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March 29, 2024, 04:38:41 am

Author Topic: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe  (Read 13065 times)  Share 

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dooyeon1998

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DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« on: January 19, 2017, 03:07:24 am »
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Hello guys
I just got a first round offer for Biomed (UoM). My original plan was to do either MD/DDS at UoM by completing the GAMSAT. However I am a bit concerned about the uncertainty that goes with this pathway. Thats why I was thinking of moving my preferences during the 2nd round offer to hope for a position at Dentistry at La Trobe. I am not going to lie, initially I was thinking of MD/DDS pathway over La Trobe because of the 'prestige' associated with UoM.TBH I don't really know how much 'prestige' matters. Also I would regret not choosing La Trobe if I fail to get into DDS (CSP)
I just want to hear from you guys and any tips will be appreciated

Thank you
2015: Methods [47] | Biology [44]
2016: Chemistry [44] | Specialist Maths [50] | English Language [40] | Physics [45] ATAR 99.75

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heart

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2017, 08:10:53 am »
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Latrobe if you don't mind doing dentistry as its quicker and the safer option. Also from what I have heard unless they changed it is if you live there for the 5 years you become a rural student - which can help if you decide if dentistry isn't for you and want to do medicine instead. A certain specialty even requires this called oral and maxillofacial surgery.
ATAR: 99.70 Methods [48] | Chemistry [49] | Specialist [41] | Further [46] | English [42] | Biology [44] | Literature [35]
Melbourne University Bachelor of Biomedicine (Biochemistry) 2013-2015
Monash University Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) 2016-2019

dooyeon1998

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2017, 08:50:12 am »
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Thanks for the reply!!
I was wondering if anyone could clarify how much 'prestigious' the university matters in my future employment
2015: Methods [47] | Biology [44]
2016: Chemistry [44] | Specialist Maths [50] | English Language [40] | Physics [45] ATAR 99.75

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heart

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2017, 09:16:50 am »
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Little to be honest. Pretty sure for specialty training for both dentistry and medicine which uni graduated from matters little at all.
ATAR: 99.70 Methods [48] | Chemistry [49] | Specialist [41] | Further [46] | English [42] | Biology [44] | Literature [35]
Melbourne University Bachelor of Biomedicine (Biochemistry) 2013-2015
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Mellyboo

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2017, 10:23:35 am »
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Hello guys
I just got a first round offer for Biomed (UoM). My original plan was to do either MD/DDS at UoM by completing the GAMSAT. However I am a bit concerned about the uncertainty that goes with this pathway. Thats why I was thinking of moving my preferences during the 2nd round offer to hope for a position at Dentistry at La Trobe. I am not going to lie, initially I was thinking of MD/DDS pathway over La Trobe because of the 'prestige' associated with UoM.TBH I don't really know how much 'prestige' matters. Also I would regret not choosing La Trobe if I fail to get into DDS (CSP)
I just want to hear from you guys and any tips will be appreciated

Thank you

I think you have a pretty good chance of making a second round offer considering the clearly in is 97.40 this year and youre in the high 99s, so you might be ranked above some other applicants who might have also switched theirs for second round.
Hope to see you join us this year :)
« Last Edit: January 19, 2017, 10:28:15 am by Mellyboo »
2016 ATAR: 98.40
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2017-2021: Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/Master of Dentistry @ La Trobe Bendigo

dooyeon1998

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2017, 10:44:06 am »
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Another query
It seems like La Trobe Dentistry is much easier way into Dentistry. What are some benefits of going into the DDS pathway
« Last Edit: January 19, 2017, 11:01:59 am by dooyeon1998 »
2015: Methods [47] | Biology [44]
2016: Chemistry [44] | Specialist Maths [50] | English Language [40] | Physics [45] ATAR 99.75

