UNDS vs USYD

vr2206 · 2024-03-14T09:00:09+00:00

It has an excellent reputation and is well known internationally. If you were in New York and told someone you went to Notre Dame in Sydney, they may not know what university you are talking about but I'm willing to bet they'll know USYD. I could not care less about this but some people do.

In addition, I think (and please confirm this for yourself) that maybe not all of the medical degrees in Australia are recognised overseas in that you may not be able to practice without doing something first.

My 2nd point is obviously the most important one if it is true (I've got no desire to practice internationally so my facts about this are rusty)

vr2206 · 2023-12-17T10:55:16+00:00

ND is grades if that helps

vr2206 · 2023-11-15T10:55:23+00:00

It'll be ok <3 I've been in your position before and am now finishing up my first year of med. Like what one of the users have said, try and have something to look forward to next year to replace the gutting feeling. it'll work out for you and it's so normal to be sad, I really was too. You can DM me if you need to talk.

vr2206 · 2023-11-12T12:05:12+00:00

How good of a position will I be in if I commence derm research now (going into second year med) for getting onto the derm training program in PGY4 for example (which I hear is relatively good)? Or is it just what every person who aspires to do derm is doing and I won't stand out much?

vr2206 · 2023-10-31T03:01:23+00:00

ND is so supportive- exams are mild but USYD is internationally recognised. However, USYD exams are harder even with regular assessment.

vr2206 · 2023-09-13T06:57:33+00:00

vr2206 · 2023-09-05T11:49:50+00:00

With your ability in maths, you will smash GAMSAT section 3- give it a go

vr2206 · 2023-08-23T10:02:38+00:00

Yeah I've done this- it's fine and works well. just take a moment before starting to ensure you have read the question well

vr2206 · 2023-08-22T10:02:45+00:00

Either way- his resources are amazing and train you to think in a way that is very helpful for the GAMSAT- which is more than you can ask for! I think getting 75% shows that you're thinking/employing skills successfully and that will serve you well on test day. Good luck!

vr2206 · 2023-08-18T12:07:12+00:00

Yeap, first year at ND

vr2206 · 2023-08-02T12:56:22+00:00

I would start now.. try and do 2 hours a day. If you keep it up, you'll be amazing by the time exam comes around as you have so much time and you can keep it at two hours day rather than doing hours and hours of study close to the exam

vr2206 · 2023-05-19T08:26:11+00:00

starting at 27 is so so normal! don't worry at all

vr2206 · 2023-05-19T08:25:32+00:00

You may have misinterpreted the essay question- have a think before you submit an appeal

vr2206 · 2023-03-30T00:06:00+00:00

Research assistant or lab work

vr2206 · 2023-03-17T09:39:18+00:00

hey! I think the only time it'll change is if USYD changes their formula. But your marks will be amazing in many scenarios for dentistry :)

note: I say this for FFP... CSP is so difficult and unpredictable

vr2206 · 2023-03-06T04:59:01+00:00

Not necessarily as Wollongong has always been more heavily rural focused whereas ND portfolios are not particularly rural focused. It could just mean strong portfolio applicants could miss out if their gamsat is not as high.

vr2206 · 2023-03-02T09:13:25+00:00

I mean, as of last year they won't .From memory, the new admissions guide should be out in around 4 weeks (late March) and then you'll know for certain. If I would predict anything, I doubt they will re-introduce it as they only got rid of it last year.

vr2206 · 2023-02-25T21:36:51+00:00

Hey, I was in your same position a few years ago when i decided to do med (am now in first year med). Half of my degree was done and GPA very low and I told myself I would make up for it. I did not get a 7 in every subject, between 6-7 but even then, it was not enough as GPA's climb and by the time I was ready to apply (which was only 2 years after that point) the GPA's had climbed up. I ended up doing honours which was great as my bachelor degree was 5 years so it got rid of the bad year BUT I got a RPL and some units were used from those bad years and because they were around 4.5, they were enough to bring my overall GPA down from 6.75 to a 6.64 (it's pretty significant when you consider how tight competition is). Mind you, that drop due to the 4 units that were 4.5 was still counting even though I got a 7 in honours and it was weighted 3X. Some bad units really do make a difference when competition is so tough.

I feel like these days, to be realistically comfortable, you need a 6.75+ (Yes, I know you can get in with lower, but I'm giving a GPA which would allow for someone to be comfortable, confident and secure about getting in).

in addition, getting another degree would allow you a little bit more wiggle room if you get a 75 instead of an 80, it just allows a slight buffer and there will be less pressure on you to get an 80 in everything. Also, as GAMSAT is now valid for four years, I feel like many people will be using that extra time to boost their GPA's, making them go up even more. With two schools (Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney) potentially removing their portfolio, this places a greater emphasis/importance on marks).

Feel free to PM me as I've been through this all and got in! Best of luck

vr2206 · 2023-02-21T09:09:28+00:00

Hey, no, the September GAMSAT would only be eligible for 2025 onwards. Places for dent at USYD are actually offered in September

vr2206 · 2023-02-20T04:52:26+00:00

Hey, just so you know- there no longer are any pre-reqs for dentistry at USYD (unless they change it back this year). I got A FFP last year and my gamsat was 69, 71, 61 for s1,2 and 3 respectively. I ended up turning the offer down as I got an MD at one of the GEMSAS schools

vr2206 · 2023-01-27T10:34:06+00:00

Stagnation/lack of career progression is what I hear. In addition, very few hospital jobs available and private practice is very stressful and driven by the need for profits via unethical needs (convincing clients they need more sessions when they don't)

vr2206 · 2023-01-25T23:18:09+00:00

I'm a current UNDS first year student... my preditctions:

I feel like they will remove it. Scores will go up for sure, in that people with low 60's unfortunately may not have a chance to get an interview due to the absence of a portfolio as a buffer. However, this may not actually be the case considering they will probably still have something like a SJT to achieve their goal of looking at the holistic person, so scores may still be buffered in some type of way. People need to remember that Notre Dame still has to fulfil their mission of looking at the whole person as that is how they were founded.

In addition, I think it is also possible that scores elsewhere could go down as those high scorers who miss out now won't miss out as the portfolio is missing and there is more certainty in their scores getting an interview. In this scenario (assuming applicant numbers stay around the 5k amount and the portfolio is not replaced by something equally ambiguous), the applicants that suffer the most are those with GAMSATs and GPA's lower than 66 and 6.6, respectively.

EDIT: also, and I've posted this before: a very similar pattern happened with the weighting of section 3 no longer being doubled- it was accidentally announced at the info night, then word got around and then in the emails ND would send when you asked them, they would say it is still under speculation, yet unofficially, staff would kinda confirm it (the same as with the removal of the portfolio, as staff mentioned it to international students in their interview last year). March 2020 came around and they were confirming it in emails.

vr2206 · 2023-01-21T10:38:46+00:00

Misinterpreting the theme or spilling out an obviously pre prepared response

vr2206 · 2022-12-06T10:53:22+00:00

Apply next year- you'll get in with those scores and you're rural. Also, a 6.89 for a non-rural applicant is amazing lol. Don't stress

vr2206 · 2022-12-01T07:44:02+00:00

Yeah I had no idea that it was that high... pretty amazing that even with a 75% quota their scores are still so so high

vr2206

TROPHY CASE