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UoA Graduate Category Chat/Enquiry

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Hi everyone,

This thread is for those who will be applying for MBChB at the University of Auckland under the Graduate Category. Come join the chat now and share your experience!

If you are new, introduce yourself and tell us where/what your are studying :)
 
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ks123

Lurker
Hey there, merry Christmas everyone!

Just wondering if someone could clear up the following for me:

" All applicants can only apply twice for the MBChB programme at the University of Auckland regardless of entry category."

In my case I did not apply as an undergraduate, does that mean I can apply twice as a postgraduate? Or do I have to go back and do the first year courses (which I have not done) to use my undergraduate attempt if I do not make it as a postgrad in my first try?

Also does the same apply for Otago?

Thanks Heaps!
 

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Hey there, merry Christmas everyone!

Just wondering if someone could clear up the following for me:

" All applicants can only apply twice for the MBChB programme at the University of Auckland regardless of entry category."

In my case I did not apply as an undergraduate, does that mean I can apply twice as a postgraduate? Or do I have to go back and do the first year courses (which I have not done) to use my undergraduate attempt if I do not make it as a postgrad in my first try?

Also does the same apply for Otago?

Thanks Heaps!

Hi ks123,

Can you apply for MBChB via the Graduate Category as a graduate? Yes, you can apply twice as a graduate for the Graduate Category. Otago has a different system. You can apply multiple times for the Graduate Category (only the Graduate Category).
 

ks123

Lurker
Hi ks123,

Can you apply for MBChB via the Graduate Category as a graduate? Yes, you can apply twice as a graduate for the Graduate Category. Otago has a different system. You can apply multiple times for the Graduate Category (only the Graduate Category).

Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply. Yes I can apply for graduate MBChB, I have just finished my second year in a BSc and is thinking of applying either for next year or in 2019 after completing honors.
 

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply. Yes I can apply for graduate MBChB, I have just finished my second year in a BSc and is thinking of applying either for next year or in 2019 after completing honors.

Hi,

That is great. I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck!
 

bat123

Member
Hi Stuart (and everyone else on MSO),

Just thought I'd post a little about myself in case there are any other applicants like me who come from a non-hard sciences background and are applying as a graduate to the MBChB at UoA. I've also found the information on this forum invaluable as I navigate my way through the application process so this is my way of contributing something (hopefully) useful.

I finished school in 2011 and have been studying since then; I've always liked the idea of being a doctor, though I never considered it seriously as a career choice as I didn't think I was smart enough (note to past-self: don't not do something because you think you're not good enough) I also loved biology when I did it at school. I've done an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and Social Sciences and am currently completing my MA in linguistics - my thesis will be done by June this year. Until about a a year-and-a-half ago I thought I'd be a journalist; I love working with people face-to-face and I felt, rather naively, that I could make a positive contribution to people's lives through journalism - that isn't to say you can't still do that, but it's much more difficult in the current climate. So, feeling very frustrated and just totally bewildered I started to review my career choices again. I talked to lots of people and thought very seriously about the kind of qualities I have as a person and what I really want to get out of my career. I knew that whatever job I have will need to be one where I work with people every day and one where I can care for people directly, I also want something that is going to challenge me and allow me to keep learning and researching as my career progresses. Which is when I found myself back at the career that I'd wanted to choose all along...being a doctor.

Initially I was hesitant to commit to this as it's another 5-6 years of study, plus specialising years, plus another $100,000 to my already-exorbitant-loan. I also didn't realise that a lot of med schools overseas only take graduate students and that there are people like me, who initially thought they'd do something non-medical related, who then go on to become doctors. This year I'll be applying to UoA (it's my first choice) but will also try for universities in Australia in the event that I don't get accepted into Auckland; and failing that, I'll apply to the University of Otago in the 'Other' category in 2019. My GPA is by no means 'competitive' at 7.54 (for the latest three years) and will hopefully go up a few decimal places depending on the mark I get for my thesis. However, I'm trying not to let that put me off, I'll just have to do my best on the UMAT and in the interview (if I get one). As someone wise once told me, "all you can do is your best." Good luck to everyone who is applying this year, I wish you all the very best as we move through this sometimes totally terrifying and also totally exciting process.
 

flooghost7255

BMedSci (Hons), Otago MBChB IV
Hi Stuart (and everyone else on MSO),

Just thought I'd post a little about myself in case there are any other applicants like me who come from a non-hard sciences background and are applying as a graduate to the MBChB at UoA. I've also found the information on this forum invaluable as I navigate my way through the application process so this is my way of contributing something (hopefully) useful.