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heart

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2017, 11:08:32 am »
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Latrobe was probably easier to get into this year though usually the atar required was in the 99s this year it dropped significantly got no idea why. Only advantage is probably location but not worth the risk and as I said before you can use the location of the Latrobe course in Bendigo to your advantage
ATAR: 99.70 Methods [48] | Chemistry [49] | Specialist [41] | Further [46] | English [42] | Biology [44] | Literature [35]
Melbourne University Bachelor of Biomedicine (Biochemistry) 2013-2015
Monash University Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) 2016-2019

dooyeon1998

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2017, 11:16:53 am »
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Okay Thank you very much !!
2015: Methods [47] | Biology [44]
2016: Chemistry [44] | Specialist Maths [50] | English Language [40] | Physics [45] ATAR 99.75

Specialist Maths and Methods 2017 Tutoring

Mellyboo

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2017, 09:47:28 pm »
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Latrobe was probably easier to get into this year though usually the atar required was in the 99s this year it dropped significantly got no idea why. Only advantage is probably location but not worth the risk and as I said before you can use the location of the Latrobe course in Bendigo to your advantage

Its because there was 40 additional places this year :/
2016 ATAR: 98.40
Successful ASPIRE applicant
Chem [44] Bio [41] HHD [41] Further [43] EAL [46] MUEP Chem [4.5] Lab skills [42]
2017-2021: Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/Master of Dentistry @ La Trobe Bendigo

heart

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2017, 01:33:32 am »
+1
Wow that is crazy that can't be too good for the dentistry workforce which I heard is quite saturated.
ATAR: 99.70 Methods [48] | Chemistry [49] | Specialist [41] | Further [46] | English [42] | Biology [44] | Literature [35]
Melbourne University Bachelor of Biomedicine (Biochemistry) 2013-2015
Monash University Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) 2016-2019

Inside Out

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2017, 11:16:20 am »
+1
Hello guys
I just got a first round offer for Biomed (UoM). My original plan was to do either MD/DDS at UoM by completing the GAMSAT. However I am a bit concerned about the uncertainty that goes with this pathway. Thats why I was thinking of moving my preferences during the 2nd round offer to hope for a position at Dentistry at La Trobe. I am not going to lie, initially I was thinking of MD/DDS pathway over La Trobe because of the 'prestige' associated with UoM.TBH I don't really know how much 'prestige' matters. Also I would regret not choosing La Trobe if I fail to get into DDS (CSP)
I just want to hear from you guys and any tips will be appreciated

Thank you

do latrobe!! you'll get to move out and nothing beats freedom :) It'll shape you better as a person too.
also uni is much harder than high school.. much MUCH HARDER...unless you got 99.90 and they guaranteed you dentistry... i wouldn't even give Melbourne another look...can you compete with all the crazy smart studious biomed students? not including the even more desperate science ones? It's like waving a stick in front of you and saying you cant have it until later but then when the later comes.. will it still even be there?

dalkoi

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2017, 03:14:18 am »
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Hi! This is very overdue, but I decided to reply because I had the exact same dilemma upon receiving offers and hopefully I can help others who might be reading this in future. Personally I recommend La Trobe over Melbourne uni unless you have a guaranteed entry into MD/DDS. But as of 2017, even if you are in Chancellor's program, you are not as "guaranteed" into MD/DDS as before because while GAMSAT is still not a requirement, you can only do MMI during your third year rather than before starting uni. (https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/high_achievers_programs/melbourne-chancellors-scholarship/graduate_course_guarantees]source)

1. Prestige

Regarding prestige, I agree with you that Melbourne is more 'elite' than La Trobe and indeed in few countries, they look at which university you graduated upon employment. However I don't think it really matters in Australia. This goes for all jobs but especially in medical field, your clinical and communication skills matter more than your university or your grades. I heard by word of mouth that some clinics will prefer LTU dental student over UoM's because they have more clinical experience from 2 years of rural placement in the last two years of the course. Experience is really important in dentistry and many people work as dental assistants to get experience as well as connections for future employment.




2. Transferring from La Trobe dent to DDS/MD or transferring to La Trobe dent with undergraduate Science/Biomed degree

If you decide that you want to continue studying dentistry at a different university or pursue medical career during La Trobe dent, you can. Start sitting GAMSAT from second year, and with a high enough GAMSAT score, you can transfer after completing first three years (That is, the undergraduate component of the course. Remember, the course is named Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/Master of Dentistry, and you need a Bachelor degree for your GAMSAT score to be valid).

