Non-standard Medicine Entry

[swilun]

Hello, I'm currently a first year UNSW student with an 88 WAM, 99.6 ATAR (2024), non-rural. I also re-sat the UCAT this year but underperformed on the day, scraping a 2270, ~600 sjt. I'm primarily going for UNSW medicine, but (unrelated) any kind of Dental degree would be my second pick.
I've been preparing for the possibility of a med/dent interview for a while now, and I've gotten more and more confident over the past few months, but after my UCAT I started having doubts, so I felt a need to ask here to better understand my situation.

I want it straight up. Do I have a chance for a UNSW medicine interview?

If yes, what do those chances look like?

If not, I'd greatly appreciate if anyone could lmk what my dentistry options are.

___________
A1 replies: Straight up? Your UCAT 2270 by itself is possibly not enough for UNSW, but possible if it goes with GPA near 7. Do you know what GPA your 88 WAM translates to?
If you don't then try this - Give these grade points to your *individual* subject courses : 7 for 85+, 6 for 75-84, 5 for 65-74, 4 for 50-64, then
sum all the grade points divide by 8 for the average i.e. GPA.
I don't know about the Dent schools, other than 2270+600SJT may be just under for UQ but worth a try.

 

[swilun]

Hello, I'm currently a first year UNSW student with an 88 WAM, 99.6 ATAR (2024), non-rural. I also re-sat the UCAT this year but underperformed on the day, scraping a 2270, ~600 sjt. I'm primarily going for UNSW medicine, but (unrelated) any kind of Dental degree would be my second pick.
I've been preparing for the possibility of a med/dent interview for a while now, and I've gotten more and more confident over the past few months, but after my UCAT I started having doubts, so I felt a need to ask here to better understand my situation.

I want it straight up. Do I have a chance for a UNSW medicine interview?

If yes, what do those chances look like?

If not, I'd greatly appreciate if anyone could lmk what my dentistry options are.

___________
A1 replies: Straight up? Your UCAT 2270 by itself is possibly not enough for UNSW, but possible if it goes with GPA near 7. Do you know what GPA your 88 WAM translates to?
If you don't then try this - Give these grade points to your *individual* subject courses : 7 for 85+, 6 for 75-84, 5 for 65-74, 4 for 50-64, then
sum all the grade points divide by 8 for the average i.e. GPA.
I don't know about the Dent schools, other than 2270+600SJT may be just under for UQ but worth a try.

Thanks A1, you're a blessing

I got above 85 for all my subjects so far, but the year hasn't ended so that may change, I should be on track for this trimester, but there's one more to go. Assuming I maintain a 7 "GPA", would it suffice for an interview?

Also, would what you said mean that a 2270 is likely less than the minimum UCAT requirement for non-standard entry?
No matter the answer I'll still keep my head high but a rough idea would be nice

___________
A1 replies: This is based on observations of data posted on MSO.
- UNSW uses a deselect process to cut out the "lowest" GPA/ATAR Ranks first, which has happened to be around 99.50
- Then interview selection is based on combo of [GPA/ATAR Rank + UCAT]. This has resulted in interview invites to 6.9/99.90 + 90ish %ile, 6.5/99.50 + 95-96%ile ... but none to 6.5/99.50 + 90ish %ile nor 99.45 + 99%ile (this 99.45 having been cut out before the selection).
Thus your 2270 hypothetical 90ish %ile may not be enough with GPA 6.5-6.6, but possible with GPA 6.9-7.0. Best of luck.

 

[anonymous182391]

For the CSU/ WSU joint programme which one should I pick if im from NSW but not Sydney?

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A1 replies: On paper JPM is a joint program therefore WSU vs CSU is only a preference.
i.e. If you qualify on JPM place-offer cutoff you should get an offer regardless - either at your preference campus if you rank high enough, or at the non-pref campus if places at your preference have been filled by applicants ranked higher than you.

Problem is we don't know if JPM actively organises for WSU & CSU to end up with the same cutoffs.
If they don't we could end up with WSU non-rural cutoff lower than CSU (thanks to WSU having more non-rural places), and vice versa CSU rural cutoff lower than WSU. It's then a lottery, I'm reluctant to recommend which one to preference higher.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

Also take where you're living into consideration too. WSU is closer to the city, so access to food, fun, entertainment, people etc are all there.
CSU is in the country with tons of sheep, cows, sunsets and exactly one maccas, one oporto, one KFC, two woolies, one coles, one kmart, one dominos and basically very little else. Little-ish, friendly country town.

 

[sigasigmaboy]

do you need a 96 atar for unsw med applying as a nonstandard

 

[The1&Only]

do you need a 96 atar for unsw med applying as a nonstandard

Yes, in order to be eligible to apply. After that they will use either your GPA (min 5.5) or ATAR whichever one is higher.

 

[ruanhongqing800]

I am metro and I am in first year uni student. I got 1440 UCAT and 99.35 ATAR. Unfortunately, my GPA is very low (I enrolled 4 courses with 7,4, 5 and 1 course fails). Is there any chance for me to apply for non-standard entry in UNSW, JMP, WSU ...? Thanks.

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

I am metro and I am in first year uni student. I got 1440 UCAT and 99.35 ATAR. Unfortunately, my GPA is very low (I enrolled 4 courses with 7,4, 5 and 1 course fails). Is there any chance for me to apply for non-standard entry in UNSW, JMP, WSU ...? Thanks.

For a metro student, an overall GPA sitting below 5.5 and a UCAT below 85%ile, it's unlikely. Even if you post-grad med, you're still going to need a GPA 5.5+ minimum, but a lot closer to 6.5 and above

 

[ruanhongqing800]

Thank you for your reply. Sorry I got a typo. My UCAT score is 2440 (not 1440).

