Non-standard Medicine Entry

[chinaski]

Another factor worth considering (and interestingly left out of your post) - are you enjoying the degree in which you are currently enrolled?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

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).

It's important to keep in mind when speculating about internships (amongst other things) that you can't always apply current understanding/arrangements to scenarios that are years from now. That said, it would also be disabling to never make a decision if you didn't know exactly how it was going to turn out. So a balance of considering whether you'd be prepared to have to fight for an internship with the reality that this is possibly unlikely is a useful middle ground.

 

[chinaski]

It's important to keep in mind when speculating about internships (amongst other things) that you can't always apply current understanding/arrangements to scenarios that are years from now.

I'd go one step further to say you can't EVER do that. Arrangements/gurantees/priority lists are only current and applicable for the year in which they exist. The more advisable thing to do is to factor in a level of uncertainty RE the state of play between now and then.

 

[A1]

Now that I have a 2960 UCAT, and a HD average from my first semester at Usyd Arts, a reasonably solid 99+ ATAR

Beware that if you start Bond in Sept you won't have 1 FTE year of study at USyd. I don't know whether UNSW will combine your USyd + Bond studies into 1 FTE year, if they don't your less-than-1FTE USyd GPA will convert poorly to an ATAR equivalent and practically rule you out of UNSW non-standard med.

As LMG mentioned your best option is to request deferring Bond to next year, to give you time to try for UNSW/WSU/JMP first.

 

[dotwingz]

Also by virtue of them studying a current medical degree it bars them from applying to WSU and UNSW. So if you take bond your best chance is probably JMP, which will count your 99.15 ATAR - which is well above the hurdle

 

[A1]

Also by virtue of them studying a current medical degree it bars them from applying to WSU and UNSW.

I'm still unsure on this^, since you start at Bond with a BMedsomething first, not MBBS/MD. I vaguely remember someone posted that they asked WSU, the reply was Bond students were eligible to apply. And if they are for WSU they may be for UNSW too.

 

[dotwingz]

I'm still unsure on this^, since you start at Bond with a BMedsomething first, not MBBS/MD. I vaguely remember someone posted that they asked WSU, the reply was Bond students were eligible to apply. And if they are for WSU they may be for UNSW too.

Hmm, an email would be best sent to the universities to clarify this. UNSW said to be that an “integrated Bachelors and Doctor of Medicine“ counted as a current medical student, which probably reflects how they consider their BMed/MD students medical students. I (think I) remember reading somewhere that WSU counted a Griffith MedSci applicant as “a current medical student” and therefore ineligible to apply, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t for bond (I might be completely wrong about this)

 

[Crow]

See, I think the BMed component at JMP and UNSW for example is considered part of the “medical degree” because you can’t be doctor without that part. In contrast, you don’t need a medical science degree to be a doctor if you go through Griffith (only the MD), hence Griffith medsci students can still apply wherever they want for medicine.

 

[dotwingz]

See, I think the BMed component at JMP and UNSW for example is considered part of the “medical degree” because you can’t be doctor without that part. In contrast, you don’t need a medical science degree to be a doctor if you go through Griffith (only the MD), hence Griffith medsci students can still apply wherever they want for medicine.

I agree. I was just saying that I think I remembered reading that WSU (for some illogically/arbitrary reason, in typical WSU style) barred Griffith provisional students from entry

However I looked it up and it was actually UNSW not allowing Flinders Students in. Choosing Between Universities

Back to the OP: I looked at the Bond Website and it seems the BMedSt/MD is not actually integrated, I see what A1 meant in his previous post. You complete one then the other, perhaps making them eligible to apply back to UNSW or WSU?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

This answers part of the question and definitely creates some conundrums:

From Bond website:
"Deferment cannot be considered for students offered a place in the Medical Program, Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical) or the Doctor of Physiotherapy."

ETA: I wonder how strict they'd be with this given the OP would need to move from another state in the middle of a pandemic. Could still be worth asking the question, but without getting hopes up?

 

[asdf1234]

Thanks for all the information guys!

ETA: I wonder how strict they'd be with this given the OP would need to move from another state in the middle of a pandemic. Could still be worth asking the question, but without getting hopes up?

Yeah unfortunately I think they're going to be pretty strict, they said in the letter of offer to September intake students that these offers couldn't be deferred to 2021.

I think I'll accept Bond for now; it's my only guaranteed pathway into the medical field so far. As for seeking out cheaper/ COAG-eligible alternatives, I'll definitely try for JMP, seeing as they don't bar current medical students from applying for non-standard entry. I might reach out to WSU and UNSW and ask about eligibility of Bond med students for their non-standard intake, but tbh JMP's probably my best bet anyway in terms of likelihood for an offer.

