[Grad] Graduate Medicine FAQ and Quick Questions

[DrDrLMG!]

USyd for you is graduate entry which we don’t really cover here at MSO, your best bet is to contact USyd directly. You could also check Paging Dr which is a dedicated graduate entry forum, though it’d be a matter of doing your research over there.

 

[dotwingz]

USYD GPA is fairly straight forward. They use UAC to assess all your qualifications, and you only need a 5.0 GPA to pass this hurdle.

Have you looked at the UAC site? Im not sure if they use all your qualifications or not, but asking them directly or looking at their FAQ might put you on the right track.

How your tertiary qualifications are graded and assessed

UAC assesses all qualifications using procedures agreed to by institutions – we may need to change applications details due to an error/omission.

www.uac.edu.au

 

[Hollyw28]

Hi everyone, so sorry if this has already been answered somewhere. I'm starting to consider Australian unis, and it is all very overwhelming! In particular I'm finding hard to find info that is specific to me for applying to USyd.

I have a BSc in Biomed (2016-2019), a PGDip in Biomed (2020), a PGDip in Health Sciences (2021), and (soon!) a Masters of Biomed (1 year thesis) all from Auckland. How the heck even is my GPA determined?

I understand that if my NZ GPA is between A- and A+ then I get a 7, which is fab. But I can't find information for people who have done a bunch of postgrad study - only GPA info for Bachelors or Bachelors with Honours. What degrees/qualifications will USyd use for my GPA calculation? Am I safe to assume it will be the most recent (my masters)? Any help would be fab, as emailing USyd directly hasn't been too helpful! Thanks in advance

Update for those interested/in a similar situation: They'll only take my Bachelors for GPA considerations. They will take additional Bachelors into consideration (e.g. for people who have done double degrees) but not postgrad work. Bummer!

 

[UoAscrub]

Just wondering are there any universities that look at exclusively postgraduate degrees such as a masters instead of undergrad or a combination of both. Currently in my second year for masters however my undergraduate 3 year degree GPA is sorely lacking in the 2nd and 3rd years.

As far as I can tell from the GEMSAS website only Queensland Uni does but is there any other university that does this?

 

[Vivienne]

Hello, I am currently in grade 12, and considering different pathways into medicine.

A most recent consideration of mine has been graduate entry into medicine - I am interested in pursuing a degree in bachelor of medicine subsequent to an undergrad. I have read this thread and most replies note that it is important to choose a course that provides one with a career after graduation.

I am quite dedicated to pursuing a career in medicine, and so would like to pick an undergraduate course in the field. Whilst numerous replies have said the same thing about career options, my question is how do I know which undergraduate course to pick that will still give me career options AND help me to transition into my medical degree.

I understand that some people do not get into medicine as it encompasses an amalgamation of factor, but which undergrad degree have people took and still gone into grad medicine - I would like to hear some of people's experiences.

Also, considering some posts I have read, is nursing, for example, a good option? Say that I do nursing at USYD instead of Pre-med, then decide to get into grad medicine, what are the implications?


Kind regards

 

[Deboza]

....my question is how do I know which undergraduate course to pick that will still give me career options AND help me to transition into my medical degree....

Also, considering some posts I have read, is nursing, for example, a good option? Say that I do nursing at USYD instead of Pre-med, then decide to get into grad medicine, what are the implications?

(1) Explore the different fields of Allied Health and see what appeals to you the most. Coming from an Allied Health background before undertaking medicine, I have found that my previous experiences are not particularly useful. Sure, I may have more clinical exposure but it doesn't help with learning all of the pre-clinical sciences lmao.
(2) Don't do nursing if you don't think you'd enjoy it. It's a tough gig, with tough hours with pay that should be much higher than what it currently is. The implications of doing "pre-med" at USYD is that you will finish a degree with no concrete job prospects whereas at least you have a backup in Nursing if you dont get into med.

 

[A1]

A most recent consideration of mine has been graduate entry into medicine - I am interested in pursuing a degree in bachelor of medicine subsequent to an undergrad.

Being so keen on medicine why are you not considering undergrad med instead of graduate-entry med only?
About a dozen med schools offer places to school leavers, also a dozen offer graduate entry. Not considering the former you cut yourself out of half the possibilities.

