Quick Questions Thread #2: 2018-2019

[A1]

Just wanted to get an idea about unsw atar GPA calculation.
So using a the table A1 provided, it says that for unsw, a GPA of 6.5+ is equal to 99.5, so does that mean even if I get above 6.5 it has no difference. Like does a 6.5 and 6.75 for example both have the same effect to my current atar? (95.9)
Thanks guys

Yes according to that table 6.5 and 6.75 convert to the same.
Please note it is only an assumption that UAC (thus for UNSW) uses that table, but it is a reasonable assumption since the table comes off a document by a uni in the UAC "consortium".

 

[Bbbeb]

Thanks LMG and hp, I’ll try and find a way! Appreciate the advice and guidance

 

[Michael Wan]

In NSW, having a low UMAT result (S1 50, S2 61, S3 60 = 174 at 84th %). JMP and WSU interviews are out.
Thinking about USyd Pharmacy for 2019 to get a back up degree while trying UMAT again next year for medicine.
However, I dropped Maths for HSC unfortunately. Noted from the USyd website that 2019 Pharm need HSC Math per-requisite. Are there any possibility of taking a bridging course? If not, can I do another Bach. Degree next year for 1 year and apply for the Bach. of Pharmacy at USyd?

Thanks for your help?

 

[Molarbear]

Hi, I'm a non-standard and I'd just like to confirm Dentistry at UniADL requires you to be a student there already (so internal transfer) to apply for the courses (exception of school leaver)? I've just been seeing some contradicting info across the forums. Also does latrobe accept non-standards? I haven't seen it on the list of unis for non standards?

I'd also like to quickly confirm there aren't any other med or dentistry unis that accept non-standards that use SATAC? Thanks!

 

[Q3]

In NSW, having a low UMAT result (S1 50, S2 61, S3 60 = 174 at 84th %). JMP and WSU interviews are out.
Thinking about USyd Pharmacy for 2019 to get a back up degree while trying UMAT again next year for medicine.
However, I dropped Maths for HSC unfortunately. Noted from the USyd website that 2019 Pharm need HSC Math per-requisite. Are there any possibility of taking a bridging course? If not, can I do another Bach. Degree next year for 1 year and apply for the Bach. of Pharmacy at USyd?

Thanks for your help?

Are you doing the degree solely to do something in the meantime or have you thoroughly researched it and know that should medical school aspirations fail, it is something you could do for a long time?

 

[A1]

Hi, I'm a non-standard and I'd just like to confirm Dentistry at UniADL requires you to be a student there already (so internal transfer) to apply for the courses (exception of school leaver)? I've just been seeing some contradicting info across the forums. Also does latrobe accept non-standards? I haven't seen it on the list of unis for non standards?

I'd also like to quickly confirm there aren't any other med or dentistry unis that accept non-standards that use SATAC? Thanks!

I see both Adelaide & LaTrobe on this list (NSL = non school leaver = non standard). And commonly when we say accepting non-standards it means not restricted to internal applicants.

> 2017-18 Dent schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

You can also see from that list whether there are any other dent schools. There is no med school for non-standards in SA.

 

[Michael Wan]

Are you doing the degree solely to do something in the meantime or have you thoroughly researched it and know that should medical school aspirations fail, it is something you could do for a long time?

I would say for both. The Pharmacy degree will give me the flexibility of becoming a pharmacist if I could not get into Medicine during the few years of the study, just in case. However, I think USyd (the only Uni in NSW offering undergraduate Pharmacy) will not accept me in 2019 as I dropped Maths.

 

[Q3]

I would say for both. The Pharmacy degree will give me the flexibility of becoming a pharmacist if I could not get into Medicine during the few years of the study, just in case.

But the real question is it something you see yourself doing for life? Because your answer indicates it is something you could do for a while till you get into med. If you can answer that question then you will know what to do. Since you can't enter straight away, you could always do a B science and then see what happens. Is a career in health the only thing you are interested in?

 

[Michael Wan]

A dumb question, I have put my initial 5 preferences in UAC online. I am interested in Health Science Degrees (eg Medicine, Pharm, Med Sc or Nursing). I then noticed that there are many 'rounds' for offers from Unis and many deadlines for locking the preferences.

What is the actual deadline for me if I am not applying for any 'special' pathways. Is it after the actual ATAR release in mid Dec when the preferences are actually considered and the offers released? I am really confused by the so many 'important' dates on UAC website!

Thanks

 

[A1]

A dumb question, I have put my initial 5 preferences in UAC online. I am interested in Health Science Degrees (eg Medicine, Pharm, Med Sc or Nursing). I then noticed that there are many 'rounds' for offers from Unis and many deadlines for locking the preferences.