I finished school in 2011 and have been studying since then; I've always liked the idea of being a doctor, though I never considered it seriously as a career choice as I didn't think I was smart enough (note to past-self: don't not do something because you think you're not good enough) I also loved biology when I did it at school. I've done an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and Social Sciences and am currently completing my MA in linguistics - my thesis will be done by June this year. Until about a a year-and-a-half ago I thought I'd be a journalist; I love working with people face-to-face and I felt, rather naively, that I could make a positive contribution to people's lives through journalism - that isn't to say you can't still do that, but it's much more difficult in the current climate. So, feeling very frustrated and just totally bewildered I started to review my career choices again. I talked to lots of people and thought very seriously about the kind of qualities I have as a person and what I really want to get out of my career. I knew that whatever job I have will need to be one where I work with people every day and one where I can care for people directly, I also want something that is going to challenge me and allow me to keep learning and researching as my career progresses. Which is when I found myself back at the career that I'd wanted to choose all along...being a doctor.

Initially I was hesitant to commit to this as it's another 5-6 years of study, plus specialising years, plus another $100,000 to my already-exorbitant-loan. I also didn't realise that a lot of med schools overseas only take graduate students and that there are people like me, who initially thought they'd do something non-medical related, who then go on to become doctors. This year I'll be applying to UoA (it's my first choice) but will also try for universities in Australia in the event that I don't get accepted into Auckland; and failing that, I'll apply to the University of Otago in the 'Other' category in 2019. My GPA is by no means 'competitive' at 7.54 (for the latest three years) and will hopefully go up a few decimal places depending on the mark I get for my thesis. However, I'm trying not to let that put me off, I'll just have to do my best on the UMAT and in the interview (if I get one). As someone wise once told me, "all you can do is your best." Good luck to everyone who is applying this year, I wish you all the very best as we move through this sometimes totally terrifying and also totally exciting process.
That’s a bold move but also an inspiring one for pursuing something you really want to do! So kudos to you and hope everything goes well!

Are you going to sit gamsat if you’re applying to aus too?
 

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Hi bat123,

Welcome to MSO and it's always great to have someone with a non-science background around!

In terms of your academic record, if you are talking about the actual GPA (of > 7.0), you might have a competitive score if you calculated the two-year-GPA (Auckland) or the weighted-GPA (Otago).

Have you consider the Graduate Category at Otago? You should consider that first before looking at Australian schools or the Alternative Category at Otago). I wouldn't think you would be an ideal candidate nor would you be allowed to apply for the Alternative Category in 2019 as it is aimed at people with experience. Anecdotally, it ranges from three years to over ten years.

Are you currently an Auckland student?

I am happy to answer any questions related to admissions if you have any in the future.

Good luck with your journey. It sure will be a roller-coaster ride, but you can always come on MSO to vent!
 

bat123

Member
Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply. I've potentially misunderstood the Otago entry categories, but for the 'Graduate' category it says they will take people with a prior qualification up to a postgraduate diploma. However, because I'm doing my Masters I figured I'd have to apply through the 'Alternative' category as that's where they look at students who have either a Masters of PhD level qualification. I think I'll e-mail the admissions department there just to double check. I'm at AUT at the moment; I'd definitely prefer to do my MBChB in NZ if I can, and I know the difficulties some people are having with finding a place to do their PGY1 in Australia, but this is my dream job so I feel like I'd be doing myself a huge disservice if I gave up after being declined from Auckland and Otago! The reason I wasn't going to apply for Otago this year is because I assumed I'd be going through the Alternative category and that closes before I'll be finished with my thesis.

flooghost7255 Thank you! I was thinking I would apply to Australian universities that use UMAT this year, and if I don't get into any med schools end of this year then I'll do my GAMSAT in March of 2019. I just have to decide which universities to apply for! There are so many to choose from and it's a pretty expensive process.
 
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kei

UoA BSc (Biomed), MBChB II
Hey guys I'm back at it again - these are the graduate GPAs and UMAT raw scores of people who got an offer in 2017! (This is quite a large sample considering the amount of places for graduates.. omg)
GM6bkiG.png
 

ouo

Lurker
Hi everyone, I need some advice - so I have just found out recently from my grandmother that her father was of pacific islander origin. I got intrigued and got my DNA tested, and surely enough, turns out I'm apparently 30% pacific islander. I've always thought of myself as filipino, with mixed spanish and chinese origin; so this was a bit of a surprise. So my question is - just from this, should I apply under the MAPAS category or not? I feel like I am taking advantage of the scheme just because my great grandfather is PI. Would applying for medicine under MAPAS a right thing to do here?
 
