Biomed at UoM or a double degree at Monash?

[Destiny]

I think I have a good chance of making the clearly in score at UoM this year but I kind of wanted also to do a double degree because I thought it would open up my employability. I also don't exactly know what to choose, because I like and am good (or at least above average) at many subjects and am not clearly a humanities or maths/science based person.

I was thinking of taking up a Biomed/law double degree at Monash. Some people warned me against it, saying that the two are completely unrelated and would increase the workload and that I'd eventually have to choose between the two anyway post grad. Is this true? Or could I eventually pursue both? Some people also recommended doing MBBS on the grounds that I'd be guaranteed a pathway to medicine, so I sat the UMAT, scored the 95th percentile and was offered an interview. Some people said that if you did the MBBS Monash course, you'll basically have a 100% chance of being a doctor (is this true?) whereas people stated that biomed at Melbourne meant that you'd get into biomed if you had the ATAR, but there was no guarantee if you'd get into postgrad since you'd have to sit the GAMSAT. Other people say that Monash is less study orientated and are desperate to grab high scorers with scholarships and the student base is composed of people who are less focussed and willing to work than Melbourne. Others said that the lecturers at Monash were of less quality than that of Melbourne and that because Monash was no. 2 in Melbourne, people who graduated from Melbourne were more likely to be employed. Also, I've heard that people who do biomed are more likely to get a job offer than those who do science.  Moreover, I hear that people take breadth studies based on what they enjoy, but isn't that the purpose of hobbies? How would I use my breadth studies to enhance my employability? Choosing related subjects or through choosing unrelated subjects?

Are these statements true? What are the chances of getting into medicine post grad at Melbourne and doing well at the GAMSAT? What are the job prospects like once you graduate?

Also, I don't really understand what a major is.

[Hancock]

Way too many assumptions about Melbourne vs Monash IMO. In Victoria, they are basically the same. A generic employer isn't going to be like 'Ohhhh this guys from Monash and this one's from Melbourne. Toss the Monash one.'

Also note that double degrees do not always open up more employability. If you udnertake Bio / Law, you will be doing less law subjects than a straight law student, which isn't a good thing in the eyes of some firms. I do agree that Bio / Law is a weird match up and I anticipate that you will probably be hard-pressed to find a job that actually uses both degrees.

Also, why only Medicine or Law? There's kind of a stereotype associated with only choosing between those disparate fields.

[Russ]

I think I have a good chance of making the clearly in score at UoM this year but I kind of wanted also to do a double degree because I thought it would open up my employability.

It doesn't really do it like that, if you're applying for law, they care about your law marks. The fact you've got a biomed degree isn't really that relevant.

I was thinking of taking up a Biomed/law double degree at Monash. Some people warned me against it, saying that the two are completely unrelated and would increase the workload and that I'd eventually have to choose between the two anyway post grad. Is this true? Or could I eventually pursue both?

Fundamentally it's right, you could pursue both but it'd be in fairly unrelated careers. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it though, do what you want.

Some people also recommended doing MBBS on the grounds that I'd be guaranteed a pathway to medicine, so I sat the UMAT, scored the 95th percentile and was offered an interview. Some people said that if you did the MBBS Monash course, you'll basically have a 100% chance of being a doctor (is this true?) whereas people stated that biomed at Melbourne meant that you'd get into biomed if you had the ATAR, but there was no guarantee if you'd get into postgrad since you'd have to sit the GAMSAT.

Yes, Monash MBBS makes you a doctor. Do you want to do medicine though? You said law/sci above.

Other people say that Monash is less study orientated and are desperate to grab high scorers with scholarships and the student base is composed of people who are less focussed and willing to work than Melbourne. Others said that the lecturers at Monash were of less quality than that of Melbourne and that because Monash was no. 2 in Melbourne, people who graduated from Melbourne were more likely to be employed.

Monash are a lot more liberal with scholarships but that doesn't really reflect quality etc.

Moreover, I hear that people take breadth studies based on what they enjoy, but isn't that the purpose of hobbies? How would I use my breadth studies to enhance my employability? Choosing related subjects or through choosing unrelated subjects?

Breadth studies won't really enhance your direct employability. Do them for something interesting and to show you have supplemental skills and education.

Are these statements true? What are the chances of getting into medicine post grad at Melbourne and doing well at the GAMSAT? What are the job prospects like once you graduate?

Depends on you. You can't really ask for a "chance", it's going to depend on your marks and your GAMSAT score. GAMSAT is marked to a curve like UMAT, so it's going to be getting top 10% etc.

Also, I don't really understand what a major is.

