UoA 'What papers should I do at UoA for graduate entry' Chat/enquiries

[acbard9]

Yeah, i generally think that this was the case for our cohort. But the rule was really "exploited" in stage 2/year 2 where you only have and still only need to take 2 stage 2 MEDSCIs, where the rest could be any stage 1s and a couple of easy stage 2s. However, at the end of the day, motivation and hard work was what really determined a high GPA and finally, entry without taking into account how well you may perform in the interview.

Seven stage 3s will no doubt be very difficult. Personally, i just invested all my efforts into physiology with the intention of wanting to do med later on. I can say its worked out now but back then it was a huge risk and was likewise, full of uncertainty.

I took MEDSCI 312 311 317 316 313 and this was pretty much standard across most of the people/friends that i know who gained entry. MEDSCI 309 was avoided by many students wanting to go for medicine but again, if you do enjoy the maths/physics behind all the physiology of the human body then please dont be intimidated to take the paper as MEDSCI 312 (the alternative) was not easy either and marked brutally in our year.

Hey Hanzo,

Thanks for your wonderful reply! I'm feeling more at ease.

But I'm still feeling super nervous about taking 3 MEDSCI's, and STATS101 in Sem 1, and then 2 MEDSCI's, a BIOSCI and PHIL105g in Sem 2. Is this particularly more difficult than anything you might have heard from anyone who attempted to do Medicine again? Should I re-enrol to do easier 200-level papers? Also, considering I did all the required 1st year papers, what easy 2nd year papers can I do to replace some MEDSCI's?

I'll probably do 6 300-level MEDSCI papers.. but I might cut that down, and focus solely on Pharmacology

 

[Hanzo]

Hey Hanzo,

Thanks for your wonderful reply! I'm feeling more at ease.

But I'm still feeling super nervous about taking 3 MEDSCI's, and STATS101 in Sem 1, and then 2 MEDSCI's, a BIOSCI and PHIL105g in Sem 2. Is this particularly more difficult than anything you might have heard from anyone who attempted to do Medicine again? Should I re-enrol to do easier 200-level papers? Also, considering I did all the required 1st year papers, what easy 2nd year papers can I do to replace some MEDSCI's?

I'll probably do 6 300-level MEDSCI papers.. but I might cut that down, and focus solely on Pharmacology

Hello dreytho97,

I'm glad you have a better idea now. Three medscis in first sem is do able and that's exactly what I did aswell. Personally I found it to be hard but I've seen worst and people are still able to pull it off with a solid first 4 grades (8+ gpa).

As a side tip don't mentally beat yourself up if you don't get an A average first sem or higher because it's all about improving and learning from your mistakes there on. I've seen many people improve their GPAs as postgrad progresses and it's awesome. Each semester I managed to improve quite a bit from my first semester subsequently from 8.0 to 8.75 to 8.5 then finally 8.5 again.

I would always see if I can substitute medscis for easier stage 1s or 2s. But don't substitute the social aspects or enjoyment either.. most of the good friends/support network you make will probably be from medscis classes!

As for what papers to take I can only suggest stage 2 psych, sportsci, winesci etc for stage 1s I'll say maths, psych, physics, econ, sportsci, phil, stats etc... The academic world is pretty much yours in physiology/pharmacology. See how it goes then decide on your final year papers.

Good luck!

 

[acbard9]

Hey again

I've realised that I might have just restricted myself to do JUST MEDSCI Stage 3 papers. I was just wondering whether there were any other Stage 300-level papers I can take even with my current set up. (Perhaps I should have changed MEDSCI201 to BIOSCI201 for example in order to do more Stage 3 BIOSCI papers).

e.g. CHEM390 's prerequisites are "CHEM 110 and a minimum of 165 points passed." which, having credited papers, I have fulfilled. CHEM390 sounds pretty difficult though haha. None of the Stage 3 FOODSCI papers looked promising (all requiring Stage 2 FOODSCI papers that I won't have done haha)

