Biomedicine at UoM or Biomedicine/Science at Monash University?

[cosine]

Biomedicine at UoM or Biomedicine/Science at Monash University?

This has probably been answered many times in the past, but would someone be able to answer this for me please? What is the main benefit of doing a double degree against single? And if you were to do biomedicine at UoM or Monash, what are the differences between the two? There has to be some differences, as the ATAR entry for Melbourne is higher then Monash, right?

Thank you

[pi]

There's no "answer" to this, from the perspective of someone not enrolled in either (and hence, hopefully less bias), these are the factors I'd consider:
1) Location: which one is closer to you? I think everyone would agree that UoM has a much more desirable location
2) Guarantees: Monash has a non-GAMSAT pathway for 50 Biomed students for their graduate-entry MBBS (in addition, non-Monash students can not get into this medical pathway)
3) Cohorts: the UoM cohort will have bigger ATARs and hence, will be probably be a stronger cohort academically
4) Social: from what I gather the UoM Biomed soc is more active than the Monash one
5) Prestige: probably not a factor, I've once heard from a Deakin med lecturer that the quality of med school graduates in Victoria is now "Monash on top, then Melb, then Deakin" (awkward thing for him to say), but I'm sure everyone says different things and in reality they're all probably the same (ie. med is med is med everywhere and anywhere)
6) Scholarships: if you have one that's great, free money is a good thing and can push you either way
7) Mates: where are your mates going, probably the least important reason

I guess it's a pretty individual choice based on how important you deem each of those factors. If it was me, factor 2) would push me towards Monash.

[cosine]

There's no "answer" to this, from the perspective of someone not enrolled in either (and hence, hopefully less bias), these are the factors I'd consider:
1) Location: Melbourne. Monash would take me about 1.45 hours to get to, one way..
2) Guarantees: True, but willing to work my ass off for either, I wouldn't be choosing Biomed if I knew I wouldn't be graduating it
3) Cohorts: True, but as stated above
4) Social: I dont really mind not socialising, but I guess thats just a bonus
5) Prestige: Med is med, you're right
6) Scholarships: Got a (quoted by EulerFan) 'small' scholarship from Monash - nothing from Melb yet
7) Mates: Don't have any tbh

Honestly I don't know which to choose.. Seems to be that you are leaning towards Monash, so am I right now... but the whole year its been my dream/goal to enter Biomedicine at UoM, and finally I may have a chance... Im so confused rn

[keltingmeith]

Fact: it is difficult to have a dream for a whole year, and then let it go because you realised there's something better.

It means you've struggled, pushed and cried over something for a whole year, and then deciding that you don't want that thing. It's almost as if all that effort was wasted. Particularly if it looks like you might actually get that thing, and then push it away. It's kind of like spending a whole day making a chocolate cake, and then when you put it on the cooling rack, you decide that you should've made a vanilla cake - the whole time, smelling the cake as it cool.

If you're currently biased to Monash, maybe it's a better choice for you? Do you have any family at either university that can weigh in? Because that's helped some people that I know.

EDIT: Also, just saw your responses LOL allow me to weigh in:

1. It takes me 1.5 hours to get to Monash atm, and it's killer. Like, really consider travel.
4. No matter which uni you go to, you'll be paying around $300 for them to make social life at uni good. Remember that.
6. You'd be surprised how quickly money can go... Like, it might seem big now (I know I thought the same thing), but shit can disappear fast.
7. lolwut. I'm sure there's lots of people on here that would consider you a mate!

[cosine]

Fact: it is difficult to have a dream for a whole year, and then let it go because you realised there's something better.

It means you've struggled, pushed and cried over something for a whole year, and then deciding that you don't want that thing. It's almost as if all that effort was wasted. Particularly if it looks like you might actually get that thing, and then push it away. It's kind of like spending a whole day making a chocolate cake, and then when you put it on the cooling rack, you decide that you should've made a vanilla cake - the whole time, smelling the cake as it cool.

If you're currently biased to Monash, maybe it's a better choice for you? Do you have any family at either university that can weigh in? Because that's helped some people that I know.

Yah you are right, but I will be honest and say, I have always wanted Biomedicine at Melbourne University because of it's prestigious name associated with Medicine etc.  My brother goes to Monash, but says that the trip to the University (1.45hr) is a pain.

So in terms of benefits, Monash basically accepts 50 extra Medicine students than Melbourne does, right? But what is the ratio? Like aside these extra 50 students, how many students get into Medicine? I mean if its something like 75, then obviously Monash University would mean a higher chance of getting accepted, but if its something like 250, then not much of problem.

Thank you guys for helping a brother out.

[warya]

Jumping in because this is my exact dilemma 

[pi]

So in terms of benefits, Monash basically accepts 50 extra Medicine students than Melbourne does, right? But what is the ratio? Like aside these extra 50 students, how many students get into Medicine? I mean if its something like 75, then obviously Monash University would mean a higher chance of getting accepted, but if its something like 250, then not much of problem.

