UoM Chancellor's Scholar's program Vs Monash MBBS

[mchli]

Remember me Samad? I saw you this morning at Melbourne MMI's.
This is EXACTLY the dilemma I'm facing.
At the moment, I'm leaning ever so slightly towards Melbourne (but that could change at any moment). Only one day left to decide...

[Russ]

We posted a lot of stuff in this thread, but I think this is very relevant:

If you have a gut feeling about one, go with that one. If not, UoM will give you time to change your mind and enjoy yourself for 3 years, which is particularly valuable, trust me.

[thushan]

Remember me Samad? I saw you this morning at Melbourne MMI's.
This is EXACTLY the dilemma I'm facing.
At the moment, I'm leaning ever so slightly towards Melbourne (but that could change at any moment). Only one day left to decide...

About time you joined ATARnotes ;P

[thushan]

Id seriously go for melbourne.. my brother and his friend, who are both 5th year MBBS at melbourne continuously complain that the monash kids dont know what theyre talking about. you can obviously expect some prejudice from them, but melbourne is no. 1 for a reason...

Someone doesn't like Monash...

[A-i-d-a-n-K]

Personally I would choose Chancellors, so you should go to Monash so a place opens up for those below 99.90

But seriously, if you know you 100% want to do Medicine, I think Monash would be the way to go. A shorter course, with the opportunity for an extra year of research (*BMedSci -ty shinny) if you want, and clinical, hands on learning from 3rd year is amazing. If you aren't quite sure about practicing Medicine for the rest of your life, perhaps Melbourne is better, because after three years of undergraduate biomed you may find you are interested in a different post-grad course. It would be terrible to get three years into your Monash course and realise you didn't really like Medicine, and have to start all over again.

At the end of the day, 5 years after you have finished your Uni degree it won't matter which course you did.

[Sellingman]

I'd pick Monash, if you're looking at specialising your total medical training may be up to 15 years by the time you're done. Cutting off 2 of those years is seriously appealing to me.

[shinny]

with the opportunity for an extra year of research (BBioMed)

It's a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSci), not a full Biomedicine degree Would be unfair for those who take 3 years to do it if you could just get it in one year of research.

[samad]

Remember me Samad? I saw you this morning at Melbourne MMI's.
This is EXACTLY the dilemma I'm facing.
At the moment, I'm leaning ever so slightly towards Melbourne (but that could change at any moment). Only one day left to decide...

Hi Mchli
Yeah, I'm in exactly the same boat as you are. spoken to some of the doctors i met at work experience and they havn't really swayed me in one particular direction, but this is what i've found so far...

-length of degree- the faster u specialise, the better, since extended time can lead to frustration ("when am i going to get out of this?" as said by one doctor), and you can absorb more things as well as push yourself when you are younger (apparently u get only 4 hrs of sleep a night at times in physician training, which is hard when you're old) so that goes to maonash (5 yrs)

-chance to learn more in-depth medical science- melbourne, due to biomed degree+ more academia and research oriented MD

-Research: Melbourne and monash are actually quite similar since Monash is rising in the rankings, although Melbourne has slightly better facilities/ big hospital connections. ultimately however, most of the major research happens after you graduate, to better prepare urself for physician training. don't forget that Melbourne's been around for 150 yrs at the heart of the city and his next
door to facilities such as WEHI, Howard Florey, bio21 etc, whilst Monash has only been around for 50 yrs.

-location: this is really a personal thing, depending on where you live, however the clincal schools at Melbourne are more central as compared to Monash. spending a full clinical year at Frankston or Casey (clinical schools at monash) hospital maybe quite demanding in terms of relocation or traveling time

- Clinical Schools: apparently these don't matter that much according to some of the med students that have posted here. However, talking to doctors in the midst of physician training, the more "reputable" (effectively larger) clinical schools (eg. royalmelb, RCH, women's, Austin at UoM and the Alfred and MMC at Monash) provide higher quality teaching from very experienced doctors, the only drawback being that there is a larger number of med students on placement alongside you which means less time per person with patients. according to these graduated doctors, the teaching at the smaller clinical schools is simply "not very good- don't go there" from what i've heard (this could be biased), otherwise Melbourne gets the tick.

-cohort: received a number of varying opinions here, but Monash definitely supports a more friendly and collaborative environment b/c everyone is training to be a doc together.

