Otago HSFY chat - archive

[skyglow1]

91% average and 95th percentile should be enough for direct entry into med. Please read this section on the marks that were required for 2009 entry:

https://www.medstudentsonline.com.au/showthread.php?t=4804#Undergraduate

 

[kaixian0011]

Oh!
Im got into Carrington College~ Woo~
Good food I hear

 

[greenglacier]

Yeah GG you should be proud- everyone talking in labs about cutoffs knows that 77.5/78 was what you needed last year.

It's really good to hear that the message is spreading. As long as people do know that cutoffs do change then it's all good and I think it is definitely a positive thing that people are starting to think rationally about their UMAT scores and realising that UMAT actually isn't as important as it's made out to be. A poor UMAT is one thing... letting that UMAT severely impact on your HSFY marks is quite another. That was my intention in collecting all the data... to show people just what the effect of UMAT is.


With regard to the HUBS test, I think it serves as a timely reminder that you have to be in for the long run to succeed in HSFY and even letting your guard down for a bit can come back to bite you... I have no doubt that a key contributor to the poor average was a general apathy towards this (very insignificant) test. At the same time, if everyone who didn't do as well as they would have liked learns from the experience and makes sure they use this week to get up-to-date in anticipation of the final exam then I'm sure you'll all do fine. Last year the second terms test was also nasty (average of 60%), but the final exam was generally set at an easier standard (check out the mini-essays to see for yourself).

 

[patkirtan]

It's really good to hear that the message is spreading. As long as people do know that cutoffs do change then it's all good and I think it is definitely a positive thing that people are starting to think rationally about their UMAT scores and realising that UMAT actually isn't as important as it's made out to be. A poor UMAT is one thing... letting that UMAT severely impact on your HSFY marks is quite another. That was my intention in collecting all the data... to show people just what the effect of UMAT is.

It's still an excellent resource for students like me who came here thinking you need at least a 90 Average for UMAT+ HSFY to even be considered for waiting list. My perception of entry into Medicine has dramatically changed this year. Either Ace UMAT or HSFY, you have more control over HSFY ^_^ .

What if someone who got 75th percentile and someone who got 44th percentile have the same 'weighted raw score' Where does he/she fit table?

 

[smile]

sorry whats the cutoff that you guys are talking about?

 

[skyglow1]

Read this part of the article:

https://www.medstudentsonline.com.au/showthread.php?t=4804#Undergraduate

The cut-off score for entry into the 2010 2nd year class through a first round offer (i.e. not off the waiting list) was somewhere between 77.2 and 77.5, which can approximately translate to one of the following:

30th percentile UMAT and 94% HSFY average
50th percentile UMAT and 92% HSFY average
80th percentile UMAT and 89% HSFY average
90th percentile UMAT and 87% HSFY average
95th percentile UMAT and 86% HSFY average

 

[patkirtan]

I know that the 2009 Epi paper is embargoed, but was there anyone [2nd years] lucky enough to download it before it was embargoed?

 

[Simmy12]

If anyone has it, let me know tooo Two papers so ain't enough to get a good idea.

 

[Ramza]

I know that the 2009 Epi paper is embargoed, but was there anyone [2nd years] lucky enough to download it before it was embargoed?

I'm pretty sure we were unable to download last year, and that all we got given was the essay question on the public health model.

 

[greenglacier]

I'm pretty sure we were unable to download last year, and that all we got given was the essay question on the public health model.

There were 23 downloads made before it was embargoed... I have one of them but I haven't given anyone a copy yet due to the issues this would raise if they repeat questions. If someone can get the all clear from the epi staff (they know that there were 23 downloads and therefore that there are copies of the exam around - Janine Tansley would probably be the best one to ask) then I'll send a copy to anyone who wants one.

 

[Ramza]

There were 23 downloads made before it was embargoed... I have one of them but I haven't given anyone a copy yet due to the issues this would raise if they repeat questions. If someone can get the all clear from the epi staff (they know that there were 23 downloads and therefore that there are copies of the exam around - Janine Tansley would probably be the best one to ask) then I'll send a copy to anyone who wants one.

yeah I was just told by a mate that it WAS available for a while, i actually didnt realize they would make it available. But mate i like your approach to this.

 

[Ramza]

There were 23 downloads made before it was embargoed... I have one of them but I haven't given anyone a copy yet due to the issues this would raise if they repeat questions. If someone can get the all clear from the epi staff (they know that there were 23 downloads and therefore that there are copies of the exam around - Janine Tansley would probably be the best one to ask) then I'll send a copy to anyone who wants one.

Just talked to my friend who is an epi tutor. And said not to. But its up to you mate, I have no need for it as im just glad to be rid of heal.