Btw you need to sit UCAT for undergrad med (late booking for this year is possible until 31st May but have to pay a late fee on top).

my question is how do I know which undergraduate course to pick that will still give me career options AND help me to transition into my medical degree.

You don't need any particular undergrad degree to transition into graduate med. Other than UQ requiring a few prereqs in your undergrad, the other 10 graduate schools will accept any degree provided you have a competitive GPA.

So choose a degree that (a) you are capable of achieving a high GPA with the contents, and (b) would give you good alternative career options.

Say that I do nursing at USYD instead of Pre-med, then decide to get into grad medicine, what are the implications?

There's no such thing as Pre-med in Australia. Any undergrad can do, so Nursing is as much pre-med as other degrees.

 

[Vivienne]

Being so keen on medicine why are you not considering undergrad med instead of graduate-entry med only?
About a dozen med schools offer places to school leavers, also a dozen offer graduate entry. Not considering the former you cut yourself out of half the possibilities.

Thank you for your reply! Considering one option does not mean disregarding another. I mentioned my recent consideration and interest in graduate medicine because it is an option for me if my ATAR and UCAT score is not sufficient to get me into medicine directly upon graduating high school. Even if so, I am willing to take a step further as long as I get there in the end.

So choose a degree that (a) you are capable of achieving a high GPA with the contents, and (b) would give you good alternative career options.

When you say "with the contents" are you referring to the literal content offered in the course that would help me transition into medicine?

There's no such thing as Pre-med in Australia. Any undergrad can do, so Nursing is as much pre-med as other degrees.

I am not sure what you mean.. I believe that UoW offers a bachelor of Pre-medicine health and science.

 

[A1]

When you say "with the contents" are you referring to the literal content offered in the course that would help me transition into medicine?

I referred to your capability to achieve a high GPA with the undergrad degree's contents (to be competitive for graduate-entry med). For example you wouldn't want to do Bachelor of IT if you're not strong on IT. Not to do with transition into med, note carefully that a high GPA non-premed degree will give you better med chances than a premed with lower GPA.

I am not sure what you mean.. I believe that UoW offers a bachelor of Pre-medicine health and science.

Any uni can call their BioMed/MedSci pre-med to make it sound attractive. But it neither is necessary nor makes you a stronger applicant. What's the point of pre-med when someone with a higher-GPA Arts degree will rank higher than you for an offer.

 

[Vivienne]

I referred to your capability to achieve a high GPA with the undergrad degree's contents (to be competitive for graduate-entry med). For example you wouldn't want to do Bachelor of IT if you're not strong on IT. Not to do with transition into med, note carefully that a high GPA non-premed degree will give you better med chances than a premed with lower GPA.

My goodness!! Not many people talk about this enough. It's crazy to think that I can do any degree and still get into medicine as long as I get a high enough GPA (of course including GAMSAT/ interview).

Any uni can call their BioMed/MedSci pre-med to make it sound attractive. But it neither is necessary nor makes you a stronger applicant. What's the point of pre-med when someone with a higher-GPA Arts degree will rank higher than you for an offer.

So do you recommend doing any 3 year degree as long as I get a high GPA? What about in terms of the interview.. what does this look like? I am not familiar with the nature of them.. Will they be asking about my undergrad? why I chose to do it etc


Also, is the "benefit" of doing a pre-med degree attaining knowledge that may be beneficial to my postgrad studies? What else does it encompass that might make it more favourable than a non-premed, GPA and performance aside?

 

[Deboza]

So do you recommend doing any 3 year degree as long as I get a high GPA? What about in terms of the interview.. what does this look like? I am not familiar with the nature of them.. Will they be asking about my undergrad? why I chose to do it etc

Also, is the "benefit" of doing a pre-med degree attaining knowledge that may be beneficial to my postgrad studies? What else does it encompass that might make it more favourable than a non-premed, GPA and performance aside?

Do a degree that you have an interest in (you're more likely to do well in it compared to doing a degree in something that you're uninterested in).

