The 8/8/8 MCAT rule

[Californian]

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is 8/8/8 MCAT rule strict for queensland,flinder,sydney?
if not, is there anyone who got accepted getting lower than 24 MCAT?

 

[marble30]

is 8/8/8 MCAT rule strict for queensland,flinder,sydney?
if not, is there anyone who got accepted getting lower than 24 MCAT?

I think it's strict for everywhere with the possible exception of UQ, but then I've never heard of anyone getting in with a score below 24...

 

[PacificBlue2012]

For most schools that is pretty much the rule. Flinders is a bit different, they recommend a 30P to be competitive for admissions. Also you might want to consider the GAMSAT, I took both exams, found the GAMSAT to be easier.

 

[Californian]

so how strict is UQ with the 8/8/8 rule? I have 20MCAT. do I have a chance?

 

[SNu]

So I do not know from experience, but I have heard that UQ allows you to have below an 8 in ONE section if your cumulative score is above 24. Sorry for the bad news.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

So I do not know from experience, but I have heard that UQ allows you to have below an 8 in ONE section if your cumulative score is above 24. Sorry for the bad news.

That is not true, you need to have 8s in all sections, and realistically for you UQ you need a 28 or better to have a strong chance of admissions. Admissions is rolling so I think if your stats are better than their minimums you could probably get in there. Most other Australian schools pool all the applicants and pick the ones with the highest exam scores.

 

[nickjohnson]

I am also looking at UQ but open to other australian schools. I got a 33 (no section lower than 8) however I got a K on my writing. Very annoying as it seems to be hampering my applications everywhere. How strict are Australian schools on the writing sample requirements?

 

[PacificBlue2012]

I think Flinders is the only school that does not have the 8 rule, but they do expect a better grade on the writing sample. The K? The last time I looked they expect an M on your writing sample grade. And realistically, you need around a 30 to be competitive for an Aussie school. A bit higher for Melbourne and Flinders, more like a 33 or better.

 

[zeph]

I think Flinders is the only school that does not have the 8 rule, but they do expect a better grade on the writing sample. The K? The last time I looked they expect an M on your writing sample grade. And realistically, you need around a 30 to be competitive for an Aussie school. A bit higher for Melbourne and Flinders, more like a 33 or better.

I don't think that's true, having applied to Flinders myself and talked to admissions. I think a 30 is probably sufficient there, maybe lower if you rock the interview. Either way, there's no saying with that much certainty. Also where did you get your Melbourne stats? I don't think they reveal them.

UQ has in the past accepted some people with one score below an 8. I don't know about the 'k', but if it's like the US schools, they won't care as much as the numerical scores. Ask them! I've seen PacificBlue say that UQ has the lowest acceptance stats - I spoke to a LOT of schools and know this is flat out wrong, and figure he just got that bad info from a troll who was on here trashing UQ last year.

Forums are the WORST place to use as a primary source unless you know how to weed through crap really well.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

I don't think that's true, having applied to Flinders myself and talked to admissions. I think a 30 is probably sufficient there, maybe lower if you rock the interview. Either way, there's no saying with that much certainty. Also where did you get your Melbourne stats? I don't think they reveal them.

UQ has in the past accepted some people with one score below an 8. I don't know about the 'k', but if it's like the US schools, they won't care as much as the numerical scores. Ask them! I've seen PacificBlue say that UQ has the lowest acceptance stats - I spoke to a LOT of schools and know this is flat out wrong, and figure he just got that bad info from a troll who was on here trashing UQ last year.

Forums are the WORST place to use as a primary source unless you know how to weed through crap really well.

Why don't you look it up with people who are in school in Oz, the average is around a 30. And UQ's average is around a 29. USyd and Melbourne's are higher.

 

[zeph]

Why don't you look it up with people who are in school in Oz, the average is around a 30. And UQ's average is around a 29. USyd and Melbourne's are higher.

Right back at you.

Let me get this right. You're saying that the "average" is somewhere in the vicinity of 30 based on your own sampling and "feel", and then you're comparing that to the only real number reported by any of the schools (29 by UQ) and saying that your "around" 30 is therefore higher?? And then arbitrarily assert that USyd's and Melbourne's (and don't forget Flinders) are significantly higher than that?