Hi, just looking for some help.
I did FY biomed (UoA) this year and was unsuccessful (waitlisted-->declined). I'm going to be studying physiology and I have my second year laid out like this.
Semester 1: Medsci 201, Medsci 205, Stats101, Exersci 103
Semester 2: Medsci 206, Exersci202, Geog 205, Psych 109
I'm trying to re apply for med as a post grad and would just like some opinions or insight to whether or not I have created a good foothold for me to progress with this goal.
Would also really appreciate any reviews on some of the non Medsci papers as I don't know as many people who have done these papers.
 
Hey there, same boat as you, was waitlisted and now declined and am also doing physiology this year hoping to apply as post grad. I've heard from a good friend of mine that stats101 is quite a well organised paper and know of someone who did geog 205 in summer school and found it quite a good paper as well. I am also taking physics 107 and econ 151g as my gen ed so if anyone has any thoughts on these papers and the ones posted by Hehe exdee , it would be much appreciated :)
 

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply. I've potentially misunderstood the Otago entry categories, but for the 'Graduate' category it says they will take people with a prior qualification up to a postgraduate diploma. However, because I'm doing my Masters I figured I'd have to apply through the 'Alternative' category as that's where they look at students who have either a Masters of PhD level qualification. I think I'll e-mail the admissions department there just to double check. I'm at AUT at the moment; I'd definitely prefer to do my MBChB in NZ if I can, and I know the difficulties some people are having with finding a place to do their PGY1 in Australia, but this is my dream job so I feel like I'd be doing myself a huge disservice if I gave up after being declined from Auckland and Otago! The reason I wasn't going to apply for Otago this year is because I assumed I'd be going through the Alternative category and that closes before I'll be finished with my thesis.

flooghost7255 Thank you! I was thinking I would apply to Australian universities that use UMAT this year, and if I don't get into any med schools end of this year then I'll do my GAMSAT in March of 2019. I just have to decide which universities to apply for! There are so many to choose from and it's a pretty expensive process.

Hi bat123,

I am sorry for the delayed response.

Is everything alright with applications and such? Let me know if anything is unclear still.
 
Heyo guys, just curious is there any way we would be able to have a group for grad students applying for med outside this forum for like discussions during the year? Maybe once uni opens? Not sure but i'd be keen, cuz i don't really have any friends doing physiology as i am or applying as post grad :\
 

Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
Heyo guys, just curious is there any way we would be able to have a group for grad students applying for med outside this forum for like discussions during the year? Maybe once uni opens? Not sure but i'd be keen, cuz i don't really have any friends doing physiology as i am or applying as post grad :\

Hi iceberg123,

Do you mean offline?
 

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Stuart

Administrator
Emeritus Staff
yeah something like group studying or like a facebook group if there is one?

Hi,

I am not aware of any on-going groups like that. I would think anything online can be done/provided through MSO and anything offline (e.g. group studies) get organised within the papers. If you would like a platform to organise anything, you can always utilise MSO for it.

On a related topic, I think it will be great to organise get-togethers for a meal or a drink from time to time. I personally rate weekly meet-ups to rant/de-stress more than weekly group studies. (Auckland can finally have the MSO meep-up like Otago does.)
 

greengem

MD III
Hi, just looking for some help.
I did FY biomed (UoA) this year and was unsuccessful (waitlisted-->declined). I'm going to be studying physiology and I have my second year laid out like this.
Semester 1: Medsci 201, Medsci 205, Stats101, Exersci 103
Semester 2: Medsci 206, Exersci202, Geog 205, Psych 109
I'm trying to re apply for med as a post grad and would just like some opinions or insight to whether or not I have created a good foothold for me to progress with this goal.
Would also really appreciate any reviews on some of the non Medsci papers as I don't know as many people who have done these papers.

Hi,
I got rejected with an 8.25 gpa + 81%le in 2017, and now I'll be doing physiology this year too! I'm doing medsci 205, 201, 202 and stats 101 in sem 1, then psych 108, 109, medsci 206, and am still trying to decide between intbus 151g or econ 151g.

Hopefully, we make it into med second time around! :)
 

Ladybug 7

Member
yeah something like group studying or like a facebook group if there is one?
That would be awesome to have a study/rant group, especially for the next 2 years of hard work!
I was also waitlisted and now declined. Going to continue with biomed for this sem and then see if I'll switch to physiology if its too much. I was planning to do:
Sem 1: Medsci 202, Medsci 203, Medsci 205 and Biosci 201
Sem 2: Medsci 206, Stats 101, Biosci 202 and Biosci 203
Hope we make it guys! :)
 

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