Science/Biomed 3RD year major

[bridger]

Upcoming/past 3rd year Science/Biomed kids, which major are you planning on doing/did you do? What were/are your reasons for choosing the major? Currently I’m tossing up between Biochemistry and Human Structure and Function...  but haven’t made much progress on making a decision. I’ve put down Biochemistry for now but I keep changing my mind every 5 minutes haha. If anyone has any info that could help me make a decision that would be great

[Peedles]

Right now I have put down in my study planner that I'm going to Major in Neuroscience (still very unsure though). Purely because I've read the honours booklet and I feel asthough Neuroscience projects seem the most interesting and appeal to me the most compared to some of the other projects on offer for honours in the other faculty. Yes, I do indeed want to get into Graduate health science course next year. But I'm just trying to cover all avenues in terms of back-ups and what not in the event that things don't go to plan in 2012.

Neuroscience is definitely not locked in. I thought that it would be easier to pick a major after I got all my results. I was purely going to choose the ones that I did the best in. But I've kind of got pretty similar across the board so that's not going to work. At the end of the day I will probably pick what I would enjoy. I'm tossing between Neuroscience (aforementioned reasons), Human Structure and Function (as the major is quite flexible and you can really explore all the other subjects within the different health science faculties in 3rd year) and Pathology (because the content was extremely interesting and very relevant to the work place in terms of me wanting to get into MD/DDS).

LOL definitely not choosing Biochem. Although the subject was really easy in 2nd year. I think that the subjects will be ball breaker in 3rd year. Some aspects of biochem just doesn't make sense to me even if I read it over and over and look at text books. I don't like having to understand things that aren't visible or aren't tangible. Like learning Chemistry and 1st year about atoms. Trying to make sense of things that are there but are absent to the visible eye.

Also not doing Physio because it was my lowest score. I worked so hard for it and only got a H2A. The assessment of 2nd year human phys was intense. Making me fear the worst for 3rd year physio subjects. But I will have an open mind to any one else who could argue otherwise.

EDIT: AND I KNOW that alot of the things we learn in BSci is not visible to the naked eye. But i hope that you guys kind of get what I mean by that ><

[jasrulz63]

How much does the major we choose impact on our chances of getting into an honours? The subjects I'm doing covers the neuroscience, physiology and anatomy majors, how much does it matter what I have as my major?

[Peedles]

How much does the major we choose impact on our chances of getting into an honours? The subjects I'm doing covers the neuroscience, physiology and anatomy majors, how much does it matter what I have as my major?

Yeah, that I don't know. I am under the impression that Honour Projects under certain faculties require you to complete certain subjects/major? Someone correct me if I'm wrong? LOL Also one must sit down and interview with potential supervisors prior to entering honours years so I'm gathering that a major in neuroscience will be an appealing attribute to a prospective neuroscience supervisor. Once again, correct me if I'm wrong?
 

[dc302]

How much does the major we choose impact on our chances of getting into an honours? The subjects I'm doing covers the neuroscience, physiology and anatomy majors, how much does it matter what I have as my major?

Wow really? It's four subjects per major, and I guess there might be some overlap, but that's a lot of science subjects.. As for honours, I don't believe what is written on your degree (ie what major) has much to do with what honours you get into provided you have done enough subjects for whatever other area you want to do honours in. Then again, I'm mainly speculating.

[Russ]

Also one must sit down and interview with potential supervisors prior to entering honours years

Hah, "interview". If you want to do honours you need to have done subjects in that area. Your actual major isn't that important, but nobody is going to take you on for a biochem project if you've never done biochem before. The way it works is that the faculties release their projects and you email the supervisors and ask questions and network and meet them etc. If you haven't done the major, just tell them that but explain why you're applying and why you're interested etc.

A lot of projects will go to students doing that major for obvious reasons, but you can apply across majors as long as you've got the background. Whilst, marks are very important, the supervisor has complete discretion in choosing who they want. If you got a 99 average but there's another kid with a 75 average who has worked in that lab before...guess who's getting chosen.

