Non-standard Medicine Entry

[DrDrLMG!]

I applied to UNSW as a non standard rural student. I got an interview offer this week. I didn't get an ATAR (im a bit older) my GPA is only 6.5 (completed degree) and only got 70th percentile in ucat too (hadn't done maths for a while and choked on the QR would you believe it?). I thought they would have rejected me off the bat so i was surprised to get an interview.

Is there no point in me attending the interview?

If you got an interview, and given it’s zoom so no flight/accomm commitment, you should definitely attend it. The rural pathway is very generous.

ETA: I didn’t get an ATAR either (I’m a lot older!) but UNSW (or UAC? Who knows?) calculated an equivalent based on my TER (or whatever it was called back in the day). If you did year 12 somewhere in the country, they’ve probably factored it in somehow (unless things have changed since 2018 entry and/or it’s different for the rural pathway).

 

[Crow]

I applied to UNSW as a non standard rural student. I got an interview offer this week. I didn't get an ATAR (im a bit older) my GPA is only 6.5 (completed degree) and only got 70th percentile in ucat too (hadn't done maths for a while and choked on the QR would you believe it?). I thought they would have rejected me off the bat so i was surprised to get an interview.

Is there no point in me attending the interview?

Adding to the above, a GPA of "only" 6.5 actually converts to the highest possible ATAR equivalent for your specific situation (99.5) and as it so happens a GPA of 7 also converts to a 99.5 so achieving a higher GPA wouldn't have actually made you any more competitive for UNSW! Your score combination is very competitive at UNSW for a rural applicant, and your age/potential extra life experience will likely yield a stronger interview performance. Essentially, you're in with an excellent chance. Good luck

 

[treeml]

If you got an interview, and given it’s zoom so no flight/accomm commitment, you should definitely attend it. The rural pathway is very generous.

ETA: I didn’t get an ATAR either (I’m a lot older!) but UNSW (or UAC? Who knows?) calculated an equivalent based on my TER (or whatever it was called back in the day). If you did year 12 somewhere in the country, they’ve probably factored it in somehow (unless things have changed since 2018 entry and/or it’s different for the rural pathway).

Thanks so much for your advice. Ill definitely be attending now.

Adding to the above, a GPA of "only" 6.5 actually converts to the highest possible ATAR equivalent for your specific situation (99.5) and as it so happens a GPA of 7 also converts to a 99.5 so achieving a higher GPA wouldn't have actually made you any more competitive for UNSW! Your score combination is very competitive at UNSW for a rural applicant, and your age/potential extra life experience will likely yield a stronger interview performance. Essentially, you're in with an excellent chance. Good luck

Wow, i had no idea my GPA was that great. Thanks very much for the info

 

[hopeful12345]

Hi all,
does anyone know, or can hazard a guess, at how many rural applicants get interviewed vs rural spots available? Particularly JMP and UNSW.

 

[A1]

Hi all,
does anyone know, or can hazard a guess, at how many rural applicants get interviewed vs rural spots available? Particularly JMP and UNSW.

UNSW said in the 2019 info evening they received 220 rural applications, interviewed 150 for ~50 spots. The ratio of 150 interviews to 220 applicants explains why the cutoff is quite low.

JMP also has around 50 rural spots, very likely around 150-200 interviewees.

 

[hopeful12345]

UNSW said in the 2019 info evening they received 220 rural applications, interviewed 150 for ~50 spots. The ratio of 150 interviews to 220 applicants explains why the cutoff is quite low.

JMP also has around 50 rural spots, very likely around 150-200 interviewees.

Thank you!
I know JMP is 100% interview based for admission, is UNSW the same or is interview added to ATAR/GPA/UCAT?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thank you!
I know JMP is 100% interview based for admission, is UNSW the same or is interview added to ATAR/GPA/UCAT?

UNSW factors all components into place offer rankings.

 

[jayson]

Give each subject/unit its grade points (5,6,7 etc), add them up then divide by the number of units for the average i.e. GPA.

However when they convert this GPA to a Rank, having done less than 8 units can get a much lower Rank than having 8+ units.

are you sure?I heard they only use your last year's Atar if you are doing part time.

 

[A1]

are you sure?I heard they only use your last year's Atar if you are doing part time.

It varies from school to school. On the basis of 1 year FTE = 8 subject/units

- WSU : you can use ATAR if it's already above the hurdle, if not you can use GPA provided it's one semester = 4 units or more
- UNSW will use your ATAR if by year end you have done less than 0.75 FTE = 6 units, if 6+ units it's 50/50 ATAR+GPA
- JMP will use your ATAR if by year end you have done less than 1 FTE = 8 units
- JCU : too complicated I'll skip.

 

[soczewica]

helloo everyone!!
I'm a slightly anxious non-standard who would like to do med, particularly at UNSW.
I'm a first year physio and got 3 HDs and one D last sem. I have an atar of 99.8. If i get similar results this semester, I was wondering if I have a chance at UNSW? Or do I need to be getting all HDs?

Also I was wondering, does it matter that my semester two marks don't come out until the second half of december?
cheers!

 

[Crow]

helloo everyone!!
I'm a slightly anxious non-standard who would like to do med, particularly at UNSW.
I'm a first year physio and got 3 HDs and one D last sem. I have an atar of 99.8. If i get similar results this semester, I was wondering if I have a chance at UNSW? Or do I need to be getting all HDs?

