General Interview Discussion and Questions: 2022 Entry

[marie104]

Also everyone was so quick in booking the later interview dates

I think they opened up more dates bc this morning it was only 24, 25, 26 now it goes to the 30th

 

[Nonstandard983]

Have we heard anything lower than a 79 get rejected though?

No like they said 79 is the lowest reported on MSO. IMO OP is better asking friends if they've heard of anyone lower if they are a SA Local. I assume (Big assumption by me) that OP is somewhere below 79 wondering if it was an error they have not been invited, unfortunately it is highly likely that this isn't an error as a UCAT score below the 79th percentile for anything other than rural/indigenous/equity pathways isn't ever likely to gain an interview place baring a 99.7+ ATAR (Monash Guarantee, USYD 99.95 ect). OP's best bet if that is the case is to start considering backup degrees and look at non-standard options for example University of Adelaide allows non-standard applicants assuming they have only studied at Uni of Adelaide. JMP, JPM, UNSW and JCU all take non standard applicants no matter where they have studied.

 

[Emerald2002]

No like they said 79 is the lowest reported on MSO. IMO OP is better asking friends if they've heard of anyone lower if they are a SA Local. I assume (Big assumption by me) that OP is somewhere below 79 wondering if it was an error they have not been invited, unfortunately it is highly likely that this isn't an error as a UCAT score below the 79th percentile for anything other than rural/indigenous/equity pathways isn't ever likely to gain an interview place baring a 99.7+ ATAR (Monash Guarantee, USYD 99.95 ect). OP's best bet if that is the case is to start considering backup degrees and look at non-standard options for example University of Adelaide allows non-standard applicants assuming they have only studied at Uni of Adelaide. JMP, JPM, UNSW and JCU all take non standard applicants no matter where they have studied.

Well aware, I was just asking out of curiosity whether anyone had been rejected for an interview with 78 etc. so we could confirm the cut off

 

[Nonstandard983]

Well aware, I was just asking out of curiosity whether anyone had been rejected for an interview with 78 etc. so we could confirm the cut off

Nah, lowest reported so far to my knowledge has been 79 from MEDHOPEFULL2022. Possible we could get lower what's the highest rejection score we have received safe to assume its between those two numbers.

 

[kto1017]

Would UQ Med send out more interview offers in the future? Or is the group of interview invites they have sent out so far the only interviews they'll do?

 

[TheRealSpaghet]

I think they opened up more dates bc this morning it was only 24, 25, 26 now it goes to the 30th

That's odd, I remember there being slots from the 24th to very early november (the 3rd?)

 

[jhsane]

This is the official CQU's criteria > https://www.cqu.edu.au/__data/asset...or-of-medical-science-pathway-to-medicine.pdf
- Applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- Invitation to interview (MMI) will be based on the ranking of the aggregate score from the first four sections of UCAT ANZ

Given that yellowmellow a NSW non-rural applicant got both UQ & CQU with 3150 UCAT there's no ground for CQU rejecting you 3370. You should call both QTAC & CQU to challenge them.

-----------
On second thought, jhsane did you only apply for CQU bonded? NZ applicants are not eligible for bonded places.

got a response today

The UCAT score is used in the selection for interviews. However, there are different factors that universities have to consider when candidates are selected for interviews, such as.

• Places available in a course, and
• Recruitment according to Australia’s workforce requirements, as per Federal and Local Government guidelines.

When these factors are considered together with the UCAT score, it provides a different scenario than considering the UCAT score only.
As a New Zealand citizen, you are considered no different than an Australian citizen when you are an applicant for this course.

--
sounds like crap to me I'm going to email them again but if anyone can figure out why I got denied I'd appreciate it greatly

 

[Nonstandard983]

got a response today

The UCAT score is used in the selection for interviews. However, there are different factors that universities have to consider when candidates are selected for interviews, such as.

• Places available in a course, and
• Recruitment according to Australia’s workforce requirements, as per Federal and Local Government guidelines.

When these factors are considered together with the UCAT score, it provides a different scenario than considering the UCAT score only.
As a New Zealand citizen, you are considered no different than an Australian citizen when you are an applicant for this course.

--
sounds like crap to me I'm going to email them again but if anyone can figure out why I got denied I'd appreciate it greatly

That response is bullshit.

Places available in course - this refers to the number of interviews they offer. However your score was above people who received offers so there should be a place for you assuming they haven't monumentally screwed up and in the actual score order there are people above you.

Recruitment Factors - this refers to rural/indigenous/low-ses and potentially other sub-quotas this does not apply to you as someone with a lower score who wasn't from any sub-quota got an interview... I would remind them of this in the next email and if they don't respond appropriately mention your considering going to a lawyer

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Would UQ Med send out more interview offers in the future? Or is the group of interview invites they have sent out so far the only interviews they'll do?

Last year they did a very small number of actual ATAR invites also. I think we had two reported here at MSO.

 

[jhsane]

That response is bullshit.

Places available in course - this refers to the number of interviews they offer. However your score was above people who received offers so there should be a place for you assuming they haven't monumentally screwed up and in the actual score order there are people above you.

