Alternatives to medicine: physio or dietetics

[uni_student]

I've spent this entire year trying to get into medicine and it's looking like I'm not going to get a place due to my umat score. I'm currently studying science and don't want to head down the gamsat path as I want to study something specific now. I therefore think physio or dietetics could be a substitute but I don't know which one to choose.

I love physiology (more so than anatomy and biochemistry) and learning about the body, hence my interest in medicine. I want to work in a hospital as I like interacting with others and maybe do a PhD in the field someday. I also really enjoy neuroscience.

However, I'm not into sport and lack strength/fitness so this may be problematic for physio. I hate group work and this forms a large component of the dietetics course.

I would probably study either course at monash. Any insight or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[thushan]

Hey!

So you'd like to do something in the health sciences.

Just to make sure you have considered all options, there are a heap of courses that may satisfy what you would like.

Audiology - testing patients' hearing in liaison with an ENT physician (similar to radiographer liaising with radiologist)
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Clinical Audiology, 4 years)

Occupational Therapy - these people help arrange patients' living conditions at home so they can go about their day to day activities; they work in hospitals
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Occupational Therapy Practice, 4 years)
=> Monash University Peninsula (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)
=> Deakin University (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)
=> Australian Catholic University (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)

Orthoptics - allied health worker working with eye disease
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Orthoptics, 4 years)

Physiotherapy - offered at Monash and La Trobe

Podiatry - involved in foot disorders
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Podiatric Practice, 4 years)

Prosthetics and Orthotics - involved with prosthetic limbs and amputees
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics, 4 years)

Nursing -
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery, 4 years)
=> Monash University Peninsula (Bachelor of Nursing, 3 years)

Physiotherapy is offered at La Trobe and Monash.

Have you considered any of these other courses?
 

[uni_student]

Hey!

So you'd like to do something in the health sciences.

Just to make sure you have considered all options, there are a heap of courses that may satisfy what you would like.

Audiology - testing patients' hearing in liaison with an ENT physician (similar to radiographer liaising with radiologist)
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Clinical Audiology, 4 years)

Occupational Therapy - these people help arrange patients' living conditions at home so they can go about their day to day activities; they work in hospitals
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Occupational Therapy Practice, 4 years)
=> Monash University Peninsula (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)
=> Deakin University (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)
=> Australian Catholic University (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, 4 years)

Orthoptics - allied health worker working with eye disease
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Orthoptics, 4 years)

Physiotherapy - offered at Monash and La Trobe

Podiatry - involved in foot disorders
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Podiatric Practice, 4 years)

Prosthetics and Orthotics - involved with prosthetic limbs and amputees
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics, 4 years)

Nursing -
=> La Trobe University (Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery, 4 years)
=> Monash University Peninsula (Bachelor of Nursing, 3 years)

Physiotherapy is offered at La Trobe and Monash.

Have you considered any of these other courses?

Thanks Thushan! I have considered these other options and think physio or dietetics are the best options as both may relate to neuroscience. They are also a bit more diverse as they don't focus on one part of the body e.g. audiology, podiatry, orthoptics.

[thushan]

Physiotherapy isn't really sport-related always. From what I have seen and understood, physiotherapy is involved with musculoskeletal medicine, using physical techniques to treat patients' illnesses.

Whatever course/profession you do - teamwork is involved. The physiotherapist (in the hospital) has to work with the doctor(s), nurse(s), occupational therapists, pharmacists, etc. for the care of his/her patients.