Is biomedicine an uncertain path?

[ysbxxx]

I didn't make it through the MMI for Monash MBBS, and instead I received an offer from La Trobe dentistry.
But I still want to study medicine, so I talked with my parents about changing preference to receive a second round offer from Melbourne biomed but they think it's a too much of a risk.
I just checked the 2016 quota for MD and it was 261 CSP, and around 100 DDS and 100 DPT.
I am not confident with aptitude tests (GAMSAT), but I got 99+ for my ATAR, so it says on the unimelb website that I need to maintain 75% GPA for guaranteed entry into MD (still need to pass the interview)
do you guys think this is doable? because after 3 years of biomedicine and if I don't get into MD, DPT or DDS, I would regret not studying La Trobe dentistry a lot. I am extra scared because I already didn't make it through the interview once, and my family friend sat GAMSAT twice and was not quite succesful and now she is a teacher (which is something not quite appealing to me)

[pi]

I wouldn't continue with dentistry if you don't want to be a dentist. If you want to be a doctor you should choose a suitable pathway. Monash MBBS tends to offer many places in subsequent rounds, so make sure you keep those preferences up the top in any case.

It should be noted that the 99+ pathway is for a Full-Fee place, not a CSP unbonded/bonded place. Keep that in mind.

Although i haven't sat the test, I don't think the GAMSAT is as much aptitude as the UMAT, seems like it can be better and more reliably studied for.

[Shenz0r]

How much do you want to study medicine? There is always going to be risk, uncertainty and opportunity cost.

Maybe you could do Dent at LaTrobe and just do the GAMSAT and apply for the MD/MBBS when you finish? That would be the safest path. Getting into DDS at Melbourne is also very difficult because there are only 12 or something CSP places.

BTW that guaranteed entry thing for 99.00+ ATARs is for a FFP, not a CSP. If you want to be considered for a CSP you need a competitive GPA.

[datfatcat]

Do you think you will enjoy dentistry or is it a course that you pick because your parents tell you to/there is nothing else to pick and this is closest to medicine? I personally would pick dentistry because it is something I would enjoy, but I would defer a year, sit UMAT again (can't remember if the test is valid for a year or two. If it is valid for two years, you don't even need to sit again) and apply for Monash MBBS in 2016.

Also there is non-standard MBBS entry at JCU and UTAS when you are first year student in your uni course. You can have a look into that.

Biomedicine is going to take 3 years and dentistry is 5 years. 2 extra years but you get a much better degree and if anything goes wrong, you are still a dentist. If you pick biomedicine and you don't have a competitive GPA, you would need to pay full fee.

[JackSonSmith]

I would take the guaranteed dentistry over 3 years of uncertainty and stress. In the end it's your decision, but that's just my 2 cents

[pi]

That gives me hope...! But do you know approximately how many second round offers they give out?

Very hard to say, but I know offers keep coming well after third round of offers.

[datfatcat]

According to Herald Sun data 197 offers have been made, and there are usually ~242 places. So that leaves ~45 places still in the mix. However, interstaters have not been interviewed as of yet. They have "round two interviews" next week. Thus, I doubt many VIC kids would get round 2 offers, as presumably most of these go to interstaters.

I can't speak for Monash but at UWS, number of applicants in second round = number of places still available. After all the interviews, they would compare the scores of these applicants with the domestic (NSW) students. So if all domestic students are better than interstate students, they would get the place. I believe Monash works in a similar way. Yes it is true that most interstate students haven't had their interviews (some came in early Janurary), but this group of students are not the very top students (or they would get a place at home state and hence no need to come here for interview). So you still have a "decent" chance of getting a place. Don't give up hopes just yet.

[pi]

Yeah they are definitely only interviewing the top interstate students (reading from the MSO forum, 99.55 and 95%ile missed out on an interstate interview!). Having said that, interview performance is very hard to judge, and because they're the high achievers from their respective states it's likely many would take offers in their home state regardless of whether or not they get a place at Monash (leaving spots open for you guys).

[The Usual Student]

I didn't make it through the MMI for Monash MBBS, and instead I received an offer from La Trobe dentistry.
But I still want to study medicine, so I talked with my parents about changing preference to receive a second round offer from Melbourne biomed but they think it's a too much of a risk.
I just checked the 2016 quota for MD and it was 261 CSP, and around 100 DDS and 100 DPT.
I am not confident with aptitude tests (GAMSAT), but I got 99+ for my ATAR, so it says on the unimelb website that I need to maintain 75% GPA for guaranteed entry into MD (still need to pass the interview)
do you guys think this is doable? because after 3 years of biomedicine and if I don't get into MD, DPT or DDS, I would regret not studying La Trobe dentistry a lot. I am extra scared because I already didn't make it through the interview once, and my family friend sat GAMSAT twice and was not quite succesful and now she is a teacher (which is something not quite appealing to me)

I don't have much experience in this area , but your not the first to pose the question " is this doable?". A lot of my friends are in the same position unsure if they should do biomed at melbourne or not.
I always ask the pivotal question, " do they want to be a dentist/lawyer/engineer or do they want to be a doctor?"
Latrobe Dentistry is an incredible offer, but if you WANT to be a doctor then take the risk and do biomed.Don't question your abilities!
If i was in your position I wouldn't think twice and choose Biomed, You can always work on your weakness so if you feel like interviews are not your thing then try your hand at mock interview criteria and attack it directly.

Point is, don't sacrifice a dream for a "safer option", have confidence in yourself, you can always get better and learn from past mistakes.

[Shenz0r]

Why Biomed and not Science though?

[datfatcat]

Actually this is one of the options my parents and I discussed but I wasn't too sure if I could. Because for the 5 year dentistry course, the last 2 years are rural placement and I don't know if I still get GPA on that - don't I need academic results from the most recent 3 years plus GAMSAT to apply for MD? But yeah, that's one of the options we came up with as well.

Is it possible for you to ask La Trobe to see if there is GPA given for the last 2 years of the course. If not, talk to Uni of Melb and tell them the final 2 years of the dental course has no GPA and ask them what to do. I am sure it is just fine because there are people who did a dental degree first and med later because they want to do oral Maxillofacial. I highly doubt only those who do dentistry in UoM can get into their medical program.

Talk to these universities first and see if there is solution. Good luck

[A1P]

I didn't make it through the MMI for Monash MBBS

Sorry for being quite late to this, hope not too late.
I read your comment above ^^ as attributing largely on the MMI but we should see it more objectively. For place offers Monash counts ATAR + UMAT + MMI with equal weights. If you went into the MMI round without near-top ATAR & UMAT you would need a very top MMI to rise to the top third for places, a good one is not enough. In other words take into account not only MMI but your ATAR and/or UMAT as well.

With that in mind there is this option if you are keen on Med but don't want to risk losing the Dent opportunity. Don't start any uni course, request to defer the Dent offer, resit exam your two worst ATAR subjects (as a private candidate if allowed in Vic) to improve your ATAR, and resit UMAT. Then apply for Meds again this year as a school leaver.

With hopefully higher ATAR & UMAT the MMI won't be as big a hurdle. And in case it doesn't work out you still have Dent to fall back on, or then decide on Biomed/postgrad pathway.