UCAT Results Discussion 2019

[A1]

I'd just like to take a moment here while the results page has settled down to formally thank LMG!, A1, Crow and Yamster especially, as well as the other staff, for sifting through our collective statistics to give even mildly reasonable probabilities of success

I'm not looking forward to October when interview invites are sent out. You guys will be throwing eggs at us for predicting all wrong haha.

 

[as;dlkfja;sldkj]

Mod Note: Answered for Med + Dent.

Applying for: Medicine and Dentistry
Application Type: Gap Year (2018 NSW grad)
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 98.15
UCAT Percentile Rank: 99
VR: 790
DM: 800
QR: 880
AR: 890
Total: 3360
SJ: 650
Current State: NSW
Applying to: MED - UNSW, WSU, NEWCASTLE, UTAS
DENT - CSU, ADEL
Rural Applicant: no
GWS Applicant: YES
Indigenous Applicant: no
Other: n/a
Specific Questions: Does UNSW take into account my actual scaled score (3360) or just percentile? Also, how are my chances of even a UNSW interview offer? (and hypothetically if I WAS to somehow to receive an interview offer, would my interview then need to be absolutely incredible to balance out my much weaker ATAR?)
THANKS IN ADVANCE, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !

 

[A1]

Applying for: Medicine and Dentistry
Application Type: Gap Year (2018 NSW grad)
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 98.15
UCAT Percentile Rank: 99
VR: 790
DM: 800
QR: 880
AR: 890
Total: 3360
SJ: 650
Current State: NSW
Applying to: MED - UNSW, WSU, NEWCASTLE, UTAS
DENT - CSU, ADEL
Rural Applicant: no
GWS Applicant: YES
Indigenous Applicant: no
Other: n/a
Specific Questions: Does UNSW take into account my actual scaled score (3360) or just percentile? Also, how are my chances of even a UNSW interview offer? (and hypothetically if I WAS to somehow to receive an interview offer, would my interview then need to be absolutely incredible to balance out my much weaker ATAR?)
THANKS IN ADVANCE, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !

UNSW has said several times in their information videos they use the Score not percentile. However 2 years ago they introduced a major change in that a very high score will not even out a low score in another component i.e. they don't average out in UNSW's words.

I interpret this to mean a high 99th will still count better than a low 99th, but NOT by the huge gap between 3360 over 3160 (gap of 200) compared to 3160 over 98th 3100 (gap of 60).

Unfortunately your ATAR is on the low side. I hope you will get a UNSW interview but you will need an outstanding interview to get an offer. You have better chances with WSU & JMP though.

 

[Catelyn R.]

Mod Note: Answered for Med.

Would you happen to know who gets accepted through the ACCESS scheme at UNSW? Or pretty much EAS at any med school? Because definitely not everybody who applies gets accepted. Is it like the people with the highest ATAR of all EAS applicants that get it, or those with the most severe conditions? Also, is a UCAT score of 95-96%ile competitive for offers at UQ, JMP, WSU, UTAS (or any uni really)? I know it's not bad, but I'm not sure if it's considered as competitive.

 

[A1]

Also, is a UCAT score of 95-96%ile competitive for offers at UQ, JMP, WSU, UTAS (or any uni really)? I know it's not bad, but I'm not sure if it's considered as competitive.

I have little doubt you will get at least a UQ bonded offer, quite possibly unbonded.
With 95%ile you will get interviews with JMP and very likely WSU. At that stage chances for an offer there are 25% & 30%.

For UNSW & Monash I need to know your ATAR since it is counted in combination with UCAT. Assuming 99.3 as mentioned before you should get UNSW interview with about 30% offer chance. You can also get interviews with Adelaide, UWA, Curtin if you apply. It's borderline for Monash interview assuming you are interstate.

 

[Catelyn R.]

tysm! Also, if I can get 99.95 because of my EAS, what would my chances for a UNSW offer be?

A1 replies: 99.95+95%ile would be around 70% offer chance for UNSW.
Btw if you can get EAS/UES from SATAC for 99.95 you can get Flinders too.

 

[Catelyn R.]

tysm! Also, if I can get 99.95 because of my EAS, what would my chances for a UNSW offer be?

A1 replies: 99.95+95%ile would be around 70% offer chance for UNSW.
Btw if you can get EAS/UES from SATAC for 99.95 you can get Flinders too.

Thanks A1!! Also, sorry but if you go here https://www.uac.edu.au/assets/documents/eas/eas-how-does-eas-help-me.pdf could you please explain to me the "Places" part of the second page? Is the 'highest ATAR gets awarded EAS' thing specifically for UTS or were they giving that as an example?

 

[Yamster]

Mod Note: Answered for Med.

