CSU CSU Dentistry: Q&A and General Discussion

[skhanlivelife]

oo and one more! sorry , just trying to clear things up in my head. In terms of GPA, do they consider your overall GPA for a bachelors course or just the last year of that course. Cuz in my case, i have a 5.67 overall but a 5.2 in the last year of study. I am sort of afraid to get a response to this lol !

 

[mighty]

They will take your overall GPA, I think. You can double check by calling the uni up if you wan, though. As for the application form, it seems odd that there's only one page to write on. That's not a whole lot of room!!

 

[Light Weight]

2 questions
1. The handwritten response for the application 2013 is only 1 page or even less. Is this for real?
2. Is it true that you can get the first aid certificate whilst enrolled in the course or is it a pre-requisite to gain entry?

Cheers.

 

[miss_universe]

2 questions
1. The handwritten response for the application 2013 is only 1 page or even less. Is this for real?
2. Is it true that you can get the first aid certificate whilst enrolled in the course or is it a pre-requisite to gain entry?

Cheers.

1. If thats the space they give you, that's what you have to use.
2. You get it within the course

 

[mighty]

My friend started uni and is doing Adv Sci at USyd and now regrets doing it and 'wasting' her ATAR. She got 99+ and she's sitting on a Distinction average now, but she's had to work her absolute ass off for her Distinctions. I think it would've been easier for her to take a gap year, repeat UMAT with a little bit more preparation and not have to deal with the stress of maintaining high grades at uni. In the long run, a year isn't that much more anyway, especially given you're spending a fair few years between med school and specialising.

But that's just my 2c, heaps of other people have given their opinion on it too so have a look around.

 

[YuOminae]

Uni is alot harder than high school, getting a good atar definitely does not mean getting a good uni marks and the conversions of uni marks to atar is very hard. So if you are 100% sure, take a gap year. *speaking from personal experience*

 

[materpriv]

- For those who are wondering why there is only a single page for answering three questions in the application form -
(last year we had a couple of pages for that)

I received an email from CSU saying that the single page provided is what we have and the three questions need to be answered within the page.

I got a sense that they would focus more on our work experience in dentistry rather than our thoughts on why we want to study dentistry in CSU.

Good luck boys and girls

 

[Light Weight]

Do you think it would be an issue if we wrote really small? (Still readable though)

 

[materpriv]

That's my worry to be honest. I have heaps of things to write down.

I kind of think that it can prove our manual dexterity if we manage to write down in small letters but still readable.

I would rather write what I want to say to CSU regarding my passion for dentistry in small letters, instead of shortening them

 

[Light Weight]

Maybe they're taking into account more ATAR this year or do you think it would be more focussed on work experience? Where else can I try get work experience besides my local dentist's surgery and orthodontist? Cheers man.

 

[mighty]

It's about 50% ATAR, 50% application. Your work experience forms part of your application. How much work experience you have done is not going to be the only thing they consider in your app - it's primarily your written response.

 

[materpriv]

Then, why do you think they provide just a single page for answering the three very important questions, Mighty??

Just curious.

To be honest, I have been preparing for CSU application for 12 months

(last year I decided not to apply due to not enough dental experience) and

did heaps of research on the CSU dental school and what to include in the app

regarding my decision to study dentistry in CSU.

Therefore, I made quite reasonable answers (it was long enough to fit in a couple of pages)

and had my dentists revise them. So far so good.

But just when you thought it is safe to submit, there has been a massive change - a single page!!

I dont really want to shorten my beautiful answers. sigh.

 

[miss_universe]

Sorry, but you need to be succinct in your answers. A page is plenty. They dont want to read 300+ odd essays, they want something different and eye catching. If not that, at least well written and engaging.

 

[materpriv]

I agree 100% with you, miss_universe.

I reckon my decision to study dentistry is something different from that of others

and my work experience in dentistry is quite eye-catching (assisting in oral max-fac operations).

However, to explain why I decided to study dentistry (and particularly in CSU), I need to tell my life stories.

(went to nursing school at the age of 27 and started working with max-fac surgeons when I was 32 y.o.)

A hell lot of things are to be included and I did my uni study and work only in Sydney without any rural background,

so I need to explain my long-time passion for working in rural and remote areas with evidence.

Anyway, it is such a shame that I might have to choose which lines are to be remaining or not.

I'm just hoping that my app wouldn't make the people who will read mine a bit curious about my decision

to study dentistry in CSU after all of those career and experience as a theatre nurse in North Sydney.

 

[mighty]

Like muse said, probably because they got sick of reading 1000+ word responses. When I say that work exp in itself is not a huge factor, I mean that they don't look at people's apps and say "well, person X has had 5 years of experience as a dental technician but person B has only had 2 weeks at a dental surgery. Clearly person X is a better candidate than person B." No. Work exp is important but I'd say it's moreso to show your interest in the profession. It'll help you when writing your app too.

 

[beul]

Approximately how many words do you reckon would be suitable for a page? Maybe 500?

 

[mighty]

If I were you I would just try and fit as many words as you can on that page. My app was 1000+ words over 2 pages but as you only have one I'd say anywhere from 300-500. I think you'll struggle to fit 500 words on one page though.

 

[Hutcherson]

Answer the question and avoid waffle. Try and provide your statements with evidence and don't beat around the bush

 

[Sktz]

Another dental experience question...

Hello all,

Crazily been going through these posts which have been really helpful and answered most my questions however I have one more question regarding the experience.

I have had 6 years experience dental assisting and dental reception and now have done 1 year in dental hygiene at the same surgery. Is it sufficient for the dentist to write just one letter outlining the experience that I have gained at his surgery? Should the letter be brief? "She worked at this surgery doing bla bla...", or should he outline what tasks I would have carried out and what I have learnt and such.. Sorry if this is a dumb question, you can just imagine how much I'm stressing about this application.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-S

 

[mighty]

Have them briefly outline the tasks you would have done - I don't think there's any need to go into great detail about the specific tasks you would've done. I'm sure the dental faculty would be aware of the tasks that a DA performs on a day-to-day basis. Ask your dentist to write about your character in a professional capacity - essentially ask them to write you a reference in support of you studying dentistry (prob about 1/2 - 1 page is sufficient). So, ask them to include how long you worked there, in what capacity, your character strengths/why they believe you are a good candidate for studying dentistry at CSU etc. I hope that helps, feel free to ask if you have any more questions