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Non-standard Medicine Entry

Hello I was just wondering how to calculate my GPA as I have read and been told conflicting things. Is it
1. Add together the score (e.g. 6,7) of each subject and then divide it by the total number of subjects (100/15) or
2. Does it depend on the years because I have only done one subject in my 3rd year(during the second semester) and have just taken the rest of the year off. (so is it (51/8 + 41/6 + 6) /3)
So my scores for my first year was 5 HDs, 3D, my scores for my second year was 5 HDs 1D and my third year was just 1D. If its the latter method, my GPA reduces to a 6.4861 but if its the first it is 6.67 and I really want to apply for UQ which requires a 6.5 GPA.
Thanks a lot
The latter is relevant for applying for graduate entry schools via GEMSAS or applying to Flinders for medicine (also graduate entry), but assuming you are just applying for UQ dentistry, then yep number 1 is the right method.
 
Hi, I'm a non-standard 2nd year applying for med and dent. My GPA is sitting at 6.5. My final exam results just came out and I got 1HD, 2Ds, 1Credit. I've already applied for a non-graded pass using the GPA neutral coronavirus scheme for the unit which got a credit. Should I also do that with the 2Ds to increase my GPA? I'm not sure if its the right move? Thanks guys!
 
Hi, I'm a non-standard 2nd year applying for med and dent. My GPA is sitting at 6.5. My final exam results just came out and I got 1HD, 2Ds, 1Credit. I've already applied for a non-graded pass using the GPA neutral coronavirus scheme for the unit which got a credit. Should I also do that with the 2Ds to increase my GPA? I'm not sure if its the right move? Thanks guys!
GEMSAS has a rule (I don't know whether the TACs would have similar) if the ungraded units are more than 3 out of 8 for a year they refer to the med schools for the year's GPA i.e. not automatically unincluded. See page 5 > https://gemsas.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/GEMSAS-GPA-guidelines_v2.pdf

The 2Ds + 1Credit are 3 units but to be on the safe side maybe you should apply for only one D to be ungraded. The HD+D will allow to maintain the GPA 6.5.
 
Hi, I'm a non-standard 2nd year applying for med and dent. My GPA is sitting at 6.5. My final exam results just came out and I got 1HD, 2Ds, 1Credit. I've already applied for a non-graded pass using the GPA neutral coronavirus scheme for the unit which got a credit. Should I also do that with the 2Ds to increase my GPA? I'm not sure if its the right move? Thanks guys!

Added to what A1 said, did you apply for any non-graded passes for your semester 1 units that are already included in your 6.5? That could complicate things further if the 3/8 rule applies to TACs.
 
I don’t think the TACs calculate all the same but UAC will consider 4/8 of ungraded passes.

From their website
In UAC’s methodology, ungraded passes are not included in the calculation of a GPA except:

  • where these advantage the student (ie when the student has a GPA of less than 4). In this instance the GPA is recalculated including the value of the ungraded pass(es).
  • when more than 50% of the load presented comprises ungraded passes. In this instance, the GPA would be calculated with the ungraded passes included in the calculation.
 
Added to what A1 said, did you apply for any non-graded passes for your semester 1 units that are already included in your 6.5? That could complicate things further if the 3/8 rule applies to TACs.
Nope, only semester 2 units

GEMSAS has a rule (I don't know whether the TACs would have similar) if the ungraded units are more than 3 out of 8 for a year they refer to the med schools for the year's GPA i.e. not automatically unincluded. See page 5 > https://gemsas.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/GEMSAS-GPA-guidelines_v2.pdf

The 2Ds + 1Credit are 3 units but to be on the safe side maybe you should apply for only one D to be ungraded. The HD+D will allow to maintain the GPA 6.5.
Ok thanks! I'll stay on the safe side and only apply for 1D to be ungraded
 
Hey Atar is 98.7
If I do manage to get high GPA and UCAT, is there any possibility for UNSW med?
 
Hey Atar is 98.7
If I do manage to get high GPA and UCAT, is there any possibility for UNSW med?

Choose an undergrad you’re interested in and apply yourself to studying/completing assignments/exam prep. Do some well considered, reflective prep for UCAT before you sit it. Yes, with the new system, there would be a chance. But there’s no saying what the system will be the year you apply.
 
Thank you so much for your quick response. Thing is im non rural as well if that adds oil to the fire
ucatboy i meant like is there any possibility for me to get into it or is there almost no chance thats all
 
Thank you so much for your quick response. Thing is im non rural as well if that adds oil to the fire
ucatboy i meant like is there any possibility for me to get into it or is there almost no chance thats all
It’s literally impossible for us to answer this beyond what I’ve already said. There’s not ‘no chance’, but without an actual UCAT and GPA to factor in, we can give you nothing more meaningful than that.
 