What I said was that from *my* "feel" (to your "feel") after asking around admissions myself (to you asking around your peeps yourself), your numbers are plainly wrong AT LEAST for Flinders ('33'? Really? Based on what? Certainly not their admissions), and nonetheless you are certainly TOO CONFIDENT in what you think you know about the others, about statistics that aren't available (except from UQ from what I can tell). Yeah, "around 30" is probably right for most the schools, as most will give that to you as a rule of thumb if you press them on it, but just leave it at that rather than thinking by hearing from a few people you know better and more specifically - the problem here is one of confidence in the particulars pacificblue, which I think may actually help explain the problem you get in with many of your posts.

Like I said, people need to be VERY careful when trying to weed out the crap they see on forums.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

Right back at you.

Let me get this right. You're saying that the "average" is somewhere in the vicinity of 30 based on your own sampling and "feel", and then you're comparing that to the only real number reported by any of the schools (29 by UQ) and saying that your "around" 30 is therefore higher?? And then arbitrarily assert that USyd's and Melbourne's (and don't forget Flinders) are significantly higher than that?

What I said was that from *my* "feel" (to your "feel") after asking around admissions myself (to you asking around your peeps yourself), your numbers are plainly wrong AT LEAST for Flinders ('33'? Really? Based on what? Certainly not their admissions), and nonetheless you are certainly TOO CONFIDENT in what you think you know about the others, about statistics that aren't available (except from UQ from what I can tell). Yeah, "around 30" is probably right for most the schools, as most will give that to you as a rule of thumb if you press them on it, but just leave it at that rather than thinking by hearing from a few people you know better and more specifically - the problem here is one of confidence in the particulars pacificblue, which I think may actually help explain the problem you get in with many of your posts.

Like I said, people need to be VERY careful when trying to weed out the crap they see on forums.

LOL. How do I know about averages?? Well I am kind of related to someone in administration at Sydney U that is how I know, and I know most accepted students at USyd have around a 30 or higher. Occasionally someone gets in with a lower score but its rare. I also talked to Dr. Edwards himself and was able to get the information about Flinders MCAT scores, they are high, and Flinders attracts excellent students. I have a friend who had a 32 and was turned down by Flinders but got into Usyd. So go figure. And he was told his MCAT was a bit weak.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

I don't think that's true, having applied to Flinders myself and talked to admissions. I think a 30 is probably sufficient there, maybe lower if you rock the interview. Either way, there's no saying with that much certainty. Also where did you get your Melbourne stats? I don't think they reveal them.

UQ has in the past accepted some people with one score below an 8. I don't know about the 'k', but if it's like the US schools, they won't care as much as the numerical scores. Ask them! I've seen PacificBlue say that UQ has the lowest acceptance stats - I spoke to a LOT of schools and know this is flat out wrong, and figure he just got that bad info from a troll who was on here trashing UQ last year.

Forums are the WORST place to use as a primary source unless you know how to weed through crap really well.

Sydney and Melbourne U are harder to get into than UQ. UQ started a rolling admissions process a couple of years ago where as long as your grades and MCAT were above the minimum you got accepted. That does not fly at USyd or Melbourne, and definitely not Flinders. Its rare to see someone get into one of these schools with below a 30 on the MCAT. UQs stats are lower than Melbourne and Sydney. So back at you. The newer programs probably have lower MCATs, but most people will go to the above mentioned schools since they are eligible for loans. UQ, Sydney, Flinders, and Melbourne, are the main established grad entry programs that have been taking internationals for years. Wollongong and the newer schools have not and have lower MCATs but they also do not have loans available for them. Admissions to undergraduate schools are different. So which schools Zeph have lower admissions stats than UQ? Definitely not the other three established programs.

Also Zeph, you want to to work in the States, so why waste your time in Oz and apply to a US school? Osteopathic medical schools are a better option than an Aussie school. And don't tell me MD vs DO, because you will be an IMG MD back home.

I applied to USyd through the local pool, I can tell you that this is a lot harder to than for the international pool. After all you internationals have "paid" for my degree. LOL.

 

[zeph]

LOL. How do I know about averages?? Well I am kind of related to someone in administration at Sydney U that is how I know, and I know most accepted students at USyd have around a 30 or higher. Occasionally someone gets in with a lower score but its rare. I also talked to Dr. Edwards himself and was able to get the information about Flinders MCAT scores, they are high, and Flinders attracts excellent students. I have a friend who had a 32 and was turned down by Flinders but got into Usyd. So go figure. And he was told his MCAT was a bit weak.

