Which degree is best for postgrad medicine?

[VanillaRice]

Basically what I really need to remember is that I need to get around 72% and above every subject for 3 years to have a GPA which is competitive. Right?

In my opinion, I think the best policy and mindset to have when it comes to things like this is try your hardest, and see how you can improve from there 

[Anonymous_]

In my opinion, I think the best policy and mindset to have when it comes to things like this is try your hardest, and see how you can improve from there 

Yeah, you're right. But I sorta get the credit and unit marking stuff. So a unit is basically a subject and there are 8 units in a year. So that would mean there would be 8x3 = 24 units in 3 years. And for each unit you can get a credit grade up to 7, so say someone got 150 as their credit grade after 3 years, they'd have a GPA of 6.25 (150/24) right?

[VanillaRice]

Yeah, you're right. But I sorta get the credit and unit marking stuff. So a unit is basically a subject and there are 8 units in a year. So that would mean there would be 8x3 = 24 units in 3 years. And for each unit you can get a credit grade up to 7, so say someone got 150 as their credit grade after 3 years, they'd have a GPA of 6.25 (150/24) right?

I think you've got the general idea about units 

In case you missed it or haven't looked at it yet, I find the last two pages of this document to be helpful to comparing how different universities set up their grade systems (the rest of the document talks about how GPA is calculated for graduate medicine entry): http://gemsas.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/How-to-calculate-your-GPA.pdf

To further simplify things, you can just say that for each unit, you receive a % mark and a grade which matches this (how each uni's grade system works is different).

That being said, I feel like we're moving off topic here but anyway 

[vox nihili]

My bad, seems I was only speaking from a Monash perspective.

Well I'll be damned. Didn't know Monash did things that way. Thanks for that

Basically what I really need to remember is that I need to get around 72% and above every subject for 3 years to have a GPA which is competitive. Right?

You'd probably need to do better than this. It's hard to tell, but I don't think an average of ~72 would correspond with a particularly competitive GPA. Naturally, you can compensate for this by having a better GAMSAT/interview, but nonetheless, you'd be looking to do better than that.

[pi]

2. Can't really say what their reasoning was behind barring other people from getting in to Monash postgrad med

$$$

Same reason UoM started grad-entry med in the first place. Universities are businesses after all.

The nomenclature can get pretty confusing. Typically speaking though, a Bachelor of Medical Science is a degree completed by those who already have a medical degree, while Biomedical Science is an undergraduate degree that is essentially a glorified/specific science degree that focuses on biology, chemistry, etc. BMedSci is typically one year long (I believe) and revolves around research/a research project.

For all intents and purposes, if you're a high-school leaver, you should only be concerned with degrees to do with Biomedical Science/Biomedicine. However, universities can arguably call the degree whatever they want, so it's best to check on a case-by-case basis. For example, I think there are universities in QLD which have BMedSci degrees which are equivalent to our 3 year Biomedical Science degrees, albeit with a different name. I understand this can be pretty confusing, which is why it's safest to go with the university's description of the course, because names of degrees can change between institutions while the core premise stays the same.

In short:
- BMedSc = undergrad 3-year BBiomed-esque "pre-med" degree
- BMedSc(Hons) = Honours year of a medical degree

[Sine]

Re: biomed @ monash

I don't think there is a real "advantage" for it even though these guys get the 50 places since the cohort size is basically 600 students so you need to be doing really well to get in. The cut-off for an interview last year was 79.XX (lowest score) and obviously you'd need a higher score to actually secure a place so really I believe it will be as competitive as UoM or possibly harder.

As for why I chose biomed @ monash; basically because they are effectively the same thing and monash saves me around a couple hours of travel per day.

I'd say choose the degree whatever you feel are comfortable and happy in doing, you can do med from any degree as long as you fulfil the prerequisite 2nd year subjects.

[VanillaRice]

The cut off was 79 WAM? So that's basically Distinctions only

Also, since they don't take GAMSAT marks into consideration, if you get rejected once, does it basically mean you're never going to get in Medicine at Monash (I know there are other unis, but they're all extremely competitive as well)?

The cut off was the lowest score only though - it gave the person an interview, but not necessarily an offer. Due to the competitive nature of grad med programs, I would say your average marks would definitely have to be in the HD zone (for Monash, anyway).

With regards to doing graduate Medicine at Monash, out of the 75 domestic places available, 50 are limited to Biomedical Science students in their second last year (so it isn't possible to apply again for these 50 places - I think?), but the remaining 25 places are for anyone who has completed the relevant Monash degrees (you can apply as many times as you want for these). Don't forget there's also an undergraduate med program at Monash as well (with 200+ places).

[Anonymous_]

The cut off was the lowest score only though - it gave the person an interview, but not necessarily an offer. Due to the competitive nature of grad med programs, I would say your average marks would definitely have to be in the HD zone (for Monash, anyway).

With regards to doing graduate Medicine at Monash, out of the 75 domestic places available, 50 are limited to Biomedical Science students in their second last year (so it isn't possible to apply again for these 50 places - I think?), but the remaining 25 places are for anyone who has completed the relevant Monash degrees (you can apply as many times as you want for these). Don't forget there's also an undergraduate med program at Monash as well (with 200+ places).

But that requires a high ATAR and good UMAT percentile I'm assuming?

[VanillaRice]

But that requires a high ATAR and good UMAT percentile I'm assuming?

Generally, yes - but the interview component can also make up somewhat for lower ATARs/UMAT scores. If you do end up with a relatively high ATAR and are passionate for medicine, it might be worth considering taking a 'gap year' of sorts and reattempting the UMAT (which many people do, since your ATAR will still be valid, but UMAT only lasts for a year). Note that I am only speaking of Monash here.

Further to this, it might be worth noting that many would argue that undergraduate entry (in general) to medicine is generally more accessible than graduate programs.

[vox nihili]

Further to this, it might be worth noting that many would argue that undergraduate entry (in general) to medicine is generally more accessible than graduate programs.

Really? Genuinely never heard anyone say undergrad is easier to get into than postgrad. Interested to here why they think that's the case

[VanillaRice]

Really? Genuinely never heard anyone say undergrad is easier to get into than postgrad. Interested to here why they think that's the case

Not entirely sure. I've heard subjective opinions that the UMAT is easier to score higher in, as well as about the difficulty of maintaining a high GPA over 3 years vs the 1 year of Year 12 (although personally I think a high ATAR is harder to get  ).   
But, being someone who is yet to encounter the postgrad struggle, I personally can't really comment