Need some advice on dentistry applications and which unis are out of reach. So I graduated last year 2021 in NSW with a 99.85 and didn't do ucat (yes im dumb ik) and couldnt move interstate. Got the interview for usyd dent but wasn't prepared because I wasn't expecting so high so I missed out on that and cant reapply, I think there were over 90+ people and only around 10-15 offers
Anyways I decided to take a gap year and sit ucat this year along with doing a biology course to satisfy LaTrobe's prerequisites. Also considering shadowing a dentist for a bit for some experience. I am definitely considering interstate now so I'll split it up state by state.
VIC
I called Melbourne university at least 8 times asking if I could apply for 2023 entry into a grad package with some saying yes and some saying no so i don't think the chances are high and cant be asked calling them again. For Latrobe there is no interview or ucat requirement so I am going to try and satisfy the bio prerequisite. I dont know if this is a good idea anymore since I have seen accounts of people with 99.8+ being rejected even though I read 99.8 was the cutoff for interstate last year in one of the forums? Also with the prerequisite would it have to be completed before I apply?
NSW
Charles Sturt, again less than 5 people gained entry via recent secondary education and reliant on ucat + interview.
WA
UWA will still let me apply for assured entry (6 years) however I don't know how many places they offer or how competitive it is. (needs MMI interview)
QLD
Checked out Griffith but I realised it is mainly for non-standards with <5 offers for recent secondary school leavers and it also needs a MMI interview. For UQ with EAS adjustment factors I could possibly get 99.95 however I don't know if that will happen or if EAS even applies to uq dent and I believe I cant apply for the subject incentive scheme. JCU is also competitive with the written application having a rural focus which prefers experience/volunteering in the field, none of which apply to me however it has many more spots compared to uq (close to double i think).
SA
I've heard Adelaide is quite reliant on interview and ucat so my atar is pretty much irrelevant and used as the final ranking method.
At this point I am seriously doubting whether I can get in and it will only be a bit clearer after UCAT. I don't really want to waste 3 years in a bachelors and do gamsat hoping for entry into only 3 unis with it being very likely to get a full fee place. So I think I may just start considering optometry or even med as an alternative not because it is easier to get into but because there are just so many more unis for it. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance