ATAR Notes: Forum
Uni Stuff => Universities - Victoria => University of Melbourne => Topic started by: InsaneMcFries on November 13, 2012, 10:13:09 pm
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I know the clearly in this year was 90.15, but I'm 90% sure last year it was only 85.05 clearly-in. Do you think it will continue to rise this year, and will I have a decent chance of getting in with a ~90 ATAR?
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It's all a matter of demand, best to try and be as high above the previous clearly-in as possible in case it does rise again :)
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As Physics said, its very hard to tell. The universities dont set or choose the ATAR before hand, its all about supply and demand. The only reason it stays roughly constant between years is because people have roughly the same wants and desires and preferences from year to year and the number of places usually stays constant as well, so, the 500 spots filled in a year will tend to be around a similar score as last.
Sometimes we have huge jumps, like here, which is massive. I remember the exact thing happened when i was applying for uni and they said they'd open up more places (so increase the supply) so the clearly in would drop, perhaps they're doing that again this year.
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Interesting haha we'll have to wait and see then! Also, another query, since I can't go into BBiomed, would doing the Bioeng major in Science be much worse?
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If anything, bioengineering through science is better due lack of 'core' classes you are required to take which will have little relevance to bioeng specifically. Just make sure you actually want to do Bioeng, it's still a niche field and I'm inclined to tell you that you should rather do electrical because bioeng is basically electrical with a biomedical focus.
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Interesting haha we'll have to wait and see then! Also, another query, since I can't go into BBiomed, would doing the Bioeng major in Science be much worse?
Every major offered in Biomed or Science is THE SAME - same lecturers, same lecture times, same people in your class. The only difference would be the cores in Biomed, which are not a part of your major and graduating with a degree with a different name. The actual major itself is exactly the same :)
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OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?
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OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?
I would actually recommend that you would take Bioengineering rather than Physiology even if you do want to do an MD. If you're interested in Bioengineering it's much more lucrative if you change your mind or if you don't get the marks to get in to the MD. It's better to take a major which can lead into more job opportunities if you're looking towards a more vocational profession.
That's not to discredit Physiology! I'm considering majoring in Physiology next year...but I'm basing my choices in major on what I'd like to research if I do go into research after my Bachlors degree. Physiology won't lead you elsewhere, and you can always take Physiology electives if you have an interest in that!
But, base your major choice on what interests you most overall - you have the chance to learn so many different things and the MD is a graduate degree so they don't expect you to have a working knowledge about Physiology or to have done a Physiology major when you apply. A knowledge of the heath sciences wouldn't go astray but even that isn't a prerequisite. I'd take what you're most interested in (if you're considering research) or what you see can give you the most job opportunities (so majors with opportunities for lab work or professional employment) if that doesn't look like your style.
But there's no point in making those kinds of big decisions now - get to uni and see what you enjoy most in your first year before you make a choice about your major. You might change your mind! One of the good things about doing a generalised undergraduate degree is that you don't have to choose right away and you can take subjects from many different fields without needing to 'major' in those fields. If a lot of the majors in the BSc or BBmed look interesting to you then I'd say you're looking at the right degree - figure out what you might want to major in later.
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OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?
I would actually recommend that you would take Bioengineering rather than Physiology even if you do want to do an MD. If you're interested in Bioengineering it's much more lucrative if you change your mind or if you don't get the marks to get in to the MD. It's better to take a major which can lead into more job opportunities if you're looking towards a more vocational profession.
That's not to discredit Physiology! I'm considering majoring in Physiology next year...but I'm basing my choices in major on what I'd like to research if I do go into research after my Bachlors degree. Physiology won't lead you elsewhere, and you can always take Physiology electives if you have an interest in that!
But, base your major choice on what interests you most overall - you have the chance to learn so many different things and the MD is a graduate degree so they don't expect you to have a working knowledge about Physiology or to have done a Physiology major when you apply. A knowledge of the heath sciences wouldn't go astray but even that isn't a prerequisite. I'd take what you're most interested in (if you're considering research) or what you see can give you the most job opportunities (so majors with opportunities for lab work or professional employment) if that doesn't look like your style.
But there's no point in making those kinds of big decisions now - get to uni and see what you enjoy most in your first year before you make a choice about your major. You might change your mind! One of the good things about doing a generalised undergraduate degree is that you don't have to choose right away and you can take subjects from many different fields without needing to 'major' in those fields. If a lot of the majors in the BSc or BBmed look interesting to you then I'd say you're looking at the right degree - figure out what you might want to major in later.
This is also apply to arts, so +1 to you, and thanks :)
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Ok thankyou :) that was really helpful and I was originally planning for bioeng. So you don't major in first year?
