Ambivalent feelings

[Starlight]

Monash MBBS> Biomedicine any day.

1. Requires passing (although this isn't easy) as opposed to getting scores >90%, and then you have to worry about the gamsat. Some don't even bother with that in the end.

2. Shorter course, why study longer than you have to?

3. I think you see past the glitz and glamour of melbourne uni when you're there so often.

[Surgeon]

So I was at Melbourne University again today, for the first time since I've been to the Monash University open day.

I've always seen Melbourne as my second preference after Monash MBBS and a science/X double degree.....

Not so sure anymore.

The little thought nibbling at the back of my mind was confirmed...

I love Melbourne University. I love the people, love the facilities, love the look of the buildings, love the location...

I don't know any more whether I'm going to put the Bachelor of Biomedicine at Melbourne above Monash MBBS.

In addition to this, I don't know whether I would pick interstate MBBS/Dent over Biomed/Science at Melbourne.

I'm not even going to bother putting law into this equation because it will just bring too many variables into play.

I'm fairly certain that I want to go into medicine (then maybe dent, still have to do research) and law as a second preference of what I want to do.

More confused than ever.

If I get into MBBS, I'm going to be a doctor in 4-6 years, so long as I graduate.

I won't be at a university that is my favourite, though. (I'm assuming interstate universities that offer MBBS aren't as nice as Melbourne University in every way - can anyone confirm/refute?).

If I go to Melbourne University, I'll be at an awesome university that I love, but I'm not guaranteed anything after a 3 years course..

Did anyone else face this, or a similar conundrum? How did you resolve it?

Same hereeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I was so confused to put biomed or MBBS first on my preference list.

But MBBS isnt like you want and you can, I didnt get >95%ile for interviewing requirement so I dont have any hope though
Plus my best friends study at UoM so I put biomed above MBBS even though I really really really wanna get into Monash 

I don't think you should put any university above another one, just because your friends go there.

Go to the university that you want to go to.

There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with your current friends outside of university, and you'll make heaps of new friends

Monash MBBS> Biomedicine any day.

1. Requires passing (although this isn't easy) as opposed to getting scores >90%, and then you have to worry about the gamsat. Some don't even bother with that in the end.

2. Shorter course, why study longer than you have to?

3. I think you see past the glitz and glamour of melbourne uni when you're there so often.

No idea what to make of this

[Greatness]

IMO fair enough if you love the location, buildings and facilities at Melbourne compared to Monash, personally that played a major factor in my decision even though the travel was a little longer - although my decision was between B.Comm and B.Comm/B.Sci // B.Comm/B.Eng.
However, if you get an offer for MBBS at Monash surely you would take it, well I would anyway if med was my dream. Pretty much guaranteed to  finish with a med degree and a once in a lifetime opportunity. But if you don't get an offer for it then you'll have a big decision at hand. It took me quite a while to decide and it will probably take you some time too and rightly so it's our future. Weigh up all the factors, talk to your parents and ask yourself where would you feel the most comfortable and where do you want to be and how you will get there.

[eeps]

If its off-topic, why are you posting it?

Cause someone had to tell you that. And that someone is me.

[thushan]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I forgot to mention an important thing - I'd like to one day live and work in America. Not sure though.

If I did Biomed, I would apply to medical schools in the USA for the MD. If I decide by then that I don't want to go to the USA or I don't want medicine, I could till apply for postgraduate medicine here, or the JD here, or Master of Engineering here (if all else fails) etc.

I think if I did MBBS, it would be harder - as opposed to doing a science degree here then applying to do an MD over there. I'm fairly certain most medical schools guarantee you an internship so long as you pass, so I would have a student visa for that duration of time. After all of my training, I can get a working visa (which is given for a minimum of 3 years) if I'm offered a job. Then, if I marry an American citizen, I could get a permanent residency.

At this point, I'm only considering a couple of medical schools: John Hopkins and some ivy-leaguers. Difficult, I know, but I fully intend on working hard in university and doing my very best. I'm also going to continue my involvement in a bunch of co-curriculars and will continue volunteer work.

In terms of why Melbourne over Monash, I just feel so much more comfortable and at home at Melbourne. Everything seems (and to me, is) nicer, whether it be the lecture theaters, buildings, cafes, food areas, location.

At Monash, I really felt as though I didn't fit in at all. Don't know why. Also, lecture theaters and buildings that I've seen aren't too flash.

I don't want to be spending heaps of time at a university I don't feel comfortable in, or like as much as another one.

Erm Surgeon? Hate to break it to you, but I don't think US unis accept undergraduate degrees from another country except Canada. Well, that's Harvard anyway. CHECK yourself, i MAY be wrong.

[Surgeon]

[Hancock]

This forum
 does make me lol sometimes.
1. Jenny: don't go to a university you feel is your 2nd preference because your friends go there. I can't actually fathom why your friends proximities would sway you that much. You will meet new people, it's ok, and it's not as if you go to Monash that they will disown you and never see you again.

