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Rural Eligibility and General Discussion
- Thread starter hs2000
- Start date
hey just wondering what you mean for rural but excluding those ones? how does that work
Different unis have different eligibility criteria for rurality. It's likely that inhalexhale qualified for some unis' entry schemes and not others. It's best to double check with each individual uni.
billolillo
Member
hey guys, this is my first time posting here, pls forgive me if it's in the wrong place, sorry!!
I'm a rural applicant but my UCAT this year went badly
I have not currently got an atar estimate, but I'm coming 1st in all bar 2 units of my subjects at a mid range ranking school. I've been aiming for a 93-95 as I always thought I'd end up at UNSW like a few students from my school w similar atars...
I'm just really confused currently- I want to be able to use my rural status cus I know it can boost my chances at getting into medicine, but I don't know what to do for the next year. Should I be taking a gap year to work on my UCAT score?
If I do start an undergraduate degree, I'll be a non-standard applicant- does this mean I won't be a rural student anymore and they'll be looking at my GPA? Would they also be looking at my atar in this case (presuming I didn't finish the undergrad degree).
thank you!!
I'm a rural applicant but my UCAT this year went badly
I have not currently got an atar estimate, but I'm coming 1st in all bar 2 units of my subjects at a mid range ranking school. I've been aiming for a 93-95 as I always thought I'd end up at UNSW like a few students from my school w similar atars...
I'm just really confused currently- I want to be able to use my rural status cus I know it can boost my chances at getting into medicine, but I don't know what to do for the next year. Should I be taking a gap year to work on my UCAT score?
If I do start an undergraduate degree, I'll be a non-standard applicant- does this mean I won't be a rural student anymore and they'll be looking at my GPA? Would they also be looking at my atar in this case (presuming I didn't finish the undergrad degree).
thank you!!
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Hi and welcome to MSO
First of all, all hope is not lost. IIRC the rural score for the JMP invite to an interview was 40th percentile last year with an ATAR hurdle of 91.3 for rural students. Giving you a decent shot of an interview. WSU also has an ATAR cut off that you will pass (iirc 91.5?), and the opening of the new school in CSU with a focus of rural students, so it may open up a few doors for you.
I probably wouldn't recommend taking a gap year tbh. You hold yourself back a year from progressing in another degree, and whilst the time can be used effectively (e.g. work, grow, etc), you're still betting the application that on the outcome of a two hour test.
If you went to university next year in a metropolitan area, you can still qualify for rural entry depending on a few things. Different universities classify rural status in different ways but typically 5 consecutive years or 10 cumulative years since the age of 5 is a good rule of thumb. All of the non standard will consider your GPA instead, except for UNSW that will combine your ATAR and GPA into a final academic rank and use that. It will be best to check this yourself with your location history for each of the universities admissions criteria on their websites to see if going to a metro university will make you ineligible.
If you chuck your stats/location/etc into the UCAT Results Discussion 2020 thread using the template, we can probably give you a better idea of your chances
First of all, all hope is not lost. IIRC the rural score for the JMP invite to an interview was 40th percentile last year with an ATAR hurdle of 91.3 for rural students. Giving you a decent shot of an interview. WSU also has an ATAR cut off that you will pass (iirc 91.5?), and the opening of the new school in CSU with a focus of rural students, so it may open up a few doors for you.
I probably wouldn't recommend taking a gap year tbh. You hold yourself back a year from progressing in another degree, and whilst the time can be used effectively (e.g. work, grow, etc), you're still betting the application that on the outcome of a two hour test.
If you went to university next year in a metropolitan area, you can still qualify for rural entry depending on a few things. Different universities classify rural status in different ways but typically 5 consecutive years or 10 cumulative years since the age of 5 is a good rule of thumb. All of the non standard will consider your GPA instead, except for UNSW that will combine your ATAR and GPA into a final academic rank and use that. It will be best to check this yourself with your location history for each of the universities admissions criteria on their websites to see if going to a metro university will make you ineligible.
If you chuck your stats/location/etc into the UCAT Results Discussion 2020 thread using the template, we can probably give you a better idea of your chances
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billolillo
Member
wow thank you for your reply! I guess you're right but in the moment I feel so lost
I heard the cut off for JMP was 90th percentile?...I've spent my entire life in a rural area so I'll qualify for rural app either way but I'm still kinda confused- does rural matter for graduate med? (or me applying as non standard)- and in what way does it matter? (as in currently as a HS leaver for UNSW I get 5 extra points, or lower thresholds for UCAT for example).
I'm totally prepared to go into graduate medicine but I'm really concerned with my GPA...how difficult is it to maintain a high GPA and get a good GAMSAT at the same time?
The 90th percentile cut off was for general entry, Rural students are put into a separate sub quota and the competitive score last year was at max 2400 based on user submitted scores on MSO.
