UMAT Preparation?

[whichkim]

I'm new here... First post so I have no idea whether or not I'm posting this at the right place.

I was just wondering. Is it worth taking the preparation courses? I've recently completed a mock UMAT exam and got a total score of 193. Section 1: 67, Section 2: 64, Section 3: 63 (raw scores). I don't even know what these scores mean but apparently according to this VIE institude I'm B ranked? I dont think thats high enough to get into medicine/surgery so I dont know whether its worth going through with the preparation course might not change a thing.

Has anyone gone through with this VIE/ St Vincents Institute UMAT Preparation course?
Are there any other cources I should be considering?

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[deleted]

There's the medentry course that you could consider but there've been other students who have been doing the course since the beginning of the year.

I'm not going to do the UMAT cause I've got no idea what I want to do, so Science at Melbourne Uni is probably my best choice, and if I wanted, I could go on to get a masters in a medicine field. (I'm pretty sure you can get a guaranteed placing if you get an ATAR of 96 or above as long as you consistently get over 65 on your exams during the first three years of uni).

In my opinion, it's worth it if you're VERY sure you want to go to Monash, but I had a few mates who did the UMAT last year without any preparation and still achieved a mid 90s percentile score.
The courses just help you become accustomed to the structures and types of questions you'll receive in the UMAT, but you can't really 'study' or teach yourself to become a logical thinker.

[pi]

I'm not going to do the UMAT cause I've got no idea what I want to do, so Science at Melbourne Uni is probably my best choice, and if I wanted, I could go on to get a masters in a medicine field. (I'm pretty sure you can get a guaranteed placing if you get an ATAR of 96 or above as long as you consistently get over 65 on your exams during the first three years of uni).

I'm not sure you know what you're talking about...

1) To get into UoM med ("Doctor of Medicine - MD") you need to sit the GAMSAT (and have an excellent score), an interview, and have a good GPA. You get a guaranteed CSP place if you get 99.90 or 99.95 ATAR only.
2) "Master of Medicine" - not sure you know what this really is, but it's not what you think http://www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/3896/

[AbominableMowman]

2) "Master of Medicine" - not sure you know what this really is, but it's not what you think http://www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/3896/

He probably means M.D. lol

[pi]

When you're giving advice to someone that could potentially change their life (ie. thinking that you could get into guaranteed med with a 96 ATAR etc), you need to be at least a little accurate.

Might seem harsh, but it's important.

[Shenz0r]

(I'm pretty sure you can get a guaranteed placing if you get an ATAR of 96 or above as long as you consistently get over 65 on your exams during the first three years of uni).

Not really, for MD at UoM. If you're talking about the guaranteed FFP, you'll need a 99+ ATAR and you need an average of 75+ for your uni grades, I've heard.

For a CSP, you'll need to take into account GAMSAT, GPA, and MMI if you're not a Chancellor's Scholar (reserved for 99.90+).

[whichkim]

Not really, for MD at UoM. If you're talking about the guaranteed FFP, you'll need a 99+ ATAR and you need an average of 75+ for your uni grades, I've heard.

For a CSP, you'll need to take into account GAMSAT, GPA, and MMI if you're not a Chancellor's Scholar (reserved for 99.90+).

Yeah. I think because other is no guarantee of a placement in medical school that I feel a little put off by the bachelor of biomedicine or science pathway.

Though, exactly how hard is it to maintain a 75% average in uni?

[zvezda]

bump.
keen to know the answer to whichkim's q

[gibsonaxxxs]

I was just wondering. Is it worth taking the preparation courses?

Has anyone gone through with this VIE/ St Vincents Institute UMAT Preparation course?
Are there any other cources I should be considering?

OK I'll give it my best shot.

Is is worth taking prep courses? Yes and no. Yes - they're helpful and give you an idea of what's in the UMAT. No - they don't give you specific tips that are actually useful; they kind of go around and around the main idea. Yes - the practice exams they give can be brilliant (and in fact I only used the exams in the end - skimmed the guides and they didn't help me). No - is it worth paying $500+ for a couple of practice exams? Yes - $500+ could lead into a great career. No - if you're not sure if you can, let alone WANT to, get into med, would this be a waste?

Most of what I said was said to make you think. Please don't take what I say as the gospel truth - people have different experiences. Ultimately (and I want to slap myself for saying this but it is true) it's your decision and it's a gamble either way.

VIE? No I didn't. I think most people use MedEntry, but that doesn't necessarily mean one's better than the other.

Any other courses? Yes of course. AN's one sounds pretty good. I'm also running a lecture and selling notes that are very different from the norm - check out my signature if you want to know more

Hope this helps