Non-standard Medicine Entry

[user786]

JCU uses combination of GPA + your written application to assess. Our JCU veteran Benjamin said 6.2+ to be competitive, but a lower GPA + a killer written application can still get you an interview.

JMP usually requires around the 95th Percentile which is roughly 3100 (i got this from JMP last year) and according to the 2023 interview compiled list the lowest for JMP was 3110. WSU is a bit different as they heavily weight VR (58% im pretty sure) and for JCU they just use ur GPA and written application for an interview. Overall I'd say to aim for over the 3100 mark for at least one interview invite.

The unis that accept non standards are JMP (University of Newcastle/New England), JPM ( WSU/CSU), UNSW and JCU. Application process wise just apply through UAC for JMP, JPM and UNSW and QTAC for JCU. The way I see it you'll need to smash your UCAT first before anything else and look at JCU application writing if you are interested in that.

Of the five med schools you are eligible, only UNSW uses your ATAR if it's better than your GPA. Unfortunately your 6.3 GPA is likely not high enough, and if your ATAR was sub-99.50 likely not enough either.

Your GPA is sufficient for WSU, JMP, Curtin and you need around 95+%ile UCAT to get an interview. (But note for WSU it can be from 90%ile to 98%ile depending on your VR section score).

6.3 is just competitive enough for JCU, you'll need a very good written application to go with.

Thank you so much for responding to my questions last resort and A1! I truly appreciate it!!

My ATAR was above 99.5 but the ~95th percentile requirement for the UCAT seems very high indeed, and with FT work I'm not sure how achievable it would be.

I'd really appreciate if you could answer my follow up questions:

1. Is the ~95th percentile UCAT goal intended for rural or metro candidates? Can you please clarify what I should be aiming for if I'm a rural (orange / R2A candidate)?
2. Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply to these universities over time? My plan now is to prepare for and sit the UCAT every year until I get in. Suppose I receive an interview invite and I'm unsuccessful at the interview stage, is it likely that the same university will offer me an interview spot in subsequent years (assuming I meet the relevant UCAT thresholds)?
   • I'm asking this because I noticed for JCU, in one of the other threads, that people who received interview invites in previous years were not offered an interview invite despite submitting a better GPA/written application. Is this trend of not accepting past interview attendees observed for the other universities (such as WSU, JMP, Curtin)?

 

[2xq]

Thank you so much for responding to my questions last resort and A1! I truly appreciate it!!

My ATAR was above 99.5 but the ~95th percentile requirement for the UCAT seems very high indeed, and with FT work I'm not sure how achievable it would be.

I'd really appreciate if you could answer my follow up questions:

1. Is the ~95th percentile UCAT goal intended for rural or metro candidates? Can you please clarify what I should be aiming for if I'm a rural (orange / R2A candidate)?

~95th percentile + is what is estimated to be required for metro candidates
I suggest aiming as high as possible rather than just a specific target. Percentiles are determined by the entire cohort. Should the cohort in one application cycle do better, you could get screwed over by just aiming for a target

2. Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply to these universities over time?

I believe no (but there could be some fine printing that I am unaware of so correct me if I'm wrong).

My plan now is to prepare for and sit the UCAT every year until I get in. Suppose I receive an interview invite and I'm unsuccessful at the interview stage, is it likely that the same university will offer me an interview spot in subsequent years (assuming I meet the relevant UCAT thresholds)?

Each year, the requirement changes. Whatever you get in subsequent years has to be better than the last eligible ranked interviewee.

• I'm asking this because I noticed for JCU, in one of the other threads, that people who received interview invites in previous years were not offered an interview invite despite submitting a better GPA/written application.

One can't assume that the cohort cycle would have the same overall written application quality. Sure, you might have gotten an interview previously but you can't really say how everyone else that submitted an application did. It could very well be that the entire applicant pool just wrote better applications and/or have better GPAs in that cycle.

• Is this trend of not accepting past interview attendees observed for the other universities (such as WSU, JMP, Curtin)?

There is no data (at least to my knowledge) to suggest that this would be the case for any university out there. It is purely based on how you rank vs other applicants within that year cycle. There is no reason for an individual to be favoured in any case just because they got an interview previously. That just isn't how it works.

 

[A1]

Is the ~95th percentile UCAT goal intended for rural or metro candidates? Can you please clarify what I should be aiming for if I'm a rural (orange / R2A candidate)?

If you're a RA2 applicant ignore what I said about UNSW. Your prospects have increased five folds
I have seen interview invites from UNSW, WSU, JMP to as low as 60ish %ile UCAT. Not sure about Curtin since we don't get much data posted.

JCU also favours rural applicants who can elaborate on their rural experiences (i.e. not just from being rural-background like at other schools).

Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply to these universities over time?

No limit how many times and as far as we know they're not disadvantaged.

There was a case a school leaver got a JCU interview (but no offer), the next year applied non-standard with GPA 7.0 no interview. It could be because JCU interviews some 600 school leavers versus guesstimate 70-100 non-standards, their written applications were just good enough for the former but not enough for the latter.

(Footnote: this student^ later got graduate-entry med so all is well).

 

[last resort]

As a non-standard from Victoria (non-rural) I believe that JMP is my best shot. Just to clarify does JMP prefer NSW students over other states? I just would like to know what my chances are for JMP.

 

[A1]

As a non-standard from Victoria (non-rural) I believe that JMP is my best shot. Just to clarify does JMP prefer NSW students over other states? I just would like to know what my chances are for JMP.

1. I don't think JMP discriminates against interstate applicants
2. After getting an interview invite your place offer chance is about one in three (on paper it's one in four but I discount those who get a higher-pref UNSW/WSU offer thus not take away a JMP place).

 

[last resort]

1. I don't think JMP discriminates against interstate applicants
2. After getting an interview invite your place offer chance is about one in three (on paper it's one in four but I discount those who get a higher-pref UNSW/WSU offer thus not take away a JMP place).

Thank you A1 . Also another question if you don't mind ahaha. Are there only a limited amount of places for non-standards at JMP, JPM and JCU or is it more like a who ever does better basis?

 

[kokujin]

hey yall, im currently doing my first year bachelor of biomed at bond which has a 4-point gpa. Im planning on applying for non-standard entry and am doing ucat again this year. I was wondering how to determine my 7-point gpa from the 4-point gpa. Thanks for the help.

 

[A1]

hey yall, im currently doing my first year bachelor of biomed at bond which has a 4-point gpa. Im planning on applying for non-standard entry and am doing ucat again this year. I was wondering how to determine my 7-point gpa from the 4-point gpa. Thanks for the help.

Assuming you have had no Fail (ie. every course/unit is 1+ grade points) : Add 3 to your 4-base GPA.

Example you have them all Credits (GPA 2.0) which would be all 5s on 7-base = GPA 5.0. Multiply by 1.75 is not an accurate method.

Are there only a limited amount of places for non-standards at JMP, JPM and JCU or is it more like a who ever does better basis?

School leavers and Non-standards compete in the same pool at JMP & JPM, there's no preset offers ratio between them. If anything we've heard non-standards tend to outnumber SLs in the cohorts thanks to being more matured in the interview.

Otoh we heard directly from a JCU Professor they allocate only a "handful" to non-standard, guesstimate is around 20-40 out of 150 places.

 

[last resort]

xample you have them all Credits (GPA 2.0) which would be all 5s on 7-base = GPA 5.0. Multiply by 1.75 is not an accurate method.

oh, I thought x1.75 was correct. My apologies for the incorrect information

School leavers and Non-standards are in the same pool at JMP & JPM, there's no preset ratio between them. If anything we've heard non-standards tend to outnumber SLs in the cohorts thanks to being more matured in the interview.

Otoh we heard directly from a JCU Professor they allocate only a "handful" to non-standard, guesstimate is around 20-40 out of 150 places.

Thank you so much

 

[kokujin]

Thanks so much for the information.

Assuming you have had no Fail (ie. every course/unit is 1+ grade points) : Add 3 to your 4-base GPA.

Example you have them all Credits (GPA 2.0) which would be all 5s on 7-base = GPA 5.0. Multiply by 1.75 is not an accurate method.


School leavers and Non-standards compete in the same pool at JMP & JPM, there's no preset offers ratio between them. If anything we've heard non-standards tend to outnumber SLs in the cohorts thanks to being more matured in the interview.

Otoh we heard directly from a JCU Professor they allocate only a "handful" to non-standard, guesstimate is around 20-40 out of 150 places.

 

[Masz]

Hi all, my ATAR was only 73 but I have completed a 3 year bachelor degree with a GPA of 6.26. I'm planning on sitting the UCAT but realistically what score would I be needing to get to secure interviews? I'm also rural (RA2/MM3)

 

[last resort]

Hi all, my ATAR was only 73 but I have completed a 3 year bachelor degree with a GPA of 6.26. I'm planning on sitting the UCAT but realistically what score would I be needing to get to secure interviews? I'm also rural (RA2/MM3)

If you're a RA2 applicant ignore what I said about UNSW. Your prospects have increased five folds
I have seen interview invites from UNSW, WSU, JMP to as low as 60ish %ile UCAT. Not sure about Curtin since we don't get much data posted.