 

[Hanzo]

Hey again

I've realised that I might have just restricted myself to do JUST MEDSCI Stage 3 papers. I was just wondering whether there were any other Stage 300-level papers I can take even with my current set up. (Perhaps I should have changed MEDSCI201 to BIOSCI201 for example in order to do more Stage 3 BIOSCI papers).

e.g. CHEM390 's prerequisites are "CHEM 110 and a minimum of 165 points passed." which, having credited papers, I have fulfilled. CHEM390 sounds pretty difficult though haha. None of the Stage 3 FOODSCI papers looked promising (all requiring Stage 2 FOODSCI papers that I won't have done haha)

Hey,

I think you have indeed restricted yourself to MEDSCI stage 3s. But i think the only way to remove this restriction is to really take more other stage 2s like STATS or GEOG MATHS PSYCH etc. which are essentially prerequisites to further respective stage 3 papers. Remember you don't have to take all the MEDSCIs in stage 2, only the ones that you really have to. Or you can do some stage 2 sportsci psych etc in year 3 later on.

 

[acbard9]

Thanks again!

I will be doing Stage 2 STATS papers in Summer School (and maybe also GEOG205), and 1st Semester 3rd year (+ possibly PSYCH202, which will hopefully allow me to do STATS301/330 It sounds like I can also do PSYCH305 (if I take MEDSCI206)? I guess that should do me well!

Yeah true I'm definitely thinking of perhaps removing MEDSCI204 in Semester 2, but that maybe a prerequisite for Pharmacology haha (a paper aptly named Pharmacology and Toxicology surely should be!). I'll look more into it! I'm kinda too afraid to change any of 201/3/5 as of now, and have started feeling kinda excited about them tbh! I might just end up keeping the 5 MEDSCI's I'll do this year

(Thanks again for all this help!)

 

[acbard9]

Hi guys!

I'm super keen to try again for Medicine at either Auckland and Otago (I have an 8.7 from Otago).
I'm currently doing a Pharmacology degree, and have MEDSCI 201/3/5 and STATS101.

I'm looking to switch into a degree that would perhaps give me a better chance at applying for postgrad entry.

I was thinking of doing Biology? How are BIOSCI papers in 3rd year compared to MEDSCI papers in 3rd year? Also, is anyone familiar with 3rd year STATS papers?

Thanks for your time

 

[acbard9]

Hey Hanzo and anyone else

I'm looking to switch into a degree that would perhaps give me a better chance at applying for postgrad entry. I'm doing quite well actually, but it's coming to the cost of my mental health.

I was thinking of doing Biology? How are BIOSCI papers in 3rd year compared to MEDSCI papers in 3rd year? Also, is anyone familiar with 3rd year STATS papers?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Stuart]

Hi @dreytho97 ,

Firstly, please refrain from double posting.

What is your motivation behind changing your degree? I am not quite sure what "mental health" you are referring to here but the chances are other courses are going to be just as challenging. After all, no majors/courses are inherently easier/better than the others.

I don't know how math/stat department(s) run at Auckland but I would discourage people from taking the math/stat papers for the GPA, especially the higher level ones. The lower level papers are probably okay but once you get out of the realm of high school level contents, things get increasing difficult. Unless you are really tuned into analytical thinking and/or really enjoy studying them, I think you would struggle to just get through the lectures. (However, if you do end up taking any of them, I would love to hear how you found them)

 

[acbard9]

Hi Stuart!

I'm so sorry, there were a few threads that I wasn't sure whether I could put the info in, so I put them in multiple just in case it might not be in the right place. I will remember for next time .

Well, I've been doing quite well in the Physiology papers, but I've now been diagnosed with depression and things like high cholesterol and uric acid (as I stress-eat) etc. I have noticed on course reviewers that there are degrees with papers that I'm actually super interested in (like a number of Plant/Animal Biology ones, and that Physics paper about astronomy!), but seem to be deemed "easier" at least by the people who had taken them.

