I think you have a point. It's just that I'm a little confused as when I gave UNSW future students a call, and they said that if you don't receive offer for the dec round, even if your uni results are released before 18 dec, you'll still be considered for jan round. But I get your point though, if my score is for e.g. borderline of last year's cut off, highly likely that I won't be considered for the jan round if the cut offs are similar for both dec and jan.
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UNSW UNSW Medicine: General Entry Questions and Discussion
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Hey everyone! I'm an Australian who attended high school and lives in the USA, and I had questions about UNSW's interviews. I noticed on their website the interview invites for those with finalised results are on December 18th, with the first interviews on the 19th, and all domestic applicants must attend the in-person interviews. This seems a little tricky (not only for someone in my situation) to get there in such a short time frame, especially in the middle of December with peak holiday travel.
Should I just bite the bullet and book the flight? It's at minimum 46 hours of my life (roundtrip) and a pretty hefty sum of cash, both of which I'm more than willing to give up for this interview, but neither of which I'm willing to give up for just a holiday in Sydney if I'm unsuccessful.
Advice is very much appreciated!!!!
Should I just bite the bullet and book the flight? It's at minimum 46 hours of my life (roundtrip) and a pretty hefty sum of cash, both of which I'm more than willing to give up for this interview, but neither of which I'm willing to give up for just a holiday in Sydney if I'm unsuccessful.
Advice is very much appreciated!!!!
Email them or call them to get definitive conclusion from them because they may be able to make an exception for you (eg. if they cluster you with other international student interviews). I would say this is unlikely though, so if you are gunning for it bite the bullet because you'd be kicking yourself if you lost your medicine dreams because of 46 hours and like 3 grand of your money.
If I were in your position however I would strongly consider doing medicine in the US and then coming back after your training if your personal circumstance allow it. It's comparatively much harder during medical school than here in Australia, but you also get to avoid the unaccredited hell that we have here. Also Australia recognises American qualifications so you don't need to redo specialist training, but the reverse is not true.
Since you didn't attend Year12 in a NSW school it's likely you'd be invited to the interstate/2nd round. Which means you'll know whether you have an invite on 18-Dec for interview on 22-23 January. (You can also email UNSW to confirm this).
And before you ask, UNSW does try to keep the place-offer cutoff the same i.e. you're not disadvantaged by doing the 2nd round.
Further to this post^ about UNSW's Non-compensatory method for selection, goldenduck has kindly sent me this publication for more info
> Medical student selection process enhanced by improving selection algorithms and changing the focus of interviews in Australia: a descriptive study - PMC
A few interesting points from it:
1. The overarching objectives of the Faculty’s Selection Committee: selecting applicants who are most suitable for the UNSW medicine program.
Confirming neither ATAR nor UCAT is meant to predict they will be better doctors 6-10 years down the track.
2. The selection process needs to focus primarily on *identifying concerns* rather than strengths.
Thus UNSW switched to NCM to rank applicants on their lowest component rank rather than highest or combined (as detailed in my previous post).
3. However this part doesn't make sense to me
The new selection process is more likely to *de-select applicants who ranked low on ONE selection tool* despite being ranked highly on the other 2 tools. A non-compensatory selection model takes into account potential concerns because a low rank on *ANY selection tool* would ultimately have a greater impact.
Note the bolded parts and place offer ratio is approx 1 in 3 - If NCM is applied in this way to place offers the bottom third of interviewee ATARs (99.5-99.6) would be de-selected regardless of interview, what's the point of calling them in to interview.
Having seen 99.5-99.6 got place offers I think three possibilities
1. UNSW still final rank them on the three components combined i.e. ATAR 99.5-99.6 can get a place offer if they have high UCAT and excellent interview, or
2. Once selected for interview place offers are solely on the interview, or
3. UNSW de-select the bottom 20-30% of interview scores before ranking them on the three components combined.
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medterview
Member
Sounds like a pickle to be in
My interviews were back in the COVID days and so were predominantly online! I'd agree that you should definitely give it a go emailing/calling them and explaining your situation; But also curious whether you have a pretty good idea about whether you'll get an interview based on your UCAT?I do think making a holiday out of this and hoping for the best either way might be a good call though! Hope it all works out
I have a 98%ile UCAT and a 99.9 ATAR (idk which one they would consider with NCM) so I am leaning towards maybe? But thank you for the well wishes!!!Sounds like a pickle to be in
I do think making a holiday out of this and hoping for the best either way might be a good call though! Hope it all works out
99.9 + 98%ile will definitely get a UNSW interview.
The interviews are just 1-2 days after invitations are released (on the ATAR day) so only to local Sydney applicants. They can't expect interstate applicants to turn up with 1-2 days notice, a late-January interview round is held for them.
medterview
Member
I agree, this looks like a combination that you can be fairly sure of. Good luck!!
See in this post
> UNSW - UNSW Medicine: General Entry Questions and Discussion
Applicants last year were asked to book their interview timeslots, likely to be same this year.
I think you're expected to book within the day the invites are released.
I believe EAS gives you an ATAR boost. Depending which EAS category if you get +1 added to your ATAR/Selection Rank it works the same as having the ATAR cutoff lowered from 99.5 to 98.5.
Morphious2004
Member
Would a 3190 UCAT(mid 95%) and a 6.8 GPA be comfy for a UNSW interview invite? With this year's UCAT jump, worried it may not be.
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A1 replies: The UCAT jump would've been reflected in your 95%ile (without the jump 3190 would be 96-97%ile).
I'm very optimistic 6.8 GPA + 95%ile will be enough to get UNSW interview. Good luck.
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A1 replies: The UCAT jump would've been reflected in your 95%ile (without the jump 3190 would be 96-97%ile).
I'm very optimistic 6.8 GPA + 95%ile will be enough to get UNSW interview. Good luck.
Morphious2004
Member
Thanks for the reply!
Deboza
UNSW MD
Should get an interview.