Vet at UOM

[thecreeker]

Hey guys
Right now I'm at the point where I've narrowed down my future career into two very different options.
Either Vet  at UoM or Engineering at RMIT (every student past and present I've talked to place RMIT and Monash way above Melbourne in terms of eng)
So I was wondering, just how hard is it to get into Vet at Melbourne? I've heard about the GPA and students who are already guaranteed entry into Vet, but just how hard is it to get into Post Graduate Vet from the Bsc?
In short, is it a realistic option?

[LeviLamp]

I'd say it's definitely realistic! It's not like trying to get into the Juris Doctor or postgraduate medicine.
https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2013/!R01-AA-MAJ%2B1001
http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/DVMBrochure.pdf
Have a read through these links and the two major undergraduate specialisations and see what you think.
The "with credit" thing in the pdf seems to imply a 65% average in third year. I'm not in third year but it doesn't sound like an unreachable mark to me

[spalvains]

Hi there! I'm in my second year of the BSc at UoM, and it wasn't until this year that I realised that becoming a veterinarian was what I wanted to do. I'm planning on getting into the program as a post-grad (unfortunately I missed the second-year entry pathway since I didn't take the pre-reqs). I've spoken to other students who entered this way who has said that you need at least 85+ average over your last two years of undergrad to really be competitive, weighted 25:75 towards your last year. On their FAQ page (http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/futurestudents/faq.html) they said it's usually around 81 for a CSP, but that can change, so I'm hoping for at least 85. Also, from next year and beyond, they take a personal statement which can outline animal experience, and they also use Graduate Access Melbourne.
Of course, since you've thought about the path early, you get two ways of entering the DVM. You can try to enter via the second year pathway (which takes your grades from first and second year), and if that fails, entering post-grad. What I like about the personal statement is that if you fail to get in at both stages, you can take a 'gap year', and work while getting some animal experience, so you can try entering the next year with higher chances.
85+ is definitely not an unreachable goal, in fact with a bit of hard work it is definitely realistic. Of course, make sure you do the pre-reqs (first year biology and second year biochem for the post-grad pathway, and year 12 or first year physics and the second year vet subjects for the second year pathway).
If any of this confused you, look up the selection guidelines at (http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/SelectionGuidelinesDVM.pdf)
I hope I helped, and good luck

[blank]

does this second year entry pathway only apply to dvm?

[simpak]

A girl from my h/s got into the major and she's smart but not like a genius or anything.

[thecreeker]

thanks  for the info guys 
just another question, how many people are admitted each year? I've heard that the intake is tiny, and so its pretty risky putting your hopes on VET.

[thecreeker]

If any of this confused you, look up the selection guidelines at (http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/SelectionGuidelinesDVM.pdf)
I hope I helped, and good luck

And one more thing Spalvains, I saw in that link  that you need 98.5 for a CSP, and 95 for fee place. What exactly is a fee place? and does the CSP guarantee you entry or is that just financial support should you get in to DVM?

[simpak]

I'm not sure how many, but if you didn't, you can really just do the extra year after doing a different major as long as you've satisfied the prereqs as far as I know.
Speaking from experience, setting yourself back a year is not a big deal.

[spalvains]

And one more thing Spalvains, I saw in that link  that you need 98.5 for a CSP, and 95 for fee place. What exactly is a fee place? and does the CSP guarantee you entry or is that just financial support should you get in to DVM?

That's for the guarantee ATAR scheme, so if you get >98.5 you are guaranteed a CSP, and >95 you're guaranteed a full fee place. That's it - just keep up your average during your first two years of uni (70, I think it is?) and you're in. The government doesn't subsidise the cost in a fee place, so it's heaps more expensive. Full fee for 1 year is $43,680 (http://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/fees/grad-dom/aust-fee-place-fees/australian_graduate_fees_table), CSP is $9,792 (http://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/fees/grad-dom/commonwealth_supported_places/subject-fees). Times that by 3 years if you enter from second year (which will happen if you hit that ATAR mark), or 4 years if you enter post-grad. So unless you're willing to sell your life to the HECS scheme (or if you have that sort of money lying around), a CSP is what you should aim for.
Both CSP and fee places are spots in the DVM, and obviously CSP spots go to the best applicants. To answer your last question, if you get >95 ATAR, you are guaranteed a spot. However, if you get between 95 and 98.5 and need a CSP, my guess is you'll have to try your luck with the other applicants within the B.Sc and have to actually apply for a spot.
Also, there's 120 spots each year, it says in the FAQ link I posted above. However, I would guess a decent portion of those are international places, since they're major $$$ for the uni.

I'm not sure how many, but if you didn't, you can really just do the extra year after doing a different major as long as you've satisfied the prereqs as far as I know.
Speaking from experience, setting yourself back a year is not a big deal.

I agree, and you're right. I'm doing either a cell and dev bio or a biochem major (halfway through my degree and still haven't chosen, haha) and I don't mind that I missed the chance to apply at the end of second year. Now I get to major in another field (always a good backup plan), and I can still apply for the DVM afterwards since I have the postgrad pre-reqs.