What is the actual deadline for me if I am not applying for any 'special' pathways. Is it after the actual ATAR release in mid Dec when the preferences are actually considered and the offers released? I am really confused by the so many 'important' dates on UAC website!

The deadline for locking in preferences is around 1-2 weeks before an offer round. After that offer round it's unlocked for you to possibly change. Point to note you only change the prefs if you actually have changed your mind, you don't need to change to play the percentages.

Say your prefs are Med Pharm Nursing in that order. In the first early round (which is before Med offers are made), if you qualify for Pharm it'd be given a code saying Offer not made pending a higher pref. If you fail Pharm but qualify for Nursing, Pharm would show No offer, Nursing offer not made pending. Then in the round that Med offers are made, if you get Med the other two are irrelevant.

 

[crunchyandmoist]

For UQ provisional medicine admission, is the OP1/99+ requirement a hurdle with UMAT then the deciding factor of selection? The approximate UMAT cut-off has been estimated to be 185:66 (https://future-students.uq.edu.au/apply/doctor-of-medicine/pathways-and-entry-requirement). So how much higher does your UMAT usually have to be to be competitive? thanks in advance

 

[Logic]

For UQ provisional medicine admission, is the OP1/99+ requirement a hurdle with UMAT then the deciding factor of selection? The approximate UMAT cut-off has been estimated to be 185:66 (https://future-students.uq.edu.au/apply/doctor-of-medicine/pathways-and-entry-requirement). So how much higher does your UMAT usually have to be to be competitive? thanks in advance

Yes ATAR is a cut off and then you are ranked on UMAT. That UMAT you listed was the cut off for that year. So anything equal or above for that year would have received an offer (provided they have 99+ with or without bonuses added on).

 

[A1]

1) I have already applied to UAC for WSU as a non-standard (1st year uni student) and was just wondering whether it was right for me to apply through the undergraduate application? I basically done everything the same as I applied for UAC in high school, only I added in my tertiary education - is this the correct way to do it?

At the first or second screen you tick No to the question are you in Y12 in 2018, that should take care of the rest.

2) I never entered anywhere what GPA I currently have or how many units I have/will complete - only my uni, course, duration studied, starting/last enrolled year, and student number - how will UAC/WSU get my GPA/units completed? Is there anyway to make sure they have my correct GPA/units completed?

UAC will get them directly from your uni based on your uni student number. It is essential to ensure *your uni* has your record correct, not the other way around.

3) When it asks for the last enrolled year, is this asking for the year which I expect to finish the course, or the year in which I was last enrolled in the course (now, 2018)?

Now, 2018.

4) When it asked how long I have studied my course for so far, I entered 6 months, should I enter 1 year instead as it will be one year by the time interviews come around? WSU increases the GPA requirement if you have only studied for a semester as opposed to a full year.

I'm not sure how this is relevant since they will see how long from your academic record. I'd enter 1 year to be on the safe side.

 

[A1]

For UQ provisional medicine admission, is the OP1/99+ requirement a hurdle with UMAT then the deciding factor of selection? The approximate UMAT cut-off has been estimated to be 185:66 (https://future-students.uq.edu.au/apply/doctor-of-medicine/pathways-and-entry-requirement). So how much higher does your UMAT usually have to be to be competitive? thanks in advance

In addition to Logic's reply, the question how much higher than a cutoff to be competitive only applies when there is another criteria in play, like an interview. This year there is no UQ interview so after ATAR, above the UMAT cutoff is all you need.

 

[Michael Wan]

The deadline for locking in preferences is around 1-2 weeks before an offer round. After that offer round it's unlocked for you to possibly change. Point to note you only change the prefs if you actually have changed your mind, you don't need to change to play the percentages.

Say your prefs are Med Pharm Nursing in that order. In the first early round (which is before Med offers are made), if you qualify for Pharm it'd be given a code saying Offer not made pending a higher pref. If you fail Pharm but qualify for Nursing, Pharm would show No offer, Nursing offer not made pending. Then in the round that Med offers are made, if you get Med the other two are irrelevant.

1. Thanks. A1. So for the Non-medicine health sceince courses like Pharm and Nursing, when are most Unis considering the preferences in UAC and give their offers? Any of them giving out offers using Estimated ATAR? Are they offering after the actual ATAR is out, that is after Mid Dec? Any early offers that I could accept first?

2. I heard from the UAC people in the booth at the Open Day saying that it doesn't matter where you put the Uni in your order of your preferences, the system will start off from the first to the fifth and see which Uni will give you an offer at that round in that sequence. So, in your example, if I put #1 Med, #2 Pharm and #3 Nursing.... Then, if in that round, I am not successful meeting #1 or #2 criteria but meet the #3 minimum requirement for admission, then I should get an offer for #3 that I could accept first? Is this true? What is the meaning of "offer not made pending a higher pref." then?

