USyd USyd Medicine: Provisional Entry Questions and General Discussion

[Wooly]

However, GCE A-Levels are Not Applicable at the site for 2022 domestic entry.
Have you heard any students are accepted with A-Level at last year?

I'm not sure why it says that on the site. However, I do know several students were accepted with A-Levels last year.

 

[CWR]

Hello guys, I am just wondering if anyone that is currently doing the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine double degree program at USYD could tell me if the undergraduate sci degree involves research project opportunities, and what their opinions are about the benefit of having done an undergraduate degree before entering to the MD program. Thank you

 

[CWR]

EAS adjustments don't apply to the double degree program, only E12, so you should apply for E12 if you are eligible.

hey garmonbozia, I just came across a website talking about the DDMP at USYD, and it says to maintain the place in the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine at USYD, we need to sustain a WAM of 65 (which is understandable as it is shown on USYD’s official website) and ALSO a annual interview hosted by the Faculty of Medicine (which was not shown on the official website). Could you please clarify if this information about the “annual interview” is true, and if it could be a process that actually tries to eliminate people from the guaranteed spot? Thank you so much

 

[garmonbozia]

Hello guys, I am just wondering if anyone that is currently doing the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine double degree program at USYD could tell me if the undergraduate sci degree involves research project opportunities, and what their opinions are about the benefit of having done an undergraduate degree before entering to the MD program. Thank you

There are a number of opportunities for research within the Bachelor of Science, some formal and others informal. Two formal arrangements that come to mind are the summer research programs in the Faculty of Science, which are paid and somewhat competitive, and the science research units in the Dalyell program (i.e. SCDL1991, SCDL3991, and SCDL3992), which are open to everyone in the Dalyell stream. Outside of these, you could also try contacting academics in the areas you're interested in (particularly if you have gotten high marks in the units they coordinate or lecture in); some of my friends have secured positions as research assistants by doing this.

Broadly the benefits of doing an undergraduate degree before going into medicine are several. There are obvious benefits to being given three years to study almost anything you want, while receiving a $10,000 p.a. scholarship, without having to worry about getting in to medicine at the other end. It's an opportunity to indulge the academic interests you hopefully have outside of medicine (although 70% of the cohort seems to end up majoring in one or two of the medical sciences...),* to learn how to study before starting medicine (though, truth be told, if you are getting into the DDMP program then you probably don't need to learn this), to make friends outside of the medicine bubble, and so on.

hey garmonbozia, I just came across a website talking about the DDMP at USYD, and it says to maintain the place in the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine at USYD, we need to sustain a WAM of 65 (which is understandable as it is shown on USYD’s official website) and ALSO a annual interview hosted by the Faculty of Medicine (which was not shown on the official website). Could you please clarify if this information about the “annual interview” is true, and if it could be a process that actually tries to eliminate people from the guaranteed spot? Thank you so much

You need to maintain a WAM of at least 65 (i.e. a credit average) to stay in the DDMP, but you need to maintain a semester average mark of at least 75 (i.e. a distinction average) to keep your scholarship. Neither of these are particularly onerous requirements, usually, and they give you a couple of chances if you do dip below these thresholds once or twice.

There's certainly no such thing as an annual interview designed to eliminate people. What the website may be attempting to articulate is that each cohort attends an annual progress meeting with the DDMP coordinator. This is not 'assessed', nor does the coordinator -- who is a very friendly man -- interrogate you to 'ensure that you are still passionate about pursuing a medical career' (a direct quotation from the website to which I think you are referring). It is literally just a check-in meeting and chat to see how everyone is going. You do, however, need to attend each of these yearly meetings in order to progress into the MD.

For the sake of thoroughness and for the benefit of future visitors to this thread, here are all the requirements you need to fulfil to progress into the MD:

• Complete your undergraduate degree within 3 years (or 4 years with appended honours);
• Complete three prerequisite units of study in biology, physiology, and anatomy;
• Maintain at least a 65 WAM throughout your undergraduate degree;
• Attend the annual progress meeting in each year of your undergraduate degree; and
• Complete a zero credit point unit, SMTP3007, at some point during your undergraduate degree. This involves writing some short reflections based on a week-long stint of work experience or community service that you undertake.

---

* I know this wasn't really your question, but for the benefit of other readers: seriously, take the opportunity to study what you are interested in, not what you think is going to help or prepare you for the MD. For instance, if you are a history enjoyer, but are thinking of majoring in physiology instead because you think it will be 'good preparation' for medicine... choose history. You will learn everything you need to about medicine in the MD itself (surprise, surprise).

