JCU JCU Medicine: Non-Standard Entry

[law123]

Hi all,

This is something that has been on my mind lately. I understand the weighting of the written section on the application, however would a completed degree GPA of 6.2 be not competitive enough, despite whether the written application is amazing or not. I’m unsure whether to try to improve the GPA or to make a more outstanding written application. I’m not sure if just improving my written application alone would be sufficient and and would be wasting time with the GPA. Is doing a grad certificate accepted by JCU to improve GPA. FYI I’m non standard, non-rural, healthcare worker.

TIA

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi all,

This is something that has been on my mind lately. I understand the weighting of the written section on the application, however would a completed degree GPA of 6.2 be not competitive enough, despite whether the written application is amazing or not. I’m unsure whether to try to improve the GPA or to make a more outstanding written application. I’m not sure if just improving my written application alone would be sufficient and and would be wasting time with the GPA. Is doing a grad certificate accepted by JCU to improve GPA. FYI I’m non standard, non-rural, healthcare worker.

TIA

A next level written application does seem to be able to 'make up for' a comparatively lower GPA or ATAR, but the reverse definitely isn't true with 99.95s and 7.00s routinely missing out on interviews. The bigger 'bang for your buck' is the written application and 6.2 doesn't write you out completely, but the problem with this is that no one really knows what is required from the written application and you have no way of knowing if the changes you make to it are the right changes. It really is a hope for the best situation, unfortunately.

 

[meow40]

I was wondering if accepting another course at JCU (for plan b) would affect my chance of getting a second-round interview?

 

[A1]

I was wondering if accepting another course at JCU (for plan b) would affect my chance of getting a second-round interview?

Not at all. The team that select & send out interview invites do not check what you have accepted.
They actually recommend you do that since they know getting med is a long shot for every applicant.

 

[cherry19]

Hi, I was wondering if other non-standards applying to JCU have a "results pending" status on their QTAC application? I just completed 1 FTE of uni and my results came out yesterday (15th Dec). Since JCU's 2nd round of interviews come out on the 23rd, I was wondering if others are also waiting on their results update on QTAC or if I should call QTAC next week to ask about this

 

[mc*]

My application states document received pending results. My results came out on the 5th.

 

[zahliap]

Hi all,
I am a non-standard non-rural applicant and was just wondering about my gpa. I have a gpa from a grad cert of 6.5 but I’m wondering wether this will be a hinderance because it is only worth 0.5xfte. I have also completed a bachelors with an embedded honours. Would Jcu take just my graduate certificate or would they also look at my bachelors and honours for entry?

 

[A1]

Hi all,
I am a non-standard non-rural applicant and was just wondering about my gpa. I have a gpa from a grad cert of 6.5 but I’m wondering wether this will be a hinderance because it is only worth 0.5xfte. I have also completed a bachelors with an embedded honours. Would Jcu take just my graduate certificate or would they also look at my bachelors and honours for entry?

According to this JCU Procedure > Admissions Procedure

Clause 15.2.1 - "Applicants (for JCU Med/Dent) who have completed at least six months full-time equivalent tertiary study will be considered for eligibility based on their most recent course Grade Point Average (GPA) in addition to any Special Criteria (including, for example, any other formal academic achievement)".

The first part says your Grad Cert GPA is used however being 0.5FTE would be uncompetitive. The 2nd part allows the possibility JCU would also consider your previous degree's results. I suggest you call both QTAC and JCU Med to verify they do that for you.

 

[danny62]

As a second year non-standard applicant, will my atar still be considered 50/50 alongside my gpa in the JCU selection process?

If so, does this change over time?

 

[Nostradamus]

Hi all,

I'm posting this question to help a very desperate friend:
He's non rural and has completed a clinical science degree with GPA of 6.7 , done several GAMSAT exam and failed all of them. Is it possible for him to start a 2 year masters course in a RURAL TOWN university and either:

1-apply as a non standard entry student to JCU without doing UCAT , during this 2 years master course? or
2- finish the 2 years masters in nursing and stay another 3 years to work in RURAL TOWN , and apply as rural student to JCU after total 5 years.
3- or even do a total 5 years of masters plus PhD degree nursing in RURAL TOWN university and then apply. I've heard if you complete a PhD degree, that would be counted as GPA=7 and you should have high chances as a rural student with GPA 7 , is that correct ? does the plan sound silly? Take into account he can't get any proper job with clinical science degree and he's unlikely to pass GAMSATs or UCAT because of extreme desperation/anxiety.

Any advice/clarification would be really appreciated.

 

[A1]

2- finish the 2 years masters in nursing and stay another 3 years to work in RURAL TOWN , and apply as rural student to JCU after total 5 years.