 

[Q3]

1. Thanks. A1. So for the Non-medicine health sceince courses like Pharm and Nursing, when are most Unis considering the preferences in UAC and give their offers? Any of them giving out offers using Estimated ATAR? Are they offering after the actual ATAR is out, that is after Mid Dec? Any early offers that I could accept first?

2. I heard from the UAC people in the booth at the Open Day saying that it doesn't matter where you put the Uni in your order of your preferences, the system will start off from the first to the fifth and see which Uni will give you an offer at that round in that sequence. So, in your example, if I put #1 Med, #2 Pharm and #3 Nursing.... Then, if in that round, I am not successful meeting #1 or #2 criteria but meet the #3 minimum requirement for admission, then I should get an offer for #3 that I could accept first? Is this true? What is the meaning of "offer not made pending a higher pref." then?

Question 2 is asked every year and the answer will always be, order them in terms of what you want first. You do not increase your chances by putting a preference first, but if you put the course you really wanted i.e medicine in preference slot 2, and if you qualified for medicine then you would automatically be given your first preference say nursing.

 

[A1]

1. Thanks. A1. So for the Non-medicine health sceince courses like Pharm and Nursing, when are most Unis considering the preferences in UAC and give their offers? Any of them giving out offers using Estimated ATAR? Are they offering after the actual ATAR is out, that is after Mid Dec? Any early offers that I could accept first?

Sometimes there is a super early pre-ATAR offer round, I won't talk about these as it's too messy. Of interest are the rounds just after ATARs are released (sufficient to determine for the ATAR-only courses) but cannot include Med as Med is still at the interviewing stage.

2. I heard from the UAC people in the booth at the Open Day saying that it doesn't matter where you put the Uni in your order of your preferences, the system will start off from the first to the fifth and see which Uni will give you an offer at that round in that sequence. So, in your example, if I put #1 Med, #2 Pharm and #3 Nursing.... Then, if in that round, I am not successful meeting #1 or #2 criteria but meet the #3 minimum requirement for admission, then I should get an offer for #3 that I could accept first? Is this true? What is the meaning of "offer not made pending a higher pref." then?

Remember we are talking about an offer round where Med offers are not yet ready, so your saying not meeting #1 is not in context. It's more like #1 is still unknown, and you have qualified for say #3. It then varies between the TACs, some TACs make you a #3 offer which you can accept, then later if you get #1 they will cancel your #3 acceptance. Some TACs will only give you a code on your application that you have met the selection criteria for #3 but offer is not (yet) made pending the outcome of #1. If later you qualify for #1 you get an offer for #1, no #3. If you don't qualify for #1 you get a #3 offer.

 

[Michael Wan]

Sometimes there is a super early pre-ATAR offer round, I won't talk about these as it's too messy. Of interest are the rounds just after ATARs are released (sufficient to determine for the ATAR-only courses) but cannot include Med as Med is still at the interviewing stage.



Remember we are talking about an offer round where Med offers are not yet ready, so your saying not meeting #1 is not in context. It's more like #1 is still unknown, and you have qualified for say #3. It then varies between the TACs, some TACs make you a #3 offer which you can accept, then later if you get #1 they will cancel your #3 acceptance. Some TACs will only give you a code on your application that you have met the selection criteria for #3 but offer is not (yet) made pending the outcome of #1. If later you qualify for #1 you get an offer for #1, no #3. If you don't qualify for #1 you get a #3 offer.

Thanks A1 for this clear explanation. I have initially out UNSW Med, WSU Med, JMP Med, UTS Clinical Sc and Macquarie Cl Sc in that order on UAC. Now as my UMAT was not good (S1 50 S2 60), WSU and JMP are most certainly out now, should I put something like Physio or Nursing in the #2 and #3 (keeping UNSW as I might still have a slim chance) replacing WSU and JMP hoping that they might give me an early offer if they look at the estimated ATAR or something? Can I even risk by taking out UNSW Medicine now and put it back right after the ATAR release date before the deadline for UAC preference changes for the Medicine round?

 

[A1]

should I put something like Physio or Nursing in the #2 and #3 (keeping UNSW as I might still have a slim chance) replacing WSU and JMP hoping that they might give me an early offer if they look at the estimated ATAR or something?

Before answering this I like to know why you are keen for a pre-ATAR/estimated ATAR offer?

Can I even risk by taking out UNSW Medicine now and put it back right after the ATAR release date before the deadline for UAC preference changes for the Medicine round?

Definitely NO. Many med schools have the rule that you can change their pref order but cannot add them in after applications close at end of Sept.

 

[Michael Wan]

Before answering this I like to know why you are keen for a pre-ATAR/estimated ATAR offer?

Yes, any pre-ATAR or estimate ATAR offers from health sc degrees? When is the Offer round for these schools?