[mikee65]

Does honours confer any advantage in gaining acceptance to a graduate health course? If your GPA is reasonable after 3rd year why risk lowering it (some projects are quite difficult Im told). Instead why not spend an entire year preparing for gamsat?

[tek]

Your honours result does not affect your GPA for med entry for the year after, it can only give an advantage 2 years after honours. However it does give invaluable experience in research. It might make you decide that research is the career option for you. Also honours is often the minimum experience for undergraduate level jobs in science (eg research assistant).

[Russ]

Does honours confer any advantage in gaining acceptance to a graduate health course? If your GPA is reasonable after 3rd year why risk lowering it (some projects are quite difficult Im told). Instead why not spend an entire year preparing for gamsat?

Seriously?

Your honours result does not affect your GPA for med entry for the year after, it can only give an advantage 2 years after honours. However it does give invaluable experience in research. It might make you decide that research is the career option for you. Also honours is often the minimum experience for undergraduate level jobs in science (eg research assistant).

What? Depends on when results come out. UoM gets coursework marks out really early

[tek]

What? Depends on when results come out. UoM gets coursework marks out really early

I might be wrong. I'm basing this off anecdotal evidence. I guess if you want it to help your GPA you should try finish honours quickly.

Also previous experience in a lab is very helpful. I did work experience in the lab Im doing honours at next year. I could have chosen a project there that was only loosely based on my major. (I ended up choosing a project based on my major)   

[mikee65]

Does honours confer any advantage in gaining acceptance to a graduate health course? If your GPA is reasonable after 3rd year why risk lowering it (some projects are quite difficult Im told). Instead why not spend an entire year preparing for gamsat?

Seriously?

I dont see why not? I seriously dont see the point of doing an honours unless your planning to extend it into further research and phd.

tek: Why advantage? Is it impossible for an honours to diminish ones GPA?

[tek]

tek: Why advantage? Is it impossible for an honours to diminish ones GPA?

It is possible for an honours year to diminish ones GPA. I just said advantage alone (where I should have said advantage/disadvantage) as I am used to the idea where some people want to do honours to boost their GPA.

[mikee65]

tek: Why advantage? Is it impossible for an honours to diminish ones GPA?

It is possible for an honours year to diminish ones GPA. I just said advantage alone (where I should have said advantage/disadvantage) as I am used to the idea where some people want to do honours to boost their GPA.

Yes, thats precisely my point. Those whose goal is PG Health would take honours if their GPA is deficient, 

[jasrulz63]

Wow really? It's four subjects per major, and I guess there might be some overlap, but that's a lot of science subjects..

Anatomy has two core subjects, neuroscience two, and physiology two (one overlaps with neuroscience), making 5 subjects. Then you need two electives each major, however the neuroscience core subjects are also two elective subjects for each of physiology and anatomy. Therefore all that's left is the two elective subjects for neuroscience = 7 subjects. So pretty big overlaps

[bridger]

so you don't have to have necessarily majored in that area to do honours. But it could be helpful in getting a spot in that area. I can see that all this applying for stuff in 3rd year is going to confuse me haha, too much thinking!

Hmm yeah Neuroscience would be a really interesting area to do honours in. I'm not sure what honours in Anatomy would involve... there would be people doing it though I guess.

If I do Human Structure & Function I'd probably have to do at least one or two 3rd year Physiology subjects because I didn't do Pathology this year. Kind of wish I had done it rather than Research Physiology which wasn't very entertaining.. haha. Could do the Neuroscience subjects, or Developmental Biology (when I see this subject I just get visions of sitting through Viriginia's embryology lectures in Anatomy falling to sleep, but she probably doesn't even lecture this one). Or could ust do Biochem major... decisions... Might be better to have a range of subjects though to keep open options for honours