We are not entering into discussions regarding 'what are my chances' type questions until the percentile calculator has been released and we open a dedicated thread for it. Definitely feel free to come back and ask then though, thank you.
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Non-standard Medicine Entry
- Thread starter qwerty1234
- Start date
We are not entering into discussions regarding 'what are my chances' type questions until the percentile calculator has been released and we open a dedicated thread for it. Definitely feel free to come back and ask then though, thank you.
We've been told not to discuss chances yet but I think your case justifies an answer.
Adding to Cal's reply you will need GPA 6.5+ to get 99.5 equivalent then combine with 99.0 to 99.25 last year's cutoff.
In addition you need to make sure you will complete 1 FTE (8 units?) by end of year. Without 1 FTE 6.5+ won't be given 99.5 equivalent.
Gigachad
MD II
Hi guys, I've noticed that WSU has partnered with Charles Stuart Uni at the beginning of this year as a joint program. Just wondering if this will mean more space available for med candidates or will they just split the places in half for each uni. I've also noticed that under the 'med schools selection criteria' the JMP provides approx 170 places. Is this the total across both UNCLE and UNE or is this 170 places for each uni?
170 = approximate domestic total across both (110 and 60)
ETA: I just created a new JPM thread and will add some info. Feel free to ask more questions over there.
missyallie
Member
Does a non-science undergrad degree ruin one's chances of postgrad admission to med school?
No, it has no bearing.
Hi guys, I am new to MSO.
I did an UG physio in USYD but they only gave me a WAM, but not GPA. Should I email my WAM to each uni that I want to enroll individually and ask them to calculate the GPA for me?
Also, do all unis still consider my ATAR as I have completed my bachelor degree? If so, do they consider my bonus points for ATAR?
UCAT 3100 (VR 610), WAM is from 66.4-78.3, ATAR 94.75 with 5 bonus points, is only JMP realistic to me?
Thanks guys
I did an UG physio in USYD but they only gave me a WAM, but not GPA. Should I email my WAM to each uni that I want to enroll individually and ask them to calculate the GPA for me?
Also, do all unis still consider my ATAR as I have completed my bachelor degree? If so, do they consider my bonus points for ATAR?
UCAT 3100 (VR 610), WAM is from 66.4-78.3, ATAR 94.75 with 5 bonus points, is only JMP realistic to me?
Thanks guys
Hi guys, I am new to MSO.
I did an UG physio in USYD but they only gave me a WAM, but not GPA. Should I email my WAM to each uni that I want to enroll individually and ask them to calculate the GPA for me?
Also, do all unis still consider my ATAR as I have completed my bachelor degree? If so, do they consider my bonus points for ATAR?
UCAT 3100 (VR 610), WAM is from 66.4-78.3, ATAR 94.75 with 5 bonus points, is only JMP realistic to me?
Thanks guys
Only UNSW will still consider your ATAR. ‘What are my chances’ questions can be asked in the dedicated thread once it opens (when the UCAT calculator is released).
No, you can calculate it yourself - using the score you received in each individual unit and converting each to a score out of 1-7; 7= 85 and above, 6 = 75-84, 5 = 65-74 and 4 = 50-64. Find the average of these and that’s your GPA.
Does anyone know if pass/fail units contribute to GPA calculation? Grading for some subjects were given as pass/fail rather than the usual HD/D/C etc. we don't have a GPA calculation but rather a WAM, and these units didn't contribute to our WAM since they weren't given a numerical grading
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For regular years I've seen a document saying ungraded units up to half the year's FTE don't count into the GPA of that year. For example you've done 4 ungraded + 4 graded units you would still be considered under the 1+FTE category but GPA is from the 4 graded units only. But I'm not sure how that will apply to this COVID year.
The document also says if more than half are ungraded the case will be referred to the uni/school for their determination.
Btw I've seen mentioned a few times uni gives WAM not GPA but it doesn't really matter. The TACs will do their own GPA calculation based on your individual unit results whether or not your uni indicates a GPA.
Hi everyone, I'm sure this has probably been discussed before but I was hoping someone could flesh this out a bit more for me 
I know that some universities (mine at least) have offered NGP conversions due to the COVID situation and I was just wondering how this might effect GPA conversions?
