What is the trend for BSc Clearly-Ins?

[InsaneMcFries]

I know the clearly in this year was 90.15, but I'm 90% sure last year it was only 85.05 clearly-in. Do you think it will continue to rise this year, and will I have a decent chance of getting in with a ~90 ATAR?

[pi]

It's all a matter of demand, best to try and be as high above the previous clearly-in as possible in case it does rise again

[slothpomba]

As Physics said, its very hard to tell. The universities dont set or choose the ATAR before hand, its all about supply and demand. The only reason it stays roughly constant between years is because people have roughly the same wants and desires and preferences from year to year and the number of places usually stays constant as well, so, the 500 spots filled in a year will tend to be around a similar score as last.

Sometimes we have huge jumps, like here, which is massive. I remember the exact thing happened when i was applying for uni and they said they'd open up more places (so increase the supply) so the clearly in would drop, perhaps they're doing that again this year.

[InsaneMcFries]

Interesting haha we'll have to wait and see then! Also, another query, since I can't go into BBiomed, would doing the Bioeng major in Science be much worse?

[Hancock]

If anything, bioengineering through science is better due lack of 'core' classes you are required to take which will have little relevance to bioeng specifically. Just make sure you actually want to do Bioeng, it's still a niche field and I'm inclined to tell you that you should rather do electrical because bioeng is basically electrical with a biomedical focus.

[simpak]

Interesting haha we'll have to wait and see then! Also, another query, since I can't go into BBiomed, would doing the Bioeng major in Science be much worse?

Every major offered in Biomed or Science is THE SAME - same lecturers, same lecture times, same people in your class.  The only difference would be the cores in Biomed, which are not a part of your major and graduating with a degree with a different name. The actual major itself is exactly the same

[InsaneMcFries]

OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?

[simpak]

OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?

I would actually recommend that you would take Bioengineering rather than Physiology even if you do want to do an MD.  If you're interested in Bioengineering it's much more lucrative if you change your mind or if you don't get the marks to get in to the MD.  It's better to take a major which can lead into more job opportunities if you're looking towards a more vocational profession.

That's not to discredit Physiology! I'm considering majoring in Physiology next year...but I'm basing my choices in major on what I'd like to research if I do go into research after my Bachlors degree.  Physiology won't lead you elsewhere, and you can always take Physiology electives if you have an interest in that!

But, base your major choice on what interests you most overall - you have the chance to learn so many different things and the MD is a graduate degree so they don't expect you to have a working knowledge about Physiology or to have done a Physiology major when you apply.  A knowledge of the heath sciences wouldn't go astray but even that isn't a prerequisite.  I'd take what you're most interested in (if you're considering research) or what you see can give you the most job opportunities (so majors with opportunities for lab work or professional employment) if that doesn't look like your style.

But there's no point in making those kinds of big decisions now - get to uni and see what you enjoy most in your first year before you make a choice about your major.  You might change your mind! One of the good things about doing a generalised undergraduate degree is that you don't have to choose right away and you can take subjects from many different fields without needing to 'major' in those fields.  If a lot of the majors in the BSc or BBmed look interesting to you then I'd say you're looking at the right degree - figure out what you might want to major in later.

[pyro-53]

OK, could recommend a major if I was considering a more medicinal career? Like a doctor? Would that be physiology?

I would actually recommend that you would take Bioengineering rather than Physiology even if you do want to do an MD.  If you're interested in Bioengineering it's much more lucrative if you change your mind or if you don't get the marks to get in to the MD.  It's better to take a major which can lead into more job opportunities if you're looking towards a more vocational profession.

That's not to discredit Physiology! I'm considering majoring in Physiology next year...but I'm basing my choices in major on what I'd like to research if I do go into research after my Bachlors degree.  Physiology won't lead you elsewhere, and you can always take Physiology electives if you have an interest in that!

But, base your major choice on what interests you most overall - you have the chance to learn so many different things and the MD is a graduate degree so they don't expect you to have a working knowledge about Physiology or to have done a Physiology major when you apply.  A knowledge of the heath sciences wouldn't go astray but even that isn't a prerequisite.  I'd take what you're most interested in (if you're considering research) or what you see can give you the most job opportunities (so majors with opportunities for lab work or professional employment) if that doesn't look like your style.

But there's no point in making those kinds of big decisions now - get to uni and see what you enjoy most in your first year before you make a choice about your major.  You might change your mind! One of the good things about doing a generalised undergraduate degree is that you don't have to choose right away and you can take subjects from many different fields without needing to 'major' in those fields.  If a lot of the majors in the BSc or BBmed look interesting to you then I'd say you're looking at the right degree - figure out what you might want to major in later.

This is also apply to arts, so +1 to you, and thanks

[InsaneMcFries]

Ok thankyou that was really helpful and I was originally planning for bioeng. So you don't major in first year?

[simpak]

Ok thankyou that was really helpful and I was originally planning for bioeng. So you don't major in first year?

No not at all, not even in second year (although there might be specific subjects you have to take for engineering in first and second year I think).  There's always flexibility until third year - that's when you make your decision.

I'm starting third year in March and I have absolutely no idea what I'm about to major in...but I'm an anomaly.

[InsaneMcFries]

Ah... Now I see why BioMed is different, you get two years of focus, rather than two years of general science! Still, that's really cool!

[Russ]

Be aware that in science you'll need to.plan ahead to keep majors open. If you're thinking about pathology as a major, you'll need to take a second year lab subject to qualify and so forth

[simpak]

Ah... Now I see why BioMed is different, you get two years of focus, rather than two years of general science! Still, that's really cool!

Hmm? No, not really...you don't focus on your major before third year in Biomed or Science.  The difference is that your course is much more structured in Biomed - there are compulsory mathematics units in the first year, for instance.  In the second year there are, again, compulsory units but nothing I would consider 'focused' - you take general biomedical subjects.  Of course in Science, you do have the option to avoid these subjects but you also have the option to take near identical subjects which cover the same things.  The other difference is that obviously in Biomed you only have biomedically related majors open to you while in science you have majors like computer science available for instance.

In both cases, deciding on a major isn't necessary until third year.  But pay attention to what Russ said above, you do need to make sure you fulfil prerequisites.

[InsaneMcFries]

That's interesting then, I'll look into this stuff when it becomes necessary. Thanks for all your help.