Subject/major queries

[Spxtcs]

So I'm commencing Bsc @ UoM soon.
I know AAD is coming up but I've searched these forums (maybe not hard enough) and I'm still clueless when it comes to choosing subjects/a major that lead to graduate medicine.

Do I need to choose certain subjects for my major (e.g. human structure and function/etc), and if so, do i need to complete all the subjects in a specific area such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry or just a select few?
Also, for breadth, can i choose subjects related to science (e.g. neuroscience subjects) or do they have to be unrelated (i.e. history subjects).

Does anyone have an example of their own (or not their own) subject plan that satisfies prereqs for graduate medicine, coz the prospectus examples are confusing

Otherwise, can someone just explain how the subject selection & major/minor + timetabling process works because I'm obviously jaffy asking questions that have probably been asked hundreds of times before

Thanks in advance

[Professor Polonsky]

I'm not a UoM student, nor a science student, nor an aspiring med student, but I'll try to answer

Have a look at the handbook, first. Keep in mind that all regular units are 12.5 points (a standard year's workload is then 100 points).

As for your major, there's a list on that page. Take a look, for eaxmple, at Human Structure and Function. The issue with UoM's majors is that they don't include the prerequisites for those units - you'll need to click at each unit you want to do to see its prerequisites (for example, ANAT30007 Human Locomotor Systems requires ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure, which itself requires a couple of first year bio units.)

A perhaps easier way to check out prerequisites for major is to look at its page on the BSci website. The stuff in light blue are the prerequisites, and the grey units are the major itself. You can ignore the dark blue units -- fill in whatever you want with those!

You need to take 50-75 points of breadth units. They're shown in orange on that page, although two of those units can actually be either breadth or science electives. Breadth units are not science units - see the requirements here.

[Spxtcs]

I'm not a UoM student, nor a science student, nor an aspiring med student, but I'll try to answer

Have a look at the handbook, first. Keep in mind that all regular units are 12.5 points (a standard year's workload is then 100 points).

As for your major, there's a list on that page. Take a look, for eaxmple, at Human Structure and Function. The issue with UoM's majors is that they don't include the prerequisites for those units - you'll need to click at each unit you want to do to see its prerequisites (for example, ANAT30007 Human Locomotor Systems requires ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure, which itself requires a couple of first year bio units.)

A perhaps easier way to check out prerequisites for major is to look at its page on the BSci website. The stuff in light blue are the prerequisites, and the grey units are the major itself. You can ignore the dark blue units -- fill in whatever you want with those!

You need to take 50-75 points of breadth units. They're shown in orange on that page, although two of those units can actually be either breadth or science electives. Breadth units are not science units - see the requirements here.

wow thanks so much, looks like I'll be doing lots of research before the semester begins!

[Stevensmay]

First things first, handbook. Very very useful, available at handbook.unimelb.edu.au

Do I need to choose certain subjects for my major (e.g. human structure and function/etc), and if so, do i need to complete all the subjects in a specific area such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry or just a select few?

Here is a link to the HSF major. It will tell you exactly what subjects you need to do to be able to graduate with it as a major. Make sure you go through the list and work out what prerequisites they have, all the way down to your first year. Can take some time but if you get it wrong then you might have to extend your degree!

Also, for breadth, can i choose subjects related to science (e.g. neuroscience subjects) or do they have to be unrelated (i.e. history subjects).

Breadth search will show all your options.

Seeing as Polo has replied will get to the later ones. A sample subject plan is only so useful, as there are a very large number of ways you can graduate with the major, so it might be more confusing than helpful.

With the breadth, you need to take at minimum 50 points (4 subjects normally) with a maximum of 75. At least one of these subjects needs to be a level two or three subject. Each subject will have a code like ECON10004, the first four letters identify the department (Economics). The first digit after the letters is the subject level, in this case 1. Level 2 = 2, level 3 = 3, everything above this is normally honors/masters etc. The digits make up an identifier for the subject.

Over the next few weeks you will be able to log in to your student portal and enroll in subjects, this is not timetabling but simply selection. Class registration opens on the 2nd of Feb at 10am, where you go through and select which lectures and tutorials you want to be in. Normally a hectic few hours as everyone else is trying to do the same, so the servers slow down a bit. On your study plan (where you enter what subjects you want to do for enrollment) you can select your major however it makes no difference if you do not right now, so I'd suggest leaving it off as it's one less thing to worry about.

[chysim]

As above, the handbook is your friend.

Also, once you've accepted your offer and have a unimelb login, the student portal has a subject plan which is used to enrol in all of your subjects. Once you input you major, it does most of the work for you in that it constrains your subject choices. You'll see the core subjects, science electives, breadth and the like. It's basically a matter of filling in the gaps.

As for timetabling, that doesn't happen till a little later (a couple of weeks from now I think). That's also done through the student admin portal. You basically just choose your lecture and tute times for the subjects you've enrolled in. It's pretty easy, but there are some tips that you'll find on here regarding best time for lectures/tutes and the like. Also, the servers get ridiculously overloaded and unresponsive in the first couple of hours when timetabling opens, so expect it and don't get frustrated.

