Non-standard Medicine Entry

[A1]

I am a bit confused on how the 94.55 is as competitive as the 99+ for JMP, if another applicant had the same UCAT score (theoretically in the 96/97+%ile) but they had the higher ATAR, wouldn't they be selected for the interview?

At JMP ATAR (or GPA) is a hurdle. Interview selection is solely on the UCAT score.
After the interview, place offer is solely on the interview score (with UCAT as tiebreak if necessary).

Separately, is there a particular degree you would recommend I take for S2? I know medical sciences is the common one and I have heard that the exact degree really doesn't matter but doing something like a law or engineering degree would be bad for the "experience" side of my abilities, wouldn't it?

Don't do MedSc for the sake of MedSc or the "experience". Choose a degree that suits your study strengths to achieve GPA 6.5+ for WSU, *plus* will lead to a career path should you continue to be unsuccessful for med.

Also, if I were to do option 3, would be GPA be ready in time for applying to the 2026 cohort?

Yes, GPA will be looked at in January 2026 when the unis do the place offers.

Additionally, how high would the VR score need to be for WSU and CASPER for Curtin?

It's difficult to be specific.
WSU weights VR 3 times the other sections. Say you get 97%ile overall comprised of a low VR + highs in the other sections, VR being weighted 3 times drags down your effective %ile for WSU. General idea is 96-97%ile with VR about the same or better than the other sections.

I'm not too sure about CASPER for Curtin, I think generally 4th quartile (ie. top 25%) or at least 3rd.
But note if you start uni semester 2 you'll no longer be eligible for Curtin.

Do you know where I can find the Smelly Boys UCAT Guide?

As requested
> Smelly Boy's UCAT guide

 

[bubbles66]

Vic applicant here!
If I’m applying as a non standard to other states, am I right in assuming I’m still interstate and have a higher cutoff?

 

[greeby17]

hey im from SA, 99.2 atar 3050 ucat (89), didn't get into med this year, I am studying med sci at Flinders, how does the entry work for these unis, we resit ucat and need at least 97, then apply through UAC similar to as when we were in Year 12, then they tell us if interview and go from there?

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

I’m still interstate and have a higher cutoff

Muliple questions in a row tend to get missed, so just making sure it doesn't get missed, but im not well-versed. Some unis prefer their own state e.g. UoA (2xq here: UoA do not allow for nonstandards except for those studying there - same with UQ because OP said Medicine) and UQ so the cut-off is higher for interstate. Some don't seen to have a preference e.g. ?Griffith, Bond, so cut-off doesn't change between states. A1, help please.

go from there?

1. Aim for a high GPA (6.5+) across a minimum of 6 subjects (8 is better)
2. Resit and aim for a high UCAT (95+% seems to be the norm, but history has told us that 89% is sometimes sufficient if you meet the right criteria e.g. high verbal reasoning for ND. Does your 3050 include SJT? Some unis don't count SJT, so the % could be wrong.
3. For best chances apply to UAC,Satac, qtac etc
3.5. Check other requirements e.g. Casper test, psychometric testing, reference letters
4. Receive interview invite via email or UAC
5. Sit interview
6. Offer email + acceptance via UAC

 

[A1]

Vic applicant here!
If I’m applying as a non standard to other states, am I right in assuming I’m still interstate and have a higher cutoff?

Of the non-standard med schools UNSW, WSU, JMP, JCU, Bond - only WSU has a higher cutoff for interstate coz they allocate 50% of interview spots to GWS, 30% to NSW, 20% to interstate.

Notre Dame Sydney/Fremantle may also be available but I'm not familiar with. I don't think they have higher cutoff for interstate either.

 

[VNAYA1]

Hi I'm a non rural applicant for QLD. I was unsuccessful in receiving a med offer for 2025 due to my low ATAR (97.75) and UCAT (2690). I enrolled in Biomed at QUT and plan to resit UCAT this year for non standard entry. I wanted to ask:

- Will the fact that I have EAS play any factor in this case?
- What would be the GPA cutoff for JCU fr non rural QLD applicant?
- Has there been any change to the WSU formula after the removal of AR from the UCAT?
- Finally, can I apply for transfer in my 3rd year or is my only option at that point GAMSAT?

Thanks

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi I'm a non rural applicant for QLD. I was unsuccessful in receiving a med offer for 2025 due to my low ATAR (97.75) and UCAT (2690). I enrolled in Biomed at QUT and plan to resit UCAT this year for non standard entry. I wanted to ask:

- Will the fact that I have EAS play any factor in this case?
- What would be the GPA cutoff for JCU fr non rural QLD applicant?
- Has there been any change to the WSU formula after the removal of AR from the UCAT?
- Finally, can I apply for transfer in my 3rd year or is my only option at that point GAMSAT?