Frankly I think you make stuff up. I've read a fair share of your short but verbose history here and how you make outrageous claims and then change your tune only when you know you have to. You've done it over and over, and you do it in areas where it's been proven you have no knowledge other than what you hear on the forums.

You were quite specific about Flinders and Melbourne - on the first, you're just wrong, as I have spoken to Dr. Edwards about this (others are encouraged to do so THEMSELVES). The second, you're going on nothing. I'd imagine that the average at those two are very likely a bit higher than UQ (except Melbourne being new at grad and with so many prerequesites, this is by no means assured), but 33 is an absurd claim.

In terms of your habitual anecdotes - I know of people who did not get into UQ with scores higher than 30, so according to your reasoning, tbat means UQ's average is higher.

 

[zeph]

UQ started a rolling admissions process a couple of years ago where as long as your grades and MCAT were above the minimum you got accepted. That does not fly at USyd or Melbourne, and definitely not Flinders.

That's got to be one of the dumber claims people repeat here, and you echo it. UQ does not accept you if you make the cutoff, they will consider you if you make the cutoff. Rolling admissions with cutoffs JUST LIKE IN THE US SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THEM says nothing about scores of those accepted. it also makes no sense that the average would be 29 by accepting anyone with 24. Actual UQ students have talked about this stupid assumption at lenght and debunked it just as they debunked the equally absurd claims (supported by you?) that stats were going to go down without interviews - they went UP.

The newer programs probably have lower MCATs, but most people will go to the above mentioned schools since they are eligible for loans.

so which is it? you claimed JUST ABOVE, that you were talking about all the schools here. once again you've changed your tune because you've been called on it and you know how absurd what you said sounds.

Also Zeph, you want to to work in the States, so why waste your time in Oz and apply to a US school? Osteopathic medical schools are a better option than an Aussie school. And don't tell me MD vs DO, because you will be an IMG MD back home.

I applied to USyd through the local pool, I can tell you that this is a lot harder to than for the international pool. After all you internationals have "paid" for my degree. LOL.

what is wrong with you? what is the point of you repeating over and over and over your cockamamy prejudices that those who want to return should go DO? you just don't get it. you never will. yet you keep pretending you do. people doing what we're doing don't think like you and dont' care about your patronizing attitude which is usually based on bogus factoids anyway.

The fact remains, none of the schools EXCEPT UQ tells their acceptance stats, so it's completely bogus to go around pretending you know numbers at multiple schools, particularly with your track record. You're like the boy who cried wolf! You want anyone to believe your patronizing claim of the hour, then come up with the numbers. like UQ did.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

That's got to be one of the dumber claims people repeat here, and you echo it. UQ does not accept you if you make the cutoff, they will consider you if you make the cutoff. Rolling admissions with cutoffs JUST LIKE IN THE US SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THEM says nothing about scores of those accepted. it also makes no sense that the average would be 29 by accepting anyone with 24. Actual UQ students have talked about this stupid assumption at lenght and debunked it just as they debunked the equally absurd claims (supported by you?) that stats were going to go down without interviews - they went UP.


so which is it? you claimed JUST ABOVE, that you were talking about all the schools here. once again you've changed your tune because you've been called on it and you know how absurd what you said sounds.


what is wrong with you? what is the point of you repeating over and over and over your cockamamy prejudices that those who want to return should go DO? you just don't get it. you never will. yet you keep pretending you do. people doing what we're doing don't think like you and dont' care about your patronizing attitude which is usually based on bogus factoids anyway.

The fact remains, none of the schools EXCEPT UQ tells their acceptance stats, so it's completely bogus to go around pretending you know numbers at multiple schools, particularly with your track record. You're like the boy who cried wolf! You want anyone to believe your patronizing claim of the hour, then come up with the numbers. like UQ did.

Going to a foreign medical school with the hopes that you will get a residency these days is a gamble. The DO route will be easier for you for a number of reasons, you will be in the US, there are more residency options for DOs than for IMGs because they have their own training programs. Its also way easier to get loans, the federal loan limit for DO schools is over double that for foreign schools.

Also its well known that the quality of students at Aussie schools is high, as good as those in North American medical schools. None of my North American classmates had less than a 30 on the MCAT with the exception of one student who must have rocked his interview. USyd recently ditched the interview as well. So only Flinders and Melbourne have it still. Also if you score less than a 30 on the MCAT you will have to do awesome on the interview to have a good chance of getting into a school here(for the schools that still interview).