[Spxtcs]

First things first, handbook. Very very useful, available at handbook.unimelb.edu.auHere is a link to the HSF major. It will tell you exactly what subjects you need to do to be able to graduate with it as a major. Make sure you go through the list and work out what prerequisites they have, all the way down to your first year. Can take some time but if you get it wrong then you might have to extend your degree!
Breadth search will show all your options.

Seeing as Polo has replied will get to the later ones. A sample subject plan is only so useful, as there are a very large number of ways you can graduate with the major, so it might be more confusing than helpful.

With the breadth, you need to take at minimum 50 points (4 subjects normally) with a maximum of 75. At least one of these subjects needs to be a level two or three subject. Each subject will have a code like ECON10004, the first four letters identify the department (Economics). The first digit after the letters is the subject level, in this case 1. Level 2 = 2, level 3 = 3, everything above this is normally honors/masters etc. The digits make up an identifier for the subject.

Over the next few weeks you will be able to log in to your student portal and enroll in subjects, this is not timetabling but simply selection. Class registration opens on the 2nd of Feb at 10am, where you go through and select which lectures and tutorials you want to be in. Normally a hectic few hours as everyone else is trying to do the same, so the servers slow down a bit. On your study plan (where you enter what subjects you want to do for enrollment) you can select your major however it makes no difference if you do not right now, so I'd suggest leaving it off as it's one less thing to worry about.

thanks so so much, will hold on to this information

As above, the handbook is your friend.

Also, once you've accepted your offer and have a unimelb login, the student portal has a subject plan which is used to enrol in all of your subjects. Once you input you major, it does most of the work for you in that it constrains your subject choices. You'll see the core subjects, science electives, breadth and the like. It's basically a matter of filling in the gaps.

As for timetabling, that doesn't happen till a little later (a couple of weeks from now I think). That's also done through the student admin portal. You basically just choose your lecture and tute times for the subjects you've enrolled in via the study plan. It's pretty easy, but there are some tips that you'll find on here regarding best time for lectures/tutes and the like. Also, the servers get ridiculously overloaded and unresponsive in the first couple of hours when timetabling opens, so expect it and don't get frustrated.

thank you, very helpful information guys!

so basically I'll be ripping through the handbook searching for prereq subjects, adding those and working my way through till i've satisfied the major.

Is HSF even the best major for graduate medicine, or do they all qualify? also, do I need to worry about a minor?

[chysim]

Is HSF even the best major for graduate medicine, or do they all qualify? also, do I need to worry about a minor?

This is like third hand information, so don't quote me, but I think you're course/major is irrelevant when applying for post-grad med. You need to have completed certain prerequisite subjects (and the GAMSAT obviously), but other than that the course/major doesn't matter.

[Spxtcs]

This is like third hand information, so don't quote me, but I think you're course/major is irrelevant when applying for post-grad med. You need to have completed certain prerequisite subjects (and the GAMSAT obviously), but other than that the course/major doesn't matter.

thanks for that, will spend the next week or so planning out everything veerrrrry carefully

[Professor Polonsky]

I think the thing about subject selection at uni is that it looks really daunting looking in at the start, then almost becomes routine by your second semester. Apart from issues, which are rare (something like "I really want to do unit A but it requires unit X and I don't have room for that" or "I need/want to do this unit to graduate but it's not offered again for another year") it's all an easy ride.

As for medicine, it seems like all you need to do to meet the prerequisite are to complete these there units:
Anatomy:  ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure
Biochemistry: BCMB20002 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Physiology: PHYS20008 Human Physiology

[Spxtcs]

I think the thing about subject selection at uni is that it looks really daunting looking in at the start, then almost becomes routine by your second semester. Apart from issues, which are rare (something like "I really want to do unit A but it requires unit X and I don't have room for that" or "I need/want to do this unit to graduate but it's not offered again for another year") it's all an easy ride.

As for medicine, it seems like all you need to do to meet the prerequisite are to complete these there units:
Anatomy:  ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure
Biochemistry: BCMB20002 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Physiology: PHYS20008 Human Physiology

thanks polonsky!!
everyone's advice has been greatly appreciated

[ealam2]

So I'm commencing Bsc @ UoM soon.
I know AAD is coming up but I've searched these forums (maybe not hard enough) and I'm still clueless when it comes to choosing subjects/a major

I'm obviously jaffy asking questions that have probably been asked hundreds of times before

Don't worry, you're not alone here. I am struggling with choices too but the people here on AN are really helpful and great with giving advice. 

[Shenz0r]

Is HSF even the best major for graduate medicine, or do they all qualify? also, do I need to worry about a minor?

The HSF major is relevant to the MD and makes the transition easier, but if you don't get into medicine your options are rather limited compared to other majors.

Melbourne Uni doesn't recognise minors I think? It's not important nevertheless.

[simpak]

I would recommend you just start university enrolling in Biology and Chemistry and see where the wind takes you.  And by that I mean, consider other MDHS majors as well...explore your interests.

I've actually been told by friends that they think both Immuno and Neuro majors give you a very slight advantage coming into the MD. Don't know if this is like a personal opinion kind of thing or something people agree on generally.

[katiesaliba]

Is it necessary to do math subjects (Calculus 1 and Linear Algebra) in order to prepare for the GAMSAT? I really don't want to do math, but if I decide to pursue post-grad med I still want to knowledgeable enough. Thanks!

[Shenz0r]

No way. You're better off doing chemistry and physics if you want to prepare for GAMSAT.