Requirements for NZ Medical Schools (U'grad)

[AussieChica]

Need someone to add a diagram here because I don't have enough space to

See below for University of Auckland med info (Lord Garlic's post) and University of Otago Medical School med info (lllllllllllll's post).

[lordgarlic]

http://www.health.auckland.ac.nz

THERE IS NO DIRECT ENTRY TO MEDICINE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF Auckland

Quote:

Originally posted by me
Must take 1 year of biomedical science or health science. Minimum GPA for interview: A- (75% +). Min Umat required: Umat is only worth 15% and people have got in with 150-160 in Umat. Final selection is 60% GPA, 15% Umat, 25% Interview

Read below for more information:

Candidates are to apply to either the Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) or the Bachelor of Health Science Programmes. Both are limited entry so good high school marks are required for entry.

I should probably add different Rules apply to Auckland from Otago Medical School in regards to year 1. We aren't open entry like Otago Medical School. in BSc - biomed the annual intake is 400 students i think and BHSc the intake is 250 students. Its more competitive to get into year 1 here. I SUSPECT you want a UAI around 85ish but thats a stab in the dark. If you are interested, contact admissions here lol.

In Year 1, students study 4 common courses and 4 separate courses depending on the degree pathway chosen. The Biomedical Science programme is based heavily around science with papers in biology, chemistry and physics. The Health Sciences programme is based around community health and is slightly arts dependent (need to be good at English).

The courses required are:


For the biomedical science courses, the topics covered are:
BIOSCI 101 – Cellular Biology, Viruses and Microbiology, Biochemistry and Evolution
BIOSCI 106 – Proteins, Enzymes, Metabolism I (glucose metabolism in detail), Human and Medicinal Biochemistry, Metabolism II (Fats and Proteins)
BIOSCI 107 – Cells and Tissues, Human Development (Embryology), Cell Structure and Function, Cell Membranes and Transport, Blood and Immune, Nerves and Muscles
CHEM 110 – Mostly AS and A2 chemistry (Mostly organic chemistry, spectroscopy, kinetics and acids and bases)
PHYSICS 160 – Mechanics, Electricity, Thermal Physics, Optics, Waves and Hearing
MEDSCI 142 – Nervous System, Autonomic & Endrocrine System, Reproductive System, Cardiovascular System, Musculoskeletal System, Respiratory System, Renal System, Digestive system.
POPLHLTH111 – Epidemiology, Fixing Health Problems, Environmental Health, Social Impacts on Health and Worldwide Health.

Unfortunately as I’m not enrolled in Health Science I cannot give any information regarding the content covered in the courses POPLHLTH 101, POPLHLTH 102 and POPLHTLH122 aside from what is on the university course catalogue
POPLHLTH 101
Health Systems 1 Provides an overview and understanding of the New Zealand health system, including: history of health and health service delivery in New Zealand; the role and functioning of hospitals; primary care; purchasers and funders of health services; the role of insurance and private health care providers.

POPLHLTH 102
Health and Society A description and analysis of the influence of social factors on health and health care, with special emphasis on the social structure, community, the health professions and governments.

POPLHLTH 122
Behaviour, Health and Development Introduction to the relationship between behaviour and the major biological, cognitive and social-emotional processes, applying them to health and development across the life span. Focuses on aspects of behaviour and development particularly relevant for the health care professional.

Final Ranking Process
Upon achieving an average of A- or above and sitting the Umat, twice as many candidates are interviewed, as there are places.
There are 135-140 places per year available at the University of Auckland. The faculty aims to have a 2:1 ratio of undergrads to postgrads so approximately 90-95 undergraduates from OLY 1 are admitted.

