JCU Student Reviews

[DNA]

Just bringing this thread back up again, sorry if my question comes off as blunt. Do JCU graduates get less 'priority' over more 'regional-oriented' Med school graduates (e.g. USyd, UQ, UMelb, etc) in terms of obtaining internships (in major cities) and finally, their jobs as practitioners in the major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, etc? Does JCU mould their training in a way such that their students are better off in practice at rural areas rather than the major cities?

No, once you graduate you are on the same level as every other medical graduate in Australia. Your chances of obtaining an internship in a particular city/hospital are determined by the state’s preference system. Most states give higher priority to their own students. JCU may give you more rural exposure but in the end, all graduates should have the competency to work as an intern anywhere in Australia.

 

[Benjamin]

Just bringing this thread back up again, sorry if my question comes off as blunt. Do JCU graduates get less 'priority' over more 'regional-oriented' Med school graduates (e.g. USyd, UQ, UMelb, etc) in terms of obtaining internships (in major cities) and finally, their jobs as practitioners in the major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, etc? Does JCU mould their training in a way such that their students are better off in practice at rural areas rather than the major cities?

No, all QLD universities have the same priority for domestic graduates from within QLD. There is a statistical trend towards JCU graduates opting to stay in regional areas for their internship but this is not driven by a difference in selection process.

There is a difference when it comes to internship applications for international students but I have talked about that in depth before and won't go into it here.

As discussed above there is some inequality between JCU compared with USYD etc in terms of exposure and therefore job opportunity in certain specialties.

 

[billolillo]

No, all QLD universities have the same priority for domestic graduates from within QLD. There is a statistical trend towards JCU graduates opting to stay in regional areas for their internship but this is not driven by a difference in selection process.

There is a difference when it comes to internship applications for international students but I have talked about that in depth before and won't go into it here.

As discussed above there is some inequality between JCU compared with USYD etc in terms of exposure and therefore job opportunity in certain specialties.

hey, bringing up this thread again. I have a couple Qs about JCU... after an internship, would JCU students be disadvantaged in terms of actually practicing in major urban areas eg Brisbane, SYD etc.
I'm kinda confused about specialisation- throughout this thread I'm seeing that the JCU program directs you to generalisation? would I be better off going to another uni if I wanted to specialise in psychiatry or oncology?
does a QLD degree disadvantage you from working in other states in anyway? (I'd prefer to move back to NSW after graduating...)
thank you!!

 

[Crow]

hey, bringing up this thread again. I have a couple Qs about JCU... after an internship, would JCU students be disadvantaged in terms of actually practicing in major urban areas eg Brisbane, SYD etc.

Brisbane? No. Sydney? Yes, but not because you studied at JCU specifically, but because you are graduating outside of NSW.

I'm kinda confused about specialisation- throughout this thread I'm seeing that the JCU program directs you to generalisation? would I be better off going to another uni if I wanted to specialise in psychiatry or oncology?

You can pursue any specialty you like after graduating from JCU's program. All medical degrees in Australia will allow you to go into whichever pathway you like.

does a QLD degree disadvantage you from working in other states in anyway? (I'd prefer to move back to NSW after graduating...)

I encouraged you in another post to become familiar with how each state allocates internship positions. I am going to re-suggest that you do this so that you are familiar with the process - as I said, ideally if you want to work in NSW after you graduate, your best chance would be to do your medical degree in NSW.

 

[Hillard49]

Just to follow up on billolillo's comment as I have basically been wondering the exact same things they have just asked... are internships always based solely only on the priority preferences of the state rather than the applicants CV or grades etc? I have heard that Victoria considers this whereas NSW does not and only chooses based on their priorities system. I have also heard that it is extremely difficult to come back to NSW if we are graduating outside the state, could someone please comment on the chances of this? I have read the HETI medical applicant allocation guide and an interstate graduate who completes Y12 in the state NSW is given priority number 2, but It still sounds like the chances are slim based off what others are saying? I have also heard that some hospitals have turned down JCU applicants for the reason that they are more specialised in rural tropical medicine, but how is this possible if the allocation system is 'only' based off the priority preferences?

As discussed above there is some inequality between JCU compared with USYD etc in terms of exposure and therefore job opportunity in certain specialties.

What do you mean by this in terms of the 'inequality' you mentioned?

 

[TKAO]

What do you mean by this in terms of the 'inequality' you mentioned?

Not benjamin but I'm pretty sure he is referring to the types of cases/volume of cases and specialties that one may be exposed to in JCU vs. USYD (for example). Due to the fact that many of the other medical schools are located in large cities, they also have access to large tertiary centres which accomodate many specialties that might not otherwise be found (or may not have the same case mix) as rural areas. Ultimately, a medical degree is a medical degree however and if you really want to do a specialty, you'll always find a way.

 

[Hillard49]

Not benjamin but I'm pretty sure he is referring to

Ah I see, thanks

 

[Crow]

I have also heard that some hospitals have turned down JCU applicants for the reason that they are more specialised in rural tropical medicine, but how is this possible if the allocation system is 'only' based off the priority preferences?

