Dentistry @ LaTrobe vs Melb

[sodapop]

Hi! So I was considering Dentistry as a career, and I know that in Melbourne, there are two Dentistry courses available:

Undergrad Dentistry at LaTrobe (5 years)
Adv: - shorter period of study
        - Entry is guaranteed if you get the marks.
Dis: - located in Bendigo
       - ATAR cutoff is about 99.4+?

and

Postgrad Dentistry at Melbourne (7 years)
Adv: - more prestige (which would be important in gaining patients' trust?)
Dis: - harder to get into?
       - longer period of time?

Does anyone have any information/advice/opinion about these two courses, or could make a comparison between them? (How would you get into them?)

And also, would going interstate for Dentistry be better?

And does the Uni really matter in the end?

[kensan]

I'm interested in Dentistry as well, I don't think I'll get 99.4 or whatever it is to get into La Trobe
So I'm aiming for biomed or science at UOM then hopefully transfer to DDS. I'm just dreading GAMSAT 

I know you can go to Adelaide to study Dentistry, not sure on the details though.

[sodapop]

So I'm aiming for biomed or science at UOM then hopefully transfer to DDS. I'm just dreading GAMSAT 

GAMSAT - is that just UMAT for Graduate students? So there'd be competition to get into the course all over again?

[Edmund]

For dentistry, it doesn't matter which uni you go to. All dental graduates from an Australian Uni are accredited by the Dental Board of Australia and will be eligible to practice dentistry like any other dentists out there.

If you are totally set on dentistry, I'd say go for the one at La Trobe.

[dc302]

So I'm aiming for biomed or science at UOM then hopefully transfer to DDS. I'm just dreading GAMSAT 

GAMSAT - is that just UMAT for Graduate students? So there'd be competition to get into the course all over again?

Pretty much. Entry into the Doctor of Dental Surgery at melbourne is determined by GPA (ongoing uni marks) and performance in the GAMSAT. The two should be equally weighted. However, the GAMSAT differs in structure to the UMAT, just to let you know.

[Hamdog17]

I'm interested in Dentistry as well, I don't think I'll get 99.4 or whatever it is to get into La Trobe
So I'm aiming for biomed or science at UOM then hopefully transfer to DDS. I'm just dreading GAMSAT 

I know you can go to Adelaide to study Dentistry, not sure on the details though.

I considered dent for a while but I'm 95% decided on med so I know a little about the process. For Adelaide you need a UMAT (has risen in recent years but roughly high 80%iles), you are then invited to an interview and typically a 98 is required though it can change depending on the strength of the other two. Hope that helps.

So I'm aiming for biomed or science at UOM then hopefully transfer to DDS. I'm just dreading GAMSAT 

GAMSAT - is that just UMAT for Graduate students? So there'd be competition to get into the course all over again?

Yes it a competitive process but IMO graduate entry is a bit fairer than undergraduate entry (eg. You can study for the GAMSAT, you have multiple chances to sit the GAMSAT without repeating or falling behind a year- unlike yr 12 entry, you don't have to get 95%ile+ in the GAMSAT to get in, your ATAR doesn't come into it at all and the interview:places offered ratio is a lot lower than undergraduate med and dent schools).

[dc302]

Yes it a competitive process but IMO graduate entry is a bit fairer than undergraduate entry (eg. You can study for the GAMSAT, you have multiple chances to sit the GAMSAT without repeating or falling behind a year- unlike yr 12 entry, you don't have to get 95%ile+ in the GAMSAT to get in, your ATAR doesn't come into it at all and the interview:places offered ratio is a lot lower than undergraduate med and dent schools).

Just to let you know but dent at melbourne doesn't have interviews.

[Hamdog17]

Yes it a competitive process but IMO graduate entry is a bit fairer than undergraduate entry (eg. You can study for the GAMSAT, you have multiple chances to sit the GAMSAT without repeating or falling behind a year- unlike yr 12 entry, you don't have to get 95%ile+ in the GAMSAT to get in, your ATAR doesn't come into it at all and the interview:places offered ratio is a lot lower than undergraduate med and dent schools).

Just to let you know but dent at melbourne doesn't have interviews.

Really, that's interesting thanks for filling me in. I was more talking about med I guess then.

[Charmz]

what's the usual cut off for dentistry?

[giveup]

" hey guys, I have a passion for putting my hands in peoples' mouths. It's pretty stupid but at least it's prestigious. "

[Edmund]

what's the usual cut off for dentistry?

2008: Entry 1st round cut-off 98.8 | 60 places TOTAL (approx. 50 Undergraduate, 5 Transfers, 5 Rural)
2nd/3rd round offers as low as 97.00 (90.00+ for rural)

2009: Entry 1st round cut-off 99.7 | 40 places TOTAL (approx. 32 Undergraduate, 4 Transfers, 4 Rural)
2nd/3rd round offers as low as 99.3 (96+ for rural)

2010: Entry 1st round cut off 99.40 | 75 places TOTAL (approx. 55 Undergraduate, 6 Transfers, 14 Rural)
2nd/3rd round offers: THERE WILL BE NO 2nd/3rd ROUND OFFERS THIS YEAR - confirmed Health Science Faculty La Trobe. (90.00+ for rural)

If anyone is up for work experience, dental health services victoria (Melbourne Dental Hospital) is offering a 1 week work experience. It says Year 10 students but anyone can apply. I just did mine 2 weeks ago

http://www.dhsv.org.au/careers/work-experience/

If anyone is interested, just email the contact on that site. Be quick, only 4 spots left for 2012!!

[paulsterio]

If you're considering Bendigo, you might as well consider the University of Adelaide, probably the best undergraduate dentistry course

[duquesne9995]

If anyone is up for work experience, dental health services victoria (Melbourne Dental Hospital) is offering a 1 week work experience. It says Year 10 students but anyone can apply. I just did mine 2 weeks ago

http://www.dhsv.org.au/careers/work-experience/

If anyone is interested, just email the contact on that site. Be quick, only 4 spots left for 2012!!

I know right. The availability is so bad. =\

[Cuddlekins]

Hey guys, Whats the minium GAMSAT and GPA score required to get in graduate DDS at Melb uni?

Thanks

[Edmund]

Hey guys, Whats the minium GAMSAT and GPA score required to get in graduate DDS at Melb uni?

Thanks

No one knows but you should have at least 6.0 edit: 6.5 GPA and 60 GAMSAT to be competitive for a FFP, and the cutoff is much higher for a CSP. Both GAMSAT and GPA are weighted equally.