BA before the Melbourne MD?

[tashhhaaa]

So I really want to do arts next year, but I also really want to be a doctor (odd predicament I know)

I went to UoM's open day today and I spoke to soooo many people, so with what I heard combined with my own research I know I can do the MD prereqs as breadth in the Melbourne BA.

However, that leaves the problem of the GAMSAT -- a lot of people said I would be disadvantaged having done an arts degree and only a handful of bio and chem subjects.

It's my understanding that for the GAMSAT, all you need to know is bio and chem at the second year level and year 12 physics. Is this true? Or is it just what they say when in reality the content examined is a lot harder than that?

((Please don't tell me to do a Bachelor of Science instead, I know about that but my methods score is fked so just keeping my options open))

[slothpomba]

You will find it harder than if you took science, i think very few people will dispute this.

The subjects you can probably do as breadth but you will find it harder than someone who has a whole host of other supporting and similar subjects to tie together the concepts and theories. That said, plenty of people have entered MD through non-traditional pathways (even after years of no uni at all, let alone lacking a science degree).

If methods is the only thing holding you back, Monash science does not require methods (BUT it does require a sufficient number and grade in science subjects). This was true for my year but things may have changed.

[Shenz0r]

So I really want to do arts next year, but I also really want to be a doctor (odd predicament I know)

I went to UoM's open day today and I spoke to soooo many people, so with what I heard combined with my own research I know I can do the MD prereqs as breadth in the Melbourne BA.

However, that leaves the problem of the GAMSAT -- a lot of people said I would be disadvantaged having done an arts degree and only a handful of bio and chem subjects.

It's my understanding that for the GAMSAT, all you need to know is bio and chem at the second year level and year 12 physics. Is this true? Or is it just what they say when in reality the content examined is a lot harder than that?

((Please don't tell me to do a Bachelor of Science instead, I know about that but my methods score is fked so just keeping my options open))

For the GAMSAT, I'll just throw in a few words:
You only need 1st year chem and year 12 physics.
You don't even really need bio because a lot of it is just interpretation (they get you to analyse graphs and stuff and you won't have to know the specifics).
That being said, being familiar with the topics is likely to help you work through that part of the exam quicker. You can study the basics by yourself in the holidays. The basics are all you really need (ie knowing calculations of force, momentum, naming isomers, blah blah).
It's a reasoning test more than anything which is why you don't need specific knowledge...they pretty much give you all the information you need to answer the question. It's more of a matter trying to work out how you can apply what they give you.

Also look on the GAMSAT forum if you want to find out more about the test.

[tashhhaaa]

You will find it harder than if you took science, i think very few people will dispute this.

The subjects you can probably do as breadth but you will find it harder than someone who has a whole host of other supporting and similar subjects to tie together the concepts and theories. That said, plenty of people have entered MD through non-traditional pathways (even after years of no uni at all, let alone lacking a science degree).

If methods is the only thing holding you back, Monash science does not require methods (BUT it does require a sufficient number and grade in science subjects). This was true for my year but things may have changed.

thanks!

I think it still doesn't need methods, I know for sure science/arts doesn't, but I live about 2 hours away from Monash so that's why arts somewhere else would be ideal

For the GAMSAT, I'll just throw in a few words:
You only need 1st year chem and year 12 physics.
You don't even really need bio because a lot of it is just interpretation (they get you to analyse graphs and stuff and you won't have to know the specifics).
That being said, being familiar with the topics is likely to help you work through that part of the exam quicker. You can study the basics by yourself in the holidays. The basics are all you really need (ie knowing calculations of force, momentum, naming isomers, blah blah).
It's a reasoning test more than anything which is why you don't need specific knowledge...they pretty much give you all the information you need to answer the question. It's more of a matter trying to work out how you can apply what they give you.

Also look on the GAMSAT forum if you want to find out more about the test.

hmm ok, thank you for your insight
I know you can study for it, but when you say reasoning do you mean it's a little like the UMAT with science questions?

i'll have a look

[Shenz0r]

Difficult to explain without actually showing you the questions, maybe it's sorta like UMAT but not quite. In UMAT there's a sense that "either you understand it or you don't", whereas in the GAMSAT it's as if they give you all the pieces of the puzzle but you have to work out how to make the picture.

[tashhhaaa]

Difficult to explain without actually showing you the questions, maybe it's sorta like UMAT but not quite. In UMAT there's a sense that "either you understand it or you don't", whereas in the GAMSAT it's as if they give you all the pieces of the puzzle but you have to work out how to make the picture.

fair enough, sounds easier but it's probably 1000x more difficult

just out of curiosity, have you done the GAMSAT?

[Shenz0r]

I've sat it 3 times. It's at a higher academic level so it'll look more complicated until you get used to the style of questions.

If you want more info on what it's like, there's a thread on it here. A Guide on How to Prepare For the GAMSAT

[tashhhaaa]

I've sat it 3 times. It's at a higher academic level so it'll look more complicated until you get used to the style of questions.

If you want more info on what it's like, there's a thread on it here. A Guide on How to Prepare For the GAMSAT

thanks for that, awesome thread!

I don't know if you asked this question in that thread (I haven't checked because I'm supposed to be cramming for a SAC lol) but can you sit GAMSAT after you graduate etc if you still fail to achieve a competitive score? Or is med all over from there?

[pi]

I don't know if you asked this question in that thread (I haven't checked because I'm supposed to be cramming for a SAC lol) but can you sit GAMSAT after you graduate etc if you still fail to achieve a competitive score? Or is med all over from there?

You certainly can. There might be a limit (something like a max of 7 sits or something) but that might be an out-dated rule

[tashhhaaa]

You certainly can. There might be a limit (something like a max of 7 sits or something) but that might be an out-dated rule

that's good lol, I wonder how many times I'll have to do it hahah

and I meant answered* in that post oops