Combining the Monash Guarantee and subject adjustments

[ndog232]

Hello,

I just got my atar, 74.7, and missed out on the Monash Guarantee score 75 which I qualify for. I got 30's for chem, bio, methods and physics. Will this push me over the line or not? The degree is in science.

[AngelWings]

What course is this for? It will be SEAS + subject bonuses adding to your aggregate, which will push it up, but you'll need to push it up to the lowest selection rank, not Monash Guarantee to see whether you're close enough.

Note that the lowest selection rank changes, so give a few "ATAR points" either way as a bit of a buffer.

Either way, leave this course as Preference #1 if it's what you most want to study. If you want to feel safer, add a course that you can use to transfer or are comfortable with, given your ATAR and/or Monash Guarantee.

[AngelWings]

Hello, the course is science. So even with subject bonuses It cant be combined with my atar to push me over the line to 75? I did qualify for the Monash Guarantee it was even confirmed by the university. My thinking was that my subject bonuses would push over that 75 mark.

Since you unfortunately missed the mark for Monash Guarantee (even though you qualified), you would have to be considered in the other pathway - by ATAR + SEAS + subject bonuses (this is separate to Monash Guarantee and Monash Guarantee only uses your raw ATAR*, if that makes sense).

Let's do some calculations then. Here's what VTAC CourseSearch has to say about subject bonuses:

Subject Adjustments
A study score of 25 in two but no more than four of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Maths: Mathematical Methods, Maths: Specialist Mathematics, Physics or Psychology equals 2 aggregate points per study. A study score of 30 in two but no more than three of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Maths: Mathematical Methods, Maths: Specialist Mathematics, Physics or Psychology equals 3 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 8 points.

You achieved an 74.7, meaning your aggregate was at least 129.30 this year (from ATAR to aggregate table). Since you achieved 30+ raw SSs (from your original post) in those 4 subjects, you should be able to obtain 8 aggregate points from subject bonuses, bringing your aggregate to 137.30 - an adjusted ATAR of 79.85. This does not include SEAS. SEAS will then bring it a bit higher still, as this is what would've given you the qualifications for Monash Guarantee. Depending on the effect of your SEAS, you might reach the 85 selection rank for the Bachelor of Science at Monash course.

At this rate, I wouldn't give up hope yet - leave this as Preference #1, put another course you're OK with  and you have the ATAR for as a lower preference as back up and see how you go. IIRC, I've historically seen ATARs similar to yours who've successfully been given offers to the BSci. Good luck!     

* As in, to qualify for Monash Guarantee, they consider special consideration, but in terms of offers, you need to achieve the Monash Guarantee ATAR (75) without SEAS and subject bonuses to obtain the guaranteed position.

[alexandra.vo]

I'd really appreciate if someone could help me out here in a little crisis! I want to study Medicine and am looking at studying biomedical science/ science at Monash or biomedicine/science at Melbourne although I haven't met the prerequisite of math methods for the biomedicine at Monash and Melbourne degrees. I'm really stumped, what can I do from here? I've heard about summer programs which can be completed as an equivalent to math methods? What would you suggest I really want to study biomedicine from next year and not have to do a bridging course?

[AngelWings]

I've heard about summer programs which can be completed as an equivalent to math methods?

Hm OK... I would double check this information and ask both unis for their pathways, but here's some resources I dug up (but may or may not be outdated):
- Bridging and Enabling Studies at UoM
- Satisfying Subject Prereqs at UoM
- Commerce Maths Requirements - I know it's Commerce but same principle may apply for Biomed or Science.
- 2019 AN post about pathways if not meeting the Methods prereq for UoM Science - Topic is similar but different case. Might be helpful anyway.

In terms of what I know for summer programs and bridging courses:
- There's the CAP program with Melbourne Uni, which would allow you to take a single subject. I would ask UoM to see if you could use this program to take a single subject, possibly the equivalent of Methods, and then use that to fulfil the Methods prereq and then join the Bachelor of Biomed or Science afterwards.
- Alternatively, I would ask if any Biomed or Science units are run via the CAP program in the summer and see if that can grant you entry into the Bachelor of Biomed or Science after without the need to fulfil the Methods prereq. 
- Monash unfortunately is not running their Methods bridging course, so you'd have to go via bridging course for Melbourne (most likely UniLearn), complete that and enter Biomed or Science after completion.

Note: Double check what the process is after completing the summer program/ bridging course, because it might require you to do another round of VTAC or it could be automatic entry into the Bachelor of Biomed or Science after successful completion.

I haven't met the prerequisite of math methods for the biomedicine at Monash and Melbourne degrees. I'm really stumped, what can I do from here? -snip- What would you suggest I really want to study biomedicine from next year and not have to do a bridging course?