I've also noted that Mana (?) did recommend to not do things like Medical Sciences for the purpose of making into Med, and instead go into something I'm interested in as a job, and try then. I took Pharmacology (considered Physiology) as a major on the recommendation of other people who tried for Med, but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do after uni if I don't make Med or Dent.

Yeah although I've had little experience with programming, it's something I've been meaning to get into, and was actually originally planning to double-major with Statistics anyway (for interest, as opposed to just for grades). I have heard the papers are quite tough and Stats in 3rd year, but perhaps they'd also be of lower memorisation content (more time for Bio content?), and about coding and professional statistics, which I like!

(Also, I'd be keen to do BSc(Hons), but the GPA requirements seem to change from science to science... I've emailed, but would you happen to know anything about it? )

 

[rustyedges]

[OFFTOPIC]

Firstly, please refrain from double posting.

Haha surely it can slide if the posts are over a week apart and they're asking something new? [/OFFTOPIC]

 

[acbard9]

[OFFTOPIC]
Haha surely it can slide if the posts are over a week apart and they're asking something new? [/OFFTOPIC]

(Offtopic) but tbf, I posted on a couple different threads with the same information. Sorry! I'll remember for next time.

 

[Stuart]

-- Anonymous Post --​

Hello,

I'm a to-be 3rd year Pharmacology student at UoA, hoping to get into Medicine at Auckland or Otago.

I would like any material or notes for the following papers:
MEDSCI 303
MEDSCI 304
MEDSCI 305
MEDSCI 306
MEDSCI 312
CHEM 390
FINE ARTS 210g
WINESCI 201

Any help or guidance regarding these papers are welcome. Thank you.

-- Anonymous Post --
​

Please note MSO does not condone any illegal distribution of copyrighted materials. - Stuart

 

[copter]

Hello!

I very narrowly missed out on getting into med this year (first year with 8.5 gpa and good umat), but I don't think I tried my hardest and want to give it another shot (grad entry). Is my best option to just stick with biomed? And if so, what courses should I generally look to take in year 2 to prepare myself for year 3?

Thank you

 

[AHHHHHH]

Hello!

I very narrowly missed out on getting into med this year (first year with 8.5 gpa and good umat), but I don't think I tried my hardest and want to give it another shot (grad entry). Is my best option to just stick with biomed? And if so, what courses should I generally look to take in year 2 to prepare myself for year 3?

Thank you

Same story with me advice would be appreciated thanks

 

[Mdku22]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on papers for a 3rd year biomed major who wants to apply for med, but might also want to keep honours as a possibility.

So far, I've been thinking of doing...
S1:

• Medsci 311
• Medsci 316
• Biosci 350
• Compsci 101/Chem 120/Physics 121

S2:

• Medsci 309
• Biosci 353
• Some Gen-Ed
• Unknown - Might be SciSchol 302

I had a 8.125 GPA for my second year, so I'm torn as to whether I should do medsci 309 (due to many, many reports of it's difficulty, although I'm a huge physics nerd), and whether I should do a 6th stage 3 paper.

Does anybody have any thoughts, specifically on Medsci 309, and on other Medsci papers to do?
Also, any info on Biosci 350 and 353 would be appreciated - the reviews all seem outdated

Thanks

 

[audio4444]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on papers for a 3rd year biomed major who wants to apply for med, but might also want to keep honours as a possibility.

So far, I've been thinking of doing...
S1:

• Medsci 311
• Medsci 316
• Biosci 350
• Compsci 101/Chem 120/Physics 121

S2:

• Medsci 309
• Biosci 353
• Some Gen-Ed
• Unknown - Might be SciSchol 302

I had a 8.125 GPA for my second year, so I'm torn as to whether I should do medsci 309 (due to many, many reports of it's difficulty, although I'm a huge physics nerd), and whether I should do a 6th stage 3 paper.

