Transferring between Medical Schools

[medent]

If you haven't started med yet, then maybe just defer your possible Monash offer, take a gap year and try for UWS next year - it would either get you into the cheaper uni without starting or give you time to save up a bit of money if you don't get in to UWS.

I am pretty sure that all Unis have a list of who gets an offer in a Med school elsewhere, and although they don't advertise it, they say its important for them to know this info prior to offering you a place (if any). SO its possible that they may not offer you a place if they know you already have accepted an offer at another Uni.
I actually know a few (more than 3) people all of whom transferred in different years from Bond to govt unis...... what do you all think might have happened there? As far as I know, none had any genuine hardship reasons, but then I don't know what excuse they actually gave the deans. I know them personally and know that there was no family reason. Maybe a personal health based reason might be acceptable? Something along the lines of.... I am allergic to this Uni...

 

[Dr Worm]

I am pretty sure that all Unis have a list of who gets an offer in a Med school elsewhere, and although they don't advertise it, they say its important for them to know this info prior to offering you a place (if any). SO its possible that they may not offer you a place if they know you already have accepted an offer at another Uni.
P

No they don't.

Check with each uni tho. SDOme of them have mysterious systems I don't understand.

 

[Havox]

No they don't.

Check with each uni tho. SDOme of them have mysterious systems I don't understand.

Actually I think they do. If you get an offer in your home state, you won't get one interstate.

[MENTION=11997]calembeena[/MENTION] - Says that it might also depend on the Uni.

 

[Dr Worm]

Sorry, sure I read something about fiddling this system with preference changes, but looking it up, I seem to be wrong.

 

[Calem]

@calembeena - Says that it might also depend on the Uni.

Checked my emails/letters, UWS is the only one who will give you an interstate-round interview and subsequent offer if you do get in at your home state. But this may be a one-off as UWS interviews were during at least the Victorians' exams.
But the no-offer-if-you-have-a-home-state-offer only applies for NSW unis.

 

[jkas]

Hi all,

Is it possible to transfer from UoN Medicine to WSU Medicine if one has an extenuating circumstance?
Does anyone with experience understand if credit is granted. I know that both courses are joint medical programs and are 5 years in length. So would credit be transferred?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi all,

Is it possible to transfer from UoN Medicine to WSU Medicine if one has an extenuating circumstance?
Does anyone with experience understand if credit is granted. I know that both courses are joint medical programs and are 5 years in length. So would credit be transferred?

Apparently it is technically ‘possible’, it’s just virtually unheard of and not even typically considered “extenuating circumstances” are extenuating enough to facilitate this.

If a transfer was granted, yes, you would be credited. But I reiterate that transfers are incredibly rare (I’m not aware of any that have been successful despite several MSO users attempting/requesting in the past).

WSU have a section on this on their JPM page so all you can do is check with them what is required, apply, and hope for the best. But I’d consider this a very very outside chance of success and also be making plans to address the more likely outcome that you remain at UoN and defer for a period of time or engage in some other support appropriate to your circumstances.

 

[Hellomellow]

Hi all, I am new on this website and foe some reason I cannot make any new posts, so am replying here. I want to know WHY, transfers and credit for prior studies are not allowed between different medical schools in Australia. It makes no sense that the two syllabuses are incompatible: all the degrees lead to a medical degree, whether that is from high school or graduate entry, and you are equally allowed to practise regardless of which university you went to, and most importantly, they all teach the same facts, ie, anatomy, physiology, haematology.

 

[chinaski]

Schools don't teach the same content in the same sequence, nor necessarily at the same level.

 

[Hellomellow]

Schools don't teach the same content in the same sequence, nor necessarily at the same level.

Does this mean different doctors learnt different things during their study? As a patient that would sound terrifying and not comforting at all. I would have thought medicine of all things would have a uniform syllabus, as a bad example, you can't have one medical course teach you that men have 23 ribs and another telling you they have 24.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Does this mean different doctors learnt different things during their study? As a patient that would sound terrifying and not comforting at all. I would have thought medicine of all things would have a uniform syllabus, as a bad example, you can't have one medical course teach you that men have 23 ribs and another telling you they have 24.

