Recommendation letters

[Handsome88]

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Hello everyone,

I know UQ does not need reference letters. What other Australian universities with similar program as UQ that doesn't require reference letters from US/Canadian applicants?

 

[shan564]

None of them require reference letters unless you're applying for a scholarship. The admissions at the Aussie schools are completely objective.

 

[Handsome88]

None of them require reference letters unless you're applying for a scholarship. The admissions at the Aussie schools are completely objective.

Thanx, ok so when can we apply to the Aussie schools (other than Queensland which has started already), and how... Is there going to be a similar form like that of Queensland? I tried searching for forms but all I found was graduate and undergrad ones...where we have to type in the name of the "program" we are applying for, which was a bit confusing.

Sorry if that was a stupid question.

 

[shan564]

Every school is different. You can apply to all of them through ACER; here's their FAQ page:
http://gamsat.acer.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=16&Itemid=283

With ACER, you can only apply to one first-preference school and one second-preference school. If you qualify for an interview at your #1 preference, then you get an interview there; otherwise, you go into the applicant pool for your #2 school.

For international students, many schools also allow you to apply outside of ACER; that way, you can get several different interviews/offers. To the best of my knowledge, you can do that at UQ, Wollongong, ANU, and Flinders... maybe also some others that I don't know of.

The applications usually open sometime in June or July, and the deadline is sometime in August (I think).

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Only UNSW requires a letter and that is an undergraduate entry program. Most Grad Entry programs only weigh GPA, MCAT, and interview performance.
UQ only looks at the first two criteria.

Don't assume that Australian schools are substitutes for American schools, they do not train you to pass the USMLE. The curriculum at the Grad Entry programs are heavily self taught and you will have to study much of the basic sciences on your own. After MD programs, DO is the best route to become a doctor in the US. Even Canada now recognizes them as well as many other industrialized countries.

 

[redshifteffect]

Be wary about Canada. AFAIK only a few provinces recognise DO, and they don't necessarily recognise DO residencies. If you're interested in Canada make sure you check with the province you want to practice in eventually before going down this pathway.

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Every Canadian province is different, you can contact the AOA and they can give you full details of international practice rights. Most provinces will accept DOs who completed US Allopathic residencies. DOs generally have a much easier time getting into American Allopathic training programs than IMGs, the statistics even prove it. The overal IMG match rate in the US is a little over a half, in Canada its about one fourth. Anyway most US DO schools take very few non US citizens, and Canadians are still considered international students.

A lot of big league nations do recognize DOs, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China recognize American DOs, those are three economic superpowers that recognize them. I honestly prefer Euros and Pound Sterling to South Sea Island Pesos.

Evidence for Canadian DO practice rights:
http://www.oialliance.org/pdf/canada.pdf

 

[redshifteffect]

That's the problem with generalising too much, basically if you go to a DO school to be recognised in some Canadian provinces you must have done an allopathic residency. No one is disputing that it's easier to get into an allopathic residency as a DO vs IMG, but make sure you point out the fine print.

 

[shan564]

I thought this thread was about rec letters? Does JoeNama really have to invade every thread and complain about the same things over and over again?

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Back to topic, all Grad Entry programs except for UOW do not require recommendation letters.

DO or Foreign MD is a path from point A to point B. Depending upon your goals one might be less painful than the other. Honestly those who want to work in the US or Canada should not ignore the DO option. A lot of people have this elitist mentality that DOs are third rate doctors or a poor man's MD. Its not true. And going to a prestigious non LCME school means nothing, a lot of people have this idea that if they go to Med school in another rich Western nation like Australia, UK, Germany, Switzerland, etc, that they will have the red carpet laid out for them when they go home. This is far from reality.