First year n00b

[Destiny]

Um, I'm pretty confused. I read a document about biomedicine majors and it stated that one example of a possible career pathway would be JD with a biomedicine major. Would it be possible to sit both tests and decide which path to take post grad by looking at the results? I've also heard that Uni is busy. When is the best time to sit the GAMSAT and/or LSAT?

Also, like five of the students who graduated from Biomed ended up doing JD. I thought that science and law were a bit unrelated. Is it possible to do well in the LSAT after you've been doing Biomedicine for basically 3 years? Or would you need to do extra study to make sure you are up to LSAT standards?

Furthermore, the AAD stated that it was possible to book a Student Advice appointment following AAD. So I visited the link http://sc.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/meet-student-adviser but it stated that "Bachelor of Biomedicine student adviser appointments will not be available via online booking in January. Please email the student centre to set up an appointment if required. " Is a student advisor necessary? I just get so confused looking at all the 2000 breadth subjects/electives until my head hurts. I can't decide if I'm supposed to choose breadths based on what I like or what is related to my career goals or what is related to biomedicine. Furthermore, if breadth components count to the GPA (they do, right?) I'd need to worry about my marks in the subjects as well, right?

[Peedles]

Yes it is possible to go on to do JD from Science or Biomedicine. Yes you could choose to do both the LSAT and GAMSAT if you want to keep your options open and decide which career path you want to pursue later on. The best way to approach the LSAT and GAMSAT is to do it multiple times during your undergraduate degree due to the two year validity of the results. I did the GAMSAT three times: Beginning of 2nd year (GAMSAT AU), Towards the end of 2nd year (GAMSAT UK) and at the start of third year (GAMSAT AU). From that I selected my best result and that was used towards my application towards Dentistry. I would imagine it would be the same for LSAT. Both LSAT and GAMSAT are general ability exams. Except LSAT would have more of a focus on what GAMSAT has in Section 1 and 2 (Analysing Texts, Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Essay Writing) and not much of the Science Section obviously. University is busy, but you will be able to make time to study for the GAMSAT. But in saying that, it probably would be best to do it at the start of the year so you have the whole Christmas holiday to prepare. However, unless you're confident, I'd do it three times. I guess what I'm saying is there would be quite a bit of overlap between studying for the LSAT and GAMSAT.

Well if you get confused looking at the breadth subjects that you're head hurts then a Student Advisor is probably necessary. There isn't any subjects that you are supposed to choose for breadth. I chose subjects that would give the best chances of getting a good GPA and breadths that I found interesting and enjoyed. That is the whole intention of having a breadth component. However, if you love your Biomedical/Science subjects that much then there are 2 'free' breadth subjects where you could choose a Science or Non-related science subject to study (The other 4 allocated breadth subjects have to be from a non-science faculty). (My Breadths were: Managing and leading organisations, principles of marketing, genetics health and society, gamelan ensemble, music psychology). Yes, breadth subjects count towards your GPA at equal value to all your other subjects. You are able to do three level 1 subjects. So I would save 1 or 2 level 1 breadths for your later years when they are weighted more. Since your first year and third year are weighted x1 and x3 respectively.

Hope this helps!

[Hancock]

Take note that if you're aiming for Ivy League Law Schools, they average your LSAT scores. Melbourne doesn't do this (IIRC) but is something to take note. Currently, Melbourne takes in students who get ~160 on the LSAT, compared to Harvard which takes in 173+. Getting a 160 is does require some work so you'll want to be doing this study as extra-curricular compared to your Sci or Bio degree.

[Destiny]

Wow, thankyou so much for the advice o.O I guess I'll have to learn what's the difference between the Level 1, 2, 3 breadths and figure that out at AAD. Thankyou so much, I never knew that you could sit the GAMSAT multiple times

[Peedles]

Wow, thankyou so much for the advice o.O I guess I'll have to learn what's the difference between the Level 1, 2, 3 breadths and figure that out at AAD. Thankyou so much, I never knew that you could sit the GAMSAT multiple times

The only difference between the Levels for subject is the level of expectation and difficulty.

[VivaTequila]

Keep in mind that the GAMSAT costs ~$500 from memory, and the LSAT ~$100.

[Peedles]

Keep in mind that the GAMSAT costs ~$500 from memory, and the LSAT ~$100.

That's not much when you think of what you are investing it towards. I'd rather use $500($425) and know that I did bad to improve.