Rural Eligibility and General Discussion

[medful]

2700 is not without hope for rural. I suggest you apply to every school available - the ones you mentioned plus UQ, CQU, Monash, UWA, Curtin.

Thank you

For QLD though, I can only list up to 6 preferences. My first is JCU med, after that I am not sure putting what in which order would be best. Even then I have these options (much more than 5)
- UQ med
- UQ med bonded
- CQU rockhampton
- CQU bundaberg
- CQU rockhampton bonded
- CQU bundaberg bonded
- Griffith med
- UniSQ med
- UniSQ med bonded
- UniSC med
- JCU dental
- Griffith dental
- UQ dental


For the universities that have more than one campus providing the same course, is it necessary to apply to both of them if we want a greater chance? JCU on QTAC also had two campuses (Cairns and Townsville) and so does CQU. If I have to apply to one, which campus, for JCU and CQU would be better to apply for as a rural entry (i.e. where will my chances of getting in be higher)?

I am really confused about which ones to put as my preference and what order to put them in.
Does anyone have any advice about what I should do?

 

[A1]

Thank you

For QLD though, I can only list up to 6 preferences. My first is JCU med, after that I am not sure putting what in which order would be best. Even then I have these options (much more than 5)
- UQ med
- UQ med bonded
- CQU rockhampton
- CQU bundaberg
- CQU rockhampton bonded
- CQU bundaberg bonded
- Griffith med
- UniSQ med
- UniSQ med bonded
- UniSC med
- JCU dental
- Griffith dental
- UQ dental


For the universities that have more than one campus providing the same course, is it necessary to apply to both of them if we want a greater chance? JCU on QTAC also had two campuses (Cairns and Townsville) and so does CQU. If I have to apply to one, which campus, for JCU and CQU would be better to apply for as a rural entry (i.e. where will my chances of getting in be higher)?

I am really confused about which ones to put as my preference and what order to put them in.
Does anyone have any advice about what I should do?

Iirc Griffith/USC don't give special considerations to rural. It's unlikely you will improve ATAR from expected 97-98 to 99.80+ for them. Maybe drop Griffith/USC Med first?

Similarly for the Dent schools (any rural consideration for dent anyone?). If none then with 2700 UCAT maybe drop UQ/Griffith Dent.

That leaves UQ plus one of the affiliated schools so JCU med + dent, UQ med unbonded + bonded, xxQ unbonded + bonded. List them in your personal preference order, it only matters when you qualify for multiple offers:
- If qualified for only one you'll get that offer even if it's 6th pref
- Otoh if qualified for multiple QTAC will only give the highest pref among them, you don't want to place a less preferred one higher.

 

[futuremed2025]

How does UWA's rurality scoring work? I lived in a RA-3 area for all of primary school, then I moved to an urban area. I still fit eligibility but I want to know how my rurality score will be affected because I have all my secondary schooling in an urban area, does this end up in me being eligible for as a rural applicant but being treated as an urban applicant?

How does UWA's rurality scoring work? I lived in a RA-3 area for all of primary school, then I moved to an urban area. I still fit eligibility but I want to know how my rurality score will be affected because I have all my secondary schooling in an urban area, does this end up in me being eligible for as a rural applicant but being treated as an urban applicant?

Hi Dhanda, I was wondering what was your experience with rural entry? All the best for future plans

 

[medful]

Iirc Griffith/USC don't give special considerations to rural. It's unlikely you will improve ATAR from expected 97-98 to 99.80+ for them. Maybe drop Griffith/USC Med first?

Similarly for the Dent schools (any rural consideration for dent anyone?). If none then with 2700 UCAT maybe drop UQ/Griffith Dent.

That leaves UQ plus one of the affiliated schools so JCU med + dent, UQ med unbonded + bonded, xxQ unbonded + bonded. List them in your personal preference order, it only matters when you qualify for multiple offers:
- If qualified for only one you'll get that offer even if it's 6th pref
- Otoh if qualified for multiple QTAC will only give the highest pref among them, you don't want to place a less preferred one higher.

Thank you so so much!! For JCU and CQU does it matter which campus I select, is selecting a particular campus provide a greater chance of getting in?

 

[A1]

Thank you so so much!! For JCU and CQU does it matter which campus I select, is selecting a particular campus provide a greater chance of getting in?

Sorry I don't really know the answer to this. I think if you would clearly qualify or not qualify for one it'd be the same outcome at the other. But if you're borderline then it could be either way depending on how many applicants at each campus. We don't know these numbers so it's pot luck.

 

[theofork]

I have lived in a RA2 area for 18 years and am applying for school leaver med entry this year. I think I may have confused myself around rural applications. It is my understanding that if you are a rural student you experience lower cutoffs. However are these cut offs only for rural students WITHIN the rural entry scheme who have opted to study in a rural area or is it for all rural applicants applying to study at a metro campus? When looking at the 2023 offers forum is every offer which is indicated as rural actually someone who applied through the rural entry scheme or can it be for metro study?

