Choose the right subjects

In addition to your ATAR score, UCAT score and university interviews, some medical schools require (or ‘highly recommend’) studying specific subjects at high school. Every university has its own set of requirements, so you’ll need to thoroughly read and understand the admissions guidelines. While no set rule applies, you can expect most universities to require satisfactory marks in English, Mathematics, Physics and/or Chemistry.

MedEntry publishes the basic admissions guidelines of most Australian universities.

Learn about the career

Is medicine right for you? If you're reading this, you probably already have the ability to score well in exams and gain admission to a medical school. But before you make one of the most important decisions of your life, you need to have a realistic idea of what to expect.

Aptitude

The entry criteria for medicine are designed to ensure students possess the right qualities. Your ATAR score will measure your academic abilities and proficiency in core subjects. The UCAT tests cognitive and emotional reasoning skills, as well as your ability to perform under extreme pressure. Interviews assess your ability to lead, work within a team and empathise with patients. These are all skills that doctors require.

Passion

Few people succeed in any career without passion. Yes, medicine is an incredibly interesting subject to study, but you also need a genuine interest. There’s no better way to develop your passion than to research the careers of medical practitioners and read about their journey. Our own Head of Education, Dr Ray Boyapati shares some of his experiences and passion in our free Bootcamp video.

Commitment

Be realistic about the commitment you’ll be making. Medicine is a career that involves lifelong learning. In addition to 5-6 years of university studies, it can take up to ten years to independently practice some forms of medicine.

Then the real commitment begins. Most people understand the rewards but it’s difficult to get a realistic idea of the challenges of medicine. Being responsible for people’s health requires commitment and sacrifice.

Understanding

Before you make a decision to study medicine, we highly recommend that you speak to as many practicing physicians as possible, read case studies, and carefully research the medical entry process.

Our Head of Education, Dr Ray Boyapati, provides virtual work experience through his Doctor Chats with Dr Ray series on Instagram TV.

Sit the UCAT

Most students with their eye on a career in medicine understand the hard work, dedication and practice required to succeed in exams. They understand how to answer technical questions based on lessons and texts.

But the UCAT is nothing like the exams you’re accustomed to. That’s why many overconfident students who sit for the test unprepared not only fail the exam but also fail to finish it. The UCAT is designed by universities to find the students who possess specific mental abilities considered important in medicine. The unorthodox questioning and time pressure make it one of the most difficult obstacles on the path to a career in medicine.

But with the right preparation, strategy and practice, students can ace the UCAT. They can enter their dream course with ease, and sometimes even gain scholarships. Smart students begin their preparation well in advance of the UCAT, which occurs in July-August each year. With regular practice, most MedEntry students excel in the 225-question exam.

Need information on registration, types of questions and preparation?

Apply to Universities

You should already have an understanding of university requirements from the first step in your journey - choosing the right subjects. Now it’s time to apply. You’ll need to be sure you have the required ATAR and UCAT scores and have achieved minimum scores in the right subjects.

Each university will apply its own weight to each requirement (ATAR, UCAT and interviews), so make sure you understand how that affects your eligibility. Before applying, make sure you have the most up-to-date information by contacting the admissions officer of each course you’re interested in.

You’ll need to apply for medicine via the relevant Tertiary Admissions Centre (each state has its own). Applications normally close in late September each year. MedEntry recommends applying to as many medical schools as possible - this is because the subjective nature of interviews means there is no guarantee of entry into one particular university.

MedEntry offers a Comprehensive Admissions Guide which is included in our medical entry packages. We also publish free information on most university health science courses.

Succeed in the Interview

Universities look for ideal personal qualities in each prospective student. In many cases, the university will consider the interview to be as important, if not more important, than ATAR and UCAT scores.

It’s important to understand that your interview is not a casual chat or a general ‘getting to know you’ process. You cannot ‘wing it’ or rely on charm. You are competing against other applicants, and just like any other competition, those who prepare and train for the event are generally the winners.

Given the huge amount of work required to get to this point of the journey, it’s understandable that students can feel particularly anxious about a face-to-face interview. Fortunately, there are specific and effective ways to prepare. With the right techniques and strategy, students can walk into their interview feeling relaxed and confident.

MedEntry provides the resources, training, strategies and personal guidance to help students impress universities and gain admission into their dream course. We also provide free basic information that answers many frequently asked questions about interviews.

Choose the Right Medical School

You've navigated through the difficult application process including the UCAT, ATAR/GPA and interviews. But now comes the ultimate decision: which medical school should you apply to and preference highly? Speaking to those closest to you including family and friends is always important but ultimately it is a very personal decision. There is a lot of misinformation out there, a classic one being that prestige or rank of the medical school is an important factor in career progression.

However, there are a number of important factors to consider including location, cost of living, internship placements, clinical placements, course structure, teaching style and student life. It's not an easy task, but we've prepared a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right medical school for you.

Become A Doctor

Medicine requires the highest levels of due diligence by all governing bodies. That’s why it takes at least five additional years before you can practice medicine independently. The early years of a graduate’s career are spent practicing medicine as an intern, Resident Medical Officer and finally, as a Registrar in their chosen area of specialty.

If you’re sitting at your laptop considering the daunting years of study, training and learning ahead of you, there’s plenty of upside. Few doctors will talk in anything less than glowing terms of their career in medicine. It’s a stressful and challenging career but one that offers unique benefits.

Medicine is intellectually stimulating, offers very high job security, an excellent salary and the experience of improving lives every day. It’s a life of constant learning, tight regulations, late nights, early mornings and personal sacrifices. But the number of students applying for medical schools each year is proof that medicine is, and will continue to be, one of the most desirable careers in Australia.