Dentistry Entry Discussion and Questions

[gummybear576]

Hi guys I am new to this forum. I really want to get into dentistry at any university, my current gpa according to my uni is 6.7, but I know I have a lot of HDs that were in that 80-84% mark. And I was wondering how different unis calculate GPAs cause I know it will definitely bring mine down. If it does I am considering doing honours next year and would like to know what I have to score in that in order to gain entry.

 

[Cal]

Hi guys I am new to this forum. I really want to get into dentistry at any university, my current gpa according to my uni is 6.7, but I know I have a lot of HDs that were in that 80-84% mark. And I was wondering how different unis calculate GPAs cause I know it will definitely bring mine down. If it does I am considering doing honours next year and would like to know what I have to score in that in order to gain entry.

6.7 gpa is fine for all universities, don't stress.

EDIT: i misread your post sorry, if your university has % values on your transcript, then yes, those will be Ds, and give you a 6, but if your uni gives you number grades on your transcript, then they will take them at face value. So it depends if you get %s or 1-7s when grades are given. Also, my statement is not entirely true, currently a 6.7 would not be enough for a spot at griffith, but anything 6.5 or above would be enough for all other unis.

 

[gummybear576]

6.7 gpa is fine for all universities, don't stress.

But from what I've read around in the forum it seems only 6.875+ gpas seem to get offers (and technically mine is nowhere near that cause they calculate it differently). I also haven't sat the UCAT and can't apply to a couple of unis because of that.

 

[Crow]

But from what I've read around in the forum it seems only 6.875+ gpas seem to get offers (and technically mine is nowhere near that cause they calculate it differently).

At Griffith? True for the most recent intake.
Any of the other universities that accept applications for non-standard applicants? 6.7 is definitely in the ballpark and it will come down to your UCAT/written application/interview performances where applicable.

 

[Cal]

But from what I've read around in the forum it seems only 6.875+ gpas seem to get offers (and technically mine is nowhere near that cause they calculate it differently). I also haven't sat the UCAT and can't apply to a couple of unis because of that.

If you read my edit, all the info is there, but Yes not sitting ucat takes away about 4 unis, so you are Left with Griffith, JCU, UWA, Usyd and Unimelb. The latter 3 needing Gamsat, but the gpa is high enough for all of them, JCU it is definitely high enough for with a good written component, and Griffith is the only one you are eligable for that you miss out on. I would highly suggest not starting an honours, unless you want to do it irrespective of GPA, and then sitting the Ucat, as your gpa is high enough for all Ucat universities at a 6.7, in fact all unis require a max of 6.5 so there is some leeway there (which use ucat)

 

[gummybear576]

If you read my edit, all the info is there, but Yes not sitting ucat takes away about 4 unis, so you are Left with Griffith, JCU, UWA, Usyd and Unimelb. The latter 3 needing Gamsat, but the gpa is high enough for all of them, JCU it is definitely high enough for with a good written component, and Griffith is the only one you are eligable for that you miss out on. I would highly suggest not starting an honours, unless you want to do it irrespective of GPA, and then sitting the Ucat, as your gpa is high enough for all Ucat universities at a 6.7, in fact all unis require a max of 6.5 so there is some leeway there (which use ucat)

I am just scared that I won't do well in UCAT/interview/written component. Also is there any place where I can find information on how the different unis calculate gpas. Cause I think the different percentages will really drag my gpa down. Thanks for all the info so far

 

[Crow]

I am just scared that I won't do well in UCAT/interview/written component. Also is there any place where I can find information on how the different unis calculate gpas. Cause I think the different percentages will really drag my gpa down. Thanks for all the info so far

As Cal said, this depends on whether your transcript records the percentage scores or just your overall grades. If it only records grades, your GPA won’t be affected for the schools that consider 7 = 85+. If it does record percentages, then your GPA for Griffith and JCU will probably go down. Your GPA for the graduate entry schools won’t be affected regardless.

Unfortunately, the reality is that UCAT/GAMSAT/interview/written application form part of the selection criteria for pretty much all of the schools, and you just have to perform in them regardless of your apprehensions.

As for honours - if you achieve first class, Griffith will automatically give you a 7 GPA and this will supersede the results from your undergraduate degree. Anything lower than first class will make you less competitive.

 

[gummybear576]

As Cal said, this depends on whether your transcript records the percentage scores or just your overall grades. If it only records grades, your GPA won’t be affected for the schools that consider 7 = 85+. If it does record percentages, then your GPA for Griffith and JCU will probably go down. Your GPA for the graduate entry schools won’t be affected regardless.

Unfortunately, the reality is that UCAT/GAMSAT/interview/written application form part of the selection criteria for pretty much all of the schools, and you just have to perform in them regardless of your apprehensions.

As for honours - if you achieve first class, Griffith will automatically give you a 7 GPA and this will supersede the results from your undergraduate degree. Anything lower than first class will make you less competitive.

oof I think my academic transcript definitely has the percentage scores as well as the overall grades.

 

[Unluckydude]

Hi guys I am new to this forum. I really want to get into dentistry at any university, my current gpa according to my uni is 6.7, but I know I have a lot of HDs that were in that 80-84% mark. And I was wondering how different unis calculate GPAs cause I know it will definitely bring mine down. If it does I am considering doing honours next year and would like to know what I have to score in that in order to gain entry.

Griffith will include UCAT and MMI in the selection process for the 2022 intake (ie: students who submit their applications next year), so you won't have enough time to complete a an honours degree if you intend to apply to Griffith using GPA alone. And 6.7 might not be high enough for Griffith dent.

You may have a chance of getting into JCU dent, but they look at your rurality and you need a good written application + 3 x referral letters.