Applying for: Medicine and Dentistry
Application Type: Gap Year (2018 NSW grad)
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 98.15
UCAT Percentile Rank: 99
VR: 790
DM: 800
QR: 880
AR: 890
Total: 3360
SJ: 650
Current State: NSW
Applying to: MED - UNSW, WSU, NEWCASTLE, UTAS
DENT - CSU, ADEL
Rural Applicant: no
GWS Applicant: YES
Indigenous Applicant: no
Other: n/a
Specific Questions: Does UNSW take into account my actual scaled score (3360) or just percentile? Also, how are my chances of even a UNSW interview offer? (and hypothetically if I WAS to somehow to receive an interview offer, would my interview then need to be absolutely incredible to balance out my much weaker ATAR?)
THANKS IN ADVANCE, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !

Hi as;dlkfja;sldkj

Dent: Yes

 

[ABT123]

Thanks A1!! Also, sorry but if you go here https://www.uac.edu.au/assets/documents/eas/eas-how-does-eas-help-me.pdf could you please explain to me the "Places" part of the second page? Is the 'highest ATAR gets awarded EAS' thing specifically for USYD or were they giving that as an example? Does that mean it applies to UNSW etc. ?

That section in the document is referring specifically to UTS, it says at the start: "All participating institutions (except University of Technology Sydney, which allocates places to eligible applicants – see over..." and so the explanation in the "places" section is specific to UTS, not other unis.

 

[Catelyn R.]

That section in the document is referring specifically to UTS, it says at the start: "All participating institutions (except University of Technology Sydney, which allocates places to eligible applicants – see over..." and so the explanation in the "places" section is specific to UTS, not other unis.

OMG I can't read. KK thanks so much

 

[A1]

Thanks A1!! Also, sorry but if you go here https://www.uac.edu.au/assets/documents/eas/eas-how-does-eas-help-me.pdf could you please explain to me the "Places" part of the second page? Is the 'highest ATAR gets awarded EAS' thing specifically for USYD or were they giving that as an example? Does that mean it applies to UNSW etc. ?

Bear in mind EAS is a scheme by UAC, it's up to the individual unis/schools what considerations they give to applicants with EAS. Some do some don't, you need to check with them or their websites.

UNSW used to (we believe) have a separate small quota of med places for EAS. Now according to Smelly Boy they give bonuses to your ATAR's rank then put you in the same general pool/quota.

 

[Smelly Boy]

Thanks A1!! Also, sorry but if you go here https://www.uac.edu.au/assets/documents/eas/eas-how-does-eas-help-me.pdf could you please explain to me the "Places" part of the second page? Is the 'highest ATAR gets awarded EAS' thing specifically for UTS or were they giving that as an example?

I remember (let’s hope my memory is accurate - don’t take this as gospel truth) in year 12 I asked Usyd about this & they said that yes, you’re given the bonuses but usually there’s more people with bonuses applying to get a spot in a course. To work out who gets a spot, they have this method of considering disadvantage and ATAR achieved (let’s use the physio usyd course as an example which has 99.95 requirement). let’s say there’s these people who applied & there’s one spot left:
1. 95 ATAR + 10 bonus points
2. 98 ATAR + 5
3. 99 ATAR + 10
4. 95 ATAR + 15

They would give the applicants a new score by simply adding the ATAR & bonus points so we’d have this:
1. 105
2. 103
3. 109
4. 110

So person 4 gets the spot.

Also if you didn’t have any special consideration then you’d have first priority to get in. Another thing to note is that if you’re eligible for this many bonus points then the chances are your ATAR would hardly surpass a 93 or 94 because of the disadvantage you face but I just used these huge numbers as an example. In my school, the dux usually gets a low 96 or high 95 ATAR and then the second highest is at like 94 then 3rd highest is like a high 93. Our top achiever list which lists about the top 20 in the school usually ends at about an 80 ATAR (this person is ranked 20). A school very close to where I lived would usually have their dux at a 94 ATAR. Point is that there aren’t many disadvantaged people (from my experience) that reach ATARs as high as what I’ve written above.

Please email Usyd & see if what I said is right. I asked them in person when they came to my school & also on open day at the uni regarding this & I’m pretty sure I got an answer something like I described above. If you get a different answer then please share with us

What A1 said is perfectly right according to my knowledge of UNSW

 

[A1]

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: School leaver
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 98-99 ATAR
UCAT Percentile Rank: 81
VR: 630
DM: 690
QR: 740
AR: 660
Total: 2720
SJ: 656
Current State: Victoria
Applying to: Preferred Monash, but am applying across the country
Rural Applicant: no
GWS Applicant: no
Indigenous Applicant: no
Other: SEAS Category 4 Difficult Circumstances
Specific Question: hey was just wondering on my chances for an interview at Monash especially or anywhere else even though i choked my ucat, thankyou!!