Not quite, I'm no expert on this but I think it works like this: the graduate-entry Monash MBBS (same course as the undergrad version except 4 years instead of 5, with the first year being in Gippsland and the other years being mixed with the undergrads) takes 75 students in total. 50 of those students will be from the Monash Biomed cohort based on WAM (determines who gets the MMI and is weighted 40% for the offer) and an MMI (weighted 60%). These 50 people do NOT need to sit the GAMSAT. The remaining 25 places will be for other people from Monash degrees (namely Biomed (including double degrees and students who commenced prior to 2014), Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and some people in Science). No one who gets these places, either the first 50 or the second 25, needs to sit the GAMSAT to gain a place. These places are only for Monash students, students sitting Biomed degrees elsewhere cannot now get into Monash medicine.

In addition, people in Monash Biomed can ALSO apply for courses such as the Deakin MBBS, UoM MD, etc etc. which may require the GAMSAT. There are several hundred medical spots around Australia that can be accessed via the GAMSAT.

Hence, the advantage with Monash Biomed is that it gives you a non-GAMSAT pathway option as well as numerous GAMSAT-pathway options. UoM Biomed only gives you GAMSAT-pathway options.

[Russ]

Is moving out of home feasible for you? A 90 minute commute is pretty awful and was an absolute dealbreaker for me when I was considering universities after VCE.

[cosine]

Is moving out of home feasible for you? A 90 minute commute is pretty awful and was an absolute dealbreaker for me when I was considering universities after VCE.

Nah probably not an option right now unfortunately..

Not quite, I'm no expert on this but I think it works like this: the graduate-entry Monash MBBS (same course as the undergrad version except 4 years instead of 5, with the first year being in Gippsland and the other years being mixed with the undergrads) takes 75 students in total. 50 of those students will be from the Monash Biomed cohort based on WAM (determines who gets the MMI and is weighted 40% for the offer) and an MMI (weighted 60%). These 50 people do NOT need to sit the GAMSAT. The remaining 25 places will be for other people from Monash degrees (namely Biomed (including double degrees and students who commenced prior to 2014), Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and some people in Science). No one who gets these places, either the first 50 or the second 25, needs to sit the GAMSAT to gain a place. These places are only for Monash students, students sitting Biomed degrees elsewhere cannot now get into Monash medicine.

In addition, people in Monash Biomed can ALSO apply for courses such as the Deakin MBBS, UoM MD, etc etc. which may require the GAMSAT. There are several hundred medical spots around Australia that can be accessed via the GAMSAT.

Hence, the advantage with Monash Biomed is that it gives you a non-GAMSAT pathway option as well as numerous GAMSAT-pathway options. UoM Biomed only gives you GAMSAT-pathway options.

Im really nervous rn... I still don't know which one to put as my first preference, Monash is sounding better though, should I go with it? idk

[cosine]

Okay so I am about to change my first preference to Bachelor of Biomedicine/Science at Monash University in a moment, but I just want someone to confirm what the benefit of doing a double degree is? Also, you know how pi said that 75 students from Monash don't have to sit the GAMSAT, how do you become one of these 75 people?

Thank you

[Alter]

How long would it take you to travel to Melbourne and how important is the scholarship money offered by Monash?

edit: scratch that, I'm 40 seconds late. Looks like you're set on the decision. Good luck!

[cosine]

How long would it take you to travel to Melbourne and how important is the scholarship money offered by Monash?

edit: scratch that, I'm 40 seconds late. Looks like you're set on the decision. Good luck!

Melbourne: 45 mins
Monash: 1.45 hours

Not doing it for the money honestly, 2k is nothing, doing it for the non-GAMSAT pathway, can anyone enlighten me as to how to be non-GAMSAT worthy in Biomed?

[yazzman]

Melbourne: 45 mins
Monash: 1.45 hours

Not doing it for the money honestly, 2k is nothing, doing it for the non-GAMSAT pathway, can anyone enlighten me as to how to be non-GAMSAT worthy in Biomed?

By being in the top 75

[warya]

Melbourne: 45 mins
Monash: 1.45 hours

Not doing it for the money honestly, 2k is nothing, doing it for the non-GAMSAT pathway, can anyone enlighten me as to how to be non-GAMSAT worthy in Biomed?

You just have to be one of the top 50 biomed students! Also not sure if the 50 biomed students extends to those doing a double degree, I'd presume it is but maybe just double check?
If you are dead set on med, it makes little sense to go to Melbourne practically speaking, why not go to the uni that offers a pathway into medicine with one less hurdle? Plus you could always end up in Melbourne's MD even if you do go to Monash. Just my 2c, I've been in the same position as you all year but think I've finally made the right decision

[sunshine98]

Im in a similar dilemma. Wanted to ask , so if you have to be in the top 50 or 75 of how many approx? How about the rest of the ppl do they still have to sit GAMSAT to be able to get a chance at med? Or they don't even get a chance?
Also  , heard that Melb is planning to also make their MD exclusive to there students. If such happens and I end up at monash does that mean to study in melb I only have monash as an option?

Thanks in advance