ATAR Notes: Forum
Uni Stuff => Science => Faculties => Biomedicine => Topic started by: mandy on December 06, 2010, 03:48:06 pm
-
Hey guys,
So the ATAR is coming out soon and I'm worried because I don't know what I should do next year. What I do know is I want to study in the field of medical science and finish in a medical/health related career.
Right now, I'm currently stuck between Bachelor of Biomedicine or Bachelor of Science at UniMelb and Bachelor of Pharmacy at Monash or something similar. I fall under the SEAs scheme, so I'm hoping that'll be enough to get me into one of my preferred courses.
I did horribly on the UMAT this year, so is it too risky to do Biomed/Science and then do the GAMSAT (hoping to progress onto Doctor of Medicine)? Should I take the risk to study Biomed/Science or just go with a safer option and do Pharmacy?
Help please, thank you :)
-
Yeah - I would do pharmacy, if I got in.
Then if you decide to do the other - you can just fill in the prerequisites through single-subject studies.
I think Pharmacy satisfies two of the prerequisites - physio and biochem. You can do the anatomy subject at unimelb.
But you know - if you don't like pharmacy - then don't do it.
I hear their job is very boring and all.
-
You can do graduate medicine regardless of whether you studied biomedicine or pharmacy. I'm not sure how you see pharmacy as a safer option, they're two different career pathways. If you have an interest in pharmacy but you're not sure whether you would also like to study medicine at some point in the future, then studying pharmacy and deciding after the end of first year (a transfer) or at the end of your degree (applying for P/G medicine) sounds like the best option here. Bear in mind, you don't need to do prereq subjects if you accept an offer to Monash or Deakin, which are the other two Victorian PG med courses.
The UMAT has no bearing on how "risky" it will be for you to apply for postgraduate medicine
-
Pharmacy is a safer option because at the end of the degree you can actually get a job, unlike the biomed/science.
-
Point taken (you can get a job though, hmph)
-
But you know - if you don't like pharmacy - then don't do it.
I hear their job is very boring and all.
I do think Pharmacy is a little boring.. But I was considering it as a career because it's also related to health and it seems easier to find a job at the end of the degree.
You can do graduate medicine regardless of whether you studied biomedicine or pharmacy. I'm not sure how you see pharmacy as a safer option, they're two different career pathways. If you have an interest in pharmacy but you're not sure whether you would also like to study medicine at some point in the future, then studying pharmacy and deciding after the end of first year (a transfer) or at the end of your degree (applying for P/G medicine) sounds like the best option here. Bear in mind, you don't need to do prereq subjects if you accept an offer to Monash or Deakin, which are the other two Victorian PG med courses.
The UMAT has no bearing on how "risky" it will be for you to apply for postgraduate medicine
So even if I studied Pharmacy at Monash, I could transfer after first year into ..Biomedicine at UniMelb?
Also, I say it's risky because doesn't the GAMSAT test similar things to the UMAT? If I did so horribly on the UMAT, what are the chances of me doing well on the GAMSAT? That's what I'm saying, hahah.
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
-
You could apply to transfer into biomedicine, but it would be easier to transfer into a BSc. But yes, transferring is an option.
And there is minimal connection between the UMAT/GAMSAT. I know people with bad UMAT scores and good GAMSAT scores (and also the reverse)
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
Yeah I know, I just worry I won't do well enough in the GAMSAT to be accepted into any postgraduate medicine studies.
Does anyone know if the GAMSAT requirements for medicine at different universities are the same or different?
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
Yeah I know, I just worry I won't do well enough in the GAMSAT to be accepted into any postgraduate medicine studies.
Does anyone know if the GAMSAT requirements for medicine at different universities are the same or different?
Interested in going interstate?
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
Yeah I know, I just worry I won't do well enough in the GAMSAT to be accepted into any postgraduate medicine studies.
Does anyone know if the GAMSAT requirements for medicine at different universities are the same or different?
Of course they'd be different. As with all things, requirements vary with demand. The criteria on which graduate med is based varies between universities as well, meaning that the weighting of the GAMSAT can vary. For example, UQ doesn't have an interview, while the GPA required is more of a hurdle than anything, so the GAMSAT has a very large weighting. In your situation, I would go into Pharmacy and then do an anatomy course outside if you are aiming for UoM graduate Med, or skip the anatomy course if you don't mind applying interstate.
