Moving to Australia and I need some help!

[Shazzam]

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As the thread titles states, my family is moving to Australia and I plan on going with them. Due to this, I have a few questions about the process. I understand that I will be considered an International student when I apply to medical school as I plan on finishing my BA in the states before moving to Australia.

What is expected of me from Australian schools? (Here in the States typically, you have to a ~3.65 GPA and around 30 MCAT for MD schools and a nice variety of ECs ranging from research, clinical experience, shadowing, etc...)

I currently have a 3.68 GPA (two years to go), how competitive is this in Australia? I'm also wondering what kind of MCAT score I'm going to need to be a competitive International applicant. Also, what kind of ECs should I be looking into to make sure I'm competitive?

I do plan on STAYING in Australia after completing Medical School, will I be at any disadvantage in acquiring a decent residency / anything else?

Feel free to add any information you would think to be relevant to my situation and thank you very much for taking the time to help me out!

Cheers!

 

[Shazzam]

Anyone have any idea?

 

[Transition]

If you can get PR with your family before applying, that will be the best situation. Have a look at my blog (link in signature) and look at the posts regarding the medical student tsunami. Your GPA is more than sufficient for most if not all the schools. Have you done the mcat? What was your score if you have?
To get into one of the competitive scores, I wouldn't want anything less than a 30, although it may be sufficient considering your GPA (I got interviews at all the schools I applied to except for ANU with a 3.6/31P).

If you want to stay, really think about getting your PR before applying. If you can't wait, consider ANU. They will switch you to a local CSP if you get PR during medical school (internationals are considered only in the FFP program).

 

[Augustus]

As the thread titles states, my family is moving to Australia and I plan on going with them. Due to this, I have a few questions about the process. I understand that I will be considered an International student when I apply to medical school as I plan on finishing my BA in the states before moving to Australia.

What is expected of me from Australian schools? (Here in the States typically, you have to a ~3.65 GPA and around 30 MCAT for MD schools and a nice variety of ECs ranging from research, clinical experience, shadowing, etc...)

I currently have a 3.68 GPA (two years to go), how competitive is this in Australia? I'm also wondering what kind of MCAT score I'm going to need to be a competitive International applicant. Also, what kind of ECs should I be looking into to make sure I'm competitive?

I do plan on STAYING in Australia after completing Medical School, will I be at any disadvantage in acquiring a decent residency / anything else?

Feel free to add any information you would think to be relevant to my situation and thank you very much for taking the time to help me out!

Cheers!

You're in a bit of a conundrum.

If you apply as an international you will improve your chances of getting accepted because you will be paying the international student tuition (which in most, if not all, cases is substantially higher than Australian student tuition).

If you apply as an Australian PR the situation is the opposite. It will be more competitive because tuition is lower.

However, your stats are pretty good for either situation. Stay on course GPA-wise, have a solid MCAT (30+) or GAMSAT and you will get in.

A nice thing about Australia is they don't care about extra curriculars and/ or work experience so that will give you more time to study.


Australian med schools put a lot of emphasis on the following three things:
GPA
MCAT or GAMSAT
Interview

(some schools have a hurdle GPA and go almost exclusively based on Standardized test score and the Interview)

 

[Transition]

Mind you, if you decide to apply as a local (with PR - highly recommended considering the med student tsunami), you cannot use the MCAT. You *must* write the GAMSAT. If I were you, since you can use the GAMSAT as an international as well and also since people often say that the GAMSAT requires less preparation (it's more of an IQ test than rote memorization liek the MCAT... apparently, I never took it so take that with a grain of salt), I would take the GAMSAT and avoid the MCAT.

Get your PR, though! Your 3.7ish GPA should be sufficient for the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 schools and is way above the hurdle schools. Just rock your GAMSAt... but get your PR! Even as a local, entry is much much easier in Aus than in the US or (worst of all) Canada.

 

[Shazzam]

Do you know where I can get more information on Australia on a more insider basis like the information thats given here on SDN about the American system? I like to be fully prepared before I take the actual steps. Also, do you know the requirements for attaining the PR and how long it takes to get one?

 

[Transition]

Do you know where I can get more information on Australia on a more insider basis like the information thats given here on SDN about the American system? I like to be fully prepared before I take the actual steps. Also, do you know the requirements for attaining the PR and how long it takes to get one?

As for PR, check out the immigration website

So I guess we aren't allowed to post links to other websites... I guess google is your friend then. Look for Paging Dr.

 

[redshifteffect]

In regards to PR, unfortunately you are going to be applying at a really bad time. A new CSL (critical skills list) just came out, and if your profession is not on the list you can expect the wait time to be ~ 2 years, especially if you're applying as an independent skilled migrant.

This now takes priority over other things, including employer sponsored visas.