Subjects you would do at La Trobe are approved as prerequisite subjects. Because there is no biochemistry related subjects in the course and UoM MD/DDS require you to have done biochemistry, physiology and anatomy, not sure if LTU dental students are eligible to apply for UoM. One guy who started uni with me only did his first year at LTU and transferred to DDS @UoM, but he already had a biomedical degree or something similar before he came to Bendigo.

Also if you graduate from Bachelor Science or Biomedicine and don't make it to MD/DDS, you can get into LTU dent with a super high UMAT score - definitely has to be over 90th percentile. You can still transfer even if you haven't finished your degree. Also another way to get in is to transfer internally from Health Sciences at LTU.


Once you graduate from La Trobe, you will become a general dentist. But if you wish, you can specialise at Melbourne uni (or other).

3. Pros of studying @ La Trobe



1. It's a 5 year course!! Which means you can start working at a younger age, less HECS debt (!!!), less study (!!!!!!!!!)

2. The course is already planned out for you so you don't have to worry about timetabling - I took this for granted but I have friends who are going through the course handbook and having to choose relevant major subjects and preferably easy breadth that would boost their WAM.  This also means there are only specific subjects  (excluding Principles of Public Health and Rural Health in first year, they are not exclusive to dental students but education, paramedicine and others)

For example, some of your first year subjects include
Dental Science A: embryology (head and neck), physiology
Dental Science B: histology, anatomy (head and neck)
Introduction to Oral Science: basic nomenclature, tooth morphology, more embryology (orofacial structures), tooth histology, immunology, caries, periodontology
Preclinical Oral Health Practice: this is the practical subject, includes radiography
(The whole curriculum can be checked here


3. Very "hands-on" and practical. For DSB, which is mentioned above, you get to have a look at, touch and feel cadavers (dead bodies). Also you start preclinic from first year, doing periodontal(probes, scalers etc) and restorative work(drilling and filling) on dental manikins. You start going into clinics in your third year, and 4th and 5th years are entirely rural placements.

4. Small cohort - Around 60 per year. In 2016, around 60 people started first year, and in 2017, only 38 people from the same cohort went onto second year (some failed and had to repeat first year, some left)

5. Everyone lives super close! And it's a good experience living away from your family. I lived off-res last year, just across uni with students from different courses. This year I live on res and it's really fun. Some people decide to rent a house nearby uni with their friends as well.

6. BOHDS! It stands for Bendigo Oral Health and Dentistry Society. It's like your Bendigo family. They organise a lot of social events such as BOHDS ball, cocktail, 1st year bowling, pub/cafe crawls, BOHDS sport and camp. Also they offer academic help through BOHDS help. Plus cool navy shirt/hoodie/jumper with a tooth logo. +Cheaper gym membership with BOHDS membership ($450 per year)

7. Not necessarily dent-related but since we are poor uni students, unless you are from Bendigo or near Bendigo, you get double the normal payment rate for youth allowance PLUS rent assistance PLUS relocation scholarship (I emphasised this because I benefit from this A LOT, and I think many people would too). That's a lot of money. So for youth allowance, if you have to travel more than 90 minutes to get to uni from your parental home, you get twice as much. Because we need to rent a room near uni or in uni, you get rent assistance. Amount varies depending on how much you are paying for rent. If you are eligible to receive youth allowance and you had to relocate from rural area to major city or vice versa, you receive relocation scholarship which is a one-off payment. Around $4000 in first year and $1000 in subsequent years.

8. There are different lunch-and-learn seminars given by different companies such as Oral-B and Colgate. They visit to give you free lunch and dental products as well as educational information. The most expensive stuff I got from these sessions is a sonic toothbrush (apparently valued at $170). Also organisations like MIPS and ADA come and you get free membership and student insurance.

7. Small cohort and being away from family really gives the "we are in this together" vibe. We help each other a lot. My year compiled our exam questions to hand down, also... textbook PDFs are shared

8. Kangaroos on campus. Also no need to fight for a seat in library during exam period (apparently they do at UoM and Monash, was pretty surprised) We only have one library but it's pretty empty. Also it's open until 12. At this time, night managers walk around so you are safe on campus.

