Post UCAT Discussion 2024

[Littlepuppy06]

Hi A1, thank you for your reply, but I thought 1st round is based on Ucat score only, and last year cut-off was 3020 , so not very confident that I will be invited for 1st round. Just hope I will be invited 2nd once I get my ATAR.

___________
A1 replies: My apology, I'm so used to Monash's old way of 2nd round for interstate.
I think 3010 itself could be enough for 1st round. If not then 99.80+3010 should be good for the ATAR+UCAT 2nd round.

Thank you so much A1, this is really helpful

 

[AspiringMedic25]

Hi All,
My UCAT was 2450 and I have a predicted ATAR of 94. I also happen to be a rural student. I've asked on facebook groups etc about my chances of receiving interview offers. What do you all think?

 

[kristaje]

JCU is probably your best bet for both.

And don’t forget about non-standard entry options once you start a backup degree and then graduate entry options once you’ve completed it (more than 50% of Aus med students take one of these routes to an offer - definitely a very viable alternative to keep in mind).

Good luck!

Many thanks DrDrLMG!

I just got my Casper result 4th quartile. Do you think there it'd be possible to get interview with UCAT 2940 (SJT 680) and ATAR 97.5-98.5, or is it too low? Thanks.

 

[littltl]

Hi I did my first UCAT this year:
VR 640
DM 710
QR 740
AR 890
Total 2980
SJ 655
I'm a non-rural school leaver. My preference is UON JMP, but from what I've heard the UCAT cutoff this year will be about 3200. Do I have a chance? Also what are my other options for medicine?
Thank you!

 

[A1]

Hi All,
My UCAT was 2450 and I have a predicted ATAR of 94. I also happen to be a rural student. I've asked on facebook groups etc about my chances of receiving interview offers. What do you all think?

2450 is less than 50%ile, likely not enough even for rural unfortunately.
You can try non-UCAT JCU, and put in the QTAC application UQ CQU USQ as well. Also try a UAC application for UNSW/CSU/JMP on the off chance if you don't mind the UAC application fee.

Hi I did my first UCAT this year:
VR 640
DM 710
QR 740
AR 890
Total 2980
SJ 655
I'm a non-rural school leaver. My preference is UON JMP, but from what I've heard the UCAT cutoff this year will be about 3200. Do I have a chance? Also what are my other options for medicine?
Thank you!

Similarly 2980 doesn't look promising for non-rural.
Depending on your ATAR you can try the non-UCAT options : 99.9+ for UMelb Chancellor's, 99.8+ for Griffith/USC, 99.0+ for JCU or UMelb FFP, 97.0+ for Bond.

 

[Arcadia]

99.0+ for JCU

Hey A1 I saw in the application for this year JCU is asking for the schooling that applicants had in years 1-12 (and they also asked this last year too).

Does this information bearing in issuing interview invites?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hey A1 I saw in the application for this year JCU is asking for the schooling that applicants had in years 1-12 (and they also asked this last year too).

Does this information bearing in issuing interview invites? (eg. if you attended any disadvantaged schools with low ICSEAs)

I suspect the bigger factor is how rural the school was, but it's possible they're considering other information. JCU are not known for their transparency.

 

[medder123]

what is the GPA cutoff for UQ dent and griffith dent? Also do la trobe and jcu offer non standard dent? If so what are the ucat and gpa cutoffs for them?

 

[Hard]

Hello,
I am a non-rural domestic applicant in WA, applying for medicine.
I got a UCAT of 2930 and ATAR of 99+
Unfortunately my CASPer is 2nd Quartile, hence I have lowered my preference for Curtin as it's unlikely they'll consider for interview.
My 1st Preference is now UWA.

Should I apply to any other universities or courses to get into med?
Any other suggestions for getting into med?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hello,
I am a non-rural domestic applicant in WA, applying for medicine.
I got a UCAT of 2930 and ATAR of 99+
Unfortunately my CASPer is 2nd Quartile, hence I have lowered my preference for Curtin as it's unlikely they'll consider for interview.
My 1st Preference is now UWA.

Should I apply to any other universities or courses to get into med?
Any other suggestions for getting into med?