The answers to all of your other questions can be found easily through a quick Google +/- in the internship threads in the forum (and are off-topic for this thread anyway) so I won’t answer those, but I’ll address that this statement is completely false - I’d be concerned about whoever/wherever it was that you got the info from.

 

[Benjamin]

I'm kinda confused about specialisation - throughout this thread I'm seeing that the JCU program directs you to generalisation? would I be better off going to another uni if I wanted to specialise in psychiatry or oncology?

No, psychiatry is a very easy specialty to get into as the demand is very high and a lot of people don't want to do it. Oncology is part of physician training & so the bottleneck is not getting into the training program as this is possible from almost any regional sized hospital but instead getting an advanced trainee job -- your medical school & exposure will have very little influence from that point on.

What do you mean by this in terms of the 'inequality' you mentioned?

There are some specialties that are incredibly difficult to get into without having prior exposure and experience, most of these tend to be surgical specialties (neurosurgery, ENT, cardiothoracics, transplant etc.) and usually have intern level jobs available if your hospital has that service. While internships are mostly allocated based on ballot systems (more about this below) the actual rotations that you get offered is... less transparent.

If you went to a medical school that had placements where you spent time on these specialties then you might have a better chance at getting an intern or a resident job on them -- you are already known to the department & that effectively serves as an interview process. Similarly, there are resident level jobs where getting a spot is almost impossible unless you have prior experience, i.e. there are PGY2 jobs that you will likely never get unless you did an intern position or are known to the department in another way (medical school, working extra shifts in their clinics, nepotism etc.)

My point is that JCU has all of these specialties available but only at their Townsville campus in clinical years -- if you are allocated to another campus you may never even see a cardiothoracic surgeon unless you go to a big tertiary hospital, as such you are relatively disadvantaged in applying for a cardiothoracic training position compared to someone who did clinical time in a hospital that has CTS.

This inequality of medical school exposure only really matters for resident jobs that are difficult to get without prior experience, i.e. those that are competitive even to get intern terms in. For the vast majority of specialties this exposure inequality will not impact you at all & if you are truly interested in them then you can always try and stay at Townsville.

Just to follow up on billolillo's comment as I have basically been wondering the exact same things they have just asked... are internships always based solely only on the priority preferences of the state rather than the applicants CV or grades etc?

This is covered elsewhere in excruciating detail. In short, priority 1 candidates in QLD are ballot. Everything else is 'merit based' and the priority system means nothing beyonid P1 candidates -- hospitals can choose a P7 candidate over a P2 if they have better CV / interview etc.

 

[Parteek]

For the vast majority of specialties this exposure inequality will not impact you at all & if you are truly interested in them then you can always try and stay at Townsville.

Thanks for all this information! I am wondering if it is extremely competitive to stay in Townsville during clinical years? I would like to stay there since I want to pursue a more surgical pathway (neuro/ortho not sure yet)...and moving away AGAIN from Townsville has its own costs but I don't know if JCU covers for that.

So, if I did my rotations in surgery at Townsville, will major hospitals in metro-cities also give me that chance as a PGY2 to get more surgical exposure?

 

[Benjamin]

Thanks for all this information! I am wondering if it is extremely competitive to stay in Townsville during clinical years? I would like to stay there since I want to pursue a more surgical pathway (neuro/ortho not sure yet)...and moving away AGAIN from Townsville has its own costs but I don't know if JCU covers for that.

So, if I did my rotations in surgery at Townsville, will major hospitals in metro-cities also give me that chance as a PGY2 to get more surgical exposure?

No medical school (as far as I know) covers the costs of moving to alternative clinical schools, i.e. from Townsville to Cairns etc. This is unfortunately a cost that you are expected to be able to bear on your own which certainly caused me a lot of difficulty during my medical school years.

I don't know if it is competitive anymore to stay in Townsville - this is something that changes on a year-to-year basis for the most part as a result of different cohorts.

To answer your final question, no it is unlikely that major hospitals in another city will care about your medical student / intern rotation. As I said, the main thing that this exposure during medical school does is act as an unofficial interview -- in general hospitals / units are going to hire people they know & your medical student rotations facilitate that. In a similar manner, the international students are typically told that going to Mackay as for their final clinical years is a good idea.. the implication being that they are more likely to get an internship position there if they have been there as a student for the previous few years.

 

[wobblepong]

I am wondering if it is extremely competitive to stay in Townsville during clinical years?

Nope, in recent years it's been more competitive to move to Cairns for 4th year. If you stay in Townsville there is a chance you'll be involuntarily relegated to Mackay for 5th year, but the odds are very slim.