Thanks

2. There is no GPA cut off for JCU. Realistically, non-rural applicants need high 6s but even that doesn’t guarantee anything. You just need to aim for as high as you can achieve and hope for the best.
4. What do you mean by “transfer in my 3rd year”. Transfer where?

 

[Tomato]

hey im from SA, 99.2 atar 3050 ucat (89), didn't get into med this year, I am studying med sci at Flinders, how does the entry work for these unis, we resit ucat and need at least 97, then apply through UAC similar to as when we were in Year 12, then they tell us if interview and go from there?

You are an SA student. It looks like the interview let you down for UAdel med. If you are going to start med sci, why not study at UAdel? If you study at UAdel, you not only can apply those universities mentioned but also have a chance to transfer to UAdel med.

 

[VNAYA1]

2. There is no GPA cut off for JCU. Realistically, non-rural applicants need high 6s but even that doesn’t guarantee anything. You just need to aim for as high as you can achieve and hope for the best.
4. What do you mean by “transfer in my 3rd year”. Transfer where?

My bad for the wrong wording, I meant to say, what would be a realistic gpa to get an interview at JCU (from what I've heard its like a 6.8)
Also, by transfer I mean non standard entry using UCAT (and just GPA for JCU).

 

[Arcadia]

Hi I'm a non rural applicant for QLD. I was unsuccessful in receiving a med offer for 2025 due to my low ATAR (97.75) and UCAT (2690). I enrolled in Biomed at QUT and plan to resit UCAT this year for non standard entry. I wanted to ask:

- Will the fact that I have EAS play any factor in this case?
- What would be the GPA cutoff for JCU fr non rural QLD applicant?
- Has there been any change to the WSU formula after the removal of AR from the UCAT?
- Finally, can I apply for transfer in my 3rd year or is my only option at that point GAMSAT?

Thanks

1. I'm not too familiar with how EAS works for non-standard entry to the NSW unis but I believe its called something different for uni students - Special Consideration for Applicants with Tertiary Students (SCATS) which is used by UNSW. There is a dedicated thread on MSO related to those schemes which I'm happy to link if you can't find it.

2. no strict cutoff but it is routinely the case that there are 7.0 non-rural applicants who miss out so my advice is one should not solely rely on a JCU interview invite.
3. I thought about that too until I did the math in my head . No it's not changed because VR is weighted by itself and the other sections are averaged out. Last year it was 0.5 x VR + 1/3(QR+DM+AR) x 0.5 and now it PRESUMABLY is 0.5 x VR + 1/2(QR+DM) x 0.5
4. You can keep applying as non-standard to med even after the completion of a bachelor degree - not just limited to GAMSAT but it is advisable to entertain the idea of other pathways like PG entry because while UCAT is relatively easier than the GAMSAT it is a much 'riskier' exam to take imo due to the smaller margin of error allowable if you want a competitive score.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

As said before no strict cutoff but it is routinely the case that there are 7.0 non-rural applicants who miss out so one should not solely rely on a JCU interview invite is my advice

I still wonder what exactly they consider when sending out invites becuase surely after rural invites + special considerations, a 7 would be next on the list?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Only if it’s the will of the giant dartboard they use to rank applicants first.

 

[VNAYA1]

1. I'm not too familiar with how EAS works for non-standard entry to the NSW unis but I believe its called something different for uni students - Special Consideration for Applicants with Tertiary Students (SCATS) which is used by UNSW. There is a dedicated thread on MSO related to those schemes which I'm happy to link if you can't find it.

2. As said before no strict cutoff but it is routinely the case that there are 7.0 non-rural applicants who miss out so my advice is one should not solely rely on a JCU interview invite.
3. I thought about that too until I did the math in my head . No it's not changed because VR is weighted by itself and the other sections are averaged out. Last year it was 0.5 x VR + 1/3(QR+DM+AR) x 0.5 and now it PRESUMABLY is 0.5 x VR + 1/2(QR+DM) x 0.5
4. You can keep applying as non-standard to med even after the completion of a bachelor degree - not just limited to GAMSAT but it is advisable to entertain the idea of other pathways like PG entry because while UCAT is relatively easier than the GAMSAT it is a much 'riskier' exam to take imo due to the smaller margin of error allowable if you want a competitive score.