It’s depends how + that 99+ ATAR is unfortunately. Your UCAT will rule you out of most of the unis that factor that in, but if you have a very night ATAR - think 99.8+ - then there’d be Griffith/USC, and 99.90 for UMelb/99.95 for USyd. JCU would also be an option with a 99.5+ (though you could justifying applying regardless - no UCAT and kinda always an apply and hope for best uni given they’re not all that transparent.

Bond and UMelb are FFP options if that’s feasible.

 

[chekitout]

Hello,
I am a non-rural domestic applicant in WA, applying for medicine.
I got a UCAT of 2930 and ATAR of 99+
Unfortunately my CASPer is 2nd Quartile, hence I have lowered my preference for Curtin as it's unlikely they'll consider for interview.
My 1st Preference is now UWA.

Should I apply to any other universities or courses to get into med?
Any other suggestions for getting into med?

I have always heard you should put your favourite Uni as your first choice through TISC as it is an automatic process so if you don't meet the criteria it moves down to the second choice and so on. The only time this becomes an issue is if you run out of space in the list below medicine. So I am not sure if changing your order matters as Unis don't give out interviews based on preference order. Order really only matters for offers - if you were lucky enough to get multiple Unis interested. Some others may have different views?

Also your predicted ATAR sounds great. Notre Dame Fremantle in WA now has a new Assured Medicine pathway similar to UWA. Previously only available in Sydney. Is Notre Dame also on your TISC list? Does not require Casper but has UCAT and interview. It has no adjustment factors like Broadway or Step Up so would really favour your high ATAR score. Details here. Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Assured Pathway) into Doctor of Medicine

 

[la pulga]

with my ucat being a borderline 3684 (3010 + 674) for UQ dent (although this was the exact score for a first round offer into 2024, assumed to increase...), would my chances be better if i put UQ dent at 1st priority, then griffith 2nd, assuming my score is good enough to get a griff interview?
I'm not sure if it makes a difference but if anyone knows let me know

 

[Noble]

VR: 650
DM: 830
QR: 890
AR: 890
Total: 3260
SJT: 446 /)
Special Considerations: GWS, potentially EAS
Predicted ATAR: 98+
State: NSW

Hey guys, I was just wondering which unis I would likely have a shot at with these scores. Thanks in advance Do any Universities consider SJT?

 

[Hard]

u should put your favourite Uni as your first choice through TISC as

I have always heard you should put your favourite Uni as your first choice through TISC as it is an automatic process so if you don't meet the criteria it moves down to the second choice and so on. The only time this becomes an issue is if you run out of space in the list below medicine. So I am not sure if changing your order matters as Unis don't give out interviews based on preference order. Order really only matters for offers - if you were lucky enough to get multiple Unis interested. Some others may have different views?

Also your predicted ATAR sounds great. Notre Dame Fremantle in WA now has a new Assured Medicine pathway similar to UWA. Previously only available in Sydney. Is Notre Dame also on your TISC list? Does not require Casper but has UCAT and interview. It has no adjustment factors like Broadway or Step Up so would really favour your high ATAR score. Details here. Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Assured Pathway) into Doctor of Medicine

Hey Thank you so much for the info!
So does it mean if I keep Curtin on top, it won't lower my chances for UWA or any other unis?
If so why is there a preference list? like I genuinely don't understand.

Yeah I have applied to Notre Dame In WA as well as Syd! Hoping for the best!

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hey Thank you so much for the info!
So does it mean if I keep Curtin on top, it won't lower my chances for UWA or any other unis?
If so why is there a preference list? like I genuinely don't understand.

Yeah I have applied to Notre Dame In WA as well as Syd! Hoping for the best!

The preference list ensures that you receive
a) one offer per round (to save on admin and to streamline the process) to
b) the top preference course that you’re eligible for

If you have (for example)
1. Curtin Med
2. UWA Med
3. UWA Law

and you don’t end up qualifying for a Curtin offer, but you do qualify for UWA Med AND UWA Law, you’ll get UWA Med because you’ve preferenced it higher than Law.

Or if you’re eligible for offers to all three courses, you’ll get Curtin Med as it’s your top.

Etc, etc.

If you keep Curtin top, it WILL lower your chances of a UWA offer, but only if you get a Curtin offer (in which case, your UWA offer chance becomes zero because you already got your top choice)

If you keep Curtin top and don’t qualify for an offer, TISC will just work their way down your preferences until they come to one you do qualify for, which could be UWA Med.