JCU also favours rural applicants who can elaborate on their rural experiences (i.e. not just from being rural-background like at other schools).

^^

 

[jfa01]

Hi all - as a graduate, it seems like a UCAT of above 95th percentile is required to stand a chance at any of the undergrad med schools. Could I have some confirmation of this?

Also, I've noticed that UNSW has multiple campuses - is the realistic UCAT required for graduates the same for all campuses (eg Wagga Wagga or Port Macquarie)?

Thank you!

 

[last resort]

Hi all - as a graduate, it seems like a UCAT of above 95th percentile is required to stand a chance at any of the undergrad med schools. Could I have some confirmation of this?

Yes, pretty much you will need an UCAT of 95th% or higher for a chance. Some unis like JCU dont require UCAT though.

Also, I've noticed that UNSW has multiple campuses - is the realistic UCAT required for graduates the same for all campuses (eg Wagga Wagga or Port Macquarie)?

I'd assume so yes.

 

[A1]

Hi all - as a graduate, it seems like a UCAT of above 95th percentile is required to stand a chance at any of the undergrad med schools. Could I have some confirmation of this?

Since JMP interview-invite cutoff is solely on UCAT overall score = percentile, we can see clearly the cutoff has inched up from 93%ile to 94%ile then now 95%ile.

JPM depends more on your VR section score. We have seen 90%ile with 800+ VR made it yet 98%ile with 600ish VR didn't.

At UNSW it's combo of ATAR/GPA + UCAT. The minimum is around 99.5/6.5 + 95%ile, then each 0.1 above 99.5/6.5 can reduce the UCAT a little. Iirc a 99.90 + 92%ile did get an invite.

Also, I've noticed that UNSW has multiple campuses - is the realistic UCAT required for graduates the same for all campuses

Yes it's the same for all campuses because at that stage it's either you get an invite or not get one. Which campus is only decided after the interview.

 

[MedicalWife]

Does anyone have any suggestions on graduate certificates where it’s reasonable to attain a 6.0 GPA?

My wife did the UCAT last year and was aiming for JMP. We were reviewing her UCAT results and realised she would have probably hit the threshold for the GWS interviews…. We didn’t apply d’oh! Her undergrad degree was a little below the threshold, so she is looking to start a grad cert and hit the 6.0 GPA.

Any suggestions?

 

[natzanite]

Hi! Does anyone know if I can take a gap year in the middle of my bachelor's to focus primarily on UCAT and use the result of my first year GPA to gain entry in 2025? I am currently in my first year of psychology and I have an almost perfect GPA and on track to meet the threshold - my UCAT practice scores are definitely not on track however and I have lower chances of meeting a competitive score. The unis I am eligible to apply for (due to my atar being too low) are JPM and JMP. I will still apply this year whatever ucat score I get, with JCU in mind but I am preparing for later year's entry in case. If this is not possible, what would you suggest is the best course of action?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi! Does anyone know if I can take a gap year in the middle of my bachelor's to focus primarily on UCAT and use the result of my first year GPA to gain entry in 2025? I am currently in my first year of psychology and I have an almost perfect GPA and on track to meet the threshold - my UCAT practice scores are definitely not on track however and I have lower chances of meeting a competitive score. The unis I am eligible to apply for (due to my atar being too low) are JPM and JMP. I will still apply this year whatever ucat score I get, with JCU in mind but I am preparing for later year's entry in case. If this is not possible, what would you suggest is the best course of action?

Yes, you can do this if you think it’s necessary.

 

[semaj]

Hi! Does anyone know if I can take a gap year in the middle of my bachelor's to focus primarily on UCAT and use the result of my first year GPA to gain entry in 2025? I am currently in my first year of psychology and I have an almost perfect GPA and on track to meet the threshold - my UCAT practice scores are definitely not on track however and I have lower chances of meeting a competitive score. The unis I am eligible to apply for (due to my atar being too low) are JPM and JMP. I will still apply this year whatever ucat score I get, with JCU in mind but I am preparing for later year's entry in case. If this is not possible, what would you suggest is the best course of action?

I thought that for JMP you needed at least 1 year of university study with full time load for your gpa to be considered, I believe i had a similar question regarding this earlier this year. Oh wait i see youve already done 1 full year with an almost perfect gpa not just taking a break in the middle of the sem ahaha never mind should be good

 

[la pulga]

Does anyone know how I'm meant to get a USI number when I'm currently an NZ first year uni student? I can't apply unless I'm onshore in Australia, and even then I need to have an australian mobile phone number as my new zealand one is "incorrect" lmao. Any help would be much appreciated - without this USI I don't seem to see how it's possible for me to make any applications..? correct me if I'm mistaken about that, how do NZ students get around this when applying to australia?