 

[CWR]

Thank you so so much for your detailed reply, I really appreciate it! garmonbozia !

​

 

[medappl.]

Hey Guys, I was wondering if anyone could comment on the nature of the online assessment last year? I know there are NDAs about the specific content, however, what was the structure of it? Was it still the 30 minute written component and then the ~45 group discussion?

Because I was wondering whether the fact it was on zoom altered the process in any significant way.

 

[LeSpicyGinger]

Hey Guys, I was wondering if anyone could comment on the nature of the online assessment last year? I know there are NDAs about the specific content, however, what was the structure of it? Was it still the 30 minute written component and then the ~45 group discussion?

Because I was wondering whether the fact it was on zoom altered the process in any significant way.

I can't remember the timings but it was big group all together as an introduction-> smaller group for answering questions -> then same small group discussion hyping the University with some meddy questions thrown in.

 

[medappl.]

Thanks sm & did you have to still complete the written component on a google doc or smth is that what "smaller group for answering questions" meant?

I can't remember the timings but it was big group all together as an introduction-> smaller group for answering questions -> then same small group discussion hyping the University with some meddy questions thrown in.

 

[LeSpicyGinger]

Thanks sm & did you have to still complete the written component on a google doc or smth is that what "smaller group for answering questions" meant?

Yes to google doc

 

[medappl.]

Yes to google doc

And how many questions were there?

 

[LeSpicyGinger]

And how many questions were there?

Maybe 5. I can't remember

 

[medappl.]

I noticed some comments earlier in this thread about it potentially being harder for interstate students to gain a place. Could anyone comment from their understanding whether there is any preference for NSW kids over interstate kids at the interview stage?

 

[LeSpicyGinger]

I noticed some comments earlier in this thread about it potentially being harder for interstate students to gain a place. Could anyone comment from their understanding whether there is any preference for NSW kids over interstate kids at the interview stage?

Hi Medappl.

I don't believe there is a bias towards NSW kids in an unfair sense. In terms of anything "unfair" I would consider the large size of the NSW 99.95 cohort to be relative to states like SA to be a factor as well as the timing of the interview. In my year, Adelaide only had around ~8 99.95s compared to the ~50 or so NSW 99.95s I did my interview with which means proportionally it would favour NSW students (assuming everything else is equal). With COVID delays in Victoria and other states last year, we also interviewed earlier and given that we received results within a day, that could have prevented these delayed-state students from competing with the early spots.

I'm not sure if they're doing staggered interviews this year at USYD though.

 

[georgecxq]

However, GCE A-Levels are Not Applicable at the site for 2022 domestic entry.
Have you heard any students are accepted with A-Level at last year?

Hi mate, I am an intl offer holder for 2022 entry this year who got in with 4A*.
I just double checked the website, the not applicable part(even for Australia citizen) was for 3 Alevels only, and you need a total of 24 points(which 1 A*=6 points so 4A*)

Hope this helps

 

[medappl.]

Hi Medappl.

I don't believe there is a bias towards NSW kids in an unfair sense. In terms of anything "unfair" I would consider the large size of the NSW 99.95 cohort to be relative to states like SA to be a factor as well as the timing of the interview. In my year, Adelaide only had around ~8 99.95s compared to the ~50 or so NSW 99.95s I did my interview with which means proportionally it would favour NSW students (assuming everything else is equal). With COVID delays in Victoria and other states last year, we also interviewed earlier and given that we received results within a day, that could have prevented these delayed-state students from competing with the early spots.

I'm not sure if they're doing staggered interviews this year at USYD though.

Thanks so much.

 

[CWR]

Hey guys im just wondering about what time would Usyd usually call for offer (or rejection) after the interview, is it usually in the afternoon or later?

 

[Fannnnnnn666]

Hey guys im just wondering about what time would Usyd usually call for offer (or rejection) after the interview, is it usually in the afternoon or later?

For last year they called around 6 pm.

 

[Gana]

Hi guys,
I am planning on taking a gap year to retry for medicine. In particular at usyd will I be eligible to try for the e12 entry scheme as a school leaver taking a gap?

Thank you in advance

 

[A1]

Hi guys,
I am planning on taking a gap year to retry for medicine. In particular at usyd will I be eligible to try for the e12 entry scheme as a school leaver taking a gap?

I'm fairly sure gap year won't be eligible for USyd. I remember a clause saying you can only apply for the intake immediately next to receiving your ATAR.

(But the way they word it means if during the gap year you resit an HSC subject to receive a new ATAR you should be eligible).

 

[Gana]

Hi guys,
What does the assessment day look like for medicine at usyd and what are the skills/criteria being tested?
thank you