Rural background absolutely still does matter for graduate entry medicine. I believe every university is mandated to have rural subquotas or bonus points. Check page 20 of the GEMSAS (grad-entry med) guide https://gemsas.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2021-Medicine-GEMSAS-Admissions-Guide-v1.7.pdf and look at page 20 to check if your eligible (literally just chuck your address into the link they have on that page), some areas that I would consider rurally disadvantaged (e.g. where I lived) are not considered, so its good to double check.
Rural students will typically get put into subquotas (e.g. at UQ 28% of places are only accessible for students with rural background, UNSW is the same, as is WSU & JMP), but some universities (e.g. JCU or UTAS) will assign students a rurality score and adjust bonus points off that.
It is difficult to answer the question whether it is easy to get a good gpa or gamsat. It will largely depend on alot of factors. I for one found the transition to uni very seamless, but my life has largely been crisis free, and I am a more individual learner.
Rural background absolutely still does matter for graduate entry medicine. I believe every university is mandated to have rural subquotas or bonus points. Check page 20 of the GEMSAS (grad-entry med) guide https://gemsas.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2021-Medicine-GEMSAS-Admissions-Guide-v1.7.pdf and look at page 20 to check if your eligible (literally just chuck your address into the link they have on that page), some areas that I would consider rurally disadvantaged (e.g. where I lived) are not considered, so its good to double check.
Rural students will typically get put into subquotas (e.g. at UQ 28% of places are only accessible for students with rural background, UNSW is the same, as is WSU & JMP), but some universities (e.g. JCU or UTAS) will assign students a rurality score and adjust bonus points off that.
It is difficult to answer the question whether it is easy to get a good gpa or gamsat. It will largely depend on alot of factors. I for one found the transition to uni very seamless, but my life has largely been crisis free, and I am a more individual learner.
billolillo
Member
I have another question...does it matter what university I go to for medicine? I've been told it doesn't and I honestly don't care which uni but later on for example would it be easier for me to work in Townsville/QLD if I went to JCU? I'd want to move back to nsw bc family... sorry if this is a stupid question...obviously getting in should be my main priority right now haha but I'm trying to weigh up the differences between undergrad and graduate. btw thank you soooooo much for your responses so helpful!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to work in NSW after you graduate then you should do your degree in NSW if you have the option. I recommend researching how each state allocates internships for your own background knowledge.
State health agencies will give all of their internship positions to graduates of their own universities before they touch an interstate student, so your chances of working in NSW would be reduced if you go to an interstate university (e.g. JCU), although beyond that it doesn't matter.
It's not silly to gain an understanding of the implications of going to an interstate universitity before you sign up. Although I would probably suggest that you should take an undergraduate position interstate, rather than hope for a graduate position in your home state.
It's not silly to gain an understanding of the implications of going to an interstate universitity before you sign up. Although I would probably suggest that you should take an undergraduate position interstate, rather than hope for a graduate position in your home state.
This is the rural entry eligibility thread. Please take your questions to the appropriate thread as they are off topic for here.
If you get an interview with WSU your ATAR only needs to meet the hurdle. A higher ATAR doesn't help make you more competitive.
For UNSW if you get 99+ you're highly likely to get an offer unless you mess up the interview. 98+ I'd say better than 50/50 competitive.
Hi, unsure if it has been asked before, but I lived and was schooled in what was classed as a rural area (RA2) until 2011. There is no possibility that rurality is even on the cards for me because of the updated model correct? Or should I contact the admissions board for the university about this? Thanks for your time.
Which university are you referring to re. the updated model?
University of Queensland, sorry.
Are you talking about the fact that an ASGS was released in 2011 and 2016?
Your eligibility is decided on the classification of the area that you lived in according to ASGS 2016, the fact that one was released post 2011 doesnt invalidate any time you lived rurally before 2011.
The UQ rural background scheme has not changed recently, there is still a subquota and you still get 2 bonus points if you spent 5 years continuously or 10 years cumulatively living in an Australian rural location in any period since birth.
Your eligibility is decided on the classification of the area that you lived in according to ASGS 2016, the fact that one was released post 2011 doesnt invalidate any time you lived rurally before 2011.
The UQ rural background scheme has not changed recently, there is still a subquota and you still get 2 bonus points if you spent 5 years continuously or 10 years cumulatively living in an Australian rural location in any period since birth.
I have recieved back an email from UQ's Medicine Admissions Officer.
"It is based on the data set from the most recent national census.
So at the moment we are required to use the 2016 data set. About 6-12 months after the 2021 census has been conducted, the data set will change to the 2021 census data.
These rules are set by the Department of Health, they are not determined by the individual universities."
From this all I have gathered is that it is indeed invalid because it is only based on the most recent census. I will regardless continue to enquire further before applying to any Med Schools next year.