Thanks
I know that some universities (mine at least) have offered NGP conversions due to the COVID situation and I was just wondering how this might effect GPA conversions?
Thanks
Hello! So here’s my situation, some advice would be greatly appreciated:
I did the NSW Year 12 HSC in 2019 and obtained an ATAR or 99.15. I also sat the UCAT in 2019 and obtained a score of 2760 (%85).
Unfortunately, the only university that offered me an interview was Bond, which I didn’t pass (I wasn’t very well prepared, honestly wasn’t expecting an interview at all that year) so I started this year doing an Arts degree at Sydney Uni, and planned to re-prepare for the UCAT and try for med again as a non standard.
Shortly after I booked the UCAT, however, Bond got in touch again and offered me place into this year’s one-off September intake, with classes due to start in mid-September. I accepted the offer to reserve my spot, and intended to go in September. My parents aren’t super rich multimillionaires or anything, but both have relatively stable jobs that combined have been able to save up enough to pay off the $250K that fee-help doesn’t cover, so we’re willing and able to support this degree.
But then, at the end of July, I finally sat the UCAT again, and scored 2960, which I think is a significant improvement, by last year’s percentiles, 2960 was %96, which is higher than the cut-off at most universities. I also averaged a high distinction in my first semester of Usyd’s Arts degree.
Now that I have a 2960 UCAT, and a HD average from my first semester at Usyd Arts, a reasonably solid 99+ ATAR, and a Bond September offer, I’m in a bit of a dilemma - should I go ahead with Bond next month, or would my chances of securing non-standard entry into another medical school closer to home, cheaper, higher ranked in reputability, and with the COAG internship guarantee that Bond lacks, be finally high enough that it’s worth reconsidering cancelling my Bond enrolment and aiming for another school? I’m just aware that as soon as Bond’s census date passes in mid-September, I will lose my eligibility for non-standard entry.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy to go to Bond, it’s a great school in terms of its learning environment and student experience, it’s also really fast, I’ll be graduating around March 2025 as opposed to December 2026 anywhere else. That said, the lack of a COAG agreement worries me a little, and who wouldn’t want to save an extra $250K or so. Also, I know that university reputation is not so important in Australia, but I’ve personally never known or heard of a Bond graduate working in a well-established hospital or clinic. Maybe I just haven’t looked far enough, but I’m a bit worried that most of them might just be stuck working in local Gold Coast hospitals and not seen to be accredited or competitive enough to be taken on anywhere else (idk how true this is, maybe I’m just being paranoid as a soon-to-be student there, but I’d probably feel more secure at Newcastle or UNSW or Western Syd all of which I have known at least 1 highly regarded doctor who studied there)
Anyway, what are your thoughts?
I did the NSW Year 12 HSC in 2019 and obtained an ATAR or 99.15. I also sat the UCAT in 2019 and obtained a score of 2760 (%85).
Unfortunately, the only university that offered me an interview was Bond, which I didn’t pass (I wasn’t very well prepared, honestly wasn’t expecting an interview at all that year) so I started this year doing an Arts degree at Sydney Uni, and planned to re-prepare for the UCAT and try for med again as a non standard.
Shortly after I booked the UCAT, however, Bond got in touch again and offered me place into this year’s one-off September intake, with classes due to start in mid-September. I accepted the offer to reserve my spot, and intended to go in September. My parents aren’t super rich multimillionaires or anything, but both have relatively stable jobs that combined have been able to save up enough to pay off the $250K that fee-help doesn’t cover, so we’re willing and able to support this degree.
But then, at the end of July, I finally sat the UCAT again, and scored 2960, which I think is a significant improvement, by last year’s percentiles, 2960 was %96, which is higher than the cut-off at most universities. I also averaged a high distinction in my first semester of Usyd’s Arts degree.
