Biomed or Science?

[Panicmode]

I really am having trouble deciding which should be my first preference. Right now science seems to be winning the debate for the following reason:

- Much more freedom in course subjects
- Easier chance of entry (although at this point I don't think I'll have too much trouble getting into biomed)
- Easier to travel overseas as part of exchange during 2nd/3rd year
- Exposed to more people = more opportunity for friends?


If anyone else has anything more to add, please do.

[mikee65]

Few will choose Science over Biomedicine (those who are contemplating PG health sciences),  the latter confers no advantage in admission to post graduate courses which is why its puzzling. Pride goeth before the fall eh? Although many seem to cope well in general (not some I know). Im not sure what to say about that last point of yours.

[Russ]

You can do exchange in biomed, just in limited semesters. Biomed is also much better for socializing and meeting people because it's a core subject based course, whereas the thousand people in science are off doing half a dozen pathways and stuff. In biomed you'll have the same lectures with the same people always.

Few will choose Science over Biomedicine (those who are contemplating PG health sciences),  the latter confers no advantage in admission to post graduate courses which is why its puzzling. Pride goeth before the fall eh? Although many seem to cope well in general (not some I know). Im not sure what to say about that last point of yours.

It's not puzzling at all, people choose biomedicine because it's a better course for those who are interested in the health sciences. Also because prestige, but the first part is still true.

[dc302]

As for your last point, it's probably a question of whether you want a tighter friendship group or a broader friendship (non)group.

[Russ]

I had both.

[dc302]

Yes but it's a question of which is easier to obtain. Doing science, I don't think I knew anyone who was in the same 2 subjects as me for most of my degree, until the end when I was doing my maths major. However, the friends I hung out with were based off high school friends, so yes I had both too.

[mikee65]

You can do exchange in biomed, just in limited semesters. Biomed is also much better for socializing and meeting people because it's a core subject based course, whereas the thousand people in science are off doing half a dozen pathways and stuff. In biomed you'll have the same lectures with the same people always.

Few will choose Science over Biomedicine (those who are contemplating PG health sciences),  the latter confers no advantage in admission to post graduate courses which is why its puzzling. Pride goeth before the fall eh? Although many seem to cope well in general (not some I know). Im not sure what to say about that last point of yours.

It's not puzzling at all, people choose biomedicine because it's a better course for those who are interested in the health sciences. Also because prestige, but the first part is still true.

Interested in health sciences so much so that they would choose a course which can potentially damage their chances to enter an actual health science course not just one where some lame applications of theory are thrown together to make it seem so much more appealing along with 'medicine' in the title?

EDIT:I'm certainly not complaining though, just an observation..

[VivaTequila]

I've heard that the BBiomed fees are higher than BSc. Not sure if this is true though.

Guys I need advice - what are the key differences between the BBiomed Major and the BSc major? I think from memory at open days doing research that the BBiomed Major had 2 exclusive majors which BSc students couldn't access, but then again there is the matter of the 20ish other majors that BSc students CAN access.

I got 97.10 with a 36 in Chem and Physics, 37 in Methods, and a 42 in Geog (they consider it for Geology and shit), could I even get into BBiomed considering that the Clearly-In ATAR is 98.45 and the Minimum ATAR is 95.00?

[tea.squaredd]

I've heard that the BBiomed fees are higher than BSc. Not sure if this is true though.

Guys I need advice - what are the key differences between the BBiomed Major and the BSc major? I think from memory at open days doing research that the BBiomed Major had 2 exclusive majors which BSc students couldn't access, but then again there is the matter of the 20ish other majors that BSc students CAN access.

I got 97.10 with a 36 in Chem and Physics, 37 in Methods, and a 42 in Geog (they consider it for Geology and shit), could I even get into BBiomed considering that the Clearly-In ATAR is 98.45 and the Minimum ATAR is 95.00?

