Double trouble!

[Chromeo33]

Hey people, I'm really torn right now as to what I would like to do next year when I head into Uni.

Basically my options are this (assuming I've achieved the necessary ATAR scores!):

- Biomedicine at UoM
- Biomedical Science/Engineering at Monash
- Science at UoM

I wish to do something that involves science, but specifically I have this deep interest within Medicine and Engineering.

Now that's why I'm a bit reluctant to choose Biomed at UoM as it only provides a narrow gateway into the workforce - where, ultimately, after completing it, you'd most likely be heading for a very medicine-oriented career. I wouldn't mind, nor do I have any quarrels with, the medical profession (don't get me wrong!). It's just I might have a massive career change during my time in uni and if I do end up choosing Biomed, I won't be able to head into a new direction because of its very med-oriented structure!

That's why I have the other two options (for a bit of variety as to what profession I would like to head into after uni). But then I feel a bit reluctant, once again, in choosing either of those two options! If I do Biomed Science/Engineering at Monash, that's an extra 2 years of education (and fees). If I do Science UoM, I would only end up with 1 degree, only 1 credential in comparison to that double degree. But then again, if I do that double degree course, I may not be able to pursue a Masters (post-grad) degree whereas in doing one of those courses at UoM, I would most definitely be eligible to pursue a post-grad degree!

Which leads me to another question!
How difficult, in terms of keeping up with the work, are double degrees compared to single degrees?

[methodsman]

Apparently BiomedSc/Sci is a dead end when it comes to employment unless you do further study - just letting you know...

[rustic_metal]

Science at Melbourne will be a better fit for you, since you're just as likely to get into medicine as any other science postgrad degree after you finish it. You can take anatomy, immunology, engineering, chem, etc and won't be locked into anything. Double degree doesn't mean you're super dooper spectacular, especially if they're only tangentially related. If you want to do eng or med, you're doing to have to do postgrad, anyway, so you'll end up with 2 degrees minimum.

Double degrees aren't any different in terms of workload: in a single BArts you take 4 arts subjects per semester, while in a double BArts/BSci, you take 2 from each per semester. So 4 subjects per semester all up.

[rustic_metal]

Apparently BiomedSc/Sci is a dead end when it comes to employment unless you do further study - just letting you know...

Uhhh...dead end? It's a pathway specifically designed to lead into further study; it's the opposite of a dead end. I'd suggest that a double degree is more of a dead end when it comes to further study, since you're qualified to work and have already been at uni for 5 years.

It's not, though, of course. Anybody who wants to continue studying can easily do so no matter what degree they hold.

[Chromeo33]

Science at Melbourne will be a better fit for you, since you're just as likely to get into medicine as any other science postgrad degree after you finish it. You can take anatomy, immunology, engineering, chem, etc and won't be locked into anything. Double degree doesn't mean you're super dooper spectacular, especially if they're only tangentially related. If you want to do eng or med, you're doing to have to do postgrad, anyway, so you'll end up with 2 degrees minimum.

Double degrees aren't any different in terms of workload: in a single BArts you take 4 arts subjects per semester, while in a double BArts/BSci, you take 2 from each per semester. So 4 subjects per semester all up.

Yeah, I've been considering this.. but there's another element to why I'm kinda hesitant in choosing Science at UoM.

I go to Melbourne High, right. I've been here 4 years and I hate the school..

Science is a course that requires a relatively lower ATAR score for its students and by choosing Science, I feel like I'd have wasted 4 years of high school, working my buttocks off at an academically-demanding school, just to get into a course that I most likely could've gone into if I stayed at my old (and better, in my eyes) high school.

So there's a bit of personal dogma in not choosing Science..

But other than that, yes, you're right. It's the most logical choice.

[rustic_metal]

*Shrugs* You worked so hard for years to have the option to get into any course you want come the end of years 12, not to get into a specific high-enter course. I worked harder than I needed to as well and ended up over 10 enter points higher than the course I chose to do, but it was overwhelmingly the best possible course for me, so I went with it. You'll forget your enter (or atar, whatever) score soon enough, anyway.

Melbourne has a grouse student culture, so if you want to make up for lost time, that's your best bet.

[Chromeo33]

*Shrugs* You worked so hard for years to have the option to get into any course you want come the end of years 12, not to get into a specific high-enter course. I worked harder than I needed to as well and ended up over 10 enter points higher than the course I chose to do, but it was overwhelmingly the best possible course for me, so I went with it. You'll forget your enter (or atar, whatever) score soon enough, anyway.

Melbourne has a grouse student culture, so if you want to make up for lost time, that's your best bet.

Haha, cheers for that. Yeah you might just've sold me

[Dr.Lecter]

Engineering or medicine - both of which are somewhat unrelated. Do you just want a high-profile course? You will have to decide one or the other.

[Predator]

Engineering or medicine - both of which are somewhat unrelated. Do you just want a high-profile course? You will have to decide one or the other.

This.
If you are unsure of where you really want to go you could always do the double so that way you have a wide option of careers after you have done the degree. It also depends on what type of engineering you are heading towards since they all vary in their studies and career options.
Another question you have to ask yourself is what university you want to be at. Some offer different courses such as Melbourne do not offer doubles anymore which may lead you to Monash if you like the idea of doing the double degree.

[Chromeo33]

Engineering or medicine - both of which are somewhat unrelated. Do you just want a high-profile course? You will have to decide one or the other.

Yeah I know, but I do have an interest in both fields. That's why that option of a double degree @ Monash is there (for variety in career choices after uni) but then, when considering that double degree, that's another 2 years of education to go through..

[iamtom]

Some universities in Australia offer Biomedical Engineering or something similar... I know the University of Sydney does. But from what you're asking, I don't think interstate is an option

[Chromeo33]

Some universities in Australia offer Biomedical Engineering or something similar... I know the University of Sydney does. But from what you're asking, I don't think interstate is an option

Yeah, interstate seems like too much effort. Besides, Melbourne's where it's at

[iamtom]

Yeah.

My uncle did an undergrad. in Electrical Engineering when he was my age, did that for a few years, and then did postgrad. Medicine. He's a qualified GP, but he works in some health company as an engineer (and makes a ton of money between him and his wife, whom is a successful lawyer).

So that's always an option

[Chromeo33]

Yeah.

My uncle did an undergrad. in Electrical Engineering when he was my age, did that for a few years, and then did postgrad. Medicine. He's a qualified GP, but he works in some health company as an engineer (and makes a ton of money between him and his wife, whom is a successful lawyer).

So that's always an option

Wow, that's amazing. But then that's a massive change of direction (Engineering --> Medicine), how was he able to enter Med with an Engineering background (i.e. without any biology)?

See I want to have that kind of variety, like your uncle, after my undergraduate degree. But it's just that I don't think it's that simple anymore. I think entry to Med requires prerequisite knowledge in certain subjects (other than just science!).

[Russ]

Only one university (UoM) has required subjects for postgrad med, the rest are content with any undergrad degree.