-
efb but i might as well point out that Deakin and Monash have (relatively) low requirements compared to interstate unis, so they're perfectly plausible options in Victoria
Varies dramatically. UQ has an extremely high GAMSAT cutoff because they don't have an interview process, so it attracts students with extremely high scores (and allegedly those with poor social skills who interview badly).
UoM had low cutoffs this year, it's expected to rise for future years.
-
Which unis in aus are good for pg med?
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
Yeah I know, I just worry I won't do well enough in the GAMSAT to be accepted into any postgraduate medicine studies.
Does anyone know if the GAMSAT requirements for medicine at different universities are the same or different?
Interested in going interstate?
I haven't considered that yet, but are the requirements that much lower?
-
There are other entry-to-practice options around if you don't get into unimelb MD after biomed/science.
Have you thought of medical radiations?
http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3889/
2 years full time, after your bachelors.
That's one of my backup options.
-
Some interstate unis have lower requirements, but Deakin is in Victoria and tbh looks just as good as UoM's new program.
Traditionally, USyd, UoM, UQ etc have been the major ones
-
What SEAS category do you fit under btw? 88 entry into biomed is only for categories 5 and 6 :(
-
Which unis in aus are good for pg med?
From what I've read and been told it really doesn't matter where you go. There is the prestige of going to a Go8 Uni, and they receive more funding, but all medical degrees are accredited by the Australian Medical Council, and this is the main thing.
Hence it does not really matter. Unlike with a law degree where I don't think some administrative law body rubber stamps all the different degrees available, and therefore it puts you at an advantage if you go to a more reputable Uni.
-
I wouldnt get my hopes up about transferring INTO biomed at melb, that isnt easy. Taking advantage of the 88 seas req is once in a lifetime and foolish to pass up if you defs want med
Yeah I know, I just worry I won't do well enough in the GAMSAT to be accepted into any postgraduate medicine studies.
Does anyone know if the GAMSAT requirements for medicine at different universities are the same or different?
Interested in going interstate?
I haven't considered that yet, but are the requirements that much lower?
I'm not sure, but you can always start a degree, do the UMAT next year, and apply for non standard undergrad entry to UTAS, UNSW, UNCLE. There may be a few more unis who offer non standard entry too.
-
If you move out of home and go interstate, does the government help pay for anything significant? Or do you need to be able to support yourself by paying your own rent, food, books etc
-
If you move out of home and go interstate, does the government help pay for anything significant? Or do you need to be able to support yourself by paying your own rent, food, books etc
Youth Allowance:
Single with no children, 18 years and over and not living at home $377*
-
Government will help (check the centrelink site for the exact amount) but if you're planning to live on their help alone...well...i hope you like mi goreng
Alternatively, get married for a nice bonus payout :)
-
What SEAS category do you fit under btw? 88 entry into biomed is only for categories 5 and 6 :(
what were these categories?
-
Isn't rent alone like >377?
-
Financial disadvantage and rural living
Isn't rent alone like >377?
Sharehouse (with 4 people in a house you cut a lot of costs)
-
What SEAS category do you fit under btw? 88 entry into biomed is only for categories 5 and 6 :(
what were these categories?
Category 1: Mature age consideration
Category 2: Non-English speaking background
Category 3: Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
Category 4: Difficult circumstances
Category 5: Disadvantaged financial background
Category 6: Applicants from rural or isolated areas
Category 7: Under-represented schools
Category 8: Women or men in under-represented disciplines
Category 9: Disability or medical condition
Category 10: Refugee background
-
Okay, I thought it was for the disadvantaged schools..
-
Okay, I thought it was for the disadvantaged schools..
Yeah i thought it was double seas with Cat7 = 88?
-
Well, I have been set on doing Biomed for awhile now, but it seems too difficult to get in. So that's why I looked at other options.
There are other entry-to-practice options around if you don't get into unimelb MD after biomed/science.
Have you thought of medical radiations?
http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3889/
2 years full time, after your bachelors.
That's one of my backup options.
Thanks for that, it looks like something interesting to do. I need more options, haha.
-
Okay, I thought it was for the disadvantaged schools..
Unfortunately not :( I wish, cos then I could ease up a little bit about my scores.
If you scroll down on this page to "Selection Guarantee 2011", it confirms it:
http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/ugrad/accessmelb/whyapply.html#Selection%20guarantee
-
If I decided to study Biomedicine at Melbourne and decided it was not for me, could I transfer to Pharmacy at Monash? Are such transfers possible?
