National Education > UMAT
UMAT
Collin Li:
--- Quote from: "ninwa" ---
--- Quote from: "coblin" ---I don't really understand the point of the UMAT. Seems like a weird selection criteria to have. Oh well, if it's the university's decision to select based on it, they have the right to.
--- End quote ---
I get the point of it: to select people who aren't just smart, but also have the traits a doctor is supposed to have, e.g. empathy, problem solving etc.
I just don't get how the UMAT is an indicator of being a "good doctor" later on. I know a couple of people who would be wonderful doctors, far more passionate about it than I am, and would probably make better doctors than me, who didn't do as well on the UMAT. Seems to me the UMAT is almost cutting out as many potential doctors as it is selecting.
/rant
sorry, I just really don't like the idea of the UMAT :P
--- End quote ---
But do they actually think that they are inherent traits that cannot be taught to some degree?
ninwa:
That's what I think too. Passion for the career can't be taught; empathy and problem solving can.
UMAT must die :P
Collin Li:
Yeah, well: if universities think that's how they'll get their best applicants, that's what they should do. However, if universities believe there is untapped potential in people who did not do well in the UMAT, but have shown great VCE discipline, then it is also in their best interests to make sure these people are offered a spot too. It's all about allocation of resources, the university definitely wants to give their places to the smartest students, and if someone really believes there is great potential in these people who have not passed the UMAT, they could open a medical school that enrols these people (or invest in a university to open spots for them, and reap the rewards).
kido_1:
I personally dislike the fact that nearly all medical schools require a good UMAT score. Then there are all these Prep Courses that say they can help you achieve a better Umat score.
ninwa:
--- Quote from: "coblin" ---Yeah, well: if universities think that's how they'll get their best applicants, that's what they should do. However, if universities believe there is untapped potential in people who did not do well in the UMAT, but have shown great VCE discipline, then it is also in their best interests to make sure these people are offered a spot too. It's all about allocation of resources, the university definitely wants to give their places to the smartest students, and if someone really believes there is great potential in these people who have not passed the UMAT, they could open a medical school that enrols these people (or invest in a university to open spots for them, and reap the rewards).
--- End quote ---
I like that idea!
Melbourne does something like that ... entry to medicine has 3 streams apparently ... a UMAT stream, an ENTER stream and a combined stream. So you can do really well on UMAT and get an ok ENTER and get in, or get an awesome ENTER and average UMAT, or do quite well on both.
It's weird ... I've heard of people getting 96 and getting into medicine and people who got 99 didn't ...
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