 

[energeon]

Hi, I was wondering whether it is more difficult for a non-standard applicant to be accepted into medical schools. I'm a domestic applicant yet am living somewhere else where school starts in September. If I apply as a non-standard applicant, only my ATAR (not GPA) should be used since I won't have finished any semesters. Does this put me in the exact same position than if I decided to take a gap half-year to apply a school leaver for medical schools? Or would it be harsher/easier, such as lower quota, higher overall requirements etc.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi, I was wondering whether it is more difficult for a non-standard applicant to be accepted into medical schools. I'm a domestic applicant yet am living somewhere else where school starts in September. If I apply as a non-standard applicant, only my ATAR (not GPA) should be used since I won't have finished any semesters. Does this put me in the exact same position than if I decided to take a gap half-year to apply a school leaver for medical schools? Or would it be harsher/easier, such as lower quota, higher overall requirements etc.

What do you mean by you "won't have finished any semesters"? Will you have a tertiary record?

 

[energeon]

What do you mean by you "won't have finished any semesters"? Will you have a tertiary record?

I should be enrolled in an university and will have a tertiary record but since semester 1 should start in September and end in December/Jan, I don't think I will have completed any semesters before Australian universities review my application or send out interview invitations. Does this mean I won't have a semester GPA to send them, meaning only my ATAR can be considered?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I should be enrolled in an university and will have a tertiary record but since semester 1 should start in September and end in December, I don't think I will have completed any semesters before Australian universities review my application. I'm not sure if I'm wrong here but wouldn't that mean I won't receive a GPA that I can send to Australian universities? And if so, then only my ATAR should be counted.

Yep, I think this is a correct understanding.

The ‘difficulty’ for non-standard entrants is that there are proportionally much fewer places on offer to them. With a tertiary record*, but not a completed degree, your options are limited to JMP, UNSW, WSU/CSU, JCU, and Bond. Once you have a completed degree this expands to Curtin and the graduate entry unis. A gap year would have kept your options open to all the school leaver degrees. I hope that answers your original question.

Best of luck

* I’m not sure at what point you are considered to have a tertiary record at UK unis, here it is after the point of the census date for the first semester you’re enrolled in.

 

[A1]

I should be enrolled in an university and will have a tertiary record but since semester 1 should start in September and end in December, I don't think I will have completed any semesters before Australian universities review my application.

Your tertiary study is counted to end of year so you will have 1 semester. Of the schools that accept non-standards JMP requires 1 FTE year, UNSW 0.75 FTE year, you meet neither so you can apply but they will use your ATAR (or whatever you had for Y12).

JCU accepts 1 semester but converts GPA to a much lower rank, making you practically uncompetitive. WSU also accepts 1 semester but the hurdle is higher, GPA 6.5 iirc.

 

[Ian Naga]

Thanks for all the information guys!


Yeah unfortunately I think they're going to be pretty strict, they said in the letter of offer to September intake students that these offers couldn't be deferred to 2021.

I think I'll accept Bond for now; it's my only guaranteed pathway into the medical field so far. As for seeking out cheaper/ COAG-eligible alternatives, I'll definitely try for JMP, seeing as they don't bar current medical students from applying for non-standard entry. I might reach out to WSU and UNSW and ask about eligibility of Bond med students for their non-standard intake, but tbh JMP's probably my best bet anyway in terms of likelihood for an offer.

I know atleast one Bond 1st year student who had applied to WSU and gotten offers following year. So you are allowed to apply. Also, for Bond, you can't defer. You can apply for gap year after completing the 1st year but since Sept entry is new, I am not sure what "after 1st year" means. You may email Bond to confirm. Best wishes!

 

[Crow]

I know atleast one Bond 1st year student who had applied to WSU and gotten offers following year. So you are allowed to apply. Also, for Bond, you can't defer. You can apply for gap year after completing the 1st year but since Sept entry is new, I am not sure what "after 1st year" means. You may email Bond to confirm. Best wishes!

Presumably the OP would start at Bond in September 2020, then apply for non-standard entry schools for 2021 entry, 2022 entry etc.

 

[Penny Lane]

I had a GPA of 6.88 for my Grad Dip (I only needed a minimum credit average as an entry hurdle). Depending on the university, undergrad unis normally only consider the GPA of your most recent program. I feel that's fair, considering I started my Bachelor degree over 18 years ago and I'm a much more focused person now! I also got 97th percentile in the UCAT.

Hey! I’m planning on sitting UCAT next year for JMP entry 2022. As a fellow mature aged student, I’d love to hear how you went/prepared for UCAT and JMP MMI!

 

[bruuuuuuh]

just wondering if a first year science provisional student at UQ could apply to WSU, UON or UNSW as a non-standard as they are not technically in medicine