Biomed or Science?

[thecreeker]

Hi guys, I'm sure this question has been asked repeatedly and I apologize for repeating myself but I don't quite know where to go in this debate
So I got my ATAR today, and I was very happy with it. Its enough to get into Biomed and Science both but I'm a bit befuddled over which one to choose
Like every other kid going to Melbourne uni these days, I want to do med, but its something I am genuinely interested in. But I am aware of just how hard it is to get into, and I would equally love to do Veterinary science, or if not Physio or dentistry. I think I prefer the research side of it more over actually working as a doctor though.
So the question is, what is the major difference between the two?
Is it better to pick Biomed over Science in health based professions? And if I consider engineering in the future, can I only do that through science?

[Hancock]

Science has course freedom, Biomed has "prestige" and is quite rigid in it's structure.

From the engineering standpoint, you can only do Bioengineering in BBiomed, but you can do 11 streams of engineering in science. You can also do 'almost' all of the Biomed majors in science except for 2 I think (don't quote me).

[Russ]

I'd recommend searching the forums for the previous threads and reading them, since they're pretty extensive.

[iirene]

Since you're looking to get into med, I thought you might find this useful (noting the new 2017 entry requirements)

http://med.monash.edu.au/medical/gippsland/mbbs-pathways.html

"From 2017, at least 50 of the 75 places available into the Graduate Entry MBBS, will be reserved for students who have completed the Monash University Bachelor of Biomedical Science."
"GAMSAT will not be a requirement for entry into Monash University’s graduate entry program. "

[Panicmode]

If you want to do health sciences, Biomed is the superior option. Our core subjects are more integrated and better delivered which (while making the content slightly more challenging) makes the caliber of learning much more effective. The cohort in Biomed is also generally a lot more cohesive and (not to sound snobby) study focused so you're more likely to make good friends quickly and get pushed to excellence in Biomed.

Although as a Biomed student I must say I may be a tad biased...

[simpak]

a tad biased...

Lol
Kk re-read what you wrote.

[golden]

Biomed is the superior option

Taking that quote in isolation is taking it out of context and perhaps may paint a negative image of the writer.

Let's not necessarily take one standpoint on the issue to be gospel at the same time.

In summary:

I'd recommend searching the forums for the previous threads and reading them, since they're pretty extensive.

As well as talking to some other people relevant in the field etc. then you can probably make an informed decision. Sometimes a bit of bias on both sides can help with this.

[LeviLamp]

Just to add to this discussion, the OP mentioned wanting to do veterinary science, and there are three subjects only available in the BSci that are prerequisites for the entry pathway most people take. Add on to that needing Calc 2 and Lin Alg to do grad Eng and I reckon in this *particular* case the BSci is a safer option since you have space to fit in everything you need for all the pathways you listed . It's completely up to you, though!
(I'm not advocating for one degree or the other here, but in this instance the BSci is probably a safer bet IMO)

[Starlight]

RE: Vet science

http://coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/undergrad/1510-bachelor-of-science

"It is also the shortest pathway to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Melbourne."

[Panicmode]

Lol
Kk re-read what you wrote.

Fair enough, although everything I said is true. We have integrated core subjects in second year so rather than doing anatomy and physiology separate as Science students do, we get an integrated approach. We also have an integrated Biochem, cell dev, cell biol and immuno subject so again we get a broader view of the subject.

In terms of the cohort thing, I have friends in science who constantly whine about the difficulty of getting a study group together. Since Biomed students take all their cores together and we are a smaller cohort, we are a much closer cohort and don't necessarily have that problem.

All these mean that if you want to do physio/dent/med biomed is generally the better option. You can do vet prereqs in biomed, but if that's where you see yourself in the future science may be the better choice. In terms of engineering, if you've done specialist in year 12 you can do calc 2 and linear algebra in a biomed degree but the only real outcome is a bioengineering major. Science is better for engineering.

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

Fair enough, although everything I said is true. We have integrated core subjects in second year so rather than doing anatomy and physiology separate as Science students do, we get an integrated approach. We also have an integrated Biochem, cell dev, cell biol and immuno subject so again we get a broader view of the subject.

In terms of the cohort thing, I have friends in science who constantly whine about the difficulty of getting a study group together. Since Biomed students take all their cores together and we are a smaller cohort, we are a much closer cohort and don't necessarily have that problem.

All these mean that if you want to do physio/dent/med biomed is generally the better option. You can do vet prereqs in biomed, but if that's where you see yourself in the future science may be the better choice. In terms of engineering, if you've done specialist in year 12 you can do calc 2 and linear algebra in a biomed degree but the only real outcome is a bioengineering major. Science is better for engineering.

I would definitely agree with all panicmode said except for the fact that biomed subjects are slightly more challenging. The fact that your subjects are integrated does mean that you go at a fast pace but as said by some other biomed students in the past, you guys don't go into as much depth as those in science doing anatomy etc.

I do agree with the biomed cohort being smaller enables the opportunity to make friends and form study groups much easier! I wish that were the case for science as well  

[LeviLamp]

After first year most of the subjects get smaller, so it should hopefully get easier for us with time

[simpak]

It definitely gets easier to meet people/make friends when you're in higher level subjects.  And I have bunches of Biomed friends too, despite being from Science!