 

[Hard]

The preference list ensures that you receive
a) one offer per round (to save on admin and to streamline the process) to
b) the top preference course that you’re eligible for

If you have (for example)
1. Curtin Med
2. UWA Med
3. UWA Law

and you don’t end up qualifying for a Curtin offer, but you do qualify for UWA Med AND UWA Law, you’ll get UWA Med because you’ve preferenced it higher than Law.

Or if you’re eligible for offers to all three courses, you’ll get Curtin Med as it’s your top.

Etc, etc.

If you keep Curtin top, it WILL lower your chances of a UWA offer, but only if you get a Curtin offer (in which case, your UWA offer chance becomes zero because you already got your top choice)

If you keep Curtin top and don’t qualify for an offer, TISC will just work their way down your preferences until they come to one you do qualify for, which could be UWA Med.

Oh ok that actually makes so much sense. I really appreciate your time, but can I just ask one more question.
The offer your talking about is about Interview offer or placement offer?

Because I am actually thinking that the preference plays a role in the interview offers as well ( Please correct me if I am wrong )
The only reason I am lowering my Curtin Preference is due to 2nd Quartile Casper, which I believe is too low for interview offer, hence I put UWA on top, but If it was feasible to get into Curtin, I would definitely keep it on top.

So actually have I done the right thing? like my preference is UWA -> Notre Dame -> Curtin.
Once again sorry, but I am a little confused on this so I would be very grateful if you could help me out.

 

[A1]

If so why is there a preference list? like I genuinely don't understand.

Adding to DrLMG's reply - preference list is needed in case you're so brilliant you qualify for both UWA and Curtin place offers for example.

If these offers are released in the same offer round, TISC only gives you the higher pref one and diverts the other to another applicant. They won't give you both offers which would let the other poor soul hanging.

So the risk of putting UWA > Curtin is if you qualify for both you'd get UWA while your real preference is Curtin.

Because I am actually thinking that the preference plays a role in the interview offers as well ( Please correct me if I am wrong )

You are most likely wrong

Except 1 or 2 "weird" schools (fortunately they are not in WA), the pref list is only used by TISC at the offers stage.
Interview invites are issued directly from the schools to applicants. They don't go through the preference process.

 

[Hard]

Adding to DrLMG's reply - preference list is needed in case you're so brilliant you qualify for both UWA and Curtin place offers for example.

If these offers are released in the same offer round, TISC only gives you the higher pref one and diverts the other to another applicant. They won't give you both offers which would let the other poor soul hanging.

So the risk of putting UWA > Curtin is if you qualify for both you'd get UWA while your real preference is Curtin.


You are most likely wrong

Except 1 or 2 "weird" schools (fortunately they are not in WA), the pref list is only used by TISC at the offers stage.
Interview invites are issued directly from the schools to applicants. They don't go through the preference process.

Ah I see now I understand. Thanks a lot for the information!

So does that mean, if I get an interview offer for Curtin, then I can place it on top of my preference? in order receive placement offer?
Because I do want to get into Curtin, but its just my Casper. As far as I know it isn't enough but do you believe there is a chance?
Thanks for your time!

 

[A1]

So does that mean, if I get an interview offer for Curtin, then I can place it on top of my preference? in order receive placement offer?

After DrLMG's and my explanations above you should have worked out the answer yourself

You can muck around with changing the pref order after you get an interview invite. But it won't matter in the end. If you qualify for Curtin interview you get the invite regardless Curtin is 1st or 3rd pref. Otoh if you don't qualify for Curtin interview you won't get an invite even if Curtin is 1st pref.

So simply put them Curtin UWA Notre Dame in the order of your actual preference. This order only matters when you qualify for multiple place offers.

 

[Hard]

After DrLMG's and my explanations above you should have worked out the answer yourself

You can muck around with changing the pref order after you get an interview invite. But it won't matter in the end. If you qualify for Curtin interview you get the invite regardless Curtin is 1st or 3rd pref. Otoh if you don't qualify for Curtin interview you won't get an invite even if Curtin is 1st pref.

So simply put them Curtin UWA Notre Dame in the order of your actual preference. This order only matters when you qualify for multiple place offers.

Ok Thanks a lot! All clear now