General Interview Discussion and Questions 2020 Entry

[CristinaYang]

So.... it looks like WSU is weighing VR heavily which means that leaves some super high total UCAT scorers without an invite - does that mean that the competition for a JMP or UNSW offer will be even fiercer? Like harder to rank higher, since some super high UCAT scorers have one less uni option? Or would it make minimal difference?

I’m under the impression that WSU uses UCAT weightings to interview a group of people who are different from the UNSW interviewees and etc so technically since they’ve done weightings in the past it shouldn’t massively change things

 

[A1]

I’m under the impression that WSU uses UCAT weightings to interview a group of people who are different from the UNSW interviewees and etc

I believe so too, but there is a much easier way I suggest to achieve that - ban all the 99+ ATARs from WSU selection.

Just saying

 

[Kezza]

So.... it looks like WSU is weighing VR heavily which means that leaves some super high total UCAT scorers without an invite - does that mean that the competition for a JMP or UNSW offer will be even fiercer? Like harder to rank higher, since some super high UCAT scorers have one less uni option? Or would it make minimal difference?

Won't make a difference for JMP as people who got an interview for UWS will likely get one for JMP and those that didn't would still be applying to JMP and as neither have direct entry - It won't make it easier or harder as individuals will still be judged based on their interview performance.

If that makes sense.

 

[Smelly Boy]

Got a message on here asking a question & thought I’d answer on the forum so everyone can see.

Question:
“do you think that my...95th %iles will be enough for JMP interview? Also can you ‘defer’ medicine for a year at WSU?”
Note: this person did get an interview for WSU

Answer:
if I had your score, I would personally definitely be expecting an interview for the JMP.

Regarding deferring WSU, here’s an email response I got from WSU last year when I asked this question:

Spoiler: WSU email regarding deferral

Dear Smelly Boy,

“Thank you for your interest in our medical degree at Western Sydney University. If you are offered a place for our course in 2019, there will not be an opportunity to defer it unfortunately. Medicine is one of the degrees exempt from deferral: How to defer your offer - Starting at Western Sydney University

If you are offered a place, you could take leave of absence from your current degree, accept and complete the first year in medicine, take leave of absence from medicine for 12 months to complete your current degree and then come back to medicine. How complicated is that?

Or, you could reject the offer for 2019 and apply again for 2020.

I suggest you complete the process for 2019 and then make the final decision once you are offered a place!

Kind regards

Penny

Penny Lee | Student Experience Administration Officer
School of Medicine”

For anyone interested, here’s what the people at Newcastle said regarding deferral:

Spoiler: JMP deferral email

Thank you for your email. Yes it is possible to defer an offer to enable you to complete the final year of your current degree. You must abide by the conditions of the deferral, should your application be approved, and deferrals are only granted for one year.

Kind regards,
Sue
SUE GARDNER
Joint Medical Program │ School of Medicine & Public Health

See this link: Can I defer my offer if I have commenced study?

 

[sqmed25]

Does anyone know what the UMAT percentile cut off for the University of Adelaide was last year for rural applicants? There doesn't seem to be much/any data for rural UOA interview invites in any threads (not that I could find anyway).

 

[Crow]

Does anyone know what the UMAT percentile cut off for the University of Adelaide was last year for rural applicants? There doesn't seem to be much/any data for rural UOA interview invites in any threads (not that I could find anyway).

2019 Entry Interview Invites - Collated We had a 34th %ile report an interview last year.

 

[noteven]

Hey everyone. So I know many people with UCAT percentiles in the 80s here are also hoping for a JMP interview (including me) because JMP gives out a lot of interviews and has previously interviewed people with low UMAT scores (because of the S1 cut-off). But with JMP now taking the total UCAT score, wouldn't chances be that the UCAT minimum is extremely high now, well into the 90s?

Someone earlier posted that approx. 13,500 people sat the UCAT. 3,500 people applied to JMP of which 871 will get interview offers (as per brissiegirl's phone call). If JMP are using ATAR/GPA as just a cut-off and the total UCAT score, surely the majority of the 871 who get interview offers will be those with post-90 UCAT scores?

Sorry if I've freaked anyone out -- I think I'm just trying to set my expectations really low at this stage

 

[A1]

Sorry if I've freaked anyone out -- I think I'm just trying to set my expectations really low at this stage

Without the 50-minimum rule JMP's interview selection now is similar to Adelaide's UMAT method + similar number of invites. Adelaide's cutoff was 84%ile 2017 and 89%ile 2018.

 

[sqmed25]

2019 Entry Interview Invites - Collated We had a 34th %ile report an interview last year.

Oh thanks, sorry I was looking at the wrong headings, thought they were under the 'no invite yet' heading. Cheers.

 

[leez]

this is probs a question that has already been asked (sorry if it has!! i just want to be completely sure) but me putting wsu and then jmp first won't affect my chances of getting a jmp offer in the first round right? (i didn't receive a wsu offer on fri so assuming i missed out) or am i better off moving jmp to 1st preference

 

[A1]

this is probs a question that has already been asked (sorry if it has!! i just want to be completely sure) but me putting wsu and then jmp first won't affect my chances of getting a jmp offer in the first round right? (i didn't receive a wsu offer on fri so assuming i missed out) or am i better off moving jmp to 1st preference

You can leave WSU at higher pref, it won't at all affect your receiving a JMP offer. Although the general advice is if you don't get a WSU invite by the time their interviews start you might as well remove it to free up a pref slot for something else.

