Hey guys,
I'm currently in Year 11, studying Units 1 & 2 of Biology and Units 3 & 4 of Psychology.
It's that time of the year where we're choosing our subjects for next year and the Uni Melb Extension Program has caught my attention. I would like to apply but I'm torn between Psych and Bio, which I both enjoy equally.
My marks:
Psych
SAC 1: 21.5 / 25
SAC 2: 23.5 / 25
SAC 3: 43 / 50
Bio
SAC 1: B+
SAC 2: A
SAC 3: A
Mid-year exam: B
It's required that I have an A or A+ average in the prerequisite subject, which I do for Psych but I'm on the verge of B+/A in Bio.
Psych seems like the safer option here but doing Bio would go well with Year 12 Bio. To be honest, I could be doing a lot better in Bio but I don't focus on it because I have Year 12 subjects and other Year 11 subjects that are more difficult, and I initially didn't consider applying for it for the UMEP.
I'd like to hear from anyone who has been in the UMEP, and especially if you've done Psych or Bio, is the subject similar to the VCE Units 3 and 4 of it? Are my marks good enough? What's your advice regarding my situation?
Thanks in advance
Hi, not sure if this is a bit of a late reply but I thought I'd just put my two cents in, maybe in case anyone else considering the two options is reading this as well.
I did UMEP psych this year, completing 3/4 psych last year, and 3/4 bio this year. I have friends who do MUEP and UMEP bio, all of which agree that uni enhancement bio is definitely a step up from 3/4. Psych enhancement on the other hand is taught from scratch, since the VCE psych prerequisite isn't required to take psychology in first year uni. I think because of this, I've found uni psych really easy this year. There's not a lot of content that I have learnt for the first time, as most of it is material that is covered in the VCE psych study design, and since the exam is multiple choice, it makes it a lot easier to I guess "wing" questions when you really have no clue. Also, considering you're completing 3/4 psych this year, I think that's just more of a reason to pick psych! But yeah I would definitely recommend apply for both psych and bio, at both uni's, just to keep all of your options open in case you change your mind or something comes up. Regardless of what subject or uni you end up choosing, it's 110% a great decision to make and can absolutely give you an advantage against other VCE students, seeing as if you do well at the uni, you've kind of already got your foot in the door. I've had discussions with the extension coordinator for UMEP and she has told me that if I do well in the program, and don't get the ATAR required for bach sci, they're still very likely to accept me since I have already completed the subject and displayed my potential (also assuming I don't completely bomb with my ATAR). But yeah, good luck I guess!