- Cash- Monash is tuition paid for full 5 years and $6000/ year bursary (effectively gives you $75 000), whilst Melbourne is only 3 years paid and $5000 for undergrad only. this goes to Monash.

such decisions can never be fully objective so each criterion cannot really be weighted equally. still can't decide... your thoughts??

[thushan]

So:

- Length: Monash
- Medical Science: Melbourne. Although I would interject here that with the Monash BMedSci you get an opportunity to study a particular area of medical science in depth in conjunction with doing research - there is some coursework there.
- Research: Similar. Monash has the Baker IDI Institute and the MIMR too.
- Location: Personal.
- Clinical Schools: Depends on what you want really...
- Cohort: Monash, for sure. This is what clinched me.
- Cash: Monash, goes without saying

[mr.politiks]

- Location: Personal.

Yeah, true. So I hear you are moving Thushan, is that permanently? Don't know if that is a good option for me, makes Monash double the time to get there vs UoM

- Clinical Schools: Depends on what you want really...

Don't know, you may want to go to frankston everyday for 6 months vs going to Austin everyday for 6 months especially if you are closer to Frankston. But remember, some people reckon places like Casey or Frankston would be a "bad" idea. Again, it probably is good or bad for you, as there are pros and cons depending on your personal preferences. So you are probably right with the clinical schools there.

Also, what's all this talk about connections and specialisation? So you need like connections with directors and top doctors in the hospitals you want to specialise in or something along those lines? Can anyone expand on what is meant by "its good to have connections", "all the top directors and physicians work in the UoM clinical schools" and therefore it is better to go to UoM if you are really serious about specialising in things like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Cardiac/Thoracic surgery etc.? 

[thushan]

Connections can be made in internship and residency.

[mr.politiks]

Thushan, did you check the locaiton quote above?
With connections, yeah, I don't think thats too important at this stage.

[Russ]

Why is everyone saying that UoM doesn't have a good cohort? That's literally a selling point of the degree...

Also, what's all this talk about connections and specialisation? So you need like connections with directors and top doctors in the hospitals you want to specialise in or something along those lines? Can anyone expand on what is meant by "its good to have connections", "all the top directors and physicians work in the UoM clinical schools" and therefore it is better to go to UoM if you are really serious about specialising in things like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Cardiac/Thoracic surgery etc.? 

It's not necessary to have connections, it's just easier. When you apply for fellowships and stuff, there are criteria lists (publication histories and whatnot) so it's not like you can be passed over for no reason but...in the real world, nepotism/plutocracy are alive and well.

[shinny]

Connections can be made in internship and residency.

Yeh, exactly. It'll be far easier to get them then anyway. Most consultants couldn't really care less about medical students unless you really stand out. One of my peers this year got offered a job offer by a consultant after he outsmarted an entire medical team. Then the consultant found out he was a third year student, so he just said to give him a call in 3 years time and he'll give him a job. Other than that, yeh, it's pretty difficult.

- Clinical Schools: Depends on what you want really...

Don't know, you may want to go to frankston everyday for 6 months vs going to Austin everyday for 6 months especially if you are closer to Frankston. But remember, some people reckon places like Casey or Frankston would be a "bad" idea. Again, it probably is good or bad for you, as there are pros and cons depending on your personal preferences. So you are probably right with the clinical schools there.

Yeh, the travel associated with Monash is pretty ridiculous for many. The hospitals are very spread out, so my interstate friends are constantly moving houses every year. It's pretty stressful on their part having to find a house and then move within a week or two at the end of every year. For those living locally and wishing to stay home, you'll need a car, so let that be a warning to those who haven't got your P's yet.

Also, what's all this talk about connections and specialisation? So you need like connections with directors and top doctors in the hospitals you want to specialise in or something along those lines? Can anyone expand on what is meant by "its good to have connections", "all the top directors and physicians work in the UoM clinical schools" and therefore it is better to go to UoM if you are really serious about specialising in things like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Cardiac/Thoracic surgery etc.? 

Yeh, connections are important for specialising. Specialising isn't just about passing exams - you also need to more or less get a job at a hospital to train under that speciality. So you can imagine that when it comes to job interviews, connections are everything.

[stonecold]

Why is everyone saying that UoM doesn't have a good cohort? That's literally a selling point of the degree...

This.  I have met some of the Monash med students and I have to say they weren't exactly my type of people.

If you want social, then Melbourne wins.  It is so close to Lygon Street and the CBD, giving you plenty of stuff to do and places to hang out.

Did I mention bars?