 

[overcaffeinated]

Hey everyone. So I know many people with UCAT percentiles in the 80s here are also hoping for a JMP interview (including me) because JMP gives out a lot of interviews and has previously interviewed people with low UMAT scores (because of the S1 cut-off). But with JMP now taking the total UCAT score, wouldn't chances be that the UCAT minimum is extremely high now, well into the 90s?

Someone earlier posted that approx. 13,500 people sat the UCAT. 3,500 people applied to JMP of which 871 will get interview offers (as per brissiegirl's phone call). If JMP are using ATAR/GPA as just a cut-off and the total UCAT score, surely the majority of the 871 who get interview offers will be those with post-90 UCAT scores?

Sorry if I've freaked anyone out -- I think I'm just trying to set my expectations really low at this stage

As someone with a v borderline UCAT score I'm definitely in the same boat as you and trying to keep expectations super low. I guess it is worth noting that every year there will be applicants who for some reason don't fill out application forms correctly and therefore become ineligible. Also, the QLD graduating cohort is smaller this year, and because JMP have removed a minimum threshold, people with far lower UCATs may have applied and will add to the higher number of applicants (these are all things that I am telling myself to maintain some sense of hope and sanity). I guess we really can't predict what will happen with JMP, especially considering what we have seen re WSU interviews. Good luck for the coming week!!

 

[sjm24]

As someone with a v borderline UCAT score I'm definitely in the same boat as you and trying to keep expectations super low. I guess it is worth noting that every year there will be applicants who for some reason don't fill out application forms correctly and therefore become ineligible. Also, the QLD graduating cohort is smaller this year, and because JMP have removed a minimum threshold, people with far lower UCATs may have applied and will add to the higher number of applicants (these are all things that I am telling myself to maintain some sense of hope and sanity). I guess we really can't predict what will happen with JMP, especially considering what we have seen re WSU interviews. Good luck for the coming week!!

I am in the same boat, UCAT of 2560 so my expectations are very low but still hoping I somehow scrape through to JMP interview lol

 

[noteven]

As someone with a v borderline UCAT score I'm definitely in the same boat as you and trying to keep expectations super low. I guess it is worth noting that every year there will be applicants who for some reason don't fill out application forms correctly and therefore become ineligible. Also, the QLD graduating cohort is smaller this year, and because JMP have removed a minimum threshold, people with far lower UCATs may have applied and will add to the higher number of applicants (these are all things that I am telling myself to maintain some sense of hope and sanity). I guess we really can't predict what will happen with JMP, especially considering what we have seen re WSU interviews. Good luck for the coming week!!

Yeah you're right, after the WSU offers I guess nothing is certain at this stage. Hopefully we'll have an idea by tomorrow. Good luck to you too!!

 

[Kezza]

Yeah you're right, after the WSU offers I guess nothing is certain at this stage. Hopefully we'll have an idea by tomorrow. Good luck to you too!!

I feel you both - I thought for sure this year I'd finally get an interview but I'm not hopeful for JMP. It's my 5th time trying and I've never put in this much effort... I just don't know what I'll do if I don't at least get an interview - 5 years of no progress and feeling destined to never be a doctor.

 

[noteven]

I feel you both - I thought for sure this year I'd finally get an interview but I'm not hopeful for JMP. It's my 5th time trying and I've never put in this much effort... I just don't know what I'll do if I don't at least get an interview - 5 years of no progress and feeling destined to never be a doctor.

Hey Kezza I completely understand where you're coming from! I've sat the UMAT 3 times, the GAMSAT 4 times and of course the UCAT this year. Tbh I think I'm just dumb when it comes to exams (and that's why I'm doing research this year) but! my point is you're not alone here. Let's see how the next few days go with interview offers and don't be too down on yourself no matter what happens. Once you get into med it'll be all the more of a sweeter achievement. Keep your chin up! and good luck!! ))

 

[Kezza]

Hey Kezza I completely understand where you're coming from! I've sat the UMAT 3 times, the GAMSAT 4 times and of course the UCAT this year. Tbh I think I'm just dumb when it comes to exams (and that's why I'm doing research this year) but! my point is you're not alone here. Let's see how the next few days go with interview offers and don't be too down on yourself no matter what happens. Once you get into med it'll be all the more of a sweeter achievement. Keep your chin up! and good luck!! ))

I hope so mate. I feel for you too - I know how heartbreaking it can be to fail over and over again, but I know if I get in, the day that email comes in will be one of the best in my life and it will have been worth it - but the time spent waiting is torturous.

 

[Logic]

Promotional emails from unis be like:

 

[ucatboy]

Question: once we have booked an interview (not rejected it outright), are we able to cancel it later (say, 2 weeks before the actual interview) without consequence?

 

[Crow]

Question: once we have booked an interview (not rejected it outright), are we able to cancel it later (say, 2 weeks before the actual interview) without consequence?

The consequence would just be that you wouldn’t be eligible for a place at uni, and potentially a spot would be taken away from another candidate depending on how late you leave it.