UNSW UNSW Medicine: General Entry Questions and Discussion

[memeucatscore]

Seems a bit unfair that UNSW doesn't have a lower UCAT leeway for NSW applicants compared to many of the interstate universities now.

 

[JeydinNewWon]

Seems a bit unfair that UNSW doesn't have a lower UCAT leeway for NSW applicants compared to many of the interstate universities now.

It’s always been like this, lol. The NSW unis don’t tend to favour their own except for WSU and it’s commitment to Greater Western Sydney. I know it’s unfair and it sucks for us but I really would like to know why.

 

[Nonstandard983]

It’s always been like this, lol. The NSW unis don’t tend to favour their own except for WSU and it’s commitment to Greater Western Sydney. I know it’s unfair and it sucks for us but I really would like to know why.

The universities can definitely institute an NSW students quota if they wished. They may just want to get what they perceive are the best applicants and feel committing to say 50% NSW students would hinder that.

I don't think that's the case though because as was stated earlier this year on MSO NSW students as a whole are smarter than any other states students

 

[memeucatscore]

The universities can definitely institute an NSW students quota if they wished. They may just want to get what they perceive are the best applicants and feel committing to say 50% NSW students would hinder that.

I don't think that's the case though because as was stated earlier this year on MSO NSW students as a whole are smarter than any other states students

Well UNSW does boast the highest ATAR of their students compared to other unis. Lowering the UCAT threshold still lets them claim this .

 

[ucatboy]

I don't think that's the case though because as was stated earlier this year on MSO NSW students as a whole are smarter than any other states students

That was originally the assumption until the remaining 1300 NSW students completed the UCAT and didn't shift the average by even a point

 

[memeucatscore]

I don't think that's the case though because as was stated earlier this year on MSO NSW students as a whole are smarter than any other states students

Maybe in terms of ATAR

 

[JeydinNewWon]

That was originally the assumption until the remaining 1300 NSW students completed the UCAT and didn't shift the average by even a point

NSW students exposed

 

[Nonstandard983]

Sorry meant undergrad med. It's on wikipedia lmao.

Also, I would say that UNSW not having a instate quota actually increases the average ATAR for the course as more applicants are competing for the same positions so interstaters are boosting the average ATAR at UNSW med

 

[ucatboy]

Also, I would say that UNSW not having a instate quota actually increases the average ATAR for the course as more applicants are competing for the same positions so interstaters are boosting the average ATAR at UNSW med

Yeah that's what you see for Monash, which have a 90% instate 10% interstate quota roughly. The instate ATAR requirement is something like 98, while interstates need 99.8+ for an interview. If they opened up places to everyone I assume they'd be in a similar situation to UNSW.

 

[cocodreams]

For a non-standard student (don't know if it matters or not), but does UNSW weigh WAM and UCAT equally when giving interview invites or is the weighting different?

 

[memeucatscore]

I'd help if UNSW published the minimum UCAT plus ATAR and then minimum ATAR plus UCAT combo they accepted for an unbounded place. Possibly that might reveal the secret weighting of the components.

 

[Nonstandard983]

I'd help if UNSW published the minimum UCAT plus ATAR and then minimum ATAR plus UCAT combo they accepted for an unbounded place. Possibly that might reveal the secret weighting of the components.

they do do that..... look at the medicine info night its 33.3% ATAR 33.3% UCAT and 33.3% interview score lmao

also furthermore to this UNSW has never been secretive about there practices as far as I am aware the only uni that keeps that under lock and key super tightly is WSU

 

[memeucatscore]

ts 33.3% ATAR 33.3% UCAT and 33.3% interview score lmao

I didn't see it on the night, and even then, I would've thought that this graphic would've been updated. [Undergrad] - (2020 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

Minimum UCAT with that person's ATAR wasn't specified, nor was the lowest ATAR with that person's UCAT for regular local and rural applicants, let alone any information regarding bonded medical places and ATARs+UCATs.

 

[Nonstandard983]

I didn't see it on the night, and even then, I would've thought that this graphic would've been updated. [Undergrad] - (2020 Updated) Med schools Selection Criteria Y12s & Non-standards

Minimum UCAT with that person's ATAR wasn't specified, nor was the lowest ATAR with that person's UCAT for regular local and rural applicants, let alone any information regarding bonded medical places and ATARs+UCATs.

it's definitely equal weighting, I can't remember where I saw that but it was an official source of info and sorry your right they didn't have a combined ATAR + UCAT. However they did have minimum UCAT minimum ATAR that secured an offer for both general entry and rural entry pathways.

 

[A1]

For a non-standard student (don't know if it matters or not), but does UNSW weigh WAM and UCAT equally when giving interview invites or is the weighting different?

UAC converts the WAM to GPA then to an ATAR/Selection Rank. UNSW will combine this SR with UCAT the same way as for ATAR, presumably equally weighted.

 

[JeydinNewWon]

The universities can definitely institute an NSW students quota if they wished. They may just want to get what they perceive are the best applicants and feel committing to say 50% NSW students would hinder that.

