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JCU JCU Medicine: Interview Discussion
- Thread starter Benjamin
- Start date
Hi! I have my JCU interview coming up on the 6th of December, and I am a little nervous as to how it's going to go.. I've had two interviews prior (UNSW, JMP) and they were pretty lacklustre to say the least, so I definitely don't want to screw this one up! Does anyone have any tips on how to answer the debate type questions? How do the JCU interviews compare to UNSW and JMP? Also, I was at uni studying vet science earlier this year, but I withdrew after about a month because I realised that human medicine was more my calling. Do the interviewers have any information about our prior study? Would it be wise to mention this at the interview? Or will it make me seem "flighty"? Thank you in advance!!
Personally, I think vet science is a pro (some might think otherwise). Veterinary medicine is actually one of the closest professions to medicine as it has both diagnosis and treatment, responsibility, multi-disciplinary teamwork, challenge, constant change, continuity of care (with family and pet) - I am not sure about others, but if I was the interviewer, I would realise there are a lot of overlaps between the two, which is good! Its only an issue if you went from something like law, where there are overlaps, but fewer. Don't mention it if you feel uncomfortable/they don't bring it up, but I think its a pro. Just make sure you are able to justify why you are going to human medicine, maybe with a comment on why you prefer medicine, and a comment on what didn't appeal to you in vet (which is not an overlap to human). I had a UNSW interview a couple of days ago and for the question - what is your plan B, I said I had two alternatives - vet or nursing and said reasons why I would go down those paths, but also reasons why I would much prefer human medicine. I said I would prefer the complexity of human interaction (included anecdote of ER experience) + that I am morally against having to put down animals for financial/logistical (i.e. not necessarily health) reasons (hopefully that was fine
) - best of luck!Yes, that's what I would have also thought! I mentioned my prior studies at my UNSW interview, and the interviewer looked very taken aback! I had to backtrack and justify really thoroughly why I wanted to do med over vet, but I think by that point I was getting so flustered that I probably wasn't coherent at all!!! Thank you for your advice though- I will only mention it if the interviewer brings it up! Good luck with your studies!!!Personally, I think vet science is a pro (some might think otherwise). Veterinary medicine is actually one of the closest professions to medicine as it had both diagnosis and treatment, responsibility, multi-disciplinary teamwork, challenge, constant change, continuity of care (with family and pet) - I am not sure about others, but if I was the interviewer, I would realise there are a lot of overlaps between the two, which is good! Its only an issue if you went from something like law, where there are overlaps, but fewer. Don't mention it if you feel uncomfortable/they don't bring it up, but I think its a pro. Just make sure you are able to justify why you are going to human medicine, maybe with a comment on why you prefer medicine, and a comment on what didn't appeal to you in vet (which is not an overlap to human). I had a UNSW interview a couple of days ago and for the question - what is your plan B, I said I had two alternatives - vet or nursing and said reasons why I would go down those paths, but also reasons why I would much prefer human medicine. I said I would prefer the complexity of human interaction (included anecdote of ER experience) + that I am morally against having to put down animals for financial/logistical (i.e. not necessarily health) reasons (hopefully that was fine
Hmmm... That seems unfair - they did seem taken aback with mine as well now I think about it - hopefully it is alright!
Though this is a JCU thread I should comment on this. I think you read too much into it. Last year UNSW offered a third of the places to non-standard applicants - those who had started a uni course then re-applied for Med. Should be no surprise to them.
What makes you think that? I saw your ATAR/UMAT from a previous thread and you would be in a very good position
My view is they won't judge your back-up choice (unless it's something outrageous of course). What they want to hear is you are not blindly pursuing Med without thinking beforehand of an alternative. They are more interested in your reasoning for it rather than the choice itself.
Nothing particularly wrong with this choice from my perspective, provided you can explain the following (and this really goes for any degree or career choice):
1. If you never got into medicine, why would you choose this other degree/career pathway (and if it's not blatantly obvious, what would you do with it)?
