BSc Physics Major w/ Med Prereqs

[Aurelian]

Hey guys,

I've decided on Science at Melbourne for a variety of reasons, including keeping my options open (both Law and Med, for example) as well as having more flexibility in what I get to study (physics yay!).

However, I really am quite keen to keep a physics major open to possibility, but suffice to say it's looking very difficult to do - so I was wondering if anyone could help. The biggest hindrance involves fitting in the mathematics subjects required alongside everything else. As far as I can tell, my study plan at the moment is looking something like this;

YEAR 1:
Biology of Cells and Organisms            Chemistry 1        Physics 1                                                          Philosophy of Mind
Genetics and the Evolution of Life       Chemistry 2        Physics 2: Physical Science and Technology        Greek Philosophy

This sets me up for the Med prereqs and also a major in biochemistry if I choose at the end of first year (another major I'm considering). However, the lack of maths renders a physics major more or less impossible.

I didn't do Spesh, which is a massive pain because it means I have to do Calculus 1 before Calculus 2 in an already tight degree. However, after contacting various people at Melbourne University, it appears I'm able to take some sort of test if I claim to know the prerequisite knowledge which, if performance is satisfactory, would allow me to skip Calculus 1 anyway. I am therefore self-learning the Spesh course over the next month or so.

Additionally it should be noted that I'm not too keen on cutting two breadth subjects as I want to max out philosophy (I don't think it'd be enough anyway).

As it stands at the moment, looking at the above study plan, it seems that the only possible way to major in physics would be to take a concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences. I think I'd be able to get in (hopefully), but the main thing which would concern me would be the workload since I would intend on doing it under acceleration (don't want to add another year onto my degree as I may do honours as well)...

Thoughts? Does anyone have any comments on the workload of the above pathway, or have any other suggestions I might not have considered?

Thanks!

[dc302]

Well firstly, do finish your major in 3 years, you HAVE to take maths in first year, to keep up with physics. That means delaying bio or chem until 2nd year (or summer). I did the same as you in fact, well almost. Majored in maths and did second year physics with med prereqs.

So med prereqs total to 7 subjects, physics subjects would be minimum 9 subjects to complete, and if you're starting from calc 1, you would need 5 maths subjects. +6 breadth as you'd like it. As you can see this amounts to 27 subjects. So you need to cut 3 subjects. If you cut calc, then 26. If you're like me, I got permission to not do bio 1 as a prereq, so if you did that, that's 25. Then you could take a CAP for your last subject, making it 24. If you really wanted to.

Otherwise I like the diploma of maths idea, but are you sure you want to be doing 3rd year maths?

[dc302]

Actually, ignore what I just said. They've changed the requirements for science which means you need to do 6 3rd year science subjects whereas if you tried what I said you'd only have 4.

[Hotdogs753]

I'm in the same boat as you. I wanna major in Physics but wanna still be able to go into med. For me the only option would be to do the diploma concurrently which won't affect your GPA so if maths isn't your strongest point is a plus. But basically I've worked out that I would need to do a subject over the summer as the only option.

[Russ]

Trying to fit all options here, biomed would guarantee you an MD place and you would do first year physics with the option to do more as selectives and philosophy through breadth. That's probably the closest you're going to come to all 3.

[dc302]

^ Lol but 1 physics subject is not close at all to a physics major. It would work if only he didn't mind shaving off a few philosophy subjects..

[Russ]

Yes, but there is no way to do a physics major AND MD prereqs AND 6 philosophy breadth

[Aurelian]

Trying to fit all options here, biomed would guarantee you an MD place and you would do first year physics with the option to do more as selectives and philosophy through breadth. That's probably the closest you're going to come to all 3.

Yeah I don't think I'd like the physics in biomed tbh :/

^ Lol but 1 physics subject is not close at all to a physics major. It would work if only he didn't mind shaving off a few philosophy subjects..

Supposing I cut 2 philosophy subjects, what would your revised plan be? Assuming I can start also from Calculus 2.

Also, suppose that I get to the end of first year and decide I definitely don't want to do Med. Am I able to backtrack/summer term the maths subjects to catch up for second year?

