Medical Research?

[Mulan]

Wow this has gotten off-topic.

Anyway since they're 27 doesn't necessarily mean they are a bad doctor. They could be a 27 year old medical genius or know their stuff better or have more passion than a 40 year old.

me + 11 yrs = the 27 yr old medical genius 

[TrueLight]

i loled hard at this... even though its from a us perspective... it is similar here

How to become a Scientist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGd-tSsbNns&feature=player_embedded#!

yay for scientists.....

[mikee65]

Hey guys, i need to think about long and hard about my list of uni preferences before i submit them to VTAC. There are so many things im interested in, monash mbbs will obviously be my number 1 preference but im not sure if its the smartest idea to try get in via graduate entry and possibly be left with a science degree and no entry into graduate med.

Anyway, i like sciences but at the same time i like my humanities and such as well so im having a really hard time working out my VTAC preferences.

I was also thinking about medical research, which also very much so interests me but im not sure exactly how to go about it.

What degree would i have to undertake to be a researcher or something similar to that (like work at a university or an organisation like the walter and eliza hall institute or something akin to that.)

As far as i can see Monash has pharmaceutical science which may serve me well i guess.... or should i just take a science degree.... what after that... what postgrad options should i be looking at? I'm sure medical research isnt exclusively the domain of doctors or is it?


Also, how would the money be and what would the job prospects be? (i know this shouldn't be the sole factor for choosing any career and it isn't for me but its still important to consider)

Thanks for all the help, knowledge and insight guys and i doubt someone will be able to answer all my questions but even a little bit will help me out. Even opinions on it are welcome really.

~cheers, kingpomba

(sorry if this isnt very coherent im pretty tired, ill try fix it up later)

Basically being a researcher is really shit. Im just taking it out there. Firstly, the pay isnt that high say for if you were to work for Melb Uni as a senior lecturer and researcher, you would probably get around 90k a year (in which by that time you will be around 40). You have to take lectures as well as do research and take honours students. You have to go find grants to fund your research, otherwise, you wont be able to research. You have to have a genuine interest in researching in your field (im guessing biology sciency stuff). Theres alot of fields in research but their all involve trying to get money and getting good students and etc. It really is getting grants to fund your research which is difficult and stressful.

If you still want to do medicine, you can
Do Melb science:
yr1  - do the umat and attempt non-standard entry
yr2 - do umat and the gamsat - attempt non standard entry
yr3 - do the gamsat if ur 2nd year was bad - go for graduate entry
if that fails
do an honours year - take the gamsat again - some unis give bonus marks for honours year
if that fails
do a Master of Science or PhD

I would consider stop attemping if you fail at honours year because it just means you arent up to the standard of a medical student anyhow.

happy, can you please describe the difference between standard and non-standard?

[Russ]

As I understand it, non standard is just entry not from year 12 (between starting and finishing an undergraduate degree) so it's harder for obvious reasons.

[mikee65]

As I understand it, non standard is just entry not from year 12 (between starting and finishing an undergraduate degree) so it's harder for obvious reasons.

mm but if i was doing umat whilst doing otago HSFY i can just apply as standard?

[Russ]

Fairly sure that would make it non standard entry, it's still a tertiary course right? Even though it's just a year?

[slothpomba]

Fairly sure that would make it non standard entry, it's still a tertiary course right? Even though it's just a year?

this

[happyhappyland]

To go back on topic about Medical Research,

If you do Biomedical science at Monash there are Vacation Summer Scholarship where you actually get paid around $250 a week and you go do research in a lab on a specific project for the whole summer (6 to 8 weeks).

[vexx]

To go back on topic about Medical Research,

If you do Biomedical science at Monash there are Vacation Summer Scholarship where you actually get paid around $250 a week and you go do research in a lab on a specific project for the whole summer (6 to 8 weeks).

I think they have something similar at Melbourne too, but not sure if you get paid or not called something like Science Research Project.
I'd be interesting to do some research because you may love it and then want to carry on with it, I'd probably do it

[Russ]

Yes, but it's ridiculously competitive to get into (UROP is the big one, there are others that are less so)
In most cases you won't be doing stuff that's terribly exciting...but for 25ph I can live with it.

[happyhappyland]

Yes, but it's ridiculously competitive to get into (UROP is the big one, there are others that are less so)
In most cases you won't be doing stuff that's terribly exciting...but for 25ph I can live with it.

Apparently Monash has many labs you can go to so its not as competitive as melbourne's. I dont think its 25 per hour, but then again Im not sure how much you work a day. If its 9-5 (8hours a day) for 5 days for $250.. thats lower pay than mcdonalds

[Russ]

Oh melbourne is the same, if you just want lab experience then there are plenty of places that will take a student over the summer but it's not as well paid and it's mostly doing behind the scenes stuff (washing glassware etc.)

But the scholarship style stuff that was mentioned is where you get to at least take part in the research. UROP has you perform your own research project, so obviously it's far more competitive.

[TrueLight]

i would recommend doing a summer vacation scholarship at the end of your second year because it will give you a little experience in working in a lab so you can decide if you really want to do this. yeh you get paid usually around $250-300 per week for 5-6 weeks

[mikee65]

Fairly sure that would make it non standard entry, it's still a tertiary course right? Even though it's just a year?

Otago is undergraduate med it wouldnt be fair imo to make it non standard, fairy sure its standard, someone correct me if im wrong though

[Russ]

Why would it be normal entry? You're not a school leaver any more, you've started tertiary studies.