Differences between bachelor of biomed and bachelor of science?

[lhaebin1995]

I've been trying to list some of my preferences,
but I came to realise that the bachelor of science required much less ATAR score than bachelor of biomedicine.
Plus, I heard it from someone that generally, if you finish bachelor of biomed course, there isn't much job opportunity than finishing bachelor of science, so people who finish bachelor of biomed tend to do masters. Is this true?

If I want to do.. only up to bachelor degree, should I choose science instead of biomed?
but then if I get high enough score to get into biomed... wouldn't the score go to waste if I don't put biomed on top of science..?

[Starlight]

If I want to do.. only up to bachelor degree, should I choose science instead of biomed?
but then if I get high enough score to get into biomed... wouldn't the score go to waste if I don't put biomed on top of science..?

Probably best to have science in order to keep your options open as you said, in general there are a larger number of masters you can follow with etc.
Please please please don't think it's a waste of your atar if you get >99 or whatever and feel the need to put in biomed, it'sa waste of 3 or so years if you put that as your first preference when you would probably get more out of a bsc course (from what you have written here).

[pi]

The only thing you "waste" when choosing a course based solely by ATAR requirement is the possibly that you might waste an opportunity to do something you're actually more interested in.

[vox nihili]

but then if I get high enough score to get into biomed... wouldn't the score go to waste if I don't put biomed on top of science..?

Which is exactly the reason half of the people are there.

Biomed is about prestige mainly, that's why people are doing it. It's handy if you want to do a life sciences major (I think they call them that, in any case, Biology kind of stuff). If you're set on that and really set on med, then Biomed is the way to go. The Biology subject we do first year is much better because it skips over plants and allows you to go a little more in depth with human stuff. I can't speak for later years though of course.
Science gives you flexibility in terms of majors though. You have more choice to explore different things in science. It's not as prescriptive. Though, it also has to cover all bases. Biomed is direct to what it wants to achieve.
There's one major you can do in Biomed but not in Science. It's called Defence and Disease, and it's really not worth the hassle. Honestly, the only good thing about Biomed is the cohort. But that can also be a bad thing if you're struggling. Obviously with the ATAR requirements the everyday student will be of a higher calibre, but with that said, there's certainly no shortage of that in Science either.

Really, it's about motivation. It doesn't give you any tangible advantages. It doesn't give you anything you can really put on paper. But being around people who are all aiming for the same thing, can be extremely helpful at times. And that's why it's a good choice.

[lhaebin1995]

Thanks all!
I better put science first then because that's what I feel like doing-

Your replies made me feel so much better...!!
Thanks alot.

[Shenz0r]

We've had some people drop out of Biomedicine already because they quickly realised that they were interested in other fields, rather than biomedical research and the like.

If you're not 100% set on biomedical research or something to do with healthcare (Medicine, Dentistry, Physio, etc), you should do Science. Because at least you keep your options open in other fields, such as Chemistry or Physics or Geology, etc. You can still study the life sciences in a Science degree too - by the time it's 2nd/3rd year, most Biomedicine students will find themselves doing subjects with those in Science anyway.

The cohort is a good thing though - it's very family like and closely knit, since there's only like 400 people in the degree.

[Starlight]

by the time it's 2nd/3rd year, most Biomedicine students will find themselves doing subjects with those in Science anyway.

This is a very good point.

[lhaebin1995]

We've had some people drop out of Biomedicine already because they quickly realised that they were interested in other fields, rather than biomedical research and the like.

If you're not 100% set on biomedical research or something to do with healthcare (Medicine, Dentistry, Physio, etc), you should do Science. Because at lease you keep your options open in other fields, such as Chemistry or Physics or Geology, etc. You can still study the life sciences in a Science degree too - by the time it's 2nd/3rd year, most Biomedicine students will find themselves doing subjects with those in Science anyway.

The cohort is a good thing though - it's very family like and closely knit, since there's only like 400 people in the degree.

Thanks
I want to study dentistry, but if I don't get into uq dentistry as undergraduate, then I'm just planning to go to melb uni and finish bachelor course and go back to my country 

[vox nihili]

most Biomedicine students will find themselves doing subjects with those in Science anyway.

All except a couple of capstones designed to help you better appreciate medicine and the health sciences. Most third years absolutely hate them though, so maybe not all that good!

[alondouek]

Hey OP! I'm doing both a BBiomedSc and a BSc, so I hope I can give you some good insight into both of them.

