I Didn't Get a Good Enough UCAT Score: What Should I Do?
2 days ago by Rob
The UCAT testing period is a big month for many students. It can feel really disappointing if, like me, you logged in to see your UCAT score report and were met with a non-competitive score. I understand that it can feel like the world is ending, and all hopes have been flushed down the toilet, but I am here to tell you otherwise!
Note: For information on what is a 'good' UCAT score, check out our dedicated blog.
My Story
When I was in year 12, I made my first attempt at getting into medicine and received a UCAT score in the 88th percentile. At first, I felt like I still had a fighting chance at medicine, but unfortunately, I just missed out on an interview offer! Naturally, I bawled my eyes out and was left mentally vacant for the following couple of days. But, two years later, I can confidently say that receiving that UCAT score was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
I took a gap year, and in my second attempt at UCAT, I achieved a score in the 99th percentile.
I am certainly not alone. There are some students who take two gap years! One student I know scored in the 70th percentile on her first attempt, 87th percentile in her first gap year, and 98th percentile in her second gap year. She ended up with six interviews and four medical school offers!
If your ATAR is unlikely to be sufficient for medicine (say below about 95), you could also consider repeating some Year 12 subjects to boost your ATAR during your gap year. Some students with low ATARs pursue this option and end up successfully gaining a place in medical school. You don't need to go back to your old school to do one or two subjects to improve your ATAR: you can do it through Distance Education programmes or TAFEs.
I believe this shows that it is possible to overcome obstacles by working hard and persevering through your failures.
Other Pathways Into Medicine
Getting into medicine straight from high school is not the only way to get into medicine. The beauty of medicine is that there are many pathways that you can go down to follow your dreams.
If you don't get a competitive UCAT score, there are four main pathways for entry into medicine:
- School Leaver Entry
- Guaranteed Entry
- Non-Standard Entry
- Graduate Entry
Let's consider each of these in turn:
- School Leaver Entry
If your UCAT score was not competitive enough, the only public university that does not consider UCAT for direct entry is James Cook University (JCU). However, JCU has a particular focus on rural-based medicine, and if you lack experience in these areas (or do not have a super high ATAR), it might be a little more difficult to get in. For JCU dentistry, you will need to submit a written application.
The private Bond University also does not require UCAT, but you do need to sit a psychometric test.
If your ATAR is high, it's worth taking a gap year and re-attempting the UCAT next year. This way, you're still considered a 'school leaver' and will still be eligible for entry into all universities offering undergraduate medicine. This is what I did, and I found that all the volunteering/paid work I did during my gap year, along with the overall life lessons I learnt in that year, helped me develop my interpersonal skills (which were useful for interviews), and made me even more determined to get into medicine!
- Guaranteed/Provisional Entry
If your ATAR is extremely competitive (i.e. 99.85+), you can apply for provisional entry into medicine at universities such as the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. These two provisional entry courses do not require UCAT, while some other provisional entry courses at UWA, Flinders and the University of Queensland do require a good UCAT score (which allow for a lower ATAR). Griffith University uses UCAT as a tie-breaker in the top ATAR bands, so UCAT is quite important.
This pathway requires you to complete a prerequisite undergraduate degree before commencing medicine. Note that you do not need to sit the GAMSAT if you follow this route. This route has some disadvantages, including that it is longer and that there is a risk you may lose your place in medicine if you do not perform well in your first degree. A further negative of this route is that the first degree you have to do may be less interesting, with no patient contact.
- Non-Standard Entry
If you have started, or want to start an undergraduate degree, some universities will allow you to transfer into medicine during your degree if you choose to do so. This process requires you to sit UCAT again.
Admission requirements vary across universities for Non-Standard Entry. Note that some universities, such as Monash, do not have a Non-Standard Entry pathway. Some universities, such as Adelaide, will not accept students who have commenced a degree at a university other than their own. Furthermore, for the universities that do accept non-school leavers, there are less available spaces. This is why taking a gap year can be advantageous to students with competitive ATARs.
- Graduate Entry
The Graduate Entry pathway requires you to complete an undergraduate degree before applying for postgraduate medicine. This pathway is different from 'Provisional Entry' in that to be eligible, you must sit an entrance test in combination with completing your degree.
While most universities require you to sit GAMSAT, some universities (such as WSU, Newcastle, and Otago) require that you sit UCAT instead.
Note that some universities such as Monash do not require GAMSAT if students do well in their degree (universities have started to offer this to entice students to enrol with them).
If applying for Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM), it is advised that you undertake both the UCAT and the GAMSAT to increase your chances of being offered a place. Remember that through the GAMSAT route, you are restricted to attending only one interview. Further, UCAT is a shorter exam (2 hours as opposed to a 5.25-hour exam), and is generally considered easier (and less expensive) to prepare for.
At most universities, the undergraduate degree you choose to study when applying for Graduate Entry Medicine can cover any area of study and does not have to be science- or health-related. In fact, it is advised that you do not undertake degrees such as 'advanced science' and 'biomedical science' unless you have a genuine interest in being a scientist. This is because although universities advertise these courses as 'pathways to medicine', if you do not get into medicine, there are limited career options available. Furthermore, since you can apply to most medical courses after completing any area of study, completing a vocational degree (such as Nursing, Law, Engineering, or Pharmacy, which has better job prospects upon graduation) that you are genuinely interested in will leave room for other career options if you start to feel unsure about Medicine or are unable to get into medicine.
A Final Word
There are advantages and disadvantages to each pathway into medicine. At the end of the day, if your UCAT doesn't get you an interview offer, there are other opportunities available to follow your dreams. All you have to do is work hard and smart.
Note that the most common pathways into medicine (school leaver entry with a gap year and non-standard entry) require you to sit UCAT. Therefore, you should consider commencing quality UCAT preparation. Preparing for UCAT over a period of time is the best way to succeed.
For more information on pathways to medicine, and specific entry requirements for each university, please read our free MedEntry UCAT Handbook.
Remember, it is not our successes that define us; it is how we respond to failure.
Written by Bilal, a past MedEntry student, who succeeded in UCAT and secured a place in medicine on their second attempt.