Any benefit you get from doing a "pre-med" degree is trivial at most. For example, I did two full years of anatomy and physiology in my first degree, and since re-learning it in medical school now, I've discovered that what I was taught was taught at a superficial level. It only really helped with the familiarity of the content - still had to relearn it all to a greater depth.

I think what A1 and I are saying is choose a university degree that you're interested in and that you could potentially do well in. I know it sounds attractive when Uni's are like "choose our BioMedSci/Pre-med degree and you can get into our med program once you've finished!!!" but it's extrememly competitive. At UNSW we have a lateral entry scheme for people who have completed a bachelor of med sci. The faculty only reserves around 10 places for lateral entry students (for context theres like a couple of hundred students in each cohort of medsci, and it's extrememly cut throat and competitive during the degree).

 

[Vivienne]

Any benefit you get from doing a "pre-med" degree is trivial at most. For example, I did two full years of anatomy and physiology in my first degree, and since re-learning it in medical school now, I've discovered that what I was taught was taught at a superficial level. It only really helped with the familiarity of the content - still had to relearn it all to a greater depth.

Thank you for sharing. I was wondering if you get credit points for certain subjects.. does this credit system apply to medicine?

 

[Deboza]

Thank you for sharing. I was wondering if you get credit points for certain subjects.. does this credit system apply to medicine?

If youre talking about whether my subjects in my previous degree counted/gave me "Recognised Prior Learning" credits, then no. I had to start from scratch.

 

[Vivienne]

If youre talking about whether my subjects in my previous degree counted/gave me "Recognised Prior Learning" credits, then no. I had to start from scratch.

Interesting.. do you know if this the case for medicine in general? Do any undergrad degrees give these recognised prior learning credits?

 

[A1]

Interesting.. do you know if this the case for medicine in general? Do any undergrad degrees give these recognised prior learning credits?

Iirc JCU has given RPL credits to some (could be only to JCU studies, I'm not sure).

In general a med course, without elective extras, can be taught in 5 years comprising roughly 2.5yrs uni classes + 2.5yrs clinical placements. Graduate entry 4-year med compresses the 2.5yrs into two years by doing long year like mid-Jan to mid-Dec, and teaches from scratch.

We have heard from Deboza and Crow who both did "pre-med" there's little overlap between pre-med and real med, thus they don't give RPL credits.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Iirc JCU has given RPL credits to some (could be only to JCU studies, I'm not sure).

In general a med course, without elective extras, can be taught in 5 years comprising roughly 2.5yrs uni classes + 2.5yrs clinical placements. Graduate entry 4-year med compresses the 2.5yrs into two years by doing long year like mid-Jan to mid-Dec, and teaches from scratch.

We have heard from Deboza and Crow who both did "pre-med" there's little overlap between pre-med and real med, thus they don't give RPL credits.

I think Ben (or stapedius?) updated this to say it used to happen at JCU but is now very rare. That was the only uni I’d heard of previously accepting this.

 

[Vivienne]

Hi all, after some time considering the different undergraduate options discussed last week, I was wondering about what would happen in terms of the GAMSAT.. Say I do a bachelor of arts in comparison to a bachelor of science, but do really well and get a good GPA, will it put me at a disadvantage in terms of the GAMSAT?

 

[chinaski]

Hi all, after some time considering the different undergraduate options discussed last week, I was wondering about what would happen in terms of the GAMSAT.. Say I do a bachelor of arts in comparison to a bachelor of science, but do really well and get a good GPA, will it put me at a disadvantage in terms of the GAMSAT?

No. GAMSAT examines both the humanities and sciences.

 

[Vivienne]

No. GAMSAT examines both the humanities and sciences.

Then how can one find the balance and do well in both humanities and sciences if the undergraduate degree only leans towards one of those sections examined? Are there things such as "bridging" courses or similar? It would be good to hear some people's experiences on this.

 

[chinaski]

Then how can one find the balance and do well in both humanities and sciences if the undergraduate degree only leans towards one of those sections examined? Are there things such as "bridging" courses or similar? It would be good to hear some people's experiences on this.

Reverse your own logic. Why would you posit that an Arts degree might put you at a greater disadvantage than a Science degree?