9. If you are from Melbourne, fun V-line ride back to uni every Sunday. Basically dent party on 3:18 v-line train to Bendigo.




4. And now the cons


1. Bendigo is a rural town - there is literally nothing around uni. There's a shopping centre, around 5~10 minute walk from uni, which has Woolworths, Maccas, KFC, Subway, post office, op shop, Baker's delight, gym and etc but if you want to see familiar shopping brands/restaurants, you have to go to the "city" area in town. This is a minor concern but i think Bendigo tap water tastes really bad as well. Many friends including myself buy packs of bottled water to drink. Sometimes it's just really depressing to be here. Also you will get used to calling a maxi cab to go to BOHDS event or just going out with your friends.

I think the only entertainment you can get here are movies, bowling (cheaper on Tuesdays), midnight maccas run, limited brunch cafes and shit&empty clubs.

I made it sound really dull but it's actually really fun!!! You rarely go out of uni/your accommodation anyways. If you ever feel sad/lonely/depressed at night, you can just head over to library or gym and you will see someone from the course for sure.

But yeah, personally the fact that I have to study in Bendigo made me very reluctant to accept my offer.

2. Inconvenient without a car when going grocery shopping & placements. Unless your friend has a car.

3. This goes for any dental school but equipments are very expensive. You would spend nearly all of your first year's relocation scholarship on your equipments.

4. Having to live away from home and cook for yourself. Many from Melbourne go back every weekend but this costs around $20.

5. This course is not recognized globally. I need to do some research on this, but I have already heard from other people from the course that we cannot work overseas with this degree.

6. It's a bit dangerous around here. Not advised to walk alone when its dark. Also It's really hot in summer and really cold in winter...!!

7. This is more related to MD vs. DDS, but this is an arising concern for me so I'll add. I am not speaking with a solid fact to back me up here, but it seems like med graduates don't find it too hard to find a job in Melbourne. However, if you are a dental student, it's a different story. I think it's good to be aware of this as job opportunities might be criteria in choosing between med and dent for some people. Dental field is saturated with dentists and there are limited places... employers are always asking for dentists with 2-3 years of working experience (and the course's rural clinical rotation does not count) and not everyone can get a job in major cities. It's tough for graduates. Yes, some people do get hired in Melbourne, but you will have to apply rural as well to increase your employability.

There is always a shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas (compared to Melbourne). You are more likely to get a full time job there than in Melbourne. You will be lucky to work as a full time dentist in Melbourne as a new graduate. Also remember dentists can get paid by salary or commission - if you work in a private clinic and just graduated from uni, there is no guarantee that patients will choose to see you over their usual dentists. This will be an issue if you get paid by commission. But in rural, they need more full time dentists, and you will get more hands-on experience as one of the "main" dentists rather than being a rookie doctor in Melbourne.

But everyone does find a job eventually.




Number 1 is the biggest con for me and I can't really think of anything else. I hope this post gives you some idea of what it's like to study dentistry in Bendigo! A lot of my high school friends tease me (playfully) for staying in Bendigo and honestly I don't like the environment either - this is not the ideal uni setting I have dreamt of. However I had so much fun with friends and participating in BOHDS events and it outweighs the misery. It really does. Location of the campus might have you hesitant but I don't think it should stop you from studying La Trobe dent (and if you really don't like it, external transfer is always an option upon finishing the undergraduate component of the course!) It's quiet, but it does build a suitable environment for studying. In addition, it gives you some or minimum idea of what it's like to live in rural area. Whether you choose to study medicine or dent, it is inevitable to work in rural and remote Australia at some point of your career. (mostly your first job after graduating) Your 5 year stay in rural and remote settings will allow you to realise whether you are tolerable or even content with those or you would just like to stick to metropolitan areas.



If you have any questions about La Trobe dentistry, please post it here so other people can see it too!
« Last Edit: December 06, 2017, 09:14:47 pm by dalkoi »

denticare

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Re: DDS at UoM or Dentistry at La Trobe
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2021, 02:56:53 pm »
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I totally agree that La Trobe Dentistry is a much easier way into Dentistry.