Does anybody have any thoughts, specifically on Medsci 309, and on other Medsci papers to do?
Also, any info on Biosci 350 and 353 would be appreciated - the reviews all seem outdated

Thanks

Heya!
I did both BIOSCI350 and BIOSCI353
While both are very different papers, it is not very difficult to do well in either. Like all stage bioscis, content for each paper is split in half, with the first half tested in tests and/or essay and then the final half in the exam. Content for both is straight forward and any extra reading really isn't required (However, in 353, for the exam, to get A+ results, its recommended to do some extra reading!).

Both yeah, as a person who didnt enjoy many Biosci papers in stage 1 or 2, I found both these highly engaging and easy to handle!

 

[Hanzo]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on papers for a 3rd year biomed major who wants to apply for med, but might also want to keep honours as a possibility.

So far, I've been thinking of doing...
S1:

• Medsci 311
• Medsci 316
• Biosci 350
• Compsci 101/Chem 120/Physics 121

S2:

• Medsci 309
• Biosci 353
• Some Gen-Ed
• Unknown - Might be SciSchol 302

I had a 8.125 GPA for my second year, so I'm torn as to whether I should do medsci 309 (due to many, many reports of it's difficulty, although I'm a huge physics nerd), and whether I should do a 6th stage 3 paper.

Does anybody have any thoughts, specifically on Medsci 309, and on other Medsci papers to do?
Also, any info on Biosci 350 and 353 would be appreciated - the reviews all seem outdated

Thanks

Hi. Your second year GPA is looking good.

I also did 6 stage 3s in my final year and it was not worth it. You are better off gambling with 5 stage 3s (the minimum) with your GPA so far.

Do not do medsci309.

 

[Mdku22]

Heya!
I did both BIOSCI350 and BIOSCI353
While both are very different papers, it is not very difficult to do well in either. Like all stage bioscis, content for each paper is split in half, with the first half tested in tests and/or essay and then the final half in the exam. Content for both is straight forward and any extra reading really isn't required (However, in 353, for the exam, to get A+ results, its recommended to do some extra reading!).

Both yeah, as a person who didnt enjoy many Biosci papers in stage 1 or 2, I found both these highly engaging and easy to handle!

Thanks for your response.

When did you complete Biosci 350 and 353? I've heard that they have been changed somewhat since 2017 - all the information i can find seems to contradict what's on the UoA site. What was the coursework like, and how was the grade weighting for labs/test/exam?

 

[Mdku22]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on papers for a 3rd year biomed major who wants to apply for med, but might also want to keep honours as a possibility.

So far, I've been thinking of doing...
S1:

• Medsci 311
• Medsci 316
• Biosci 350
• Compsci 101/Chem 120/Physics 121

S2:

• Medsci 309
• Biosci 353
• Some Gen-Ed
• Unknown - Might be SciSchol 302

Updated:
S1:

• Medsci 311
• Medsci 307
• Biosci 350

S2:

• Biosci 353
• Medsci 305
• Econ151g
• Scischol 302

I only need 7 courses because I did 9 (including Scischol 202) last year.

Medsci 309 seemed like too much trouble. Does anybody have any further thoughts on Medsci 305 and Medsci 307? They seemed rather interesting - 305 being much physiology (akin to medsci 205) but with some extra pharmacology; while 307 seemed to take a similar tone, but with brain/nervous physiology/disease, plus the pharmacology side.

I've heard there are group projects for these two courses, which has seemed to be the cause of much criticism. Does anybody have any insight into them?

Thanks

 

[confusedcat18]

Hey everyone I had two questions the first being maybe silly I'm not sure, so when they say they weigh your best 120 scores equally for the last two years of your undergrad does this mean that a) extra papers taken in year 3 can* substitute year 2 grades and b) if so would stage 2 summer school papers taken after your final semester (application to graduate would be submitted after SS) would still count for the following year entry as part of your last two years? Thanks in advance!