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Ok thankyou :) that was really helpful and I was originally planning for bioeng. So you don't major in first year?
No not at all, not even in second year (although there might be specific subjects you have to take for engineering in first and second year I think). There's always flexibility until third year - that's when you make your decision.
I'm starting third year in March and I have absolutely no idea what I'm about to major in...but I'm an anomaly.
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Ah... Now I see why BioMed is different, you get two years of focus, rather than two years of general science! Still, that's really cool!
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Be aware that in science you'll need to.plan ahead to keep majors open. If you're thinking about pathology as a major, you'll need to take a second year lab subject to qualify and so forth
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Ah... Now I see why BioMed is different, you get two years of focus, rather than two years of general science! Still, that's really cool!
Hmm? No, not really...you don't focus on your major before third year in Biomed or Science. The difference is that your course is much more structured in Biomed - there are compulsory mathematics units in the first year, for instance. In the second year there are, again, compulsory units but nothing I would consider 'focused' - you take general biomedical subjects. Of course in Science, you do have the option to avoid these subjects but you also have the option to take near identical subjects which cover the same things. The other difference is that obviously in Biomed you only have biomedically related majors open to you while in science you have majors like computer science available for instance.
In both cases, deciding on a major isn't necessary until third year. But pay attention to what Russ said above, you do need to make sure you fulfil prerequisites.
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That's interesting then, I'll look into this stuff when it becomes necessary. :) Thanks for all your help.
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What majors should we choose if we plan to continue into post-graduate medicine afterwards?
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What majors should we choose if we plan to continue into post-graduate medicine afterwards?
Any should suffice. Just make sure you do the prereqs.
However, Human Structure and Function would be good?
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Oh ok what would help with GAMSAT?
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Bio-medicine or a science degree with a health science/biology major. Keep in mind that i you wish to pursue a MD at melb, you will need to be doing a health science degree WITH the relevant prerequisite subjecta satisfied. I suggest checking out the handbook on the university website.
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Even a regular science degree with prereqs would suffice, yes?
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What majors should we choose if we plan to continue into post-graduate medicine afterwards?
As long as you do the pre-requisites you will be OK - i.e. 2nd year anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. You technically don't have to do any specific major, you also don't have to do any specific degree, as long as you meet those pre-reqs.
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It's unlikely your major will help you for the GAMSAT at all.
Not that it really matters, but majors that offer better preparation than others would be microbiology/immunology and pathology. Maybe anatomy, especially for clinical stuff. Otherwise it's really much the same.
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What majors should we choose if we plan to continue into post-graduate medicine afterwards?
Not Human Structure and Function.
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How come? - just curious
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Because it is a dead end major. There is virtually no research opportunities in anatomy, so if you don't get into med you are effectively screwed.
You have very little chance of finding an honours project as an anatomy student.
Moreover, if you plan to do med, you will learn all of the anatomy in med anyway so you should take something else which interests you and has decent career prospects just in case you don't make it. :)
(even an anatomy lecturer at uni told many of us not to major in anatomy)
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What about other health science courses such as Dent, Physio, Optometry, etc?
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Major in Maths :D (seriously, it's a good major)
no pracs/labs, low attendance requirements...etc.
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Major in Maths :D (seriously, it's a good major)
no pracs/labs, low attendance requirements...etc.
I agree with what this guy said.
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Wouldn't med be hard if we don't take subjects like anatomy, immunology, etc...
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Wouldn't med be hard if we don't take subjects like anatomy, immunology, etc...
You HAVE TO take anatomy.
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You have to do anatomy as a second year subject; its just not recommended to MAJOR in it.
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ahh ok is there some sort of guide on science at Melbourne uni?
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http://www.bsc.unimelb.edu.au/
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ahh ok is there some sort of guide on science at Melbourne uni?
Me
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And me for non-bio majors.
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Does anyone recommend taking a double major -biochemistry and molecular major, and physiology?
The main major will be BCMB, but i also have a strong interest in physiology. Im not sure if the workload would be manageable.
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Does anyone recommend taking a double major -biochemistry and molecular major, and physiology?
The main major will be BCMB, but i also have a strong interest in physiology. Im not sure if the workload would be manageable.
How do you mean, just taking 50 credit points in each area? I'm assuming you know you can't take a true double major in Science here! I think the workload would probably be manageable because Physiology doesn't seem too harsh but having not done BCMB at the second year level yet I can't comment further! Perhaps another can help :)
Just think like...which do you actually want to major in. And then ask yourself what electives you would choose if you didn't do 50 points in the other area. And if you can't think of any good ones, do 50 points from each!
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http://www.bsc.unimelb.edu.au/
Thanks!