UQ UQ Medicine: Provisional Entry Questions and Discussion

[occhiolisms]

This year UQ won't be the same as WSU. ATAR is a hurdle at WSU (as was for UQ previously), this year ATAR counts 25% in UQ final ranking so a 99.5 will definitely outrank a 95.5 by a good margin.

Righttttt ok cool thank u

 

[dotwingz]

Yes they have but it's not relevant to my reply above. What I meant was if you take 3 applicants with 95.1, 95.5 and 98.5 and give 4 bonus points to each. Do they end up with 99.1, 99.5, 99.95 respectively or all three get the same Rank 99.

Interesting question,

https://future-students.uq.edu.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/attainable-selection-rank-info-sheet_0.pdf

According to these they will continue to use selection rank to assess merit with selection ranks which range from 1 to 99 (maximum), i.e. students at a 99 level wont be differentiated

Also here (published 3/20) it says that Selection ranks range from 1-99; with 99 being the highest selection rank attainable. Selection ranks are derived from prior academic qualifications. The use of selection ranks allows applicants with different qualifications to be assessed and compared against each other for entry to a particular program

But in this email they say they'll use an "entry rank" which derives from an applicants qualifications. I wonder if 'entry rank' is equivalent to 'selection rank' or whether its something different (e.g. rank list of applicants or decimal place selection rank)?

Also unrelated but interestingly, UQ is the first uni to provide the ucat score needed on their website Review entry requirements nice step forward in transparency in my eyes

 

[SmallBrain]

Does anyone know how the uq admissions process works? Their website says all interviews will be online, yet at their online open day, they said that decision hasn't been made yet. Also, is there a chance the requirements will increase due to the interviews (this is what I've been hearing from people)?
Thanks in advance!

 

[ucatboy]

Also, is there a chance the requirements will increase due to the interviews (this is what I've been hearing from people)?

Not sure what you mean by the requirements "increasing"? They've changed, that's all, moving towards 50% interview. The number of people receiving UQ offers won't change by much, so it depends on the individual: if you're gonna get a 99+ ATAR and 90+ UCAT %ile, while the older system would've given you an offer straight away, now you have to sit an interview to determine your eligibility. In that case, yes, the new entry requirements have "increased" for such students.

If you mean ATAR and UCAT requirements, they're definitely going to fall, but note that this is for an INTERVIEW not a PLACE OFFER (which was the case for previous years).

 

[dotwingz]

I wouldn't be too sure about UCAT and ATAR requirements falling tbh.

The process for getting an interview is based entirely on UCAT, other schools which do the same (JMP/Adelaide) had slightly higher UCAT scores as a minimum for an interview despite having larger programs (UQ provisional is about 120). Also similar combo schools like UNSW or Monash generally require 99+ ATARs, despite the fact that Monash is essentially locked off for everyone outside of Victoria (therefore greatly reducing the competition). Unless your a genius like Mr Ucatboy himself.

On the contrary, UQ having pretty generous bonus points might level things out a bit, and their low weighting on ATAR will also make it a little more accessible

What I think is going to happen is that alot of people are going to be interviewing who honestly have no shot at getting in due to a low ATAR

 

[A1]

I wouldn't be too sure about UCAT and ATAR requirements falling tbh.

They won't fall at the other schools as a result of UQ's changes, but ATAR+UCAT combo for UQ will definitely fall.

Previous combos were directly for 140 place offers. Now UQ will interview 2-4(?) times this number and some with lower marks can interview well to edge out some higher marks.

 

[dotwingz]

They won't fall at the other schools as a result of UQ's changes, but ATAR+UCAT combo for UQ will definitely fall.

Yes exactly!

 

[flower16157]

Do you think they will be higher/lower? Also what ucat and atar combo would be required in general given the interviews also make up a part of the entry score?

Hi not sure if this has been answered but for UQ entry atar makes up 25%, UCAT makes up 25% and the other 50% is the MMI interview

 

[TKAO]

Hi not sure if this has been answered but for UQ entry atar makes up 25%, UCAT makes up 25% and the other 50% is the MMI interview

Seems to be a pretty heavy weighting on the MMI for a med school that uses all 3 in their criteria... most others only go up to 33 or max 40%

 

[SmallBrain]

Thanks for the answers!
I just wanted to know the how the use of selection rank vs atar comes into play. Is your actual atar discarded once bonus points are added? For example, does someone with 97 atar +2 bonus ranks (for specialist maths or language) get ranked equally in terms of atar as someone who achieves an actual atar of 99 with no bonus points?

 

[A1]

I just wanted to know the how the use of selection rank vs atar comes into play. Is your actual atar discarded once bonus points are added?

Not everyone who applies to UQ Med has an ATAR - some (used to) have an OP, some ATAR, some IB etc so QTAC commonise them into a Selection rank. The one they use is *after* the bonus is added.

What we don't know is how the bonus will be added this year since this is first time Qld follows the ATAR system. Say adding 2 bonus points to a 97.2 & a 98.2, will they both become Rank 99 (as in previous years) or 99.2 & 99.95 respectively.

 

[YeahTrueHey]

Hey does anyone know if UQ are doing separate rounds for interstate and local applicants this year or will it all be in one round like adelaide?

 

[dotwingz]

Their website says all interviews will be online, yet at their online open day, they said that decision hasn't been made yet.

Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences (HMBS) we drive innovative solutions that transform healthcare and improve wellbeing.

medicine.uq.edu.au

Their website says a decision has been made yet aswell, I suspect a decision hasn't been made yet

A decision has not yet been made on the format of Provisional Entry interviews scheduled for November. This decision will be made in the coming months.

Edit: Also since it says 'scheduled in November' i suspect they will do one round in November like Adelaide, not sure though.

 

[YeahTrueHey]

Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences (HMBS) we drive innovative solutions that transform healthcare and improve wellbeing.

medicine.uq.edu.au

Their website says a decision has been made yet aswell, I suspect a decision hasn't been made yet

Well that's a shame if it's all in one round. I don't think my score will be very competitive compared to all the NSW and Vic students aha.

 

[dande]

Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences (HMBS) we drive innovative solutions that transform healthcare and improve wellbeing.

medicine.uq.edu.au

Their website says a decision has been made yet aswell, I suspect a decision hasn't been made yet


Edit: Also since it says 'scheduled in November' i suspect they will do one round in November like Adelaide, not sure though.

is it possible that if worse comes to worse and online turns out too difficult that they might use SJT scores instead of interviews? I heard UWA was considering this.

 

[A1]

is it possible that if worse comes to worse and online turns out too difficult

Many schools have already interviewed international applicants online for years so it's not new technology to them.

 

[dotwingz]

Eh. Doubt it

UQ has already been doing online interviews for their med program for a long time (specifically UQ-Oschner students) so I doubt It would be too difficult to expand their online interviews To include provisional students. Meanwhile UWA has not done online interviews before (afaik, on second thought they probably Use them for intl students)

 

[katespade]

Does UQ have any rural entry schemes?

 

[dotwingz]

Rural Access Scheme

The Rural Access Scheme may help boost your selection rank for some programs.

future-students.uq.edu.au

 

[katespade]

When we apply through QTAC for rural is it just provisional or is it bonded?