Course of study that you focus on during your degree. Eg I focused on immunology rather than physiology

[Destiny]

Medicine, because I have had an interest in biology since I was in Grade 5 and even if I did a general science I'd pick the same subjects as Biomed anyway and I'm not too keen on electives. I like taking up a direction that is offered to me, instead of struggling with my own choices. If I took law, I have a very strong sense of justice, particularly in the area of complexities relating to the internet. I am a particularly vocal person and really enjoy reading about cases involving intellectual property (especially after the SOPA, ACTA etc. debacle). I do have other hobbies such as art and programming, but I dabble and am not particularly talented in these areas. Also, I know for a fact that if I do pick up medicine, I can force myself to work on the course because it is something I enjoy and with Law I absolutely love analysis, the humanities and reading so I think it's something I like. My parents are strongly pressuring me to take up something like commerce and they argue I'd be unsuitable as a lawyer because I'd be killed for my opinions and think I'm unsuitable for a doctor because of my immune system and lack of co-ordination.

Also, with the clearly in score at UoM, I mean that I think I have a good chance of making into biomed.

[ItsSKC]

Just based on the fact you said you want to do medicine, then I'd say Monash MBBS is the way to go. It really does not matter too much where you attend Med school, med school is med school. I wouldn't recommend it but monash does have the suicide combo (I think thats what some people call it) of MBBS/LLB. I personally picked to study Biomed at melb uni then the MD because i felt i needed a few more years to mature and really decide if medicine was my calling, I also had Biomed/law at monash as a preference but ruled it out because Monash is very far away from where i live.

[pi]

I wouldn't recommend it but monash does have the suicide combo (I think thats what some people call it) of MBBS/LLB.

It recently got cancelled To protect the sanity of future years haha

[paulsterio]

It recently got cancelled To protect the sanity of future years haha

Really?

Btw, I have never understood why people are so "medicine or law" - is it coincidence they're the two most competitive and prestigious fields? Or is there really that much in common?

[Hancock]

This is a Venn diagram of Med and Law. Med is on the left. Law is on the right. The intersection of the two circles shows the common ground of both fields. Oh wait....

[Panicmode]

This sounds like a massive plug (and I suppose it is in reality) but it seems as if a Bavhelor of Biomed with humanities breadth subjects would greatly suit you. You've commented on how you're not exactly sure what you want to do and whether or not your suited to become a doctor. The bachelor of biomed is perfect because it allows you to explore the many different facets of the health sciences field, while not committing to being a doctor. The breadth would also allow you to continue your interest in humanities subjects at the same time.

[paulsterio]

This is a Venn diagram of Med and Law. Med is on the left. Law is on the right. The intersection of the two circles shows the common ground of both fields. Oh wait....

There will be overlap, I won't deny that, e.g. both professions require that you're a good communicator...etc.

But it's all very vague. I know we have this perception of "doctors=good" and "lawyers=shifty" - even though it's not true, so I'm surprised that so many people who want to do Med are willing to go with Law.

[srw]

hey, thank god im in year 12 and i have been freaking out about whether you could do a double degree at monash and then get into melbourne uni's doctorate of medicine. I think i might do double degree of biomed and science at monash and then from there sit GAMSAT and then hopefully if it is meant to be i would then do medicine at melbourne. Im just woundering though; can you do UMAT after year 12??? and also How early can you start preparing for GAMSAT what is the structure you usually need to follow?? as in do they offer tutoring for it?? what should i do??  UMAT after year 12 or just GAMSAT during uni?

[Tomw2]

what should i do??

Relax, for starters.

i have been freaking out about whether you could do a double degree at monash and then get into melbourne uni's doctorate of medicine

Both Science and Biomed at Monash allow you to complete units which satisfy the MDHS prerequisites for admission into the Doctor of Medicine at Melbourne.

This includes combinations of the above degrees (e.g. BSc/BBiomedSci, BA/BSc, BSc/BComm etc).

can you do UMAT after year 12???

Yes, you can do the UMAT any time after year 12.

Note however that you cannot get into the undergraduate MBBS course at Monash Clayton if you have done any tertiary level study. It accepts outgoing year 12s only. The Monash graduate MBBS at Gippsland requires a completed degree, GAMSAT + interview.

and also How early can you start preparing for GAMSAT what is the structure you usually need to follow?? as in do they offer tutoring for it??

Does who offer tutoring for it...?
There are private companies that offer preparation courses for it, for a hefty price.

When/how you should start preparing for GAMSAT is a complicated question; the answer depending somewhat on your background, aptitude and undergraduate studies. I suggest that if you would like to discuss this, post your question to a relevant thread on the GAMSAT board (GAMSAT)

UMAT after year 12 or just GAMSAT during uni?

Um, they are not mutually exclusive. You can do both. UMAT for undergrad courses and GAMSAT for graduate courses.

Your first priority should be focusing on year 12 and getting the best marks you can. Then after that, focus on doing really well in your first year

[ferrsal]

For Melbourne MD, there are ~150 spots each year. There are ~400 biomed students, not to mention all the science students and biomedical science students all across Australia, who are also eligible to apply. So.. yeah, comp is pretty fierce haha