Are you asking for second round offers?
I heard they dont give out second round to normal applicants, only seas/access melbourne (i think the latter ONLY), so if cutoff was 98.45, you wouldnt get in with 98.40 which is utter bs imo.
cutting out the better students for those 'seas' applicants and most (besides 1 person) i know who applied for seas really exaggerated their situations. Seriously only 1 person deserved the seas out of people i know, the rest are.. half fabricating. Those are the studemts Melb Uni are accepting over you . BS.
They should at least offer some to Melb Access students ONLY and some to the normal applicants.

[Edmund]

You can do exchange in biomed, just in limited semesters. Biomed is also much better for socializing and meeting people because it's a core subject based course, whereas the thousand people in science are off doing half a dozen pathways and stuff. In biomed you'll have the same lectures with the same people always.

Few will choose Science over Biomedicine (those who are contemplating PG health sciences),  the latter confers no advantage in admission to post graduate courses which is why its puzzling. Pride goeth before the fall eh? Although many seem to cope well in general (not some I know). Im not sure what to say about that last point of yours.

It's not puzzling at all, people choose biomedicine because it's a better course for those who are interested in the health sciences. Also because prestige, but the first part is still true.

Interested in health sciences so much so that they would choose a course which can potentially damage their chances to enter an actual health science course not just one where some lame applications of theory are thrown together to make it seem so much more appealing along with 'medicine' in the title?

EDIT:I'm certainly not complaining though, just an observation..

Biomed obviously doesn't ruin anyones chances at getting into PG health science courses. I haven't done it myself but perhaps Russ can confirm that it covers much more biomedical sciences compared to a normal Science course and covers a broad range of disciplines and issues in the healthcare profession - probably gives a much better stepping stone to MD. If I could go back I would have done biomed instead. The BSc is a very broad degree and wasn't able to cover other topics such as Pharmacology and Pathology.

[dc302]

@Edmund, why didn't you just do some pathology/pharmacology electives in your degree?

@VivaTequila, you mean the biomed 'degree' and the science 'degree', not major. Also, the biomed degree only offers 1 exclusive major that science does not have, which is the 'defence and disease' major. However, this major is just made up by subjects from the pathology and immunology majors. You can easily do the exact same subjects in a science degree.

[simpak]

Defence and Disease sounds like an Area of Study in VCE Biology :3

Edit: Panicmode knows you can exchange Russ, but it's a lot easier to exchange in Science.  Speaking as someone who is in Science, and who is having enough difficulty with my exchange and organising it and slotting it in as it is, I wouldn't like to be trying to exchange from Biomed in second year, that's for sure.

[Edmund]

@Edmund, why didn't you just do some pathology/pharmacology electives in your degree?

@VivaTequila, you mean the biomed 'degree' and the science 'degree', not major. Also, the biomed degree only offers 1 exclusive major that science does not have, which is the 'defence and disease' major. However, this major is just made up by subjects from the pathology and immunology majors. You can easily do the exact same subjects in a science degree.

I wanted to major in A&P and couldn't fit in other electives with all the second year dental prerequisites. In biomed you can cover almost every discipline in the core subjects

[simpak]

ALSO DO SCIENCE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE MORE AWESOME AT LYF.  Just be prepared for all the misinformed h8rs who go 'what are you doing at uni' and then '...oh' when you say Science and not 'amazing!', which is what they would say if Biomed.

[dc302]

@Edmund, why didn't you just do some pathology/pharmacology electives in your degree?

@VivaTequila, you mean the biomed 'degree' and the science 'degree', not major. Also, the biomed degree only offers 1 exclusive major that science does not have, which is the 'defence and disease' major. However, this major is just made up by subjects from the pathology and immunology majors. You can easily do the exact same subjects in a science degree.

I wanted to major in A&P and couldn't fit in other electives with all the second year dental prerequisites. In biomed you can cover almost every discipline in the core subjects

That's true that you can 'cover' them, but I doubt you can cover them nearly as well as a whole subject dedicated to that particular area. The biomed subjects are good if you want an introduction to those areas though I guess.

ALSO DO SCIENCE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE MORE AWESOME AT LYF.  Just be prepared for all the misinformed h8rs who go 'what are you doing at uni' and then '...oh' when you say Science and not 'amazing!', which is what they would say if Biomed.

Science is amazing what you on about.