Now that I have a 2960 UCAT, and a HD average from my first semester at Usyd Arts, a reasonably solid 99+ ATAR, and a Bond September offer, I’m in a bit of a dilemma - should I go ahead with Bond next month, or would my chances of securing non-standard entry into another medical school closer to home, cheaper, higher ranked in reputability, and with the COAG internship guarantee that Bond lacks, be finally high enough that it’s worth reconsidering cancelling my Bond enrolment and aiming for another school? I’m just aware that as soon as Bond’s census date passes in mid-September, I will lose my eligibility for non-standard entry.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy to go to Bond, it’s a great school in terms of its learning environment and student experience, it’s also really fast, I’ll be graduating around March 2025 as opposed to December 2026 anywhere else. That said, the lack of a COAG agreement worries me a little, and who wouldn’t want to save an extra $250K or so. Also, I know that university reputation is not so important in Australia, but I’ve personally never known or heard of a Bond graduate working in a well-established hospital or clinic. Maybe I just haven’t looked far enough, but I’m a bit worried that most of them might just be stuck working in local Gold Coast hospitals and not seen to be accredited or competitive enough to be taken on anywhere else (idk how true this is, maybe I’m just being paranoid as a soon-to-be student there, but I’d probably feel more secure at Newcastle or UNSW or Western Syd all of which I have known at least 1 highly regarded doctor who studied there)
Anyway, what are your thoughts?
Things to consider:
1. Can you defer the Bond offer?
2. Your unique situation means we can probably speculate a little with regard to interviews: You'll likely get a JMP one (presuming they don't change things up too much this year), WSU/JPM I can't comment on without knowing your VR and even then, who knows whether they'll stick to the same formula this year, and assuming things don't move too much at UNSW then you'd be borderline for an interview there (it will depend on your full year GPA, you'll have to achieve 6.50+ to be even remotely in the ballpark, anything less and you won't come close to last year's 99.25 equivalent requirement for interview - you also have to make sure you do complete a full 1FTE as anything less will also mean you aren't in the ballpark).
3. For JMP your chance of an offer (assuming you get an interview) is about 1:4-5 (worst case scenario). For WSU/JPM it's closer to 1:3-4 (I think), and I have no idea for UNSW as it changes depending on your combo of scores (yours would be lowish, though, I'd speculate).
4. Don't worry about Bond's perceived reputation, it is a non-issue. The guaranteed internship is a slightly different matter (for me, though not for everyone).
5. If you can't defer Bond, do you want to risk guaranteed (expensive) Medicine for possibly no Medicine? This part I can't answer for you
The only definite thing I can say is, if you start the Bond degree, you are automatically ineligible for WSU/JPM and UNSW, but still eligible for JMP.
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threefivetwo
less gooo
Hi! First of all, congratulations on your UCAT score - that's an amazing score and you should be proud of it
And congratulations on the offer to Bond! I'm currently applying for Medicine again, so can only offer you opinions from that perspective.My understanding is that what university you go to doesn't matter in terms of 'competitiveness', it's about your competence as a medical student and intern which allows you to move up the ladder. Moving back home may be difficult particularly in your intern years, as NSW Health prioritises local applicants for internship spots (please correct me if I'm wrong), but it isn't impossible. The Bond degree is quicker than other medical degrees, but then again, it is costly - there would also be additional fees associated with accomodation and living. But you've indicated that you have the financial means to support it.
Logically, you would take the Bond offer for this year as there is no guarantee that you'd secure non-standard entry into a NSW medical school this year, and if that fails, secure another offer to Bond the following year. But as you're having second thoughts about moving over to the Gold Coast, I assume that you'd probably like to stay in NSW.
I think that your decision is contingent on how much you want to stay here. With your UCAT, you have a good chance of an interview at either WSU, JMP, or both (not to mention other unis). So would you rather take the risk of sitting an interview and sacrifice your certain offer at Bond for a chance at a place here in NSW, or would you rather take the more certain route and go to Bond this year? That's the biggest question that I think you need to deliberate upon alone and see where your heart lies
Fixed that for you.
bigyikes
WSU MD II
In terms of the COAG agreement, I believe Bond has made a deal with the QLD gov't to ensure their graduates receive internships in QLD hospitals. Granted, this may not be ideal if you want to return to NSW, but you're at least (practically) guaranteed a job upon graduation. And if you do want to return to NSW, I personally know many junior doctors who went to medical schools in QLD (not just Bond, also UQ) who have returned here for their internship and future PGY. However, there may be a caveat on this, given the addition of MQ's 60 graduates that have not yet entered the HETI system (and USYD may have increased their CSP spots for 2021 entry, which will impact 2025 internships).