Hi Babushka,
I'm also thinking of doing Bachelor of Radiology but I'm not sure whether to choose Monash or RMIT. Could you give me a run down of what the course is like at Monash? What's the vibe like? Do you like it there?
Thanks!
Hey okay so finally getting around to replying to this.
So each university has its positives and negatives and are known and credited for various things, and it's really down to you of what you value more and the experience that you want. Obviously I go to monash, and I'll explain my reasons for doing so first.
Mostly, location. I live about 20 minutes from Clayton campus, but about 70-90 minutes from RMIT bundoora. I'm on campus five days a week, and I don't have the time to travel 15 hours a week, especially since I don't drive, and I wasn't looking at moving out of home for personal reasons.
Additionally, the bundoora campus just wasn't what I wanted in a university environment. Admittedly when I paid a visit, the semester was essentially over and no one was around, and monash is always busier, especially on the open days I've visited. However, I find the RMIT campus generally older, and slightly more dull, with brick buildings and a whole lot of those crunchy looking trees. I just don't find it a very motivating environment, but naturally that's personal preference. I like the life and business and openness of the monash campuses, and I feel more comfortable here. If you're tossing up your options, it's be worth paying a visit to both and seeing which one you feel better in.
In terms of entry, I don't know a lot about the RMIT selection criteria. This is from the website:
Current Year 12 prerequisites units 1 and 2 or units 3 and 4 - Biology or Chemistry, and units 3 and 4 - and a study score of at least 20 in one of Mathematical Methods (any) or Specialist Mathematics; and a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English (EAL).
For monash, the following:
Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 35 in English (EAL) or 30 in English other than EAL, a study score of at least 25 in one of Mathematical Methods (any) or Specialist Mathematics and Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 25 in Biology or Physics.
Additionally, monash will shortlist about 400 students I think for interviews, of which we have about 80 successful candidates. A key thing to note about monash is you MUST have the course in your preference list by September preferences. If you add the course during December change of preference period, you will not be considered under any circumstances. You can move your preferences, but cannot add them any later than September (I think this is because interview candidates are selected as soon as ATARs are released).
Clearly the entry requirements are higher for monash, and personally I think they're more relevant in terms of science. Biology I think is a crucial prerequisite- every monash student I know has struggled this year in biology, and those who didn't take it in year 12 even more so, one of my friends even changing degree after first semester because she struggled so much. Apart from knowing the definition of an atomic number, I don't think we'll ever need that much background in chemistry. Physics background helps, but it is a different spectrum to high school physics, and most students who took physics say that it doesn't really help much, so everyone started physics on a fairly level playing field. I'd say the most important background you could have is a solid 30-35 in biology and you'll find first year fairly straightforward (at monash anyway). Of course the course may be structured differently at RMIT and they might have a chemistry based approach (I think their applied science radiation courses are somewhat melded in first semester with nucmed which is chemistry based). This is just something to think about with the subjects you've done.
Just to give you an idea of the monash course content (which should be similar at RMIT since its the same profession), we study physics, anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, psychosocial, professionalism, radiographic technique and positioning and radiation safety practices. We cover general x-ray, CT, MRI, fluroscopy, contrast imaging, and introductions to radiation therapy, ultrasound (sonography) and a little bit of nuclear medicine (though not a lot of this as its sort of a separate domain). We have skills labs in our on-campus radiography department, and in first semester a series of physics experiments. Throughout first year we've had regular anatomy labs looking at cadavers for muscles and doing heart dissections and the like. It's definitely harder than you think it is, and there's a lot of scope for the industry to change especially in the role of a radiographer (we're being trained in technical and diagnostics but the industry only offers technical at this stage) so you have to be open to life long training. On the plus side, you've always got heaps of options to go into later in life, like management, sonography, radiation therapy or clinical education if you get bored and don't want to fully change your stream.
Now I obviously have little interaction with RMIT and it's radiography education program, but last semester I did placement with a second year student from there, and I've met several students at ASMIRT events. I don't think there's anything inherently bad about RMIT's program. In speaking to the students, the only thing that really got mentioned was that their course structure isn't as well organised as at monash. This year at least, we pretty much look at one body region each week in my clinical unit, and there's associated weekly learning, like clinical situations, positioning, image analysis and pathologies. At RMIT, I'm sure it still follows some process, but seems a little less structured and time constrained. I don't know if that's good or bad, I like having structure and routine because I know what to expect and where I'm at. But you might be better talking to an RMIT student about the comparisons.
Clinical experience is the last thing I really wanted to touch on, and is arguably (or not) the most important aspect to your education in this field. From employers in the field- "Whether you have Ps or HDs is not relevant. If you have a good reputation in the clinical setting from placements or internships, that has significantly more weighting." At monash, we do a 2 week placement after first semester, 6 weeks after second semester. In second year, around June you have two back to back 4 week placements (effectively 8 weeks divided up at two locations). In third year, I believe it's 4 weeks in February and another 4 weeks maybe at the end of the year or midyear (not sure about this, think it's end of year though). In fourth year, you do six months of research and then six months of a paid internship. I like this structure, you get six placements throughout your main learning years, and with specific rotations (first semester is extremities and chests, second semester is generals for everything, second year you go to theatre and fluros, third year you start doing your CT rotations, etc). It's great that you don't just do one placement or internship after you finish learning, like you need to consolidate it and it's all about the clinical experience in the end so the opportunities offered are amazing. Of course $30000 by the time you graduate is a neat income too
I don't know a lot about RMIT's opportunities. I think in first year they just do one placement (from what I understood from the guy I did my last placement with). But they I think do two placements a yearago following this. I think it's done as a three year course at RMIT but their processes are a little confusing. From what I've heard, they might be the last institution to offer a one year internship (I think paid). However, it says three years degree on their website, so I think the internship isn't offered through the university. At monash, I believe it's associated with the uni and included in the degree, but you do still have to apply and interview for preference of the institution you want to intern at from monash (rigorous process since you usually get offered a job at your intern location). I really can't say much about the RMIT stance on this, and I don't know if the one year thing is subject to change. You'd really be best placed to talk to an RMIT student about it, that'll get you a more confident and informed response.
Placements, whilst your opportunity to learn, are also a place to show your skills, professionalism, passion, communication, personality and attitude. Your clinical educators and other staff remember you. One placement in first year, and if you apply for an internship in fourth year or a job there five years later, they will remember your experience and hire you or not most likely based on that, so make the most of those opportunities and always leave a good impression. Monash also offers interstate and international opportunities. I know people who've gone to Dubai, Queensland and England, and those opportunities are incredible if you wish to take them on. Again I don't know about RMIT but you could always travel on your own and apply for international placements (though this may be more expensive).
All in all, the career is great, the pay is fairly decent (starting around $70k and goes to about $85k in Victoria), the job opportunities are pretty secure, shifts tend to be flexible. We all graduate with the necessary skills, and one institution isn't necessarily inherently better or worse than another. It all just comes down to what you want out of your education, where you can extract the most benefit, where you feel more comfortable, who you feel more comfortable around, your location and preferred living circumstances, your grades and entry ability, and what you think is best for you. For me, that was monash, and I'm happy and I've got no regrets. I know people at RMIT and they're happy, and they're skilled workers, and they're confident. Wishing you the best of luck with your choice and if you have any questions feel free to ask, preferably on the forums so more people can benefit