From my understanding, here's the list of pathways you can take (not including bridging courses/ summer programs):
1. If you are deadset on studying the Bachelor of Biomed or Science (or Biomed/ Science double degree at Monash) at either Monash or Melbourne, you can attempt for Science single degree or Biomed/ Science double degree at Monash. (Biomed and Science at Melbourne and Biomed at Monash require a raw 25+ SS for Methods, so if you missed, then Science and Biomed/Science double degree at Monash are the remaining options, unless you want to try a different pathway. Biomed/Science double degree does require you to have 25+ raw SS in Physics instead of Methods or Spesh and generally requires a higher ATAR though.) Bachelor of Science still allows you to attempt for postgrad med at Monash* + all other unis that offer postgrad med, although the number of spots allocated to Science + several health sciences degrees at Monash is different to the spots allocated to Biomed for postgrad med at Monash from memory.
2. Attempt to get into Science at Monash, get good grades (70+ WAM) and transfer to Biomed at Monash or Melbourne after one semester. You'll be in Biomed at Monash or Melbourne in first year semester 2 if successful. (You may or may not have to still cover the Methods raw 25+ SS prereq by taking a math subject in your first sem, but do your research about this first.)
3. Attempt for Biomed at an institute that doesn't have the 25+ raw SS in Methods prereq e.g. Biomed at Deakin, get good grades (as high as you can, but at least equivalent to Monash/ Melbourne 70+ WAM) and attempt to transfer to Biomed, Science or the Biomed/ Sci double degree at either Melbourne or Monash (where applicable) after a semester. If successful, you will be studying Biomed, Science or the double degree at Melbourne or Monash in first year semester 2. (You may or may not have to still cover the Methods raw 25+ SS prereq by taking a math subject in your first sem, but do your research about this first.)

After taking any one of these options, you will then need to do everything normally required to apply for postgrad med e.g. sit GAMSAT, have great undergrad grades, complete interview (I think?), etc..

I can't think of many options beside these, but I would highly advise that you contact both unis to confirm this and to investigate your options and pathways.
 
* Note: Postgrad med at Monash only accepts students who completed Monash undergrads, as far as I remember and if things haven't changed.

[alexandra.vo]

Hm OK... I would double check this information and ask both unis for their pathways, but here's some resources I dug up (but may or may not be outdated):
- Bridging and Enabling Studies at UoM
- Satisfying Subject Prereqs at UoM
- Commerce Maths Requirements - I know it's Commerce but same principle may apply for Biomed or Science.
- 2019 AN post about pathways if not meeting the Methods prereq for UoM Science - Topic is similar but different case. Might be helpful anyway.

In terms of what I know for summer programs and bridging courses:
- There's the CAP program with Melbourne Uni, which would allow you to take a single subject. I would ask UoM to see if you could use this program to take a single subject, possibly the equivalent of Methods, and then use that to fulfil the Methods prereq and then join the Bachelor of Biomed or Science afterwards.
- Alternatively, I would ask if any Biomed or Science units are run via the CAP program in the summer and see if that can grant you entry into the Bachelor of Biomed or Science after without the need to fulfil the Methods prereq. 
- Monash unfortunately is not running their Methods bridging course, so you'd have to go via bridging course for Melbourne (most likely UniLearn), complete that and enter Biomed or Science after completion.

Note: Double check what the process is after completing the summer program/ bridging course, because it might require you to do another round of VTAC or it could be automatic entry into the Bachelor of Biomed or Science after successful completion.
From my understanding, here's the list of pathways you can take (not including bridging courses/ summer programs):
1. If you are deadset on studying the Bachelor of Biomed or Science (or Biomed/ Science double degree at Monash) at either Monash or Melbourne, you can attempt for Science single degree or Biomed/ Science double degree at Monash. (Biomed and Science at Melbourne and Biomed at Monash require a raw 25+ SS for Methods, so if you missed, then Science and Biomed/Science double degree at Monash are the remaining options, unless you want to try a different pathway. Biomed/Science double degree does require you to have 25+ raw SS in Physics instead of Methods or Spesh and generally requires a higher ATAR though.) Bachelor of Science still allows you to attempt for postgrad med at Monash* + all other unis that offer postgrad med, although the number of spots allocated to Science + several health sciences degrees at Monash is different to the spots allocated to Biomed for postgrad med at Monash from memory.
2. Attempt to get into Science at Monash, get good grades (70+ WAM) and transfer to Biomed at Monash or Melbourne after one semester. You'll be in Biomed at Monash or Melbourne in first year semester 2 if successful. (You may or may not have to still cover the Methods raw 25+ SS prereq by taking a math subject in your first sem, but do your research about this first.)
3. Attempt for Biomed at an institute that doesn't have the 25+ raw SS in Methods prereq e.g. Biomed at Deakin, get good grades (as high as you can, but at least equivalent to Monash/ Melbourne 70+ WAM) and attempt to transfer to Biomed, Science or the Biomed/ Sci double degree at either Melbourne or Monash (where applicable) after a semester. If successful, you will be studying Biomed, Science or the double degree at Melbourne or Monash in first year semester 2. (You may or may not have to still cover the Methods raw 25+ SS prereq by taking a math subject in your first sem, but do your research about this first.)

After taking any one of these options, you will then need to do everything normally required to apply for postgrad med e.g. sit GAMSAT, have great undergrad grades, complete interview (I think?), etc..

I can't think of many options beside these, but I would highly advise that you contact both unis to confirm this and to investigate your options and pathways.
 
* Note: Postgrad med at Monash only accepts students who completed Monash undergrads, as far as I remember and if things haven't changed.

Thankyou so very much for your advice! You've honestly made more sense than anyone I've spoken to! I think I will do a bridging course and then hope to transfer into biomed.