La trobe bendigo dentistry mix up?

[Biceps]

 I Heard about there being a mix up in dentistry at la trobe last year. Could someone explain to me what happened or at least give me a link? would this affect students' chances of getting in at the end of this year?

[paulsterio]

Pretty much they offered out more places than they actually had and hence had to force some people to defer for a year. Someone else might be able to tell you more.

[alexa94]

Every year, most unis tend to 'over-offer'. Say there were about 45 spots for dentistry at La Trobe. They may have offered 70 places (I have no idea what it was in reality, this is just a guess), expecting at least ~30 people to reject the offer as tends to happen every year. However, what happened this year was unprecedented; almost everyone ended up accepting the offer, and seeing as dentistry is restricted by the number of dental training chairs available, a uni cannot just take in as many dental students as it wants.

So obviously there's a problem, about 20-30 people aren't able to do dentistry this year after enrolling and taking up their offer. La Trobe generously gave them a guaranteed place in for next year, as well as $30k towards hecs. Basically, if you're trying to get into dent this year at La Trobe, there will probably only be about 5-10 places to compete for as opposed to the normal 30 or so places for metro kids. So yes, if dent at La Trobe was hard to get into in previous years, it will be extremely, extremely difficult to get into this year.

[Biceps]

Dammit i was really hoping to get into it at the end of this year :S. Would i be able to wait a year for them taking a gap year next year?
or should i just put melbourne science as a preference?

[alexa94]

I wouldn't risk it. If you're really set on dent, there are a number of options you could take:
1. Apply everywhere interstate. Other undergrad dent schools include: JCU, CSU, Adelaide Uni,, Griffith, UQ.
2. If you don't want to move interstate, then fair enough - science or biomed at Melb Uni would probably be your best bet, looking to get into post-grad Dent.
3. I would only bother taking a gap year if you don't get an offer this year with a ~99 atar; most other years that should be enough to get you in, so you could take a gap year... but in my opinion it would be too risky (what if you don't get in after your gap year?)

Of course, this is all provided that you don't get in this year... you never know what might happen. I am trying my hardest to get in to La Trobe too haha. I have some friends there this year and also one who had to defer, so I guess I know a bit more than most people about the situation. (They are all loving it at La Trobe if that's any motivation to work hard lol) Feel free to ask me anything

[Biceps]

I guess you're right. i would hate moving interstate but i guess dentistry is worth it. If 99 isn't good enough then i guess there is no chance that they would accept me anyway. Melbourne uni pathway seems like the best option for me.
I'll still put la trobe as my first preference (just in case ).

[alexa94]

That's true, moving interstate would be a pain; that's been my major consideration too. Just wondering, hypothetically, if you got an offer to study dent interstate, or a gap year and a place in La Trobe the following year, which would you choose?

[Biceps]

gap year if la trobe confirms it.