If you're like me, I got permission to not do bio 1 as a prereq, so if you did that, that's 25. Then you could take a CAP for your last subject, making it 24. If you really wanted to.

Just out of curiosity, how'd you manage to get permission not to do bio 1? Also, what's a CAP?

Otherwise I like the diploma of maths idea, but are you sure you want to be doing 3rd year maths?

Yeah, this concerns me tbh. I'm fairly good at maths and I do very much enjoy it, but some of those third year subjects look way out of my league... And yet the maths diploma is starting to look like the only option! D=

[dc302]

Give me a sec and I'll have a look at the handbook to see if it's possible.

[dc302]

Ok assuming you don't have to do one biology subject, here's a POSSIBLE plan (you can vary this quite a bit, I'll explain later)

first year: calc2, linear algebra, physics 1, physics 2, chem 1, chem 2, philosophy (x2)

second year: vector calculus, real analysis, quantum mechanics, thermal & classical physics, electromagnetism, biochemistry, biology(x1) (CAP), philosophy (x2)

third year: physics major (4 subjects), 2 more 3rd year science subjects (physics/maths), human structure and function, human physiology


You can look up CAP, it allows students to undertake a single subject study that does not contribute to their degree, but can be used to satisfy prereqs (ie, you need bio to do anatomy and physiology).

For your degree, here are the requirements for your case in particular:

4x philo (breadth)
4x maths (starting from calc 2)
2x chem and 1x bio(CAP)
3x med prereqs
2 more science subjects at level 3
2 physics 1st year, 3 physics 2nd year, 4 physics 3rd year.

The variation comes from this: you can do the med prereqs in 2nd OR 3rd year, so you can do bio and chem in 1st OR 2nd year. You can do philosophy in ANY year. This means you can change when you want to do your breadth, and when you want to do chem etc. You can even do linear algebra and chem 2 in summer, if it means you want to take less subjects in later years (more relaxed).


edit: as for bio, all you have to do is go to the coordinators of anatomy and physiology and convince them you are ready to take their subjects without having done both biology units. My friend did this with only bio 1, and I managed to do this with only bio 2, so I'd say you definitely have a good shot. You'll need to be aiming for maybe 75+ to convince them though. If not you can probably beg or something anyway xD

[Aurelian]

Ahahaha wow yeah they really don't want to make it easy for me!

It's all starting to look a bit too messy to be honest... I don't think I'll try and squeeze it into an actual degree, so it looks like the Diploma in Mathematical Sciences is the only option - but that brings me back to your earlier point; will I be able to handle third year mathematics? Not really too sure.

Also, I still have this question from a bit earlier if anyone could answer;

"...Suppose that I get to the end of first year and decide I definitely don't want to do Med. Am I able to backtrack/summer term the maths subjects to catch up for second year?"

Thanks again guys, especially dc - that was quite some effort you put in there! Thanks heaps

[dc302]

How fast do you wish to finish the course? 3 years? 3.5? 4? (regarding your question about 'backtracking')

As for third year maths, I suggest you decide after you have a look at first year maths. What are your options if maths isn't for you and you can't see yourself continuing engineering?

[Aurelian]

How fast do you wish to finish the course? 3 years? 3.5? 4? (regarding your question about 'backtracking')

As for third year maths, I suggest you decide after you have a look at first year maths. What are your options if maths isn't for you and you can't see yourself continuing engineering?

Three years ideally!

And I'm not quite sure what your second question is, but if you mean what other majors I'd consider, then biochemistry, chemistry or genetics most likely - all of which fit quite snugly with Med prereqs anyhow.

[dc302]

Well if you are planning doing a major in physics then you need to start maths and physics in first year. This means that if you decide med isn't for you, you do not have to do any backtracking. If you are also considering majoring in chmistry/biochem, then you need to do chemistry in first year too. So maths, chem and physics in first year.

[Aurelian]

Well if you are planning doing a major in physics then you need to start maths and physics in first year. This means that if you decide med isn't for you, you do not have to do any backtracking. If you are also considering majoring in chmistry/biochem, then you need to do chemistry in first year too. So maths, chem and physics in first year.

Yeah alrighty. I guess I'll have a think over the next month or so and postpone planning until when I meet with the academic advisor late January.

Thanks heaps again, dc!