't demonstrated committment to the school.

 

[gluegun256]

Does anyone have an idea approx when interview invitations and interviews will take place this year?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Does anyone have an idea approx when interview invitations and interviews will take place this year?

If it’s not on their website yet, the best we can do is point you in the direction of last year’s dates and say ‘it’ll probably be similar’.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Last years there were too many interviews and the interview were pushed back to beginning of November. The yeear before that, and historically, i believe it's the last week of September. This year, the requirements have changed and they might revert back to the last week of october.

Students selected for interviews will receive their invites around this time, any cancellations or drop outs are filled (as far as I know) all the way until early december literally 1 week before the actual interviews. As far as I'm aware, interview dates are sorted alphabetically.

 

[Wannabedentist]

Anyone know if a 6.5 GPA for an internal metro student would be enough to get an interview? Also is interview based purely of GPA or is there other things they can take into consideration?

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

As per the CSU website:

Internal transfer pathway.
Selection for interview: Eligibility for interview is based on GPA in the year of application. Interviews may be granted to current Charles Sturt students who meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled in any Charles Sturt course at the time of application
• Have completed a minimum of 4 standard subjects (32 credit points) at Charles Sturt with a GPA of 5.5 or better at the time of application

The problem lies in the uncertainty within this statement of "may" be granted a 2025 entry interview. 2024 was the last year in which an interview was "guaranteed". They found that doing this, they had way too many interviews and ended up having to push the interview offers by a week and interviews themselves to December instead of end of November. My running theory is that they've taken out the guarantee to reduce interview numbers and to increase the number of rural admissions.

We don't have any history, precedence or data to go on for non-guaranteed spots. However, in saying that, multiple people have received a 2024 offer with 5.5-6GPA. The GPA threshold isn't really (as far as I can tell) a marker of rank, it's to make sure you're able to handle the caseload that comes with dentistry. As long as you can get to 5.5, they assume you'll be fine studying dentistry (b/c it no longer matters once you receive an interview invite - assuming it's still +5.5 at time of place offer). What's more likely is that they are looking for a higher rural intake this year and thus will extend offers with a preference for rural students (there is supposedly a number of places that is set aside for these students). They may start looking at ranking GPA to decide who gets the remaining interviews, but its hard to say without data.

TL: DR: 6.5GPA is a good GPA and competitive for CSU (it's roughly what I scored) and reasonably competitive for other unis as well. There should be no other considerations (except rurality). If in doubt, call the uni. Best of luck!


Don't forget to follow the instructions to denote yourself as a CSU student on UAC!

 

[Wannabedentist]

Thanks Amber, appreciate it, also that last comment may have just saved me a few tears. Hopefully see you next year at CSU Dent!!

 

[MD_nevergiveup]

As per the CSU website:

Internal transfer pathway.
Selection for interview: Eligibility for interview is based on GPA in the year of application. Interviews may be granted to current Charles Sturt students who meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled in any Charles Sturt course at the time of application
• Have completed a minimum of 4 standard subjects (32 credit points) at Charles Sturt with a GPA of 5.5 or better at the time of application

The problem lies in the uncertainty within this statement of "may" be granted a 2025 entry interview. 2024 was the last year in which an interview was "guaranteed". They found that doing this, they had way too many interviews and ended up having to push the interview offers by a week and interviews themselves to December instead of end of November. My running theory is that they've taken out the guarantee to reduce interview numbers and to increase the number of rural admissions.

We don't have any history, precedence or data to go on for non-guaranteed spots. However, in saying that, multiple people have received a 2024 offer with 5.5-6GPA. The GPA threshold isn't really (as far as I can tell) a marker of rank, it's to make sure you're able to handle the caseload that comes with dentistry. As long as you can get to 5.5, they assume you'll be fine studying dentistry (b/c it no longer matters once you receive an interview invite - assuming it's still +5.5 at time of place offer). What's more likely is that they are looking for a higher rural intake this year and thus will extend offers with a preference for rural students (there is supposedly a number of places that is set aside for these students). They may start looking at ranking GPA to decide who gets the remaining interviews, but its hard to say without data.

TL: DR: 6.5GPA is a good GPA and competitive for CSU (it's roughly what I scored) and reasonably competitive for other unis as well. There should be no other considerations (except rurality). If in doubt, call the uni. Best of luck!


Don't forget to follow the instructions to denote yourself as a CSU student on UAC!

Hey Amber, if you don't mind, could you please tell me your background and GPA for internal transfer? Thank you.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Last years there were too many interviews and the interview were pushed back to beginning of November. The yeear before that, and historically, i believe it's the last week of September. This year, the requirements have changed and they might revert back to the last week of october.

Students selected for interviews will receive their invites around this time, any cancellations or drop outs are filled (as far as I know) all the way until early december literally 1 week before the actual interviews. As far as I'm aware, interview dates are sorted alphabetically.

I am only just reading back and realise that this makes no sense. I'm so sorry.

Interview offers: October 2022--> 11 November 2023 (last minute interview offers were still being filled at the end of November 2023)

Interviews: November 2022 --> December (29th Nov -5th Dec) 2023 (Interview times are set when offers are sent to you. They are denoted to you in your interview and generally can't be changed without negotiating with the co-ordinator *at your own risk - I'm not recommending this*)

First round offers: 21 December 2023 via email then UAC.

2nd Round offers: Unsure. As per historical data, no 2nd round offers are made on 11th January. CSU seems to wait until around the 20th January to CALL applications (literally a phone call, make sure your phone settings will allow unknown numbers in around this time) to confirm they are still interested and then send the official offer a few days after.

 

[gluegun256]

As per CSU website:
Final offers into the course will be conditional on obtaining a GPA of 5.5 or better at the end of the academic year of application, across a minimum of 6 standard subjects (48 credit points or more) in that year. No final offer will be made, irrespective of performance during interviews, to students who did not achieve a GPA of 5.5 or better at the end of the academic year, across all subjects attempted in the academic year.

I have completed a minimum of 4 subjects at CSU but will not have done 6 by the end of this academic year.
Am I still eligible for entry into the course?