Paying up front?

[seretide]

hey guys!!

A friend of mine doing the GAMSAT this year said something about paying up front to get into the doctor medicine? Is this true? I know you can pay up front rather than going on HECs, but he said it as a way of getting into the course. Anyone have an idea?

I told him that its impossible - to pay upfront and be done with the GAMSAT if you didn't do well.

He is going to Melbourne, if your wondering.

*Side note - no idea if this topic is in the right section.

[Russ]

Whether you pay up front or take a debt will not influence your ability to get into the course. Being willing to pay more for the degree (a full fee place) will mean you have a lower cutoff than otherwise, but not by much. You will absolutely still need to sit the GAMSAT.

The only way you're getting into the MD without the GAMSAT is if you're a VCE high achiever and meet the criteria for guaranteed entry

[seretide]

Exactly what I said. Although he seemed to stand his ground on this.

Like you said, I'm pretty sure not by much - but do you know how much of a cut off paying up front grants?

[Russ]

Paying up front means nothing in terms of getting in.

If you're willing to pay more (55k, a FFP) then you will be considered for the FFP spots. Since people generally don't want to pay 55k a year, the cutoff for these spots is lower than the cut off for the subsidized spots (9.5k, CSP). The difference is not a whole lot based on the data volunteered by applicants last year but nobody knows specifically (UoM do, but they're not saying).

[seretide]

Seems like it might be a fair amount if UoM is not speaking.

[Russ]

Not really, they just keep their data confidential. Most unis do, it's hardly surprising

[chiral]

@ Russ this may sound stupid but i don't really know much about how stuff are paid at uni. The 55k you say we must pay if we decide to do ffp, can we get some sort of loan for that? or must we pay cash from ourselves cos i don't think any one has that...

thanks

[seretide]

Well, i think, not sure if this is right but you would, if you couldn't afford it, get a loan. But, unlike HECs you have to pay interest and stuff on it so... what turns out to be 55k, could cost a lot more. In terms of actually paying the uni, no idea. And I'm pretty sure they are not expecting cash.

[Russ]

chiral ragedeleted her account but:

the government will loan you some of it (~100k or so) but you'll have to come up with the rest yourself. due date for the payment is about now