-
According to the website you can, but you need these results
* 70% average across all subjects from a complete or incomplete Bachelors degree in a science-related field (eg. BSc, BBiomed, BPharm, BPharmSci).*
* A competitive UMAT score (minimum of 140 raw score).
-
According to the website you can, but you need these results
* 70% average across all subjects from a complete or incomplete Bachelors degree in a science-related field (eg. BSc, BBiomed, BPharm, BPharmSci).*
* A competitive UMAT score (minimum of 140 raw score).
Thank you Russ, I think I might do Biomed .. if I achieve the required atar.
-
If I decided to study Biomedicine at Melbourne and decided it was not for me, could I transfer to Pharmacy at Monash? Are such transfers possible?
There are quite a few transfers from science and biomed in pharm. The only thing to note is that you'll be "pushed back a year" because you can't get credit for the pharmacy specific unit. By "pushed back a year" I mean you'll end up having to spend the full 4 years in the course anyway even if you do a mix of say, 1st/2nd year units.
-
MANDYYY
My bro did pharmacy and he decided he hated it, even though it was his first pref (he wanted to do it earlier). But once he finished he took the GAMSAT, completely aced it and now is starting his clinical placements at hospitals and such :D
Wouldn't it be awesome if I got into undergrad med next year? I'd literally finish around the same time he would :P
-
I completely understand your thoughts on Biomed being "too risky" - for me, wanting to eventually do med, it was a toss up between putting Monash first preference, going to USyd (both med degrees) or doing biomed first. I think your decision depends a lot on your individual situation and consideration of a few factors:
1. Do you have a desire to go to any particular uni? Is it a good reason? How strong is the reason? Eg. Your parents went there, or you live very close to it, or you feel it is better/worse for a particular course/focus, or you want to be near the city, etc. Would you consider interstate (considering costs and emotional pressures) for certain courses?
2. How much you want to do the subject - if you are uncertain (leaning towards not really interested), but definitely health sciences, probably a good idea to consider biomed. Remember that biomed can lead to lots of graduate courses, such as optom, medicine, dentistry, physio, genetic counselling, law, engineering, teaching, honours year etc. These are offered at Uni of Melb, but also some of them at other unis, including interstate.
3. How strongly you back yourself academically - in general, when people have asked me what I think they should do with regards to the security thing, I've said, "go, go, go for the security...unless you have a notional 'guaranteed' place, it's so much less pressure if you are going into something you know you want to do" (so clearly dependent on factor 2). This is for something like medicine, however - if you are aiming more generally, the security thing may not be as big a factor any more, seeing as there are so many graduate opportunities (not to mention that the Bachelor of Biomed itself could be used).
I would be very careful "settling" for pharmacy if there are many other things that interest you more.
Hope this is of some help.
-
I'd also like to advise you that pharmacy isn't the easiest course to ace since you need a good GPA for graduate entry. Not to say you won't do well, but I reckon it's a lot more challenging to get straight HD/D's. E.g. I'll attach the feedback lecture slides to one of our units in semester one (2nd year) here:
-
Thank you Toothpaste, Andiio and dptjandra!
There are many reasons why I would much rather study Biomedicine at UniMelb than say, Pharmacy or Biomedical Science at Monash. Not only is the campus much, much closer to me and more convenient, my parents are huge fans of UniMelb (LOL) and would love to have a daughter study there.
I also think Biomedicine is much more appealing (although "risky") because there are so many options at the end.
I think you guys have made me want to do Biomedicine even more now, hahahaha.
Again, thank you!
-
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
-
Awww... how about PG optometry?
-
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
Sorry if this is off topic, but after completeing biomed can you undertake PG Dentistry??
If so what kind of results would you need? And in terms of difficulty, would it be harder to get into PG dentistry or PG med?
-
You can apply to PG Dentistry from any undergraduate degree, so yes. I never really had an interest in dent but it uses the GAMSAT, so you'd need to do that + GPA + interview.
I know there are less places than med but I'm not sure that that translates into a harder entry.
-
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
Sorry if this is off topic, but after completeing biomed can you undertake PG Dentistry??
If so what kind of results would you need? And in terms of difficulty, would it be harder to get into PG dentistry or PG med?
Yes you can under PG Dentistry after biomed.
The prerequisites are the same for dentistry and medicine.
Quota for DDS: 90
Quota for MD: 330
So I say you need higher results for Dentistry than for Med.