 

[z0r0_zufi]

Hi, I am yr 12 student thinking of studying MBBS at JCU Townville. I live in Brisbane and planning to come back here after completing the degree. But I have seen on their website a lot of emphasis on "rural stuff". So, is it possible for me to find a job in Brisbane after graduating? Also, I am assuming they would ask ques in the interview about this and encourage me to stay. And would that affect my results if I tell them about going back?

 

[A1]

Hi, I am yr 12 student thinking of studying MBBS at JCU Townville. I live in Brisbane and planning to come back here after completing the degree. But I have seen on their website a lot of emphasis on "rural stuff". So, is it possible for me to find a job in Brisbane after graduating? Also, I am assuming they would ask ques in the interview about this and encourage me to stay. And would that affect my results if I tell them about going back?

There was a JCU study some years ago on where JCU-graduated doctors were serving 5+ years after graduation. I don't remember the exact figures, they were like 50% of rural RA3-5 admissions were serving in regional areas while only 20% of RA1-2.

IOW, assuming you get in as a metro RA1 applicant, 80% of graduates like you will be working in metro areas. (But don't deliberately spell that out loud in your written application or interview )

 

[Stapedius]

Hi, I am yr 12 student thinking of studying MBBS at JCU Townville. I live in Brisbane and planning to come back here after completing the degree. But I have seen on their website a lot of emphasis on "rural stuff". So, is it possible for me to find a job in Brisbane after graduating? Also, I am assuming they would ask ques in the interview about this and encourage me to stay. And would that affect my results if I tell them about going back?

It won't affect your employment outcomes as you're considered on the same level playing field as every other intern once you graduate. However, the focus of the JCU course is very much on rural and remote Medicine. If you have absolutely no interest in it (and I'm not talking simply wanting to spend all your life working rurally, I mean more broadly interested in the themes of socially accountable healthcare and working in under-resourced environments), you'll probably find the course a bit of a drag when there are other students who may have a genuine interest and unless you choose to lie through your teeth which I strongly discourage, you'll definitely struggle with the written application and interview. I'm not saying you shouldn't apply, but it is definitely something worth thinking about.

 

[z0r0_zufi]

It won't affect your employment outcomes as you're considered on the same level playing field as every other intern once you graduate. However, the focus of the JCU course is very much on rural and remote Medicine. If you have absolutely no interest in it (and I'm not talking simply wanting to spend all your life working rurally, I mean more broadly interested in the themes of socially accountable healthcare and working in under-resourced environments), you'll probably find the course a bit of a drag when there are other students who may have a genuine interest and unless you choose to lie through your teeth which I strongly discourage, you'll definitely struggle with the written application and interview. I'm not saying you shouldn't apply, but it is definitely something worth thinking about.

Thanks a lot, for that advice

 

[z0r0_zufi]

Thanks a lot

There was a JCU study some years ago on where JCU-graduated doctors were serving 5+ years after graduation. I don't remember the exact figures, they were like 50% of rural RA3-5 admissions were serving in regional areas while only 20% of RA1-2.

IOW, assuming you get in as a metro RA1 applicant, 80% of graduates like you will be working in metro areas. (But don't deliberately spell that out loud in your written application or interview )

Hi, sorry could you please explain what RA3-5 and RA1-2 mean, because I have no idea.

 

[A1]

Hi, sorry could you please explain what RA3-5 and RA1-2 mean, because I have no idea.

RA is a classification of how rural a city/town is. I don't know if this map is still applicable but it gives an approx idea (major city is RA1, inner regional RA2 etc)
> https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/fs201103_fig1_large.png

Most med schools have a separate less competitive pathway for rural applicants as they are more likely to work in regional areas where more doctors are needed.

 

[RainRainGoAway]

Hi, sorry to dredge up this thread again, I am also a year 12 student hoping to go to JCU, but more because I am determined to get out of NSW if anything. I've read a lot on JCU (since I was so dead set on going there) and now I'm doubting my choices, how is the quality of teaching and would I be better setting my sights on a different Uni? I thought I might enjoy the rural focus and if medicine doesn't work out for me, JCU has a couple of other courses I'd be interested in.

 

[cawin]

No medical school (as far as I know) covers the costs of moving to alternative clinical schools, i.e. from Townsville to Cairns etc. This is unfortunately a cost that you are expected to be able to bear on your own which certainly caused me a lot of difficulty during my medical school years.

I don't know if it is competitive anymore to stay in Townsville - this is something that changes on a year-to-year basis for the most part as a result of different cohorts.

To answer your final question, no it is unlikely that major hospitals in another city will care about your medical student / intern rotation. As I said, the main thing that this exposure during medical school does is act as an unofficial interview -- in general hospitals / units are going to hire people they know & your medical student rotations facilitate that. In a similar manner, the international students are typically told that going to Mackay as for their final clinical years is a good idea.. the implication being that they are more likely to get an internship position there if they have been there as a student for the previous few years.

Hey Benjamin!, I just read your post and I would love your help, I am struggling so much as I am so lost in trying to write a good application letter, Was just wondering if it would be possible for you to tutor me just for the application letter. Thank you so much