The primary difference that I've noticed between the two (offered at Monash) is the degree of breadth and variability in study available. Biomed is a very set, straightforward unit - it consists of a series of "core units" that you take over the course of the degree, usually three per semester (assuming a full-time study load and not doing a double degree). As I mentioned, it's a very straightforward, uncomplicated pathway; for people doing single degree biomed (or biomed advanced with honours), your first semester will be BMS1011 (Biomedical Chemistry) + 1021 (Cells, Tissues and Organelles) + 1031 (Medical Biophysics) + one elective from pretty much anything you like.

If you're doing a biomed double degree, it gets a little more complicated. Generally, it's fine if you're doing a double with Law or Arts or Commerce etc, but there are a couple of issues with Biomed/Science or Biomed/Engineering - this is simply because some of the biomed core units may be prohibited by some sci/eng units, or vice-versa. An example of this is that I could not take BMS1021 for biomed because it was prohibited by BIO1011 (Biology I) as part of my BSc. In the event of this happening, you simply need to make up for the missed credit points with an elective from the biomed faculty (Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences). It gets a bit easier in later years, as one biomed unit can take the place of two regular science units that you may otherwise need to take for a BSc major sequence (as with a Genetics major, for example).

The Bachelor of Science, in contrast to the Bachelor of Biomedical Science, is super flexible. You can pursue any particular area (or two) that takes your fancy. You can certainly cover all (or almost all) the biomed course material through a BSc, but through biomed I find that it's a lot more focused, and you'll often cover two science unit's worth in one biomed unit (such is the course structure). I personally advocate the double biomed/sci degree for those who are interested in other areas of science beside that of a biological nature - but in all fairness, I'm pretty biased .

At Monash, I haven't noticed any disparity in "prestige" between the two courses - you use many of the same labs and facilities depending on your classes, and you're essentially always just as employable with a BSc as with a BBiomedSc.

Going on from this, I'll just try to discuss some pathways post-biomed and post-science. Biomed is seen by some as a way of obtaining entry into post-grad Med - one of my friends has described biomed as an 'extended GAMSAT prep course' (personally I don't agree with them, but it's a funny little anecdote!). Biomed also leads into a number of specialised research positions (an example can be seen through the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences section here). It also allows for the formation of somewhat closer ties with certain staff who may supervise you if you go on to do honours or post-grad stuff.

Science offers most of these same opportunities, and again, it's flexibility as a degree means you can do so in whatever you want.

And just to address your last point:

If I want to do.. only up to bachelor degree, should I choose science instead of biomed?
but then if I get high enough score to get into biomed... wouldn't the score go to waste if I don't put biomed on top of science..?

There's no such thing as "wasting a score" for entry to university - you should do what you want to do, not what your score dictates you should do. For example, my cousin was doing physiotherapy at La Trobe - her parents convinced her to take it because she had a high ENTER (this was back in '09), even though she wasn't really interested. She's just moved to Monash to do an Arts degree, and she's enjoying it a lot more.

If you'd rather do science, put it on top of biomed. If you'd rather do biomed, put it above science. Don't let your score force you into a course if you'd rather be doing another - there's not enough difference between biomed and science to justify doing this.


Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but I hope I gave you a semi-good insight into Monash biomed and science. I'd be happy to answer any further questions wither through PM or in this thread

[lhaebin1995]

Wow Thanks alondouek-
That is a lot of information to absorb..!!
I figured that I should do science, I think biomed would be too harsh on me Thanks for all your information!

[abeybaby]

For God's sakes do science instead of Biomed. The subjects are far harder in Biomed and they often mush together two large and complex subjects to make one super crazy subject that the entire cohort is afraid of failing. If i could choose again, id choose science.

[datfatcat]

Also consider doing biomedicine at Monash if you are thinking about doing med later.  I can't speak for UOM (so do not know how they give their offers) but for monash post graduate pathway, they give majority of places to the biomedicine students studying at monash.  This is what i heard from someone studying at gippsland medical school.

[pi]

Also consider doing biomedicine at Monash if you are thinking about doing med later.  I can't speak for UOM (so do not know how they give their offers) but for monash post graduate pathway, they give majority of places to the biomedicine students studying at monash.  This is what i heard from someone studying at gippsland medical school.

I think that change is for 2015 entry, so definitely Monash Biomed > Monash Sci.

[alondouek]

I think that change is for 2015 entry, so definitely Monash Biomed > Monash Sci.