Dentistry Entry Discussion and Questions

[A1]

And also if I'm being quite honest, I don't see why many people advise against a gap year route - could you maybe explain more on that apart from the common pitfalls?

I'm not familiar with the dent schools. For medicine gap year or not is a case-by-case basis, the main downside of starting uni is it locks you out of more than half the med schools.

For Vic/SA/WA students starting uni locks out home state schools. Gap year with a sufficient ATAR plus a high UCAT next time keep them possible, plus they can resit 1-2 Year12 subjects to improve the ATAR.

Otoh gap year doesn't help NSW students much, since they can apply to UNSW WSU JMP whether gap year or starting uni. One exception is if their ATAR is 99.7-99.8, gap year plus a high UCAT can also go for interstate schools for more chances. Resitting 1-2 HSC subjects could raise them to 99.90 for Griffith/USC etc.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I'm not familiar with the dent schools. For medicine gap year or not is a case-by-case basis, the main downside of starting uni is it locks you out of more than half the med schools.

For Vic/SA/WA students starting uni locks out home state schools. Gap year with a sufficient ATAR plus a high UCAT next time keep them possible, plus they can resit 1-2 Year12 subjects to improve the ATAR.

Otoh gap year doesn't help NSW students much, since they can apply to UNSW WSU JMP whether gap year or starting uni. One exception is if their ATAR is 99.7-99.8, gap year plus a high UCAT can also go for interstate schools for more chances. Resitting 1-2 HSC subjects could raise them to 99.90 for Griffith/USC etc.

I don’t think it’s as clear cut or as simplistic as saying starting uni locks you out of more than half of med schools because it also puts you a year closer to eligibility for more than half of med schools (when you combine non-standard and graduate entry spots).

It’s a very nuanced topic with many factors to consider and no single right way to do things.

 

[Arcadia]

The good thing with the gap year option is that UQ and Griffith dent will look at my ATAR and new UCAT if I chose that pathway, and not to mention enrolling in a degree to drop out does just mean more money 'wasted'. And although its unlikely UniAdl will also accept my ATAR and new UCAT (but Im interstate so doubt I'll get accepted).

With a gap year you are welcome to try your hand at 6 of the 9 dental schools in Australia - I wrote off UWA due to high 99%ile required for interstate, UMelb which doesn't take gap years for their grad package dentistry and Usyd if resitting 1 subject to bring ATAR to 99.7+ is not an option.

UQ - 5 section UCAT total no interview (3793 lowest score for 2025 admissions)

CSU - 97+%ile required from last yr (metro)

Griffith - borderline 90%ile score required last yr

Adelaide - 96%ile required for interstates

and JCU and LaTrobe for dent you are familiar with.

I feel obliged to point that that for the 6 schools I listed here, you can apply to them as a non-standard applicant as well. By taking a gap year you would only be advantageous for LaTrobe as you mentioned.

 

[Unluckydude]

By taking a gap year you would only be advantageous for LaTrobe as you mentioned.

It won't be advantageous for Latrobe as they will still use the applicant's atar if it offers a higher selection than the applicant's GPA.

Another thing to note of the challenges of gap year—something I’ve experienced firsthand—is maintaining discipline. Unlike Year 12, where structure and routine at high school somewhat forces you accountable, a gap year gives you complete freedom making it easy to get distracted by having to work, travel, or social commitments alongside having to dedicate towards academic improvement. Many friends who took a gap year alongside me struggled and ultimately missed out on an offer because they didn’t fully commit to their academic goals. My view is that you can’t have it both ways—if you take a gap year, it should be entirely focused on academic growth. Otherwise, it risks becoming a wasted year rather than an investment.

Yes, I agree this is something that needs to be taken into consideration. However, you may encounter the same issue in uni. Your uni friends will most likely have a more relaxed attitude and keep asking you to go out without them. I have seen many hard working year 12 students dramatically changed their attitudes after going through a few months of uni.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

CSU - 97+%ile required from last yr

Wholly mother of wooly mammoths. Has the ucat always been that high for metro non-CSU students? The rural ucat wasn't exactly a stone's throw from that. More of a boulder throw.

