Non-standard Medicine Entry

[DrDrLMG!]

I’m about 90% sure this is only for Biomed (NOT recommended) or Physio students at Monash, so unless mick is keen to follow the Physio path (a great career in its own right, by the way) this might not help them, unfortunately. (Happy to be corrected here though - I’ve never looked too closely at Monash as it’s never been an option for me).

Edited my post above: pharmacy or physio would be the go if mick were interested in either.

 

[mick]

Crow LMG!

You guys have been so helpful, my original degree was actually biomed, unfortunately my youth got the better of me!

I would definitely consider physio since I have a pretty keen interest in human movement and enjoy working on my mobility, flexibility and range of movement.

I think I might take 12 months and do the ucat and apply for the undergraduate pathways and then reassess at the end of 2019.

Do you guys happen to have a list of all the Australian medical schools that have prerequisite subjects?

 

[Crow]

You guys have been so helpful, my original degree was actually biomed, unfortunately my youth got the better of me!

Me too!

Do you guys happen to have a list of all the Australian medical schools that have prerequisite subjects?

It’s a very long list
- UniMelb
That’s the only current one as far as I’m aware, although UQ will be requiring some anatomy and physiology prerequisites for 2020 entry and beyond, IIRC.

 

[mick]

Crow
Just wondering if you could link me to the WSU non standard entry requirements? I was looking at the page and could only find general applicants, which has a GPA requirement that I don't meet.

 

[Josht4971]

Hi, I'm currently a first year undergraduate doing a double degree course. In my UAC application when they asked for my tertiary qualifications, they also asked "how long have you studied for" and I stupidly put "6 months" because that was how long I had studied at the time of application. They've made it so I can't change that now, so should I make a new "qualification" with "1 year" ??

Also, JMP states that tertiary transfers "must have completed a minimum of one full-time year (EFTSL = 1), or equivalent part time, in a single program of approved study at a higher education institution. Study undertaken across two or more programs cannot be combined to satisfy the one full-time year of study requirement."

Does that mean that 1 year of doing courses for both my degrees doesn't count for JMP? And i'll be considered as having a gap year?

Thanks heaps

Just realised I did the same thing, would this have any adverse affects on my application cause I know unsw requires atleast 3/4 of a fte to be considered?

Did just email Uac regarding it tho

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Crow
Just wondering if you could link me to the WSU non standard entry requirements? I was looking at the page and could only find general applicants, which has a GPA requirement that I don't meet.

You're a general applicant. Your current GPA won't cut it for WSU, only (possibly) JMP as mentioned above. WSU will open up for you if/when you start a new degree.

ETA: for clarity, the JMP is the Joint Medical Program between Uni of Newcastle and Uni of New England.

 

[Crow]

You're a general applicant. Your current GPA won't cut it for WSU, only (possibly) JMP as mentioned above. WSU will open up for you if/when you start a new degree.

To add to this mick, if your ATAR was above 95.5, my understanding is that WSU will use that instead and you'll have met the academic rank hurdle requirement (even though your current GPA isn't above the requirement).

ETA: As LMG! has pointed out, this only applies to those without a completed degree.

 

[A1]

Just realised I did the same thing, would this have any adverse affects on my application cause I know unsw requires atleast 3/4 of a fte to be considered?

All these requirements are stated as of the status at end of year. Putting 6 months at time of application won't matter.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

To add to this mick, if your ATAR was above 95.5, my understanding is that WSU will use that instead and you'll have met the academic rank hurdle requirement (even though your current GPA isn't above the requirement).

Unfortunately, this is only true up to the point you graduate with a completed degree, at which time it becomes GPA only. WSU will definitely use @mick’s GPA.

 

[Crow]

Unfortunately, this is only true up to the point you graduate with a completed degree, at which time it becomes GPA only. WSU will definitely use @mick’s GPA.

Ah, wasn’t aware of this, that’s unfortunate! Have edited my post.

 

[mick]

Crow LMG!

Thanks for all the help guys, the two of you have been absolute legends throughout this whole thread, I really appreciate the help.

 

[Kamal]

Hi!

Unfortunately the GPA for my Bachelors degree is utter and absolute crap. I was advised to undertake a Graduate Diploma, and medical schools will overlook the GPA of my Bachelors degree and only consider the Graduate Diploma.

I want to know the legitimacy of this advice and what steps I can take to get into Med School.

Thanks!

 

[Crow]

Hi!

Unfortunately the GPA for my Bachelors degree is utter and absolute crap. I was advised to undertake a Graduate Diploma, and medical schools will overlook the GPA of my Bachelors degree and only consider the Graduate Diploma.

I want to know the legitimacy of this advice and what steps I can take to get into Med School.

Thanks!

Definitely do not do this with the expectation it will improve your chances for entry to medicine in Australia. The only graduate entry universities that even consider postgraduate diplomas in their GPA calculations are Notre Dame Sydney and Notre Dame Fremantle, and a one year diploma is unlikely to rescue a GPA from another degree if it is low enough. Your best bet is probably to do a new undergraduate degree (one that will provide you with an alternative career path should you never gain entry into medicine) and sit the UCAT each year during the degree (applying as a non-standard applicant to the undergraduate universities), as well as sit the GAMSAT in your second last and final years and apply for postgraduate entry (obviously aiming to keep your GPA as high as possible). Good luck

ETA: I am unsure as to whether UNSW, the JMP or WSU consider graduate diplomas in their GPA calculations, though I suspect not - perhaps LMG! or A1 can weigh in.