 2. Surgeon: Go where you feel at home. If you like Melbourne, go there, but be prepared to know that if the Ivies are your goal, you better be pushing 90+ averages all through your degree. It's doable I think (I'm only first year), but you'll be dedicating your next three years for the goal of getting into medicine. You'll be competing against the best in the world, not just Victoria anymore, and there are some smart cookies out there (not that you aren't bro (? hopefully the right gender)).

Also, why just the Ivies and JH Med? UC SF is top-notch, and so are many others. From what I've heard, it doesn't really matter where you graduate from for med, just as long as your are registered. If you're planning on doing law overseas however, a T14 uni will make your start of your legal career a hell of a lot easier.

[Greatness]

Also, lecture theaters and buildings that I've seen aren't too flash.

Well, the Sunderland theater at UoM really sucked imo

The Spot, Basement Theatre. Enough said.

[Hancock]

Stanford Master of Science (Eng) accepts Bologna model 3-year undergraduate degrees. Got so excited, then realised that it's 40k a year, and I wouldn't have accreditation to become a PE.

[Jenny_2108]

Jenny did you sit the ISAT or the UMAT?

ISAT, but I didnt get high %ile
On career expo day, I asked Monash, they said, if I couldn get enough %ile requirement, even 99.95 ATAR cant help anything

I don't think you should put any university above another one, just because your friends go there.

Go to the university that you want to go to.

There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with your current friends outside of university, and you'll make heaps of new friends

My friends are not the main reason though. I have other friends studying commerce, science at Monash as well LOL

[Hancock]

Also, lecture theaters and buildings that I've seen aren't too flash.

Well, the Sunderland theater at UoM really sucked imo

The Spot, Basement Theatre. Enough said.

Fairly sure I did ECON10003 just to get into the Spot Theatre again. Held in Copland Theatre. Damn, no dice.

[Russ]

The American medical system is all kinds of different to ours and if you're only considering the Ivies or T14 then you'd better have a Plan B that you're really happy with

[pi]

Jenny did you sit the ISAT or the UMAT?

ISAT, but I didnt get high %ile
On career expo day, I asked Monash, they said, if I couldn get enough %ile requirement, even 99.95 ATAR cant help anything

I don't think you should put any university above another one, just because your friends go there.

Go to the university that you want to go to.

There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with your current friends outside of university, and you'll make heaps of new friends

My friends are not the main reason though. I have other friends studying commerce, science at Monash as well LOL

I asked this for you in the medical fb group:

"This is a highly random question and admissions related, but does anyone know the ISAT requirement to get an interview?"

And the responses I got were:

"when i took the isat, there wasn't a specific cutoff point"

"yep. my ISAT was 38% i think. and it was a passable for monash. in my opinion, in regards from pointers from the education provider that was handling my monash application, monash didnt set a benchmark on the ISAT points, as long as its passable enough, as in its not too low. i think the only uni that required a high ISAT score, in accordance to my experience as an international applicant, was tasmania uni. they required at least a 50% score to be CONSIDERED for an interview. "



I'd apply for it!

[Jenny_2108]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I forgot to mention an important thing - I'd like to one day live and work in America. Not sure though.

If I did Biomed, I would apply to medical schools in the USA for the MD. If I decide by then that I don't want to go to the USA or I don't want medicine, I could till apply for postgraduate medicine here, or the JD here, or Master of Engineering here (if all else fails) etc.

I think if I did MBBS, it would be harder - as opposed to doing a science degree here then applying to do an MD over there. I'm fairly certain most medical schools guarantee you an internship so long as you pass, so I would have a student visa for that duration of time. After all of my training, I can get a working visa (which is given for a minimum of 3 years) if I'm offered a job. Then, if I marry an American citizen, I could get a permanent residency.

At this point, I'm only considering a couple of medical schools: John Hopkins and some ivy-leaguers. Difficult, I know, but I fully intend on working hard in university and doing my very best. I'm also going to continue my involvement in a bunch of co-curriculars and will continue volunteer work.

In terms of why Melbourne over Monash, I just feel so much more comfortable and at home at Melbourne. Everything seems (and to me, is) nicer, whether it be the lecture theaters, buildings, cafes, food areas, location.

At Monash, I really felt as though I didn't fit in at all. Don't know why. Also, lecture theaters and buildings that I've seen aren't too flash.

I don't want to be spending heaps of time at a university I don't feel comfortable in, or like as much as another one.

Erm Surgeon? Hate to break it to you, but I don't think US unis accept undergraduate degrees from another country except Canada. Well, that's Harvard anyway. CHECK yourself, i MAY be wrong.

Really? I remember at my early post of this year, Shinny or someone told me after undergrad degree, you do GAMSAT (in Aus) or other kind of test for studying medicine in other countries.

[Hancock]

Ultimately, if your goal is to live in the US one day, gaining admission to any university's med program overseas would be beneficial. I agree with BUMCHIN, you should be considering a broader spectrum than the Ivies/JH given you're overall life goal. Is there any other way to get PR in the US besides getting married to a citizen? What happens if you don't find the person you're looking for over there?