UoA Graduate Category Chat/Enquiry

[ratshehe]

If I were you, I'd apply. UCAT means so little its insignificant. I know people with a UCAT score of 2200 (excluding SJ score) that got in.

Do you know what their gpa was and for which years they got accepted? Were they under any entrance scheme? Ahh so stressful

 

[raccooneyes]

I'm assuming the score includes SJT as scores from the four subsets always end in zero.

You’re right, soz, should have realised that. I do agree that with their GPA and a good MMI score, their chances aren’t out of the ballpark yet.

 

[polipou12]

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[MMD]

Do you know what their gpa was and for which years they got accepted? Were they under any entrance scheme? Ahh so stressful

GPA was 9.0, they were accepted a couple of years ago. Definitely not under any scheme.

Is this general category too? I am in a similar boat to Bounce too. Struggle street with the UCAT, so far mocks have been ~50th percentile but hoping to apply to Grad entry for 2025.

General category.
Your GPA is the biggest and most important factor. Everything else is kind of irrelevant.

 

[xMath]

I wanted to reach out, ask and get information regarding my scenario/life outlook.

From a young age I age I wanted to pursue Med for the wrong reasons and eventually grew out of it when my father was diagnosed with cancer (when I was around 15). From then I wanted to pursue and payback the kindness that the health system gave my family.

I was dissuaded and made to feel like I was not academically capable of pursuing this when I was in NCEA by some teachers and students around me. I went onto to study physics and achieve my degree and have began teacher training this year and I am not enjoying it as much as I hoped. I finish teacher training at the end of this year and I am considering applying for Med next year as I am young enough to not have any life commitments (22/23). I want to ask how plausible is it that I get in and if you were in my shoes would you apply?

GPA \~ 7.2 (Started off rough in Y1 and Y2/Y3 had GPAs of 8.2 ish)

I am eligible for rural pathways both at UoO and UoA being raised in otago.

UCAT wise I am completing practice tests and will update my practice scores later on.

Would love your input thanks!

 

[MMD]

I wanted to reach out, ask and get information regarding my scenario/life outlook.

From a young age I age I wanted to pursue Med for the wrong reasons and eventually grew out of it when my father was diagnosed with cancer (when I was around 15). From then I wanted to pursue and payback the kindness that the health system gave my family.

I was dissuaded and made to feel like I was not academically capable of pursuing this when I was in NCEA by some teachers and students around me. I went onto to study physics and achieve my degree and have began teacher training this year and I am not enjoying it as much as I hoped. I finish teacher training at the end of this year and I am considering applying for Med next year as I am young enough to not have any life commitments (22/23). I want to ask how plausible is it that I get in and if you were in my shoes would you apply?

GPA \~ 7.2 (Started off rough in Y1 and Y2/Y3 had GPAs of 8.2 ish)

I am eligible for rural pathways both at UoO and UoA being raised in otago.

UCAT wise I am completing practice tests and will update my practice scores later on.

Would love your input thanks!

My first post on here was in 2019, and my undergrad was >5 years old so couldn't be used for med school. My undergrad GPA was 3.14 (which I'm very proud of as its an excellent nerd joke). When I posted here, 1 person took me seriously and responded with legit advice, because otherwise my GPA was laughable. So I will now do the same for you.

All of what I say below applies for UoA, I don't know about Otago.

I'm in the 4th year of MBChB now. Your GPA will matter more than anything else. If you go look at my post history there's a thread somewhere comparing GPAs for Grads vs FY, and I did a ton of statistical math in that thread to figure out that if your GPA as a grad was 9.0, you're almost guaranteed to get in. So your GPA matters more than anything else. An absolutely middling UCAT score is more than enough, and you must be personable with your MMI - again, a middling MMI will be more than enough. As long as the GPA is high.

So how to get your GPA as high as possible? The rural pathway for you helps, but you want to have your best shot. If you can do a PGDip in anything - it could literally be in Business Admin, if that's something you thought you could ace and get straight A+s in. That PGDip will be the only grade that they look at when you apply. Your 7.2 will be long forgotten. Maybe you can do a PGDip in Teaching and Learning since its related to what you've already studied? (Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning - AUT) Again, if you nail that, it'll be the only grade UofA looks at. And you'll sail right in.

 

[Hollyw28]

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any experience with applying for student loan EFTS extensions to study medicine? I only have 1 EFTS left until I reach my 7 EFTS limit, and I am eligible for a 3 EFTS extension. Has anyone applied for these extensions with any success, know of anyone who has, or have any additional information/experience in this regard? I wonder how likely it is that my application for a loan extension is accepted? I would hate to apply for MBChB and get accepted only to be unable to pay the course fees

 

[Fili]

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any experience with applying for student loan EFTS extensions to study medicine? I only have 1 EFTS left until I reach my 7 EFTS limit, and I am eligible for a 3 EFTS extension. Has anyone applied for these extensions with any success, know of anyone who has, or have any additional information/experience in this regard? I wonder how likely it is that my application for a loan extension is accepted? I would hate to apply for MBChB and get accepted only to be unable to pay the course fees

I applied for it for dentistry and mates did it for dentistry and medicine.

It will get approved if you do med, dent, optom, or vet up to 10 EFTS.

How many loans you can get - StudyLink

There is a limit to how many Student Loans you can get in your lifetime.

www.studylink.govt.nz

Idk anyone who's gone over 10 EFTS but if you do, you might get an extra extension or might have to pay a portion out of pocket. If you start the year with like 9.8 EFTs and finishing your last year of study pushes it to 10.6 EFTs, as long as you don't have over 10 prior to start of the year, they'll cover it. But if you start it with >10, yeah might have to pay some on your own.

 

[Hollyw28]

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any experience with applying for student loan EFTS extensions to study medicine? I only have 1 EFTS left until I reach my 7 EFTS limit, and I am eligible for a 3 EFTS extension. Has anyone applied for these extensions with any success, know of anyone who has, or have any additional information/experience in this regard? I wonder how likely it is that my application for a loan extension is accepted? I would hate to apply for MBChB and get accepted only to be unable to pay the course fees

I submitted an OIA for this and got a response, for anyone else interested! Looks like applying for EFTS extensions is a pretty secure option

Student Loan Lifetime Limit - EFTS Extension - a Official Information Act request to Ministry of Social Development

I wish to gain an insight into EFTS extensions for students who have already studied 7 EFTS and wish to pursue further study in an approved qualification. Could you please provide: 1. The number of applicants for an EFTS extension each year from 2015-2023. 2. The number of applicants granted...

fyi.org.nz