threefivetwo
less gooo
I feel that my post confused a lot of people. Like everyone's said above, don't overthink it - just give it a shot and see how it goes from there. We can tell you about everything, but really experience's the best teacher 
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Non-standard Medicine Entry
- Thread starter qwerty1234
- Start date
ThunderDragon
Regular Member
Hello
Was just wondering if there is a Non-standard entry into UNSW Undergraduate Medicine or is that just for UNSW students? I've seen Lateral entry but never saw Non-standard entry (unless I'm blind)? If so, do they just consider ur GPA or WAM from your first year of uni? Thanks
Was just wondering if there is a Non-standard entry into UNSW Undergraduate Medicine or is that just for UNSW students? I've seen Lateral entry but never saw Non-standard entry (unless I'm blind)? If so, do they just consider ur GPA or WAM from your first year of uni? Thanks
Read literally the first post in this thread. Then read through other posts for your answers, it’s honestly all there. Multiple times.
ThunderDragon
Regular Member
Ah okay thanks! I thought it maybe got phased out this year.
What on earth gave you that impression? There’s a multitude of non-standard applicants that have already reported interview invites here at MSO at a minimum (and that would only be a small % of the total). I definitely recommend doing some research.
ThunderDragon
Regular Member
ah i see just a couple of friends only telling me that only JCU, JMP and JPM had non standard so probs why I completely overlooked UNSW having one too.
threefivetwo
less gooo
I suggest letting your friends overlook this so you have a higher chance of getting into Med next year
O
occhiolisms
Guest
Hi! I graduated from high school this year. I was very unsure about medicine as a career but I did the UCAT kind of on a whim and scored a 2930 (90th %ile), which unfortunately means I just missed out on a few interviews. I got an ATAR of 97.35, and recently, my interest in medicine has returned. I intend on studying Psych at USyd this year, and plan on properly preparing for and redoing the UCAT. I had a few questions about entry through this pathway.
I did not take Chemistry in Year 12. I did it in Year 11 so I have an understanding of basic concepts, however, I obviously would not fulfill any prerequisite requirements. In this case, would it be worthwhile to pursue a minor in chem at USyd? Would this aid in fulfilling uni prereqs for JCU/UNSW etc.? My only worry with this is the load of the course and its impact on maintaining a high WAM which I am aware that I need for this pathway. If it is 'useless,' then should I instead take something I think I can score highly in?
Thank you in advance!
I did not take Chemistry in Year 12. I did it in Year 11 so I have an understanding of basic concepts, however, I obviously would not fulfill any prerequisite requirements. In this case, would it be worthwhile to pursue a minor in chem at USyd? Would this aid in fulfilling uni prereqs for JCU/UNSW etc.? My only worry with this is the load of the course and its impact on maintaining a high WAM which I am aware that I need for this pathway. If it is 'useless,' then should I instead take something I think I can score highly in?
Thank you in advance!
Last edited by a moderator:
threefivetwo
less gooo
Hey - while it’s true that Chemistry is relevant in Medicine, I’m not quite sure that it’s a prerequisite at most universities in NSW, or Australia. With regards to pursuing a minor in Chem, I’ll echo the general advice on the forum, which is to not take anything for the purpose of getting into Medicine and take only based on interest and relevance towards a backup career. This answers your question about taking something you’d score highly in. Supposing you didn’t get into Medicine forever, would you be happy with that degree as a backup career? If you feel you’re passionate about Psych, do it - that motivation will drive you throughout the course.
If it’s true that you scored 2930 on a whim, you’d be in an excellent position to prepare for the UCAT this year. Be wary that cutoffs may increase again, so you should be scoring far higher on your mocks than what you may glean from the forum, not least because it’s very possible you could underperform on the day due to nerves.
With regards to your UCAT practice and performance AND intentions for studying Medicine, I would reflect on those as you begin preparation this year. Doing so will allow you to better target practice this year and conduct higher quality preparation, in addition to better placing you to answer the question “Why Medicine?” which you’ll definitely get asked during an interview.
Best of luck for your efforts this year
Once you've started this degree you're only eligible to apply to the med schools that accept non-standard (uni student) applicants - UNSW, JMP, WSU, Bond. None of these requires a Chem prereq.
O
occhiolisms
Guest
Would I not be eligible to apply to JCU and Bond?
Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I probably won't take chemistry thenHey - while it’s true that Chemistry is relevant in Medicine, I’m not quite sure that it’s a prerequisite at most universities in NSW, or Australia. With regards to pursuing a minor in Chem, I’ll echo the general advice on the forum, which is to not take anything for the purpose of getting into Medicine and take only based on interest and relevance towards a backup career. This answers your question about taking something you’d score highly in. Supposing you didn’t get into Medicine forever, would you be happy with that degree as a backup career? If you feel you’re passionate about Psych, do it - that motivation will drive you throughout the course.
If it’s true that you scored 2930 on a whim, you’d be in an excellent position to prepare for the UCAT this year. Be wary that cutoffs may increase again, so you should be scoring far higher on your mocks than what you may glean from the forum, not least because it’s very possible you could underperform on the day due to nerves.
With regards to your UCAT practice and performance AND intentions for studying Medicine, I would reflect on those as you begin preparation this year. Doing so will allow you to better target practice this year and conduct higher quality preparation, in addition to better placing you to answer the question “Why Medicine?” which you’ll definitely get asked during an interview.
Best of luck for your efforts this year
Iirc Bond does not require Chem prereq.
JCU does, you'd need to do/complete a bridging course (not sure if a USyd unit would satisfy, you need to check the number of lab hours required) by the offer date.
If it's a combined degree, then I think you have to complete the two though I'm not 100% sure on this. There'd be more about this on Paging Dr as it's graduate entry focussed.
Generally, if UNSW lets you graduate Vision Sc & issue you the degree itself after 3rd year, you can use it for grad-entry med. If they hold back until you finish the Masters & graduate the two degrees together (like UNSW BMedSt + MD) then you can't.
From personal experience and from what I was told, you can apply in 3rd year and then early exit with the bachelors should you get a place and accept it.
Hi Everyone! I'm new here. But what is a good degree to study at university if one was thinking of applying as a non standard? I am thinking of studying science, health science or maybe psychology at monash. Does it matter what you study as a non standard applicant? I want to be able to maintain a high gpa.
Can anyone tell me an outline of how they applied/made it as a non standard applicant?
Can anyone tell me an outline of how they applied/made it as a non standard applicant?
panda_6940
USyd BSc/MD II
Welcome to MSO! I'm not a non-standard, but it doesn't matter what degree you studied before as a non-standard applicant. You should do something that you enjoy and that has good career prospects afterwards, which would also give you a higher chance of maintaining a high gpa.