2. Why would you choose medicine over this alternative career pathway?
jelli
Member
Thank you!! I think I said something along the lines of, that although I'm most passionate about medicine, I find it sits in the middle of science-based, and society-based courses. I mentioned that I've always had a strong interest in politics (involvement in youth parliament etc), and that this would therefore be my choice if it were impossible to get into med- allowing me to make a difference which is why med appeals to me.
Great, we always need more advocates in the healthcare system, whether from within the profession for patients or staff or from outside it in healthcare policy.
Points to consider re: the above question.
1. Your confidentiality agreement (I assume JCU has one like other unis do)
2. Place offers are incredibly competitive, by sharing information with people yet to have their interview, you're disadvantaging yourself (and others)
Feel free to make your own decisions from here re. whether to answer...
1. Your confidentiality agreement (I assume JCU has one like other unis do)
2. Place offers are incredibly competitive, by sharing information with people yet to have their interview, you're disadvantaging yourself (and others)
Feel free to make your own decisions from here re. whether to answer...
Agreed - I would go as far to say as it's unethical to do this on a public forum even if you are fine with disadvantaging yourself; it's not fair to disadvantage other applicants against their will.
Generally the way we run it is that any obvious posts disclosing interview questions are hidden until after interviews have finished. I personally collate interview questions that are PM'd to me & try to make them available for the subsequent year.
Unfortunately the results of that collation have been limited in the recent years as I haven't had many people send me their interview summaries!
This does however rely on a moderator noticing or being made immediately aware of the revealing post though. I'd rather advocate for people sending Benjamin PMs than relying on us to hide posts if that's okay with everyone.
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monkey magic
Regular Member
I just got back after an interview yesterday. I only found out about this thread the day before but it was pretty useful.
My panel was an a doctor, academic at the uni and music teacher (member of the community). The music teacher and academic were lovely but the doctor did not smile the entire time and had a bit of a sour look on his face, unless that was just his resting face.
I waffled about on questions and they really seem to want you to get to the point so I would say if you have prepared for an MMI don't use the same method of answering questions. Often I would describe the perspective of both sides and be interrupted describing the second side by the questioner asking "But what would you do". I would say a better way would be just to directly answer the question and deal with the rebuttals later based on my experience alone.
The format was basically the same as other years so the original thread still stands. Then there were two scenarios they had pre-picked and you have to tell them what you would do in that situation. Then you get to choose a topic from 3 options, there are some repeats and some new things that are topical from things happening in society in the past years.
When you answer questions be to the point and elaborate if need be. I was a bit sleep deprived due to some other things I had going on and I really didn't prepare so I reckon I crashed an burned.
I didn't sign any confidentiality agreement, considering they have the same format every year and scenarios seem to be switched for every person there is probably very little utility in knowing the exact scenarios asked in the interview anyway.
My panel was an a doctor, academic at the uni and music teacher (member of the community). The music teacher and academic were lovely but the doctor did not smile the entire time and had a bit of a sour look on his face, unless that was just his resting face.
I waffled about on questions and they really seem to want you to get to the point so I would say if you have prepared for an MMI don't use the same method of answering questions. Often I would describe the perspective of both sides and be interrupted describing the second side by the questioner asking "But what would you do". I would say a better way would be just to directly answer the question and deal with the rebuttals later based on my experience alone.
The format was basically the same as other years so the original thread still stands. Then there were two scenarios they had pre-picked and you have to tell them what you would do in that situation. Then you get to choose a topic from 3 options, there are some repeats and some new things that are topical from things happening in society in the past years.
When you answer questions be to the point and elaborate if need be. I was a bit sleep deprived due to some other things I had going on and I really didn't prepare so I reckon I crashed an burned.
I didn't sign any confidentiality agreement, considering they have the same format every year and scenarios seem to be switched for every person there is probably very little utility in knowing the exact scenarios asked in the interview anyway.
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