 

[zxcpia04]

Hi guys I am new to this forum!

I am a first year student with a WAM of 77.00 & about to sit my UCAT in 4 days.
Recently my attention has only been placed of Griffith & University of Adelaide - but I just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me other universities I could also apply for in addition to these 2? It would help me so much! Thank you!

 

[Cal]

Hi guys I am new to this forum!

I am a first year student with a WAM of 77.00 & about to sit my UCAT in 4 days.
Recently my attention has only been placed of Griffith & University of Adelaide - but I just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me other universities I could also apply for in addition to these 2? It would help me so much! Thank you!

You can also apply to, JCU, UQ, CSU, and LaTrobe University. UQ will need a 6.5 gpa or above, so if you have that you are good. Griffith will need a much higher GPA than a WAM of 77, sorry to say, but it will need a GPA of 6.875 to Guarantee a place there, until the ucat is introduced for next year. But Latrobe is based off ucat, CSU is only off ucat and interview and JCU is rurality, personal statement and grades. So essentially the only two ones you are a little bit off for are probably uq and Griffith, unless your uni puts grades on their transcript and has a 7 as 80%

 

[ucatboy]

Hi guys I am new to this forum!

I am a first year student with a WAM of 77.00 & about to sit my UCAT in 4 days.
Recently my attention has only been placed of Griffith & University of Adelaide - but I just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me other universities I could also apply for in addition to these 2? It would help me so much! Thank you!

Just double checking, are you a current University of Adelaide student? If you're applying for medicine I think UAdel is very strict with these things and will only accept its own uni students into its course.

Nvm this is a dentistry thread lmao

 

[TKAO]

6.7 gpa is fine for all universities, don't stress.

EDIT: i misread your post sorry, if your university has % values on your transcript, then yes, those will be Ds, and give you a 6, but if your uni gives you number grades on your transcript, then they will take them at face value. So it depends if you get %s or 1-7s when grades are given. Also, my statement is not entirely true, currently a 6.7 would not be enough for a spot at griffith, but anything 6.5 or above would be enough for all other unis.

Wait could you clarify this? If I had an 81% on my transcript as well as it being given a HD from the university for example, does that mean that they preferentially look at the percentage making it a D or do they preferentially look at the HD and make it worth 7 as opposed to 6?

 

[Cal]

Wait could you clarify this? If I had an 81% on my transcript as well as it being given a HD from the university for example, does that mean that they preferentially look at the percentage making it a D or do they preferentially look at the HD and make it worth 7 as opposed to 6?

I am not sure with this one, I think they look at the number grade, but it would vary between universities so you would have to ask. But what is definitive is that if you have the number they give you the number, regardless of what the cut off for that number is, e.g. if usyd used GPA instead of WAM, but had the same cutoffs, then you would required a lower percentage for the same GPA. But if they only gave WAM then they calculate it based off of that.

 

[Cal]

Just double checking, are you a current University of Adelaide student? If you're applying for medicine I think UAdel is very strict with these things and will only accept its own uni students into its course.

Bruh this the dentistry entry thread

 

[dotwingz]

Not sure how SATAC or QTAC does it, but UAC will take grades (e.g. HD/D) given on the transcript instead of the marks to convert to a GPA

How your tertiary qualifications are graded and assessed

UAC assesses all qualifications using procedures agreed to by institutions – we may need to change applications details due to an error/omission.

www.uac.edu.au

UAC considers the grade equivalent of students' marks, rather than the individual marks.

I assume QTAC and SATAC would be similar in their approach

 

[A1]

I assume QTAC and SATAC would be similar in their approach

We have also received confirmation from QTAC that they ignore the percentage marks and use the grade letters only.

So, a UMelb 82/HD will get the same 7 as a UNSW 87/HD, but UNSW 82/D gets only 6.

Otoh GEMSAS use the percentage marks : 80+ = 7, 75-79 = 6.5 etc. Except for UQ transcripts which don't show percentage marks GEMSAS give a midpoint equivalent, like D can be anywhere between 75 & 84 so GEMSAS give 6.75.

 

[Unluckydude]

We have also received confirmation from QTAC that they ignore the percentage marks and use the grade letters only.

So, a UMelb 82/HD will get the same 7 as a UNSW 87/HD, but UNSW 82/D gets only 6.

Otoh GEMSAS use the percentage marks : 80+ = 7, 75-79 = 6.5 etc. Except for UQ transcripts which don't show percentage marks GEMSAS give a midpoint equivalent, like D can be anywhere between 75 & 84 so GEMSAS give 6.75.

It is better for applicants to check this with the universities they're applying for. Some admissions staff have access to QTAC and can do the GPA calculation themselves.

 

[zxcpia04]

You can also apply to, JCU, UQ, CSU, and LaTrobe University. UQ will need a 6.5 gpa or above, so if you have that you are good. Griffith will need a much higher GPA than a WAM of 77, sorry to say, but it will need a GPA of 6.875 to Guarantee a place there, until the ucat is introduced for next year. But Latrobe is based off ucat, CSU is only off ucat and interview and JCU is rurality, personal statement and grades. So essentially the only two ones you are a little bit off for are probably uq and Griffith, unless your uni puts grades on their transcript and has a 7 as 80%

How can I check if my uni puts my grade on their transcript that 7 is 80%?

 

[Cal]

How can I check if my uni puts my grade on their transcript that 7 is 80%?

Have you gotten a university transcript? I assume you have since you know your grades, what does it have on it? Does it have pure percentage grades? Or does it have Letter grades like HD, D, C etc or does it have number grades like 7, 6, 5, etc