For other med schools rural is yes/no based on the 5 consecutive years criteria. JCU doesn't count that way, it's the extent of rurality i.e. the more time in rural the more he can relate to his rural-living experiences in his written application/interview to gain a higher weighting for his selection ranking.

So yes he can apply to JCU after one year or N years. After 5 years he'll be rural for other schools too where the UCAT requirement is much lower than for non-rural.

 

[Nostradamus]

For other med schools rural is yes/no based on the 5 consecutive years criteria. JCU doesn't count that way, it's the extent of rurality i.e. the more time in rural the more he can relate to his rural-living experiences in his written application/interview to gain a higher weighting for his selection ranking.

So yes he can apply to JCU after one year or N years. After 5 years he'll be rural for other schools too where the UCAT requirement is much lower than for non-rural.

Thanks for that A1.

Generally, which one of these circumstances don't qualify as non standard:
1- While someone is in the middle of doing a 3 year bachelor degree in say medical science.
2-immediately after finishing above bachelors degree
3- while doing a masters degree in physiotherapy after the initial bachelors degree.
4- A few years after finishing and working in the field of masters degree.

Is it correct that a PhD degree is equivalent to GPA of 7 ?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks for that A1.

Generally, which one of these circumstances don't qualify as non standard:
1- While someone is in the middle of doing a 3 year bachelor degree in say medical science.
2-immediately after finishing above bachelors degree
3- while doing a masters degree in physiotherapy after the initial bachelors degree.
4- A few years after finishing and working in the field of masters degree.

Is it correct that a PhD degree is equivalent to GPA of 7 ?

All of those are non-standard scenarios if applying to an undergraduate university.

And you’d need to check the individual unis to confirm that last part. It is definitely the case for some, but others (ie. USyd from memory) continue to use a bachelor degree GPA regardless.

ETA: it also sounds like your friend’s best bet would be working with a psychologist to more effectively manage their anxiety. High stakes exams don’t go away once you get into medicine (or even after you’ve graduated as a doctor).

 

[A1]

Is it correct that a PhD degree is equivalent to GPA of 7 ?

Adding to DrLMG's reply, I know of two unis UWoll (i think) and UWA giving GPA 7 to PhD but that's for GAMSAT entry. Except for DrLMG herself we seldom see PhDs apply for undergrad medicine to know how their GPA is calculated. Best to ask JCU or QTAC.

 

[Nostradamus]

All of those are non-standard scenarios if applying to an undergraduate university.

And you’d need to check the individual unis to confirm that last part. It is definitely the case for some, but others (ie. USyd from memory) continue to use a bachelor degree GPA regardless.

ETA: it also sounds like your friend’s best bet would be working with a psychologist to more effectively manage their anxiety. High stakes exams don’t go away once you get into medicine (or even after you’ve graduated as a doctor).

Thank you for your advice. My humble opinion is that psychologists are over rated in what they can change.

Adding to DrLMG's reply, I know of two unis UWoll (i think) and UWA giving GPA 7 to PhD but that's for GAMSAT entry. Except for DrLMG herself we seldom see PhDs apply for undergrad medicine to know how their GPA is calculated. Best to ask JCU or QTAC.

Yes, I'll do that , thanks for the advice. By the time you finish a PhD degree followed by an undergrad medicine course you'll be over 30years old. Too old to start a medical career .... Hmmmmm, or maybe not ?

 

[Crow]

Thank you for your advice. My humble opinion is that psychologists are over rated in what they can change.

Look at what the evidence-based research says on this matter. If you are going into a health career then the treatments you recommend to your patients should be based off evidence-based research. Psychology is a very major component of managing mental health conditions.

Too old to start a medical career .... Hmmmmm, or maybe not ?

A personal choice, but no, it is definitely not too late.

 

[Nostradamus]

Look at what the evidence-based research says on this matter. If you are going into a health career then the treatments you recommend to your patients should be based off evidence-based research. Psychology is a very major component of managing mental health conditions.

A personal choice, but no, it is definitely not too late.

So true , thanks.

 

[IVCoffee]

Does anyone know if currently-enrolled JCU students can still see if they have received a Med offer on their eStudent before the QTAC offers round on Thursday? It used to be visible on eStudent for JCU students days before the offers are officially sent out.

 

[Margaret]

Does anyone know if currently-enrolled JCU students can still see if they have received a Med offer on their eStudent before the QTAC offers round on Thursday? It used to be visible on eStudent for JCU students days before the offers are officially sent out.

I hope not. Because that means I didn’t get in!

 

[Polar.]

Does anyone know if currently-enrolled JCU students can still see if they have received a Med offer on their eStudent before the QTAC offers round on Thursday? It used to be visible on eStudent for JCU students days before the offers are officially sent out.

Yesterday when I checked at 9am the offer was through the jcu app and estudent, graduate student for reference as idk how they role them out