I don't think that's the case though because as was stated earlier this year on MSO NSW students as a whole are smarter than any other states students

I mean sure they can say that but then it’s still unfair for our NSW students. I would prefer if all unis just don’t have quotas or all unis had their own quotas. It sucks that last year a 99.2 ATAR student with 92nd percentile UCAT from NSW without GWS or EAS would not get a single interview... (unless their VR was really good of course).

But ultimately the unis don’t really care and are committed to their own visions so I guess it won’t really change...

IB may be one of the only exceptions to the rule, as there is no limit on the number of 45/45 scorers within a state. Obviously the NSW Department of Education (that administers the HSC) isn't very happy about that, which is why IB to ATAR conversions have gotten progressively worse year after year

t. former IB student

Wait how do the IB to ATAR conversions get worse every year? Does it have to do with the number of students in a Year 12 cohort?

 

[Nonstandard983]

I mean sure they can say that but then it’s still unfair for our NSW students. I would prefer if all unis just don’t have quotas or all unis had their own quotas. It sucks that last year a 99.2 ATAR student with 92nd percentile UCAT from NSW without GWS or EAS would not get a single interview... (unless their VR was really good of course).

But ultimately the unis don’t really care and are committed to their own visions so I guess it won’t really change...


Wait how do the IB to ATAR conversions get worse every year? Does it have to do with the number of students in a Year 12 cohort?

IMO, its fair enough NSW univeristies don't have a specified instate quota. It is down to the universities discretion, I can only apply to NSW and QLD universities as a non-standard? is that equal or fair probably not, but it also isn't really fair for universities to expect the average Y12 to preform as well as the average 21+ yr old in interviews that draw heavily on life experience and maturity. Pretty much nothing in the application process is 100% equitable but they try to get it as close as can be. At the end of the day its all down to what the university wants to do and if UNSW wants to not have a cap on instate that's fair, none of us are owed an interview or a place even if we get a 7 GPA/99.95 ATAR with a 99th %ile UCAT.

 

[A1]

I'd help if UNSW published the minimum UCAT plus ATAR and then minimum ATAR plus UCAT combo they accepted for an unbounded place.

Even this^ wouldn't help much since their interview is one part of determining the offer/unbonded. Given the [minATAR + UCAT] or [minUCAT + ATAR] we still don't know whether these particular scores were coupled with a low or mid or high interview score.

For example you're told [minATAR 99.5 + UCAT 3030] got an offer, but that could be with a mid interview score. Whereas a [99.55 + 3000] with a high interview score also got an offer. I mean the UCAT 3030 doesn't give you any concrete info.

In earlier years UNSW did say the three components were equally weighted. Then 2-3 years ago they changed to "We look at all three components but their scores are not averaged", the 1/3 1/3 1/3 were no longer official so were removed from the MSO Criteria table. But I think it's still 1/3 1/3 1/3 except if you score an unsatisfactory interview score your ATAR + UCAT tops won't average to rescue you.

 

[Nonstandard983]

Even this^ wouldn't help much since their interview is one part of determining the offer/unbonded. Given the [minATAR + UCAT] or [minUCAT + ATAR] we still don't know whether these particular scores were coupled with a low or mid or high interview score.

For example you're told [minATAR 99.5 + UCAT 3030] got an offer, but that could be with a mid interview score. Whereas a [99.55 + 3000] with a high interview score also got an offer. I mean the UCAT 3030 doesn't give you any extra useful info.

In earlier years UNSW did say the three components were equally weighted. Then 2-3 years ago they changed to "We look at all three components but their scores are not averaged", the 1/3 1/3 1/3 were no longer official so were removed from the MSO Criteria table. But I think it's still 1/3 1/3 1/3 except if you score an unsatisfactory interview score your ATAR + UCAT tops won't average to rescue you.

That was my understanding too, equal except if they interviewed you and you weren’t at all an acceptable fit they’d just scrub you even if you had the top ATAR and UCAT.

before that you could have a top atar and ucat and even with a bottom interview you’d still get an offer right?

 

[JeydinNewWon]

IMO, its fair enough NSW univeristies don't have a specified instate quota. It is down to the universities discretion, I can only apply to NSW and QLD universities as a non-standard? is that equal or fair probably not, but it also isn't really fair for universities to expect the average Y12 to preform as well as the average 21+ yr old in interviews that draw heavily on life experience and maturity. Pretty much nothing in the application process is 100% equitable but they try to get it as close as can be. At the end of the day its all down to what the university wants to do and if UNSW wants to not have a cap on instate that's fair, none of us are owed an interview or a place even if we get a 7 GPA/99.95 ATAR with a 99th %ile UCAT.

Yeah, I agree it's really up to the unis and no one is entitled. However, I just wanted to address that they didn't quite make it equitable as possible if it's much harder for a NSW student to get an interview than say a VIC or SA student who have state-based quotas respectively. Though, the funny thing is that in UoA, the state-based quota for interview but don't give them any sizeable boost when ranked against the whole pool. So some could've been invited when they technically had zero chance to begin with. Which would not be problem if state-based quota was removed.