JCU JCU Medicine: General Entry Discussion

[a.d]

So the only reason why I considered health and med science was because it allows transfers to medicine by doing UCAT again and getting a high GPA. I don't really plan on doing this degree for a career. But if I don't get in by doing this my year would pretty much be wasted. Also for the graduate pathway if I do complete a bachelor's degree will I need to do GAMSAT to be able to apply for the doctor of medicine. Would you recommend I go for graduate pathway?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

So the only reason why I considered health and med science was because it allows transfers to medicine by doing UCAT again and getting a high GPA. I don't really plan on doing this degree for a career. But if I don't get in by doing this my year would pretty much be wasted. Also for the graduate pathway if I do complete a bachelor's degree will I need to do GAMSAT to be able to apply for the doctor of medicine. Would you recommend I go for graduate pathway?

As mentioned above, I recommend you try for non-standard entry while an uni student studying whatever degree interests you most and then (if still unsuccessful) graduate entry.

Further questions on this here are off topic and should be asked in the appropriate/related thread.

 

[a.d]

Ok, thanks a lot for your advice

 

[CHStar]

You can put down both, it doesn't really impact the chance of an interview at JCU Med/Offer at JCU Dent. Given that you are not applying to other schools, you can use 3 of your six slots for JCU if you choose. (Those being Cairns/Townsville for Med and then one campus for Dent, I think it's Cairns)

Put both down and fill out the JCU application online. Whichever you want more, put first and if you don't get a second round interview for JCU Med put JCU Dent as your first preference and wait for January Rounds. If you don't get a JCU Dent offer, then put Bond as your first preference if you are able to afford!

Make sure a predicted atar is sent to JCU for first round interviews, otherwise you'll be considered for second round, which has a smaller number of interviews. Keep in mind that JCU Med is only allocating interviews based on where you went to school, so we have no idea how it will work. Write a killer JCU Dent application! (I've seen low atars get offers)

Work on your atar! A predicted is never a proper indication so make sure it doesn't get to you too much, you never know what will happen!

Good luck!

Does anyone know when JCU send out interview offers?

 

[RainRainGoAway]

Does anyone know when JCU send out interview offers?

8th November and 20th December

 

[stoobious]

Would anyone have a general minimum for ATAR (rural) for JCU? I've seen quoted at 89 (with zero adjustment, which seems impossible to me so I assume its probably rural + indigenous), but what would be the score, and its it likely easier the higher the rurality?

 

[Stapedius]

Would anyone have a general minimum for ATAR (rural) for JCU? I've seen quoted at 89 (with zero adjustment, which seems impossible to me so I assume its probably rural + indigenous), but what would be the score, and its it likely easier the higher the rurality?

I have it on good authority that JCU treats rural and non-rural in two entirely separate baskets for entry based on school MMM status. Beyond that, all of us are guessing as to "cut-offs", but yes - an ATAR of 89 would likely have to be backed up with one of the best interviews JCU has ever seen, alongside reasonable rurality status and/or the separate First Nation's entry. I know at least for non-rural students, given how many students apply for JCU every year, they are pretty strict about only interviewing people with predicted ATARs >98 or something, which is rough (because of course there are plenty of candidates with ATARs 90-98 who would make exceptional doctors... but this is the curse of the supply-demand mismatch for Medicine entry).

Which segues me into a slightly separate discussion, which I'm not sure we've had on MSO - but I've been thinking about the fairest method of selecting applicants into Medicine, and honestly I think a lottery might actually be it. The UMAT/UCAT has been shown to be a poor predictor of competence as a doctor, portfolio-type selection criteria favours people with connections and money, and the written application has now apparently fallen victim to ChatGPT. What're we left with? Take everyone with ATARs above 90, then perform a lottery for interviews? Getting true representation in Medicine is no easy feat.

 

[CHStar]

Would anyone have a general minimum for ATAR (rural) for JCU? I've seen quoted at 89 (with zero adjustment, which seems impossible to me so I assume its probably rural + indigenous), but what would be the score, and its it likely easier the higher the rurality?