 

[Nonstandard983]

I have lived in a RA2 area for 18 years and am applying for school leaver med entry this year. I think I may have confused myself around rural applications. It is my understanding that if you are a rural student you experience lower cutoffs. However are these cut offs only for rural students WITHIN the rural entry scheme who have opted to study in a rural area or is it for all rural applicants applying to study at a metro campus? When looking at the 2023 offers forum is every offer which is indicated as rural actually someone who applied through the rural entry scheme or can it be for metro study?

The rural scheme is open to everyone who qualifies as rural regardless of intention to practice rurally in the future. This is different to a BMP and completely independent from which campus you apply for although universities may have their own rules surrounding this.

 

[theofork]

The rural scheme is open to everyone who qualifies as rural regardless of intention to practice rurally in the future. This is different to a BMP and completely independent from which campus you apply for although universities may have their own rules surrounding this.

Thankyou for your response. I was under the impression atleast for universities such as UNSW that applying through the rural entry scheme meant you would then study at a rural campus (Wagga Wagga/Port Macquarie) and I applied locally instead. Would this mean my rural status will be ignored? I know for Monash there is the Dean's Rural List and the ERC which are seperate but for UNSW and JMP there appeared to be only the rural entry schemes (to study at a rural campus) OR local entry. I am trying to move to a metro area for personal health reasons and would be unable to study at a rural campus.

 

[A1]

Thankyou for your response. I was under the impression atleast for universities such as UNSW that applying through the rural entry scheme meant you would then study at a rural campus (Wagga Wagga/Port Macquarie) and I applied locally instead. Would this mean my rural status will be ignored? I know for Monash there is the Dean's Rural List and the ERC which are seperate but for UNSW and JMP there appeared to be only the rural entry schemes (to study at a rural campus) OR local entry. I am trying to move to a metro area for personal health reasons and would be unable to study at a rural campus.

UNSW is quite clear rural applicants, unless in exceptional circumstances, are expected to do all 6 years at the rural campus, or some get 2 years at Kensington before getting shifted. I don't know how it is at JMP.

Problem is your UCAT 2840 80%ile. If you don't apply through or tick the box for Rural entry it's almost certain you won't get an interview. I think you have to bite the bullet and apply Rural to at least have a chance. Best of luck.

 

[Unovan]

Made a very stupid error that I just picked up on... preferenced UQ bonded over UQ unbonded in QTAC (no clue how this even happened), and its not letting me change --> does QTAC not allow you to alter preferences? A bit annoying if so, although obviously my fault for the dumb mistake

 

[A1]

Made a very stupid error that I just picked up on... preferenced UQ bonded over UQ unbonded in QTAC (no clue how this even happened), and its not letting me change --> does QTAC not allow you to alter preferences? A bit annoying if so, although obviously my fault for the dumb mistake

Reference > Preferences | QTAC

QTAC says You can change your preferences in Application Services (note first 3 times free, afterwards $55 each time), except:

================
If you can’t change your preferences, it could be for one of two reasons:

1. The change of preference service is turned off
The change of preference service is turned off prior to large offer rounds, while we prepare to make offers. It’s available again once the offers are made.

2. You are using incorrect computer settings
Currently, you can’t change preferences on a smart phone. Please use a desktop or laptop PC or Mac, or a tablet device.
=================

 

[WICK]

Made a very stupid error that I just picked up on... preferenced UQ bonded over UQ unbonded in QTAC (no clue how this even happened), and its not letting me change --> does QTAC not allow you to alter preferences? A bit annoying if so, although obviously my fault for the dumb mistake

Please talk to QTAC during business hours, they will give you an email address to request to change preferences, and they will do it for you. That's the only way until they open it for change preferences (It's locked currently, I think temporarily).

 

[Nonstandard983]

UNSW is quite clear rural applicants, unless in exceptional circumstances, are expected to do all 6 years at the rural campus, or some get 2 years at Kensington before getting shifted. I don't know how it is at JMP.

Problem is your UCAT 2840 80%ile. If you don't apply through or tick the box for Rural entry it's almost certain you won't get an interview. I think you have to bite the bullet and apply Rural to at least have a chance. Best of luck.

Yeah, this is UNSWs policy. More what I was getting at is it isn't a requirement of rural entry pathways everywhere that you must spend X amount of time at a rural clinical school its dependant on the university. JMP it doesn't really matter what stream you enter through as the vast majority (90%+ of the domestic cohort) will go to a rural clinical school for at least one year in year 4 or 5. Some manage to avoid it but this is due to luck rather than their entry pathway (or extenuating circumstances).

 

[wannabemedicine]

Hello, would you know roughly how many rural applicants there would be for Curtin and UWA med?

 

[gerneygerney]

Hi all,

From ages 8 to 14 I lived in rural locations (started 3 years in MM3 and moved to MM4 for 3 years). I'm aware that this would make me eligible for UNSW's rural scheme, but I know that according to their website offers for interviews are made based on "UCAT ANZ results and rural eligibility criteria". I've spent my last five years in Sydney (including my final year of school), so I'm guessing my 'rural rating' would be quite low.