Total Places: ABOUT 140
MAPAS (Maori and Pacific Islander Admissions Scheme): 15 ~ 20
ROMPE (Rural Origin Medicine Preferential Entry): 20
Repeating MBChB–2: <5
Unbonded Places: 100 (about 70 for OLY1)

The final ranking is calculated as follows:
CORE 4 SUBJECT GPA x 0.6 + Umat GPA x 0.15 + INTERVIEW GPA x 0.25

The Umat GPA is calculated by taking the average of the 3 Umat scores and matching it to a grade:

90-100 A+ 9.00
85-90 A 8.00
80-85 A- 7.00
75-80 B+ 6.00
70-75 B 5.00
65-70 B- 4.00
60-65 C+ 3.00
55-60 C 2.00
50-55 C- 1.00





During the interview, each candidate is given a rank ranging from 1 to 5.
The ranks correspond to a GPA or automatic entry/reject as shown below:

Performance Catergory Grade
1 (Must Have) Automatic entry
2 (Highly Desirable) A
3 (Acceptable) B
4 (Uncertain Acceptability) C
5 (Unacceptable) Automatic rejection

Some Detailed information on the Interviews at the University of Auckland

To qualify for an interview, candidates must have an A- average at the end of OLY 1 and must sit Umat. Twice as many candidates as places are interviewed. Also, the MH03 (supplementary information form) must be submitted before November 1st.

Selection for the interview is calculated by the follow GPA formula:

Core 4 Subject GPA x 0.8 + Umat GPA x 0.2

During the interview, you are assessed on 5 elements: Maturity, Communication, Awareness and Knowledge, Career Choice and Balanced Lifestyle.

Maturity – thinking beyond immediate needs, willing to discuss moral issues, awareness of other ethnic groups etc.

Communication – clear, logical, succinct, uses humour appropriately, listening skills.

Awareness and Knowledge - Awareness of current community, political and social issues in medicine, awareness of NZ cultural diversity, ability to discuss these issues meaningfully in relation to medicine.

Career Choice – able to show he/she is suited for medicine, has considered other options, shows insight into own reasons for choice of medicine as career.

Balanced Lifestyle – involvement in activities beyond work and study (eg. Hobbies, sports, community involvement) and shows enthusiasm.

The Medicine Course at the University of Auckland

The MBChB at the University of Auckland is a 6-year degree including OLY 1. Years 2 and 3 are known as phase 1 and teaching is based on the grafton campus through different organ system papers. Years 4 and 5 are phase 2 and most learning is taught in hospitals. Phase 3 is your trainee intern year where you prepare to join the workforce

[lllllllllllll]

Otago Medical School is beeeeautiful and has the best university library in the world. Yes the world. That title might be taken sometime soon, but right now those red seats are hot. The med building is gorgeous as well!

Entry to any of the "professional courses" (med lab sci, med, dent, physio, pharmacy) is mainly through Health Sciences First Year which has changed this year. Graduate and International entry are both available. Requirements and places differ for each and you can find them through http://healthsci.otago.ac.nz/. Medicine is based 1/3 Umat and 2/3 your score in 6 of the 7 papers you take which you must gain at least 70 in each. But for official entry info go to the website!

Oh, I should probably note that to get into Otago Medical School as an Australian you gain admission ad eundem statum:
* QLD OP rank of 12 or below
* WA/TAS/SA/NT TER rank of 74.00 or above
* VIC ENTER rank of 74.00 or above
* NSW/ACT UAI rank of 74.00 or above
* IB 24 points
and they take almost any NZ student I believe. Also there are special rural and Maori categories of admission into medicine if you're a NZer. There is no limit on places and their policy is to take anyone who qualifies for HSFY.

If you're an Australian, you count as a domestic student (hoorah to cheaper overseas adventure!) through Otago Medical School uni, you're in limbo with Studylink and you're international for banking purposes.

But through experience and myths and over-generalisation:

*International is VERY competitive. Very few places available, many students and a lot of parental pressure involved.

*Graduate is theoretically hard too, but there were a fair few graduate students floating around who apparently already had their places confirmed but just had to take HSFY papers and pass to be up to date if they'd taken a non-science degree earlier.

*You fork out about $4000. If you're Australian you can get a student loan (but not student allowance). The money means there are an impressive amount of teachers that are brilliant and facilities are five star especially after learning that I have to supply my own gloves for anatomy classes at UNSW. It's also useful since most science courses can be entered into in second year if you don't get into your desired course straight away or if you're otherwise interested. (I wanted to do neuroscience or toxicology/phamacology after having the best lecturers).