Do they invite rural students for interviews based on year 11 results or predicted atars? I don’t recall supplying a predicted atar?

 

[stoobious]

Do they invite rural students for interviews based on year 11 results or predicted atars? I don’t recall supplying a predicted atar?

I too am a little unsure of that process. But I assume you contact your school about what expected atar you are to receive, and then send it before 21 Oct (the deadline for atar prediction).

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I too am a little unsure of that process. But I assume you contact your school about what expected atar you are to receive, and then send it before 21 Oct (the deadline for atar prediction).

Yeah, your school will submit it. We have heard of issues previously where some schools have a policy that they DON’T submit predicted ATARs. Might be worth checking.

 

[Stapedius]

Yeah, your school will submit it. We have heard of issues previously where some schools have a policy that they DON’T submit predicted ATARs. Might be worth checking.

Indeed, in these circumstances this is what the 2nd round interviews post-ATARs are meant to account for, but I've heard it's not infallible as there are extremely limited spots for the Jan interviews, so they prefer to do the bulk on the predicted ATARs if they can.

 

[Hard]

Hey Guys, Does Having a 99.95 ATAR and 2930 UCAT (domestic) Stand Any Chance for JCU, even though I am from WA and Non-Rural?
I heard that JCU really favours Rural, so not sure about my chances.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hey Guys, Does Having a 99.95 ATAR and 2930 UCAT (domestic) Stand Any Chance for JCU, even though I am from WA and Non-Rural?
I heard that JCU really favours Rural, so not sure about my chances.

Firstly, your UCAT is irrelevant for JCU.
Secondly, if you’ve applied you have a chance. JCU do prefer rural applicants, but their cohort is not 100% rural. They don’t publicise exactly how they make offers though so beyond that, you’ll just have to hope for the best.

99.95ATAR definitely doesn’t guarantee you a spot, we’ve certainly seen them miss out before.

 

[doktor]

Is there any way to see our prediction of academic achievement or do we have to ask our principal that submitted it for us?

___________
A1 replies: You can ask your school/principal. It's up to them whether they'd let you know.

 

[gdxcvlbinug]

Many of you have noted that the predicted ATAR cutoff for non-rural and interstate applicants is likely to be between 98 and 99 for interview consideration. I’m curious about what happens after the interview: how much does the interview impact your chances of receiving an offer? If you have a predicted ATAR of 98, does your interview need to be outstanding to secure a spot, or can a less impressive interview still lead to an offer if you have a 99.95? I’d love to hear insights on what scores and interview performances typically look like on campus.
Thanks!

- also do they take into account the difference between atar prediction or just straight up look at the atar u got (with)/ without adjustments when offers go around?

 

[A1]

I’m curious about what happens after the interview: how much does the interview impact your chances of receiving an offer?

According to MSO senior Benjamin the JCU's place-offer formula is
[ATAR x Rurality Index] + [Interview]

Your ATAR & rurality do weigh on your chances for an offer. But we don't know the relative weightings between ATAR & interview.

also do they take into account the difference between atar prediction or just straight up look at the atar u got (with)/ without adjustments when offers go around?

For place offers they 100% look at your actual ATAR.
The predicted is only used for interview invites for convenience.

 

[zezir3]

According to MSO senior Benjamin the JCU's place-offer formula is
[ATAR x Rurality Index] + [Interview]

Your ATAR & rurality do weigh on your chances for an offer. But we don't know the relative weightings between ATAR & interview.



For place offers they 100% look at your actual ATAR.
The predicted is only used for interview invites for convenience.

Do we know the calculator for dent?

 

[gdxcvlbinug]

If they place such a high weighting on rurality (such that they multiply atar with it), is it even an interview worth preparing for? - especially considering there is a quota this year, not even recc letters, just PAA form.

 

[movpin]

-

 

[gdxcvlbinug]

3000+ people apply for the very limited metro interview spots, now with the predicted ATAR form as the only discriminator.

So metro people with perfect atar would get an admission? As atar is the base of Benjamin's equation l- interview is only an add on.