Recruitment Factors - this refers to rural/indigenous/low-ses and potentially other sub-quotas this does not apply to you as someone with a lower score who wasn't from any sub-quota got an interview... I would remind them of this in the next email and if they don't respond appropriately mention your considering going to a lawyer

Thanks!! Those definitions make sense. It's so generic I bet they didn't even properly read my email haha. Good idea with the lawyer ; ))

 

[Nonstandard983]

Thanks!! Those definitions make sense. It's so generic I bet they didn't even properly read my email haha. Good idea with the lawyer ; ))

The second one is an guesstimation but universities tend to get a little nervous when a lawyer is mentioned, You can always pay a lawyer to write and send an email to the university themselves it may cost you 2-5 hundred but more than worth it if that is your ideal study location otherwise sometimes even the threat of a lawyer works.

 

[A1]

When these factors are considered together with the UCAT score, it provides a different scenario than considering the UCAT score only.

This is blatantly contradictory to CQU's published rules for interview selection.

However, there are different factors that universities have to consider when candidates are selected for interviews, such as.

• Recruitment according to Australia’s workforce requirements, as per Federal and Local Government guidelines.

It's STUPID of CQU to say, per these guidelines, they already know you are less suitable than other applicants without interviewing you.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks!! Those definitions make sense. It's so generic I bet they didn't even properly read my email haha. Good idea with the lawyer ; ))

While this is completely beside the point, and you should absolutely follow up if Rocky or Bundy are your preferred study locations, with your combo of scores (and assuming that is what you go on to achieve - 99.95), you are guaranteed a number of other offers and interview invites, including Griffith and Flinders where there is no interview and probably UTAS where there is also no interview. I wouldn't blow money on a lawyer unless you were really invested in a. proving a point or b. attending either one of the CQU locations (both of which are very legit reasons by the way!! Just trying to reassure you re. your overall chances in Aus).

ETA: but also, to be clear, CQU are talking crap with their replies to you to date!

 

[jhsane]

While this is completely beside the point, and you should absolutely follow up if Rocky or Bundy are your preferred study locations, with your combo of scores (and assuming that is what you go on to achieve - 99.95), you are guaranteed a number of other offers and interview invites, including Griffith and Flinders where there is no interview and probably UTAS where there is also no interview. I wouldn't blow money on a lawyer unless you were really invested in a. proving a point or b. attending either one of the CQU locations (both of which are very legit reasons by the way!! Just trying to reassure you re. your overall chances in Aus).

ETA: but also, to be clear, CQU are talking crap with their replies to you to date!

Thank you for the reassurance! Hopefully my UCAT isn't wasted this year : )

Haha definitely not willing to actually spend money for a lawyer but really hoping I can get to the bottom of this.
It's really frustrating that they keep dancing around the actual point though. For the first year? they're doing this it doesn't leave a great impression either... hopefully they respond to me. I just wanted the interview experience with CQU being one of the first ones! (still fingers crossed for Monash here ) )

Thank you everyone here for the reassurance though!

 

[A1]

Haha definitely not willing to actually spend money for a lawyer but really hoping I can get to the bottom of this.

I can understand CQU's uneasiness about you being a Y12 student in NZ (as opposed to a NZ student already in Aus) in terms of their mission "the future of healthcare in regional Queensland". But they dare not admit so since nothing on paper gives them that discretion.

> Uni partnership to train 'homegrown' doctors in regional Queensland
"The resulting Regional Medical Pathway will ensure that more doctors are trained regionally, and importantly stay regionally once they enter the profession."

 

[jhsane]

I can understand CQU's uneasiness about you being a Y12 student in NZ (as opposed to a NZ student already in Aus) in terms of their mission "the future of healthcare in regional Queensland". But they dare not admit so since nothing on paper gives them that discretion.

> Uni partnership to train 'homegrown' doctors in regional Queensland
"The resulting Regional Medical Pathway will ensure that more doctors are trained regionally, and importantly stay regionally once they enter the profession."

I totally understand if that's the reason but just like you said I wish they would just explicitly tell us they have a preference. They'd be right too with my case that I prefer more urban metropolitan cities and areas in Australia because I'm already moving away from NZ which is green and comparatively quiet...

 

[LJess94]

Given JPM is meant to be late October, do you think it's safe to assume we should expect interview invites today or tomorrow? Or could it potentially end up being November?

 

[Caffeine]

Given JPM is meant to be late October, do you think it's safe to assume we should expect interview invites today or tomorrow? Or could it potentially end up being November?

It can be delayed but it's likely they will make an effort to send them by the end of this week

 

[Nonstandard983]

Given JPM is meant to be late October, do you think it's safe to assume we should expect interview invites today or tomorrow? Or could it potentially end up being November?

I called UWS they said late this week likely Friday

 

[jazzy31]

No like they said 79 is the lowest reported on MSO. IMO OP is better asking friends if they've heard of anyone lower if they are a SA Local. I assume (Big assumption by me) that OP is somewhere below 79 wondering if it was an error they have not been invited, unfortunately it is highly likely that this isn't an error as a UCAT score below the 79th percentile for anything other than rural/indigenous/equity pathways isn't ever likely to gain an interview place baring a 99.7+ ATAR (Monash Guarantee, USYD 99.95 ect). OP's best bet if that is the case is to start considering backup degrees and look at non-standard options for example University of Adelaide allows non-standard applicants assuming they have only studied at Uni of Adelaide. JMP, JPM, UNSW and JCU all take non standard applicants no matter where they have studied.

Yes that is a lot of assumptions …Actually last year it was more than likely for SA school leavers that a score below 79 received a medical interview in fact it went into the 60 th percentiles… so it is definitely a possibility that interview invites for Adelaide university medicine this year fell below 79 although not reported on mso…