That’s a terrible example! And not at all what was meant in the original reply.

Yes, different doctors will have learned different information. For (a more useful) example, JCU have an emphasis on tropical medicine as this is particularly relevant to the location. This is less prevalent in the teaching at UTas/certainly not an emphasis.

 

[chinaski]

No. What I meant was that medical schools have different structures of their syllabi. For instance (and very simplistically), if you have someone wanting to transfer after completing one year of medical school:

In their first year of med school at School A they cover the basics of physiology, cardiology, immunology and haematology, and in School B, where they want to transfer, first year covers the basics of anatomy, pharmacology, respiratory medicine and ethics. It's clear why a transfer won't work here. Credit given for work in School A is redundant because School B will get around to covering physiology, cardiology, immunology and haematology later, and meanwhile, the transferring student is a year behind in content because they didn't cover anatomy, pharm, respiratory and ethics in their old school.

BTW, it's very misguided to assume that the competency of doctors is reflected in what they learn in med school. Med school forms a basic bedrock upon which medical practice is formed - but it's really only the tip of the iceberg. Post-graduation is where doctors are actually formed.

 

[dotwingz]

There's alot to learn, and not necessarily one sequence to learn it. Given that medical schools often lump together alot of content into one big 'clinical science' course each semester, its hard to imagine that two same schools would do it the same way to reach the pretty high barrier for credit transfer.

Ultimately all schools are registered, and so they all achieve the same rough outcomes.

 

[chinaski]

Yes, different doctors will have learned different information. For (a more useful) example, JCU have an emphasis on tropical medicine as this is particularly relevant to the location. This is less prevalent in the teaching at UTas/certainly not an emphasis.

The real difference between medical school syllabi is minuscule at the end of the day. The "focus" of a school is often academically political in nature, rather than the formation of a real distinction. By three months after graduation, 99% of interns are alike.

 

[Hellomellow]

No. What I meant was that medical schools have different structures of their syllabi. For instance (and very simplistically), if you have someone wanting to transfer after completing one year of medical school:

In their first year of med school at School A they cover the basics of physiology, cardiology, immunology and haematology, and in School B, where they want to transfer, first year covers the basics of anatomy, pharmacology, respiratory medicine and ethics. It's clear why a transfer won't work here. Credit given for work in School A is redundant because School B will get around to covering physiology, cardiology, immunology and haematology later, and meanwhile, the transferring student is a year behind in content because they didn't cover anatomy, pharm, respiratory and ethics in their old school.

BTW, it's very misguided to assume that the competency of doctors is reflected in what they learn in med school. Med school forms a basic bedrock upon which medical practice is formed - but it's really only the tip of the iceberg. Post-graduation is where doctors are actually formed.

I understand that there are different chronological orders in which things can be learnt, however this is not, or should not, be a barrier to getting things credited. There is no reason why one can't, continuing your example, be excused from physiology, cardiology, immunology and haematology, later at the second university. There is no reason why one can't transfer directly into second or third year at university B, and do say, ethics (normally covered in university B in first year but not done till fourth year at university A) in second year, instead of doing anatomy which they already did in first year at university A. In other words, like for like content not for the semester they were done in. This is possible with other degrees, no reason that I can see why it can't be the same for medical degrees.
Otherwise the way it stands is you can only ever have the opportunity to get 1 offer and only 1 offer from GEMSAS, and only one possible university you could ever study at, without starting from scratch, and so you have to choose your preferences now, and stick to that essentially for life, even though the results are not out for months, and you don't even start uni till the following year, during which time many things can change your preferences.

That’s a terrible example! And not at all what was meant in the original reply.

Yes, different doctors will have learned different information. For (a more useful) example, JCU have an emphasis on tropical medicine as this is particularly relevant to the location. This is less prevalent in the teaching at UTas/certainly not an emphasis.

That was indeed a terrible example, I apologize, I couldn't think of a better one on the spot. I forgot Queensland has tropical diseases.

 

[chinaski]

That's a bit melodramatic. You aren't getting married to a university "for life". You're applying to a course, which takes several years to complete. Then you graduate.