But probably more people go for med so it somewhat balances out a bit.
-
Oh ok i never realised that there biomed has many alternative pathways, thanks :)
-
You can apply to PG Dentistry from any undergraduate degree, so yes. I never really had an interest in dent but it uses the GAMSAT, so you'd need to do that + GPA + interview.
I know there are less places than med but I'm not sure that that translates into a harder entry.
No you don't need an interview for DDS.
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
Sorry if this is off topic, but after completeing biomed can you undertake PG Dentistry??
If so what kind of results would you need? And in terms of difficulty, would it be harder to get into PG dentistry or PG med?
Yes you can under PG Dentistry after biomed.
The prerequisites are the same for dentistry and medicine.
Quota for DDS: 90
Quota for MD: 330
So I say you need higher results for Dentistry than for Med.
But probably more people go for med so it somewhat balances out a bit.
DDS is obviously more competitive. 50 places will be domestic and 40 will be international. At least 50% of the domestic are CSP, that's 25 places and 5 of this will be reserved for Grad Access (like SEAS). Then there's the other 25 (or less depending on govt funding) that are domestic full-fee
-
You can apply to PG Dentistry from any undergraduate degree, so yes. I never really had an interest in dent but it uses the GAMSAT, so you'd need to do that + GPA + interview.
I know there are less places than med but I'm not sure that that translates into a harder entry.
No you don't need an interview for DDS.
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
Sorry if this is off topic, but after completeing biomed can you undertake PG Dentistry??
If so what kind of results would you need? And in terms of difficulty, would it be harder to get into PG dentistry or PG med?
Yes you can under PG Dentistry after biomed.
The prerequisites are the same for dentistry and medicine.
Quota for DDS: 90
Quota for MD: 330
So I say you need higher results for Dentistry than for Med.
But probably more people go for med so it somewhat balances out a bit.
DDS is obviously more competitive. 50 places will be domestic and 40 will be international. At least 50% of the domestic are CSP, that's 25 places and 5 of this will be reserved for Grad Access (like SEAS). Then there's the other 25 (or less depending on govt funding) that are domestic full-fee
Yeah - but if we were to look at the chart Russ posted about 7 posts ago.
The number of applicants is significantly less for the DDS - like 92% less.
So the number of potential applicants is quite proportional to its quotas.
Which is why I said "it somewhat balances out a bit"
-
You can apply to PG Dentistry from any undergraduate degree, so yes. I never really had an interest in dent but it uses the GAMSAT, so you'd need to do that + GPA + interview.
I know there are less places than med but I'm not sure that that translates into a harder entry.
No you don't need an interview for DDS.
If you're considering it, here's an interesting picture from earlier in the year. It's a question posed to the 2nd year cohort about what they planned to do after finishing their degree and although not everyone responded, it's still (relatively) accurate.
Sorry if this is off topic, but after completeing biomed can you undertake PG Dentistry??
If so what kind of results would you need? And in terms of difficulty, would it be harder to get into PG dentistry or PG med?
Yes you can under PG Dentistry after biomed.
The prerequisites are the same for dentistry and medicine.
Quota for DDS: 90
Quota for MD: 330
So I say you need higher results for Dentistry than for Med.
But probably more people go for med so it somewhat balances out a bit.
DDS is obviously more competitive. 50 places will be domestic and 40 will be international. At least 50% of the domestic are CSP, that's 25 places and 5 of this will be reserved for Grad Access (like SEAS). Then there's the other 25 (or less depending on govt funding) that are domestic full-fee
Yeah - but if we were to look at the chart Russ posted about 7 posts ago.
The number of applicants is significantly less for the DDS - like 92% less.
So the number of potential applicants is quite proportional to its quotas.
Which is why I said "it somewhat balances out a bit"
That was just a casual PRS clicker question. I doubt it would be accurate since not all participates or are aware that multiple options are possible. But still gives a rough idea that Medicine is their ultimate goal. Thanks for posting, heaps of biomed kids were talking about that slide hehehe
-
So which option are you choosing. ^^"
-
Oh I think it's pretty accurate, but there are plenty of other applicants to the DDS outside of the biomedicine course
And yeah, it was a bit of a laugh. Only about 75% of people responded though, so the rest could all want to do something other than PG med
-
Point taken.
I know I shouldn't but I merely assumed the ratio stayed roughly the same amongst all other courses too.