 

[Ramza]

I came up with the idea of forming some sort of a study group whereby me and several others can meet up like once or twice a week and discuss questions/answers related to HSFY papers as well as UMAT and interview p rep (for Dent hopefuls). We can meet up at the library or at someone's college, or wherever...but if you're interested, let me know and we'll sort something out. I was thinking like, throughout the year during the meet-ups we mainly focus on concepts/questions that we don't understand and together, we can find the solution and help each other out. A mutual relationship. Then nearing the end of the semesters before exams begin, we can start focusing on past papers. Also, during the long break after 1st semester exams, we can sort out UMAT study sessions etc. Together, we can keep each other motivated and focussed on our primary goal - getting into med/dent. As Henry Ford once said - “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Let's do it guys n gals! ^_^

I wish i actuallly looked at this last year! T.T

 

[patkirtan]

There were 23 downloads made before it was embargoed... I have one of them but I haven't given anyone a copy yet due to the issues this would raise if they repeat questions. If someone can get the all clear from the epi staff (they know that there were 23 downloads and therefore that there are copies of the exam around - Janine Tansley would probably be the best one to ask) then I'll send a copy to anyone who wants one.

The epi department would say no. lol
I think some questions might be repeated, though they did the same for cells this year.

2007 paper is WTF
2008 paper is pretty decent.

Practicing from 2 papers isn't enough, I went through beyond 2006 and it just gets worse.

I reckon Epi department should just release the paper if the questions are new this year.

 

[Ramza]

The epi department would say no. lol
I think some questions might be repeated, though they did the same for cells this year.

2007 paper is WTF
2008 paper is pretty decent.

Practicing from 2 papers isn't enough, I went through beyond 2006 and it just gets worse.

I reckon Epi department should just release the paper if the questions are new this year.

I talked to my mate, (TUTOR) and she said, 'OH shit, well at least somone will get an A+' and she said majority of the questions will be repeated mate so ITS going to be repeated. LOL

 

[the_international]

GG ill pay you for the paper

 

[ukuting]

so the cut off last year was around 77.2-77.5,
and that's the main round offer,
does anyone know about what percentage of those who got first round offer declined it?
In another way, what's the change of people in the waiting list getting an offer?

 

[Ramza]

so the cut off last year was around 77.2-77.5,
and that's the main round offer,
does anyone know about what percentage of those who got first round offer declined it?
In another way, what's the change of people in the waiting list getting an offer?

Probably dont know the percentage of people decline after first round but i know that everyone on the waiting list usually WILL get on, most of the people i know got in like that. That was the case for THIS and LAST year.

I know someone who is 3rd year med now. and he got in 2 weeks after med started, even though he was not on the waitinglist.

So its a pretty positive thing being placed on the waiting list.

 

[patkirtan]

Hmm, in that case. I think I should go hard for study. I think I can make it into Waiting list if I really really really try hard.


Also- I think it's a bit unfair that 22 [other] people who downloaded it [epi 2009] could potentially be circulating it to HSFY for a substantial profit.

Eh...

 

[greenglacier]

OK, so it sounds like they are going to repeat questions from 2009 in this year's exam... interesting. I was talking to Janine about it earlier this year and she said that they had initially intended to do so (hence the embargo) but on hearing that there had been 23 downloads she said "but I suppose we can't do that now".

At this stage then it sounds like I won't be sharing the exam with anyone, unless you can get word from Janine that it's alright.

It does sound at the least like this years exam is going to be very similar to last years, so some general points that anyone who sat the exam last year would be able to tell you:

Last years exam was very different to any of the past exams, and compared to 2008 had a far greater emphasis on actual epidemiology (interpreting studies) than on public health. The reason why the 2008 exam is predominantly public health stuff is because that year the (33%) terms test was entirely epidemiology.

The basic structure was 6 sections:

Section 1 - MCQs, mainly on epidemiology (basic concepts of interpreting studies such as calculating various measures, choosing the best study design for a given question, interpreting stuff). Mostly straightforward but with a couple of nasty questions that really made you think. 36 marks. Not too dissimilar in style to the 2008 MCQs (but I reckon easier overall).
Section 2 - about 50 marks. Basically a load of short answer questions that seemed to be randomly selected from across the whole course. A real mix of everything. (So, much like the short answer component of the 2008 exam, but shorter, and it felt like a greater proportion of the mark had been allocated to epidemiology as opposed to public health).
Sections 3-5 - about 15-20 marks each. Each of these sections consisted of a half-page long description of a study and then a few questions relating to it.
Section 6 - the pre-released question.


On another matter, you'll have all by now received an email asking you to participate in a study on UMAT. I would strongly encourage everyone to fill out the associated survey. It will only take 5 minutes, but if the response rate is sufficiently high then the university will be able to produce a study with a very robust method that aims to determine whether you can prepare for the UMAT. As far as I'm aware nothing of this nature has occurred before and I for one would be very keen to see the findings!