Monash biomed vs Deakin biomed

[katiesaliba]

Aside from the significant ATAR difference between both courses, is there really any other substantial course variances? Also concerning MBBS, what are some differences between Monash's and Deakin's program? Thanks

[JackSonSmith]

I believe Deakin's MBBS is graduate entry only.

[pi]

I believe Deakin's MBBS is graduate entry only.

Monash also has a graduate MBBS.

I have Deakin MBBS students in my placement, so the main differences are:
1) Course structure, Monash is 1 pre-clin + 3 clin (1 yr med/surg, 1 yr womens/gp/psych/paeds, 1 yr emergency/electives) whilst Deakin is 2 pre-clin + 2 clin (1 yr med/surg/womens/paeds/psych, 1 year of the rest). In summary, Deakin's 3rd year (ie. first clinical year) is fairly intense.
2) Monash's grad cohort mixed with the younger undergrad cohort for clin years, this is fairly unique to Monash
3) In Deakin you stay at the whole hospital or health system for all your clinical years (like UoM?), Monash rotates
4) Monash grad MBBS is highly favouring Monash Biomed Sci students, Deakin Biomed has no such advantage for their MBBS, worth reading up on it http://med.monash.edu.au/medical/gippsland/mbbs-pathways.html

[excal]

To add to pi's post:

It's been said that Deakin's pre-clinical content is significantly more clinically focused than that of Monash; whether this is a good thing or bad thing, I don't know.

You should absolutely read up on the changes to the Gippsland MBBS program that kick in from next year. It remains to be seen if Deakin will follow suit (this is a general trend across graduate-entry schools around the country...?)

...but the general approach is you end up going to whatever you get into, you get the same piece of paper at the end

[katiesaliba]

Thanks so much guys for your detailed replies! 

I understand that a science degree is more lenient than a biomed degree, so I'm considering choosing Monash science over Deakin biomed (preference wise). I've also heard that it's easier to maintain higher grades in a science course than a biomed one, as biomed has a more intense work load. Will choosing a science course and majoring in biomed-related areas lessen my chances of performing  well on the GAMSAT in any way? I'm prepared to move states in order to get into a MBBS course, so Monash's preference for biomed students doesn't really bother me.

I guess I'm just finding it difficult to distinguish between biomed and a science degree that majors in biomed subjects!

[excal]

I was led to believe that with judicious subject selection, you would essentially get a biomed degree in all but name. Of course, that comes with whatever academic challenges comes with those units.

As for how it will help you later on down the track, you might find the utility of a biomed degree in medicine to be significantly less than you expect. So I say, do what you enjoy now - you'll need to study for the GAMSAT regardless because that knowledge will not be fresh in your head.

Addit: my experience of the GAMSAT (given my background was NOT biomedical or even scientific) was that all the knowledge you need to do the exam is on the paper; prior knowledge simply adds speed in parsing the stems

[datfatcat]

Thanks so much guys for your detailed replies! 

I understand that a science degree is more lenient than a biomed degree, so I'm considering choosing Monash science over Deakin biomed (preference wise). I've also heard that it's easier to maintain higher grades in a science course than a biomed one, as biomed has a more intense work load. Will choosing a science course and majoring in biomed-related areas lessen my chances of performing  well on the GAMSAT in any way? I'm prepared to move states in order to get into a MBBS course, so Monash's preference for biomed students doesn't really bother me.

I guess I'm just finding it difficult to distinguish between biomed and a science degree that majors in biomed subjects!

I would strongly suggest you do biomed over science, if possible, because for monash postgrad, if i remember correctly, 50 (of 75) places are given to Monash* biomed students. These 50 students do not need to undertake GAMSAT.