Pitman mentioned the average MCAT for UQ being a 29, and I know Sydney and Melbourne have a slightly higher average.

 

[rayjay]

God you two need to get your own thread going where you can hash this stuff out...

That is not true, you need to have 8s in all sections, and realistically for you UQ you need a 28 or better to have a strong chance of admissions.

Straight from the UQ website: Students who have not met the minimum 8/8/M/8 MCAT requirement, but have no less than a score of ‘7’ and no more than one ‘7’ on their MCAT will then be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The total minimum score must not be less than 24M.
Although I do agree that 27+ would be competitive. That being said there is ALWAYS the exception to the rule like the friend who got into USyd with a 25R or the friend who got into UQ with a 24S (true stories).

I spoke with Dr. Edwards: Flinders is willing to allow one grade lower than 8 (minimum 7) provided that the composite is 24+ and while this isn't explicitly stated on the website, it is in fact something they take into account when reviewing files.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

God you two need to get your own thread going where you can hash this stuff out...



Straight from the UQ website: Students who have not met the minimum 8/8/M/8 MCAT requirement, but have no less than a score of ‘7’ and no more than one ‘7’ on their MCAT will then be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The total minimum score must not be less than 24M.
Although I do agree that 27+ would be competitive. That being said there is ALWAYS the exception to the rule like the friend who got into USyd with a 25R or the friend who got into UQ with a 24S (true stories).

I spoke with Dr. Edwards: Flinders is willing to allow one grade lower than 8 (minimum 7) provided that the composite is 24+ and while this isn't explicitly stated on the website, it is in fact something they take into account when reviewing files.

They might be changing the rules. If you have a lower MCAT, with Flinders, you might have to have a better GPA.

There are definitely people with mid 20 MCATs in Australian schools. they must have done really well on the interview. A strong MCAT will help you if your GPA is weaker in some cases. UQ and Flinders weighs GPA more heavily than Sydney U.

 

[rayjay]

They might be changing the rules. If you have a lower MCAT, with Flinders, you might have to have a better GPA.

There are definitely people with mid 20 MCATs in Australian schools. they must have done really well on the interview. A strong MCAT will help you if your GPA is weaker in some cases. UQ and Flinders weighs GPA more heavily than Sydney U.

I agree 100%. The bonus with UQ and Sydney though is that they give graduate students (thesis-based for Syd) a big advantage in that poor performance in your undergrad is less emphasized. Also, the 3 year weighting thing gives you a further leg up as if, like me, you were mildly idiotic in your early undergrad years.

Best thing to do is to contact schools. Dr. Edwards is super friendly. Don't know about Syd or UQ...they weren't as helpful.

 

[PacificBlue2012]

I agree 100%. The bonus with UQ and Sydney though is that they give graduate students (thesis-based for Syd) a big advantage in that poor performance in your undergrad is less emphasized. Also, the 3 year weighting thing gives you a further leg up as if, like me, you were mildly idiotic in your early undergrad years.

Best thing to do is to contact schools. Dr. Edwards is super friendly. Don't know about Syd or UQ...they weren't as helpful.

The Syd people are jerks. I went there, they could not care less about you, a fair warning to all. Flinders is a great school, might not be in the coolest city in Australia but the point is that you are there to get an education. Flinders is a lot friendlier to mature age students as well because they do not have the stupid 10 year rule where you degree is older than 10 years, you cannot apply nonsense. These schools exist to take your international student dollars.

 

[lyndal]

I agree 100%. The bonus with UQ and Sydney though is that they give graduate students (thesis-based for Syd) a big advantage in that poor performance in your undergrad is less emphasized. Also, the 3 year weighting thing gives you a further leg up as if, like me, you were mildly idiotic in your early undergrad years.

Best thing to do is to contact schools. Dr. Edwards is super friendly. Don't know about Syd or UQ...they weren't as helpful.

Wow- a heated exchange! I think rayjay's advice here is good though - don't take people's word for it, contact the schools and ask. At Wollongong we are willing to consider applicants under each score (although it would be unusual to consider someone under 24 or under M - unsual but not impossible- apply!). As we are the only Australian schools that looks at a portfolio of extracurricular activities and GPA and MCAT and interview for international applicants you do have other opportunities to pick up your overall applicatin if one part is weak.

Anyway, talk directly to the admissions people at the schools you are interested in. If Im on that list, feel free to talk to me here, on email or via Australearn.

Lyndal