 

[A1]

Thank you for your reply. Sorry I got a typo. My UCAT score is 2440 (not 1440).

Your 99.35 qualifies for WSU. Whether you get an interview depends on your VR score and whether GWS or NSW or interstate.
UNSW is not possible with your ATAR/GPA.

JMP is a little complicated. Your 2440 should meet the cutoff for an interview but your GPA is a problem. You have two options:
1. Do much better in 2nd semester to get the full-year GPA to 4.75
For 4.75= 38 grade points you need (38-16)= 22 GPs from 2nd semester. So 6+6+5+5 or better.

2. Withdraw from one 2nd semester unit to deliberately not have completed 1FTE by year-end. In this case JMP would use your 99.35 ATAR & you're good.

 

[ruanhongqing800]

Your 99.35 qualifies for WSU. Whether you get an interview depends on your VR score and whether GWS or NSW or interstate.
UNSW is not possible with your ATAR/GPA.

JMP is a little complicated. Your 2440 should meet the cutoff for an interview but your GPA is a problem. You have two options:
1. Do much better in 2nd semester to get the full-year GPA to 4.75
For 4.75= 38 grade points you need (38-16)= 22 GPs from 2nd semester. So 6+6+5+5 or better.

2. Withdraw from one 2nd semester unit to deliberately not have completed 1FTE by year-end. In this case JMP would use your 99.35 ATAR & you're good.

Thanks very much A1. My VR is 770 and I am from QLD. Do you think I will have a chance for WSU interview?

___________
A1 replies: Unfortunately you WSU-weighted 796 is unlikely enough for interstate WSU interview.

 

[iloveeggs]

guys sorry if this is a stupid question but are there official sites that arent trying to sell you a UCAT/GAMSAT course that have explicit info about non-standard entry medicine? any webinars or anything? my parents are deluded thinking if you cant get in as a school leaver you cant gap/go into uni and try again with gpa and i need solid evidence

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

guys sorry if this is a stupid question but are there official sites that arent trying to sell you a UCAT/GAMSAT course that have explicit info about non-standard entry medicine? any webinars or anything? my parents are deluded thinking if you cant get in as a school leaver you cant gap/go into uni and try again with gpa and i need solid evidenceEach

What do you mean? Each university will have that criteria on their school website including the need for UCAT or gamsat. They usually each have a medicine and dentistry information night too. If not an entire day dedicated to it with a uni tour.
Also, this site that has different threads for it

 

[iloveeggs]

What do you mean? Each university will have that criteria on their school website including the need for UCAT or gamsat. They usually each have a medicine and dentistry information night too. If not an entire day dedicated to it with a uni tour.
Also, this site that has different threads for it

yeah but they arent bothered contacting unis and think you guys are all making it up. could cost me a second chance if they "dont think im good enough to try again." ig this is less abt evidence and more abt how to convince them that they dont care abt your past ucat scores or atar at all if you retry with gpa from first year uni

 

[AnubisHorus&Ra]

yeah but they arent bothered contacting unis and think you guys are all making it up. could cost me a second chance if they "dont think im good enough to try again." ig this is less abt evidence and more abt how to convince them that they dont care abt your past ucat scores or atar at all if you retry with gpa from first year uni

Ohhhh, that's much harder because some unis do care. They'll combine half atar, half gpa in the first year out (but obly the fist and maybe 2nd year). In that, case, you can try showing them the unis with weighted average marks (WAMs) they should state that only the gpa is considered and weight based on year. Or atar to GPA conversion statements.
Then the official UCAT site should show that the ucat needs to be done yearly meaning fresh slate every year.
Alternatively, go to one of the medicine/dentistry info nights and ask the question.

if you really and truly can't find anything, pop me through a dm. I've been there before.

 

[A1]

yeah but they arent bothered contacting unis and think you guys are all making it up. could cost me a second chance if they "dont think im good enough to try again." ig this is less abt evidence and more abt how to convince them that they dont care abt your past ucat scores or atar at all if you retry with gpa from first year uni

Show your parents the section for Non-Standards in this table
> [Undergrad] - (2023 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

If they still are not convinced you screenshot some webpages from the schools, for eample from WSU

 

[GLGLGL]

Hi all, non standard with 4 year degree to finish in 2025. NSW metro student.

GPA: 6
UCAT: 2450 (VR 850, DM 720, QR 880 --- SJ 700)

Currently going for UNSW, WSU/CSU, JMP. What are the chances for those unis?
Thanks heaps.

___________
A1 replies: You should certainly get WSU interview, and likely JMP.
UNSW unlikely due to GPA not 6.5+.

 

[sga]

Hi,
I am in my first year uni UNSW and I sat the UCAT this year and got 2410 (96th percentile). I'm looking to apply to WSU and UNSW. I know JMP is not likely but I have still applied. In terms of GPA, so far I'm on track to have a GPA of 6.8 (given this trimester I get all HDs). My WAM is around 90. For WSU, I am GWS and have a weighted score of either 768 or 780 depending on the formula used. What are my chances for those unis?

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A1 replies: Yeah not sure if 2410 is enough for JMP. I'm optimistic you should get WSU/GWS interview.
UNSW is very likely unless you're ineligible due to sub-96 ATAR.
If you do get these interviews, place-offer chances are all/largely dependent on the interviews at JMP/WSU so 30-40% chances. UNSW slightly better at 40-50% chances.

 

[sigasigmaboy]

what stats historically do u need for lateral entry for unsw med? (i know it depends on cohort/ how many they take etc etc) just generally gpa and ucat

 

[Adriann05:)]

Hello A1,

Can you explain the likelihood of a 99.70 (+ EAS on top of of this approved for UNSW) with a 2340 (92nd% flat) getting an interview then offer for UNSW med?

Much appreciated )