My impression from many hours of sad thread reading post ATAR release today is that the UNSW lateral entry through the BMedSci is a lucrative money grab, not worth doing? Im still waiting on rejections from JMP and UQ but 3/5 of my UAC preferences are definitely ineligible and I need new ideas. Medicine is still a goal but weighing up between UNSW MedSci, USYD Pharm and UOW BMedHealth (Hon, DS). What one of these would 1) give me best chance overall at getting into med at any point and 2) getting into med soonest. I live in wollongong, walking distance from uni (cars park out our street) so that gives UOW greater value but in terms of getting in to an Ugrad such as JPM or something next year non-standard (is this non standard?) what would be best? Im thinking pharm will be best long term which is what I should probably be choosing but any brief thoughts? {sorry this was an info dump of my disappointment}
 
My impression from many hours of sad thread reading post ATAR release today is that the UNSW lateral entry through the BMedSci is a lucrative money grab, not worth doing? Im still waiting on rejections from JMP and UQ but 3/5 of my UAC preferences are definitely ineligible and I need new ideas. Medicine is still a goal but weighing up between UNSW MedSci, USYD Pharm and UOW BMedHealth (Hon, DS). What one of these would 1) give me best chance overall at getting into med at any point and 2) getting into med soonest. I live in wollongong, walking distance from uni (cars park out our street) so that gives UOW greater value but in terms of getting in to an Ugrad such as JPM or something next year non-standard (is this non standard?) what would be best? Im thinking pharm will be best long term which is what I should probably be choosing but any brief thoughts? {sorry this was an info dump of my disappointment}

It’s a really dangerous rabbit hole to go down when you start thinking about which degree will give you the ‘best chance to get into Med’ without asking more nuanced questions that pull that notion apart.

The best degree for you is one that you’re interested in. You’re more likely to apply yourself to the course, complete assignments to a high standard etc. There’s literally no degree that correlates meaningfully with a higher chance of getting into Med. If you look at graduate entry, the successful students are heavily skewed to BMedSci-like courses, but that’s very much due to sheer numbers. The proportion doing those degrees SPECIFICALLY to get into Med is massive. This makes them stressful, competitive, and incredibly over subscribed. And also means those missing out on grad Med ALSO skew heavily to BMedSci students.

If an alternative back up career for you is medical research of some kind, and you’re prepared to need to complete a PhD, then that’s a completely fine option to take, but if you’re choosing it ONLY as a stepping stone to Med, then literally any other degree will serve you just as well (and probably better). Alternatively, if you think you could see yourself using a BMedSci to move into a professional masters (examples: dietetics, physio, speech path, a gazillion others...), then that’s also decent use of a BMedSci-type degree.

But I think the first step for you is to consider a shift in the way you ask yourself those initial questions.
 
It’s a really dangerous rabbit hole to go down when you start thinking about which degree will give you the ‘best chance to get into Med’ without asking more nuanced questions that pull that notion apart.

The best degree for you is one that you’re interested in. You’re more likely to apply yourself to the course, complete assignments to a high standard etc. There’s literally no degree that correlates meaningfully with a higher chance of getting into Med. If you look at graduate entry, the successful students are heavily skewed to BMedSci-like courses, but that’s very much due to sheer numbers. The proportion doing those degrees SPECIFICALLY to get into Med is massive. This makes them stressful, competitive, and incredibly over subscribed. And also means those missing out on grad Med ALSO skew heavily to BMedSci students.

If an alternative back up career for you is medical research of some kind, and you’re prepared to need to complete a PhD, then that’s a completely fine option to take, but if you’re choosing it ONLY as a stepping stone to Med, then literally any other degree will serve you just as well (and probably better). Alternatively, if you think you could see yourself using a BMedSci to move into a professional masters (examples: dietetics, physio, speech path, a gazillion others...), then that’s also decent use of a BMedSci-type degree.

But I think the first step for you is to consider a shift in the way you ask yourself those initial questions.
Well what if I DONT KNOW WHAT IM INTERESTED IN 😂 apart from med med, like even an allied health degree seems a bit too specific and limiting, as in I'm not ready to make a decision now, I want to choose a specialisation further down the track when I've experienced a few different healthcare areas as a student in placements etc... Thank you for taking your time to reply to this. I suppose I am clutching at straws trying to find a "non-standard" loop hole to sneak in cause I really want it so damn bad.
 
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