Thank you so much, that cleared up a lot!

 

[A1]

3. I thought about that too until I did the math in my head . No it's not changed because VR is weighted by itself and the other sections are averaged out. Last year it was 0.5 x VR + 1/3(QR+DM+AR) x 0.5 and now it PRESUMABLY is 0.5 x VR + 1/2(QR+DM) x 0.5

You may be right or you may be wrong

In the previous formula half of VR + half of (DM+QR+AR)/3
WSU deliberately weighted VR three times as much as each of the other 3 sections.

If WSU maintains this 3-time weight the new formula would be 0.6x of VR + 0.4x of (DM+QR)/2
(or in simpler form : 0.6xVR + 0.2xDM + 0.2xQR).

 

[graciefie]

Hey everyone!!
I'm a second year actuarial student at mqu, and tbh I hate it and want to switch to medicine really badly.
I need to stay in NSW (can't afford interstate accommodation) so that narrows my option to pretty much just wsu given my stats. I have a 6.0 GPA and I've gotten 3000+ on UCAT mocks and im from GWS, do you think I've got a real shot or should I focus on finishing my degree than try for postgrad med??

 

[A1]

I need to stay in NSW (can't afford interstate accommodation)

Being a uni student and with JCU virtually out of reach for 6.0 GPA, you're limited to the NSW schools UNSW WSU JMP anyway.

I've gotten 3000+ on UCAT mocks and im from GWS, do you think I've got a real shot or should I focus on finishing my degree than try for postgrad med?

Iirc the year just now interview cutoff for GWS was 760 weighted. This points to 760 x 4 = 3040 total with VR equal to or better than the other three sections on average.

Putting aside the upcoming UCAT change from 4 to 3 sections you need to improve a little on the 3000+ total, or improve on VR to turn the 3000+ (750 unweighted) to 760+ weighted.

You should try for both WSU/JMP and graduate-entry later if necessary. Shouldn't think one OR the other.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Being a uni student and with JCU virtually out of reach for 6.0 GPA, you're limited to the NSW schools UNSW WSU JMP anyway.


Iirc the year just now interview cutoff for GWS was 760 weighted. This points to 760 x 4 = 3040 total with VR equal to or better than the other three sections on average.

Putting aside the upcoming UCAT change from 4 to 3 sections you need to improve a little on the 3000+ total, or improve on VR to turn the 3000+ (750 unweighted) to 760+ weighted.

You should try for both WSU/JMP and graduate-entry later if necessary. Shouldn't be one OR the other.

Follow up:
From a life perspective, if you genuinely hate the course you're doing now with a passion, I'd think about switching courses into one that you are able to tolerate. Given the difficulty of receiving admission, there's a very real possibility that you could end up working as an actuary. It might be easier to switch now into something you like (and by extension, can do well in academically). Is it worth finishing a degree you hate, just for a small increase in the chance of admission? Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, but it's worth thinking about.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Follow up:
From a life perspective, if you genuinely hate the course you're doing now with a passion, I'd think about switching courses into one that you are able to tolerate. Given the difficulty of receiving admission, there's a very real possibility that you could end up working as an actuary. It might be easier to switch now into something you like (and by extension, can do well in academically). Is it worth finishing a degree you hate, just for a small increase in the chance of admission? Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, but it's worth thinking about.

Absolutely this. The equation doesn’t have to be actuary studies vs med. It’s actuary studies vs literally anything else you might be interested in (including med).

 

[Sass#]

Hi everyone, I am a non rural EAS applicant from QLD and obtained an ATAR of 97.70 and a 85%tile ucat, which is not high enough for any school leaver medical degree. So I am considering the bridging pathway into medicine but I don't know much about it. Can I apply to all the listed universities on the first page using the gpa I obtain in my back up uni (biomed at qut) even though most of them are interstate? Thanks

If you do Medical Science at Griffith and maintain a GPA above 5.5 upon graduation, you are guaranteed entry into grad medicine at Griffith. However, if your GPA is below 5.5, you won't get in, so you have to be certain you can maintain a GPA above 5.5. Degrees.

 

[VNAYA1]

If you do Medical Science at Griffith and maintain a GPA above 5.5 upon graduation, you are guaranteed entry into grad medicine at Griffith. However, if your GPA is below 5.5, you won't get in, so you have to be certain you can maintain a GPA above 5.5. Degrees.

Doesn't that Pathway require gamsat? Also can I transfer into it as a non standard applicant

Thanks.