Hi
I wrote about this a little while ago as my son had been given a place at UNE last year rather than his prefered UoN and was surprised as he had a very high ATAR and high UCAT score. One of his lecturers explained that each year the top students are divided into two groups and offered unbonded places - 2/3 to UoN and 1/3 to UNE which ensures the cohorts are well balanced with the top ranked students (who are ranked according to interview but also previous academic achievement and preferred campus) spread between the two universities. The next group of students are offered Bonded places - once again 2/3 to UoN and 1/3 to UNE.
My son was upgraded from his bonded to unbonded offer at UNE before he started and although he like most of the students had initially wanted UoN, he is loving UNE and has made some fantastic friends. He said the cohort is really tight because it's small and he's been able to get to know students in every one of the first 3 years, and he would definitely recommend life at UNE and Armidale. He does plan to specialize as an anaesthetist and is excited by the prospect of training in and working as a Rural GP anaesthetist before returning to Sydney in the future and he feels he's been very well supported by his lecturers and fellow students at UNE.
So please don't discount UNE if you're offered a place there over UoN. The program is exactly the same, just run in a different environment and every NSW medical student has the same opportunity to work as an intern in any the top NSW hospital.
btw thanks!