Also I was wondering, does it matter that my semester two marks don't come out until the second half of december?
cheers!

You will have a strong enough ATAR/GPA combo for UNSW, but your chances will largely come down to your UCAT score. Have you applied for UNSW this year or is this for a future application?

And just to check, are you willing to move interstate? I only ask because your 99.8 would've landed you a place offer at Griffith last year.

 

[soczewica]

You will have a strong enough ATAR/GPA combo for UNSW, but your chances will largely come down to your UCAT score. Have you applied for UNSW this year or is this for a future application?

And just to check, are you willing to move interstate? I only ask because your 99.8 would've landed you a place offer at Griffith last year.

Hello! Thank you for your reply
Unfortunately I didn't get around to applying interstate! But I did apply for UNSW this year.
I think my UCAT should be ok, I improved heaps from last year and got 3290.

 

[Crow]

Hello! Thank you for your reply
Unfortunately I didn't get around to applying interstate! But I did apply for UNSW this year.
I think my UCAT should be ok, I improved heaps from last year and got 3290.

Well then yes, you should definitely land an interview. Your chances of a place offer will come down to your interview performance. Good luck

 

[soczewica]

Well then yes, you should definitely land an interview. Your chances of a place offer will come down to your interview performance. Good luck

Thank you very much! I will make sure I work on some interview practice

 

[sburni]

Hey there guys, I’m in a bit of an interesting position and was wanting some advice.
I finished year 12 in 2019 and deferred study this year, and have had a very productive and valuable year that I am happy I chose to take. I did the UCAT this year (didn’t even think I would get the marks during year 12... my atar was 98.60 but was expecting to get 93-95 so this was my first year). In the UCAT I got 2880 which was just lower than most cutoffs and I received no med interview offers.
Next year I am planning on starting a nursing degree and trying the UCAT again in 2021 to get an undergrad med placement - I really like the human interaction side of medicine (learnt this from working in restaurants, I really thrive off human interaction and the premise of providing a service/getting a purpose from that) and could not see myself doing a biomed degree ending up as a researcher, so nursing is what I’m thinking of doing.
Just wondering if there is any need to prioritise studying at one uni over the other? Are internal transfer places reserved? I am planning on doing my nursing degree at Wollongong but that is open to change (the other option was Newcastle, but honestly their campus was pretty old and washed up...
Ideally I would actually study medicine at WSU, UNSW, UAdel or anywhere really hahaha. I’d also like to hear anyone’s thoughts on my choice of nursing as an undergrad.
Thanks and let me know!!

 

[A1]

Just wondering if there is any need to prioritise studying at one uni over the other? Are internal transfer places reserved?

Have a quick read of the Non-Standards section in this table
> [Undergrad] - (2020 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

As a general NS applicant you can apply to UNSW, WSU, JMP, JCU (and Bond). In addition UNSW, UoN, Adelaide, Curtin have an internal transfer pathway for their own students (still highly competitive though). You need to read each school's website to see which degree courses are accepted for this transfer.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Have a quick read of the Non-Standards section in this table
> [Undergrad] - (2020 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

As a general NS applicant you can apply to UNSW, WSU, JMP, JCU (and Bond). In addition UNSW, UoN, Adelaide, Curtin have an internal transfer pathway for their own students (still highly competitive though). You need to read each school's website to see which degree courses are accepted for this transfer.

I vaguely remember that UoN have scrapped theirs. Monash is another with an existing (but highly competitive) route to Med for its own students but only studying specific degrees (not nursing but ie. physio/pharmacy). The transfer pathways for UNSW and UoN (though irrelevant as likely being scrapped) are also for specific degrees I think, not including nursing.

Also, to add to the regular non-standard options, I think Utas are intending to reintroduce this for 2022 entry (which is when the OP is looking at). EDIT: it’s actually 2023 as all BMedRes guaranteed entry students will be into Med by then and that pathway will be scrapped.

 

[Crow]

Also, to add to the regular non-standard options, I think Utas are intending to reintroduce this for 2022 entry (which is when the OP is looking at). EDIT: it’s actually 2023 as all BMedRes guaranteed entry students will be into Med by then and that pathway will be scrapped.

I am in the slow process of updating the table so I will add this detail in!

 

[A1]

I vaguely remember that UoN have scrapped theirs.

I meant the recently introduced special for UoN students to get a med interview on rurals UCAT cutoff. I know it's not a separate but like a channel within the general pathway. Are they scrapping it already?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I meant the recently introduced special for UoN students to get a med interview on rurals UCAT cutoff. I know it's not a separate but like a channel within the general pathway. Are they scrapping it already?

Yep, I believe so!

ETA: I think it’s been mentioned in the JMP thread, perhaps by dotwingz?
ETA2: and you can’t just be any old UoN student, I don’t think. It was for a specific course of study (BMedSci is mentioned in the thread though I’m not 100% sure about that).
ETA3: It’s BBioMedSci
ETA4: (omg, sorry!) I actually can’t find the reference to it being scrapped already, so I might be making that up! I’ll wait for someone who knows more (I still think that’s likely to be dotwingz) to weigh in!