*There are usually a LOT of people in the course most of whom aren't entirely sure what course they want to do as long as it's med, dent or pharmacy. You're fairly anonymous unless you look somewhat like the anglo Jesus (c.f. danish friend). Most say they "are going for med" and a few odd ones are going for physio. About 1600 began in 2006, reportedly 2500 this year. After first semester though there is a drop out of about a third some of whom go home but most move into biomed sciences majoring in anatomy (there's an anatomy dept!) or similar (like law tongue.gif!).

*It's a competitive environment for many or it's lots of fun if you enjoy learning and ignore the one's who don't sleep in case they don't memorise the course exactly in time. There are the opposite though like every first year course of those just under or over eighteen and away from home the first time and introduced to the NZ wonder of burning couches!

*If you make it to the end of the course and aren't international and won't be in NZ they say that you must provide a NZ address for notification of success, but you can negotiate! The health science dept does not provide particularly quick or useful help. Go there in person and don't be fobbed off!

*I didn't think I did much study compared to other students till the week of exams, but I did pretty well somehow despite the constant daydreaming. (It might have been the not drinking aspect!). The general suggestion is that you need high 80s in most papers and a "good" Umat meaning percentiles above 70 I think. You can get away with a brilliant Umat and okay results, or a crap Umat but top every paper. It changes every year because you're competing for the places, not passing a bar.

*I have no idea what effect giving people the chance to take an elective rather than the english paper "effective communication" (so jealous!) will do to results this year.

*There were some amazingly good lecturers. I think people move to Dunedin since "it's a nice place to bring up a family (if you avoid the student area)" so some really accomplished people work at the uni.

TADAA! Oversupply of pointless info!

[AussieChica]

OK guys I've tidied up this thread so that what you wrote is under your name not mine (and I added your extra comments).
Which means you guys are free to edit is as you like (add/delete info).
Just don't delete things too willy nilly as I'm sure lots of people could benefit from this.

[eric341]

Hey approx what Umat score would you need (scaled, the mark out of 300) to get into medicine @ Otago Medical School if you have an A or A+ avg throughout HSFY?

[lordgarlic]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric341@Apr 22 2007, 04:55 PM
Hey approx what Umat score would you need (scaled, the mark out of 300) to get into medicine @ Otago Medical School if you have an A or A+ avg throughout HSFY?

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based on what I know from people who were at Otago Medical School last year, the average mark for entrance into medicine was around the 85% region. Umat wise they use percentiles with a weighting of 45/45/10 for the 3 sections respectively (god knows why). But also I've been told by kiwilander who might still lurk around but not sure, that you want a Umat of about 60/60/70 if you get a mark of 85%+.

Best to check with llllllllllllll about it because I'm an Auckland student and not too familiar with Otago Medical School aside from what I've been told by friends there

[eric341]

Hey lordgarlic,

by 60/60/70 do you mean raw score or scaled marks?

nvm...I guess you mean scaled marks ;p

[lordgarlic]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric341@Apr 22 2007, 08:26 PM
Hey lordgarlic,

by 60/60/70 do you mean raw score or scaled marks?

nvm...I guess you mean scaled marks ;p

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from what I got in the private message from kiwilander in jan, is that 60/60/70 refers to percentiles. which seems rather low

one quick question are you in HSFY now?

[eric341]

Umm yeah, they're actually REALLY low compared to cutoffs for Aus unis (usually something like 230 to get an interview?)

And I'm year 13 this year, looking to get into HSFY next year.

I'm also sitting the Umat this year, and if I do reasonably well this year I guess I won't have to do it next year (my goal is 250 at least)

[lordgarlic]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric341@Apr 22 2007, 09:03 PM
Umm yeah, they're actually REALLY low compared to cutoffs for Aus unis (usually something like 230 to get an interview?)

And I'm year 13 this year, looking to get into HSFY next year.

I'm also sitting the UMAT this year, and if I do reasonably well this year I guess I won't have to do it next year (my goal is 250 at least)

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come up to Auckland haha

are you applying to aussie unis?