I'm not sure whether you will qualify for SEAS or Monash Guarantee or both. If SEAS boosts your ATAR rank to 99.95 interview is quite possible with 81%ile. Otoh Monash Guarantee gives you an interview if your UCAT is above the threshold. Last year this threshold was around 80%ile, this year I have not found it on the Monash website yet.

 

[ucatboy]

UNSW has said several times in their information videos they use the Score not percentile. However 2 years ago they introduced a major change in that a very high score will not even out a low score in another component i.e. they don't average out in UNSW's words.

I interpret this to mean a high 99th will still count better than a low 99th, but NOT by the huge gap between 3360 over 3160 (gap of 200) compared to 3160 over 98th 3100 (gap of 60).

Unfortunately your ATAR is on the low side. I hope you will get a UNSW interview but you will need an outstanding interview to get an offer. You have better chances with WSU & JMP though.

That's very very interesting - do you know if these same adjustments have been made for Monash, whereby 3400 is, for example, only treated as marginally better than 3130? Am hoping my above average 99 percentile will give me the tiniest edge over the competition

 

[A1]

That's very very interesting - do you know if these same adjustments have been made for Monash, whereby 3400 is, for example, only treated as marginally better than 3130? Am hoping my above average 99 percentile will give me the tiniest edge over the competition

Monash says the three components ATAR UCAT Interview are equally weighted 33/33/33. We don't know what method Monash uses to standardise the components before summing them - is it by ranks within each or by z-score.

By ranks it's sort of proportional to the percentiles with decimals (like 99.9th vs 99.1th).

By z-score it's more proportional to the Overall score. Say a 93rd 2890 is "x" amount better over a 90th 2840 then a 99th 3400 would be 11x instead of 3x better. This 11x plus a high ATAR can mean they are already in the top third final ranking without needing any marks from the interview. That's what UNSW wants to avoid, but it's unknown for Monash.

 

[REGULAR JOE]

Apologies, I've another question. Is it even worth applying to VTAC (since the only unis are Monash & MelbUni), if I've got a 95% UCAT and am expecting around a 99.4-99.6 ATAR? And also I reside in NSW, and I know that Monash only reserves very few places for interstate students, hence I assume you'd need to be on the extremely high end of the UCAT & ATAR percentiles.
I don't really want to bother wasting time & money doing the VTAC app if my chances are (presumably) close to zero anyway. Searching for your opinion. Godspeed!

I have the same question except my atar is 99.95 and ucat is 86th percentile(low)

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I have the same question except my atar is 99.95 and ucat is 86th percentile(low)

I’ve seen elsewhere that you’ve mentioned an ATAR of 99.45, will VTAC calculate it differently?

 

[Catelyn R.]

UNSW doesn't say how ATAR is factored in interview selection for rurals. Since they interviewed 150 out of 220 rural applicants last year I guess they don't need ATAR to filter out more. Place offers will factor in actual ATAR but only one quarter weight, in combination with UCAT+Interview+Rurality.

Thanks again A1. Yeah ... just a bit concerned about what I'd have to score in UCAT/ATAR to be competitive in rural. I think my UCAT is fine (95) but not really my ATAR. I got it predicted a long time ago but now (after trials) I think it's actually closer to 98.5 than 99.2. I'm also an EAS candidate but since they take the predicted ATAR and EAS doesn't apply ... am I in a bad situation?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks again A1. Yeah ... just a bit concerned about what I'd have to score in UCAT/ATAR to be competitive in rural. I think my UCAT is fine (95) but not really my ATAR. I got it predicted a long time ago but now (after trials) I think it's actually closer to 98.5 than 99.2. I'm also an EAS candidate but since they take the predicted ATAR and EAS doesn't apply ... am I in a bad situation?

There is lots of information available here on MSO to compare your results to previous years.

2019 Entry Interview Invites - Collated

This post will be updated as information comes to hand. Please add the details of your interview invites below when you receive them and using the following format: University: Course: (Med or Dent) UMAT raw score: Percentile rank: Section 1: Section 2: Section 3: Predicted ATAR/GPA: Rural...

medstudentsonline.com.au

If you are a rural applicant, you’ll see above that 98.5 will be fine to secure an interview.

Aus Med and Dent Place Offers 2019 - Collated Data

LAST UPDATED: 07/02/2019, approximately 5pm James Cook University - Medicine Phone calls to some successful applicants on Jan 10th 7.00, BMP, intending to accept UNSW 6.70, CSP 99.75, CSP, intending to accept UNSW 99.65, RA2, CSP 99.55, RA3, BMP, second round 6.45, RA3, BMP 99.35, RA3 99.35...

medstudentsonline.com.au

And above here for offers.

 

[REGULAR JOE]

I’ve seen elsewhere that you’ve mentioned an ATAR of 99.45, will VTAC calculate it differently?

I heard monash uses 3 a levels. If so it is 99.95