Would a high UCAT compensate for this? Or would it just be likely that UNSW would not even consider me due to my low rural rating. If so, any suggestions to what universities I should consider applying to through rural scheme (perhaps ones that don't assess rural rating lol) ?. I'm projecting an ATAR of high 98 low 99s.

Thanks!

 

[A1]

Would a high UCAT compensate for this?

In either the non-rural or the rural pool, it seems you need to meet both ATAR cutoff & UCAT cutoff to get a UNSW interview. I don't think rural rating is counted at this stage.

In the offer round UNSW uses ATAR + UCAT + rural rating + interview (in a mysterious formula) to determine your final ranking. A high UCAT will compensate. You should apply to all schools that you can reasonably move to if offered regardless them using rating or not.

 

[stoobious]

Hey all, I've seem to confuse myself on the rural application process. After reading through this thread, I have surmised that the rural application process has a few factors to not only be eligible for it but to also maximise it. Rurality factor is increased by both degree of rurality (i.e. RA2 vs RA3, etc) and recency of rurality. My question is:

1a. Would it be advantageous to do the most recent years that an applicant was rural (If i was rural from say, 2013-2020, would it be better for them to apply the 5 year minimum as 2013-2018 or as 2015-2020, as it is more recent) as to increase chances of an interview or is the increase (if there even is one!) negligible?

1b. For JCU (and other unis that rank on degree of rurality and length of rurality), is it better to provide all years of rurality (from 2013-2020+)?

2. Considering some schools are counted as remote/regional from SEAS, would it be good to also apply under those pathways ASWELL as the rural pathway?

3. Also any help on the UCAT cut-offs for rural (most on here seem to say 50%+, but that seems a tad low)

Thanks!

 

[A1]

Hey all, I've seem to confuse myself on the rural application process. After reading through this thread, I have surmised that the rural application process has a few factors to not only be eligible for it but to also maximise it. Rurality factor is increased by both degree of rurality (i.e. RA2 vs RA3, etc) and recency of rurality. My question is:

1a. Would it be advantageous to do the most recent years that an applicant was rural (If i was rural from say, 2013-2020, would it be better for them to apply the 5 year minimum as 2013-2018 or as 2015-2020, as it is more recent) as to increase chances of an interview or is the increase (if there even is one!) negligible?

1b. For JCU (and other unis that rank on degree of rurality and length of rurality), is it better to provide all years of rurality (from 2013-2020+)?

2. Considering some schools are counted as remote/regional from SEAS, would it be good to also apply under those pathways ASWELL as the rural pathway?

3. Also any help on the UCAT cut-offs for rural (most on here seem to say 50%+, but that seems a tad low)

Thanks!

Iirc three med schools JCU UNSW UWA use rurality, the rest are yes or no rural.

For the yes/no schools you can use any continuous five-year period to qualify.
For the three rurality schools I'm pretty sure they will take into account your whole life history. It's not for you to nominate the periods.

Regarding rural UCAT cutoffs, I have occasionally seen 50ish %ile getting interviews but don't know if they had any other considerations. On the safe side I usually say 60ish %ile. If you also qualify for SEAS no harm to apply for SEAS in the rural pathway. If either/or rural pathways are given a lot more spots than separate SEAS pathways.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Iirc three med schools JCU UNSW UWA use rurality, the rest are yes or no rural.

For the yes/no schools you can use any continuous five-year period to qualify.
For the three rurality schools I'm pretty sure they will take into account your whole life history. It's not for you to nominate the periods.

Regarding rural UCAT cutoffs, I have occasionally seen 50ish %ile getting interviews but don't know if they had any other considerations. On the safe side I usually say 60ish %ile. If you also qualify for SEAS no harm to apply for SEAS in the rural pathway. If either/or rural pathways are given a lot more spots than separate SEAS pathways.

I think UTAS also now use degree of rurality as more than just a yes or no.

Historically, UAdel used to go way below 50th %ile, but I don’t know if that still happens.

 

[stoobious]

Iirc three med schools JCU UNSW UWA use rurality, the rest are yes or no rural.

For the yes/no schools you can use any continuous five-year period to qualify.
For the three rurality schools I'm pretty sure they will take into account your whole life history. It's not for you to nominate the periods.

Regarding rural UCAT cutoffs, I have occasionally seen 50ish %ile getting interviews but don't know if they had any other considerations. On the safe side I usually say 60ish %ile. If you also qualify for SEAS no harm to apply for SEAS in the rural pathway. If either/or rural pathways are given a lot more spots than separate SEAS pathways.

Thanks for the help. I was also wondering whether you knew anything about SATAC application? Because on somewhere on the website it said something about submitting rural application documents 10 days after submission. Does that mean after submission deadline (like late Sep) or the actual date after you finish your application through SATAC (cuz its already been more than 10 days for me and I was wondering whether I could still apply for Rural). Thanks for the help again!