You're thinking in a far too linear and simplistic way about the myriad of reasons why transfers aren't feasible between universities. I perhaps picked a far too simplistic example - the reality is far more complex situation. Too many variables, too little overlap. In med school, units only run once a year for that cohort - it's not the same as other university courses that offer the same units on repeat which you can switch back and forth between year levels.

 

[Hellomellow]

That's a bit melodramatic. You aren't getting married to a university "for life". You're applying to a course, which takes several years to complete. Then you graduate.

You're thinking in a far too linear and simplistic way about the myriad of reasons why transfers aren't feasible between universities. I perhaps picked a far too simplistic example - the reality is far more complex situation. Too many variables, too little overlap. In med school, units only run once a year for that cohort - it's not the same as other university courses that offer the same units on repeat which you can switch back and forth between year levels.

Would it be possible to elaborate a little on the complex situation? It would help me a lot because I am trying to decide between 2 different universities in 2 different states and once I choose, there would be no way to change (Applications close tomorrow so yes, as far as I am concerned, you are "married for life", since there is next to no chance of being able to change.) Even if a subject is only offered once a year, like I said, there should be no reason why a 2nd year transfer student can't participate in a first year class with first year cohorts, in order to 'catch up', then having free time in third year because they already did a subject in their original university. This is exactly the case with students in my cohort here in my overseas university where I am doing a masters degree.

Additionally if someone could provide a real life example of what extenuating circumstances would allow you to transfer, that would be very much appreciated. The only example I've seen so far, here, or anywhere is one about someone's husband doing a surgical residency elsewhere and the whole family has to move, and that person ended up doing cross institutional study for one year, and must finish the rest of the degree at the original uni.

Thank you everyone.

 

[A1]

I am trying to decide between 2 different universities in 2 different states and once I choose, there would be no way to change (Applications close tomorrow

I think you're jumping the gun quite a bit here. Most applicants will be lucky to get one offer anywhere, yet you're already concerned about getting two offers and which one to decide on *now*.

Typically you should apply to all schools you're eligible to and can relocate there. If you get one offer the choice is decided for you. Wait till you get multiple offers before pondering which one to choose.

Even if a subject is only offered once a year, like I said, there should be no reason why a 2nd year transfer student can't participate in a first year class with first year cohorts

Are you applying as an int'l or Aus-resident student?

Aus-resident students in CSP places are guaranteed an internship *by the state government*. The med schools are most reluctant to allow transfers because (1) it's likely to be from another state and (2) which means the med school imposes an extra internship on its state government (which the school has no authority to).

 

[Hellomellow]

I think you're jumping the gun quite a bit here. Most applicants will be lucky to get one offer anywhere, yet you're already concerned about getting two offers and which one to decide on *now*.

To clarify, I am not saying I will get 2 offers. I might not get any. I put in my original, very first post, that I am choosing between 2 universities for my first preference in the GEMSAS application and I wanted to know the process and possibilities of changing/transferring later. This is important because we only get a maximum of 1, and only 1, offer and I don't want one that I might end up not wanting, as my first preference (ie if I choose uni A as preference 1 now but later due to any reason want to change it to Uni B, that will never be possible).
I am an Australian citizen.

 

[A1]

To clarify, I am not saying I will get 2 offers. I might not get any. I put in my original, very first post, that I am choosing between 2 universities for my first preference in the GEMSAS application and I wanted to know the process and possibilities of changing/transferring later. This is important because we only get a maximum of 1, and only 1, offer and I don't want one that I might end up not wanting, as my first preference (ie if I choose uni A as preference 1 now but later due to any reason want to change it to Uni B, that will never be possible).
I am an Australian citizen.

Okay, I didn't realise you were discussing GEMSAS application.

In that case you should put as 1st pref the school you most like to go to. Don't try to 1st pref another then hope to transfer, reason as I described above. If they do for you there will be 50 others who want same (to transfer back to home state for example) and that would mess up all the schools' government-allocated quotas.

EtA: I know of one transfer case. The student was from Melbourne but got an Adelaide offer, some time later her mother was diagnosed with terminal illness, she was allowed to transfer to Monash to have time with her mother.