Direct Entry Medicine OR Another Way?

[KatherineGale]

Sorry, it's the first time I've posted to the site and I don't know where else I should ask this.

I'll just give a brief summary of what I'm doing and where I want to be (my problem is the path I should take to get there...)

I'm in my first year of year 12 (I'm completing it over two years due to personal reasons) and my school is DECV. I take three subjects this year: Literature, Psychology and Food Studies, and planned to take Chemistry, Health + HD, and English in 2019. It's been my goal since I was in Grade four to become a doctor, and since I was in Year 7 that morphed into getting Direct Entry into Medicine. (My aim following achieving this, although maybe it's not that relevant, is to become a paediatrician and cater treatment for patients with special needs)

My problem is, due to really difficult circumstances, my scores aren't what I need them to be. I know that they will get better from here on out, but I'm not sure if I can reverse the damage I've already done to my future ATAR score. Okay, they're not that bad I guess, I've gotten B+'s (only missing an A by one point on all of them) and A+'s (full marks on those ones). I know I would certainly qualify for SEA's so that could possibly boost me up just enough to qualify for the Monash Guartantee (a 94-96 ATAR), but these are all if's and maybe's and my circumstances could always change again.

Another (more reasonable) option is Biomedicine, but I've also found another alternative that would mean only one extra year, a qualifcation and possibly a rather good job (along with experience in the field I want to get into). If I replace my second year of Year 12 with only 1 VCE subject, and a Diploma of Nursing, I could become an enrolled nurse in two years and be working in the field of medicine (although not exactly how I want to be), and use this to apply for Biomedicine. The problem with this is that it is also a gamble (I might not score highly enough in this), it's another year (although when you're interested in becoming a doctor you've got years of study ahead of you anyway, so what's one more?), and I completely take away my chances of getting Direct Entry (as I can only apply with an ATAR for that course).

I guess I just wanted to get some other opinions on this. I'm open to any suggestions at this point

[Lyra7]

If you are certain medicine is for you and being a doctor is the path in medicine that you want to take then I  think being a nurse first although a viable option is not the best.

I would go for direct entry if possible as then you know you are on the path to your goal. this however, is challenging I know. Even interstate. Thus another option would be to possibly start a degree and then apply to med (only at very select uni's - I believe medentry has the details on this). Otherwise only other practical way is doing the whole biomed then med thing. This is also super competitive though as everyone else has the same idea. However depending on the situation affecting your VCE study life these may also affect your ability to get good enough scores in these other degrees. My best advice for you would be to get in contact with careers counsellors, talk to uni's, and parents/guardians. Also in consideration needs to be UMAT - as this score would contribute to your chances of getting into undergrad med

Best of luck and feel free to PM me

[Bri MT]

Hey,  I did english language by DECV and was getting B+s on my SACs but they turned into an A+ after moderation - remember that the SAC marks you get now aren't set in stone.

Great idea to have a back up plan,  but I would keep pushing for high study scores this year because maybe it will turn it the way you want.

I haven't followed or investigated a med pathway (so take my thoughts with a large grain of salt) but my advice would be to keep doing research on other paths, and to keep trying your best for this year.  Once you get your study scores at the end of this year that will provide a much better basis for what your chances are for direct entry.


When do you need to make this decision by?

[vox nihili]

Sorry, it's the first time I've posted to the site and I don't know where else I should ask this.

I'll just give a brief summary of what I'm doing and where I want to be (my problem is the path I should take to get there...)

I'm in my first year of year 12 (I'm completing it over two years due to personal reasons) and my school is DECV. I take three subjects this year: Literature, Psychology and Food Studies, and planned to take Chemistry, Health + HD, and English in 2019. It's been my goal since I was in Grade four to become a doctor, and since I was in Year 7 that morphed into getting Direct Entry into Medicine. (My aim following achieving this, although maybe it's not that relevant, is to become a paediatrician and cater treatment for patients with special needs)

My problem is, due to really difficult circumstances, my scores aren't what I need them to be. I know that they will get better from here on out, but I'm not sure if I can reverse the damage I've already done to my future ATAR score. Okay, they're not that bad I guess, I've gotten B+'s (only missing an A by one point on all of them) and A+'s (full marks on those ones). I know I would certainly qualify for SEA's so that could possibly boost me up just enough to qualify for the Monash Guartantee (a 94-96 ATAR), but these are all if's and maybe's and my circumstances could always change again.

Another (more reasonable) option is Biomedicine, but I've also found another alternative that would mean only one extra year, a qualifcation and possibly a rather good job (along with experience in the field I want to get into). If I replace my second year of Year 12 with only 1 VCE subject, and a Diploma of Nursing, I could become an enrolled nurse in two years and be working in the field of medicine (although not exactly how I want to be), and use this to apply for Biomedicine. The problem with this is that it is also a gamble (I might not score highly enough in this), it's another year (although when you're interested in becoming a doctor you've got years of study ahead of you anyway, so what's one more?), and I completely take away my chances of getting Direct Entry (as I can only apply with an ATAR for that course).

I guess I just wanted to get some other opinions on this. I'm open to any suggestions at this point

Hey you've already had some awesome advice so I'll keep my statements brief!

-it's worth still going for direct entry if that's what you're set on. It's shit not to get in, but still worth trying on the off chance you do!
-some biomed degrees don't allow entry without methods, so be sure to look that up (this is the case for both Melbourne and Monash).
-perhaps a better option than doing a Dip Nursing is to do a Bachelor of Nursing, if this is a back up you're considering. You'll need to supplement this with subjects that cover the pre-reqs for some unis (Deakin doesn't need this, Melbourne does), but otherwise could be a good idea. That way if you were to fall short of medicine you can still get involved in a profession you're interested in.
-there are plenty of other options too. Occupational Therapy springs to mind based on what you've said here, so it's worth looking into that as well.
-ideally you'll choose something that will interest you to give you the best chance of succeeding in your degree and doing medicine
-your personal circumstances might provide a limitation on how you do in VCE, and although this is disappointing, it's also a real positive—it means at the end of the day that, in spite of your ATAR score, you will still be able to perform really well at uni and succeed in achieving the scores needed to gain entry into medicine.