 

[Unluckydude]

Wholly mother of wooly mammoths. Has the ucat always been that high for metro non-CSU students? The rural ucat wasn't exactly a stone's throw from that. More of a boulder throw.

Yeah, the ucat cut off for metro applicants has always been this high.

 

[Arcadia]

Wholly mother of wooly mammoths. Has the ucat always been that high for metro non-CSU students?

Yes it seems so. I did my research after I got an interview rejection last yr and it looks like the metro cutoff for interview reached 96%ile back in 2021 and has been climbing up ever since

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

That sounds about right. The ucat pathway is absolutely vicious. I would've applied starting a decade ago if it had been a kinder system.

 

[gbhu]

Does anyone know which universities offer an accelerated dental degree or shortened program for postgraduates who have already completed a Bachelor of Oral Health? I have heard this is an option.

 

[2xq]

Does anyone know which universities offer an accelerated dental degree or shortened program for postgraduates who have already completed a Bachelor of Oral Health? I have heard this is an option.

Postgraduate dentistry programs are all approx 4 years (which is shorter than the undergraduate equivalents 5+ years) for ALL postgraduate applicants albeit whether oral health or not.

POSTGRAD DENT PROGRAMS:
UNIMELB
UWA
USYD
UQ

 

[gbhu]

Postgraduate dentistry programs are all 4 years (which is shorter than the undergraduate equivalents 5+ years) for ALL postgraduate applicants albeit whether oral health or not.

POSTGRAD DENT PROGRAMS:
UNIMELB
UWA
USYD
UQ

Thank you for the response.
I was told by a current dental student and a professor, that it is possible to complete a shortened dental program when applying as an Oral Health graduate. Sorry, so that isn't true?

 

[2xq]

Thank you for the response.
I was told by a current dental student and a professor, that it is possible to complete a shortened dental program when applying as an Oral Health graduate. Sorry, so that isn't true?

Not true to my knowledge

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

UQ's post-grad Doctor of Dental medicine is only 3.5 years i think. It's quite the expensive investment though and has nothing to do with being OHT. The course, by nature, is only 3.5 years.

 

[gbhu]

Also would a GPA of 6.5 be considered competitive for non-standard. Researching is giving mixed results.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

This questions been asked before and I dont remember the answer or where to find it, but off the top of my head, it would be on the lower end of applicant's. It's high enough that it could go either way. Worth a shot if you're interested.

 

[geebers]

does anyone know if SATAC bonus points apply for interstate atars? im doing methods and specialist maths

 

[A1]

does anyone know if SATAC bonus points apply for interstate atars? im doing methods and specialist maths

I take it that you refer to the SATAC Subject bonus points.

Yes they do apply to interstate ATARs but note the exceptions (see below). Seems good for Adelaide Dent though. Interstate ATAR would be equated to an SA aggregate first, added the bonus points, then converted back to Adjusted ATAR.

 

[Quack's a lot]

Hey! I am wanting to apply to JCU dentistry - I am a first year at Uni - and I didn't perform as well in Sem 1 - so the best I can pull out (in the best case scenario) would be a GPA of a 6.5-6.6... I'm metro... would I still have a chance? because I know most that get in under the tertiary bar are 6.8-7...

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Yes. A 6.5+ is generally somewhat competitive all round anyway. JCU is...weird, so their selections feel like blind picking from a hat where 7s may not necessarily get an interview. It's worthwhile to try based on the fact that no one is actually fully sure how they pick and a 6.5 may well be enough.

 

[uganda4u]

Hey! I am planning to get enrolled on a bachelor's degree next year. However, I was wondering which universities in Australia that offers dentistry will allow me to apply straight from my first year of university, instead of completing all 3 years.