 

[A1]

Unfortunately the GPA for my Bachelors degree is utter and absolute crap. I was advised to undertake a Graduate Diploma, and medical schools will overlook the GPA of my Bachelors degree and only consider the Graduate Diploma.

I want to know the legitimacy of this advice and what steps I can take to get into Med School.

In addition to Crow's reply, it is true for UQ graduate med since they use the most recent qualification by itself. However GPA is UQ's least important criteria, once you get >5.0 it all depends on Gamsat to get an interview.

You can also use a Grad Dip to apply to undergrad JMP but it may not be necessary. With a completed Bachelor you need "Better than pass" (around 4.3+) but Credit 5.0+ for a Grad Dip. Similarly for undergrad WSU, completed Bachelor 5.6+ but Grad Dip 6.1+.

> [Undergrad] - (2018 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

 

[mdoug]

In addition to Crow's reply, it is true for UQ graduate med since they use the most recent qualification by itself. However GPA is UQ's least important criteria, once you get >5.0 it all depends on Gamsat to get an interview.

You can also use a Grad Dip to apply to undergrad JMP but it may not be necessary. With a completed Bachelor you need "Better than pass" (around 4.3+) but Credit 5.0+ for a Grad Dip. Similarly for undergrad WSU, completed Bachelor 5.6+ but Grad Dip 6.1+.

> [Undergrad] - (2018 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

The way i interpreted the JMP requirments was that it was a hurdle and not a minimum, is that correct? For example I have a masters by coursework so I just need a pass in my degree and my actual GPA isnt ranked?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

The way i interpreted the JMP requirments was that it was a hurdle and not a minimum, is that correct? For example I have a masters by coursework so I just need a pass in my degree and my actual GPA isnt ranked?

A hurdle and a minimum are similar, in that they're both the lowest GPA eligible for consideration. From there, you're right in thinking that JMP just tick a box to say you've achieved what you need to and you're not ranked on this basis like you might be in other courses (UNSW, for example).

 

[mdoug]

A hurdle and a minimum are similar, in that they're both the lowest GPA eligible for consideration. From there, you're right in thinking that JMP just tick a box to say you've achieved what you need to and you're not ranked on this basis like you might be in other courses (UNSW, for example).

Thanks LMG, do you know what WSU do in this instance after they interview? When I spoke to the uni they didn't really give me a clear answer about how much the GPA comes into play after we interview

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks LMG, do you know what WSU do in this instance after they interview? When I spoke to the uni they didn't really give me a clear answer about how much the GPA comes into play after we interview

From everything we've been able to gather from many years of observing data reported here at MSO, WSU work in the same was as JMP. GPA is a hurdle requirement and offers are based on interview performance. It's possible GPA could be used as a tie breaker if necessary. The main difference, really, is that GPA requirements at WSU tend to be higher than JMP (as do UMAT requirements). It's obviously not known how UCAT will affect this or how Universities will conduct this process from next year onwards, given the changes.

 

[DDS]

Hi guys, I've just finished my first year in uni and now considering switching to undergrad med in 2020. I had a look at A1's table for the non-standard pathway, are JCU, UNSW, JMP and UWS the only unis that accept non-standard applicants?

I'm thinking of changing to commerce/laws in uq next year so I can have a better chance of getting a high GPA. Is it a bad decision to study a dual program? (if the non-standard pathway didn't work out and I end up having to go for the graduate pathway)

I got an OP2 in year 12 and a 6.25 GPA, I'm also eligible for the rural access scheme. How well do I have to do in UCAT next year to have a chance at getting an interview from these unis?

Thanks for your time

 

[Crow]

Hi guys, I've just finished my first year in uni and now considering switching to undergrad med in 2020. I had a look at A1's table for the non-standard pathway, are JCU, UNSW, JMP and UWS the only unis that accept non-standard applicants?

+ Bond if you are in the financial position to attend uni there, and Curtin is the other undergraduate uni that accepts non-standard applications but it requires a completed degree for non-standards (so you’re probably better off just pursuing graduate entry unless you are a current Curtin student, which I am guessing not).

I'm thinking of changing to commerce/laws in uq next year so I can have a better chance of getting a high GPA. Is it a bad decision to study a dual program? (if the non-standard pathway didn't work out and I end up having to go for the graduate pathway)

Definitely not a bad decision, particularly because these degrees lend themselves to solid alternative career pathways should medicine not work out. However, it may delay the time it takes for you to apply for graduate entry; you can’t do this until you have completed at least one degree (or at least the requirements of one of the degrees if you’re in a dual degree). You’d need to look at the program structure to determine whether you could complete all requirements for one degree first without it affecting the timeline for you to be eligible for graduate entry.

I got an OP2 in year 12 and a 6.25 GPA, I'm also eligible for the rural access scheme. How well do I have to do in UCAT next year to have a chance at getting an interview from these unis?

Nobody can tell you how well you have to do in UCAT because we don’t have any reference point yet! Certainly being a rural applicant will give you lower entry requirements for the universities that accept non-standard applications, as well as graduate entry. However, this GPA is above the hurdle for JMP, WSU and Bond, and would be competitive for UNSW (given your OP and rural status but obviously depending on UCAT score). If you have a good written application you’d be in a shot for JCU too.