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Author Topic: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!  (Read 3543 times)  Share 

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erinations

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Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« on: December 14, 2018, 10:29:20 am »
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Hey guys,

So with the ATAR release I really don’t think I’ll be getting to Biomed, but I’ll hopefully get into science. With that, I’m hoping to get into Monash’s grad medicine course with only a bachelor of science degree with me, meaning there’s only 25 spots and I would really like to give myself the best opportunity of securing a spot. I wanted to know if anyone has gone from science to med grad and if they have any tips of what subjects I should take (I already know the minimum 5 unit subjects I must do) and if I should add on to them. I’m also hoping to specialise in obstetrics/gynaecology in my future career.

Thanks!
2017 (½): math methods, specialist maths, english, physics, visual communications and design, veta morphus
2018 (¾): mathematical methods, specialist maths, physics, literature, vcd.

2018: basically the same as above, minus veta morphus

VanillaRice

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Re: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2018, 04:39:06 pm »
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I'm not a big believer in picking units solely on the fact that they're commonly considered to be "WAM boosters" or "bludge" units - my advice would be to pick units based on your interests. My experience is that if you enjoy something, you're more motivated to do it, and therefore are more likely to do well in it. You are paying upwards of $1000 per unit after all - might as well make the most out of it :) If you don't know what you're interested in yet, then the Science degree definitely has the breadth which will allow you to explore your interests.

That being said, students do pick electives in order to boost their WAM, but these shouldn't make up the majority of your units. I don't have any recommendations on this myself, but there have been similar questions in the past, and I'm sure other users around would have some suggestions for you.

Hope that helps :)
VCE 2015-16
2017-20: BSc (Stats)/BBiomedSc [Monash]

bg1011

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Re: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2018, 12:28:55 am »
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Hey, I wen't through the BSc (my Atar wasn't high enough to get into the biomed degree) and got an offer for the MD this year. Don't stress too much about whether you do Biomed or Science it won't make too much of a difference, as long as you get decent marks; the marks cut off is the same for both cohorts :).

On a side note; pick a couple of areas that you are interested in (AND WHICH OVERLAP) like pathology / immunology, biochem / microbiology. It makes maintaining your GPA easier as it minimises what you need to study.

** also, I noticed you listed Specialist 3/4 in your VCE subjects. If you're even halfway decent at maths, take a couple of units from the maths faculty. They're not 'easy' units, but if you like maths and you put in some work, its easier to a high mark in them (and hence push up your GPA) then it is in subjects with a larger written component.

erinations

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Re: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2018, 08:24:03 pm »
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I'm not a big believer in picking units solely on the fact that they're commonly considered to be "WAM boosters" or "bludge" units - my advice would be to pick units based on your interests. My experience is that if you enjoy something, you're more motivated to do it, and therefore are more likely to do well in it. You are paying upwards of $1000 per unit after all - might as well make the most out of it :) If you don't know what you're interested in yet, then the Science degree definitely has the breadth which will allow you to explore your interests.

That being said, students do pick electives in order to boost their WAM, but these shouldn't make up the majority of your units. I don't have any recommendations on this myself, but there have been similar questions in the past, and I'm sure other users around would have some suggestions for you. But you provided great help so I thank you for that!!

Hope that helps :)

Yeah no, I don't think I'd do well choosing my subjects based on what will boost me up! I am very maths oriented, but I understand that a BSc at Monash requires a minimum of 5 specific units that must be completed (related to bio/med) if I want to be eligible for MD afterwards. I'm just not sure which subjects people found quite worth it (as in the content was quite useful).

Hey, I wen't through the BSc (my Atar wasn't high enough to get into the biomed degree) and got an offer for the MD this year. Don't stress too much about whether you do Biomed or Science it won't make too much of a difference, as long as you get decent marks; the marks cut off is the same for both cohorts :).

On a side note; pick a couple of areas that you are interested in (AND WHICH OVERLAP) like pathology / immunology, biochem / microbiology. It makes maintaining your GPA easier as it minimises what you need to study.

** also, I noticed you listed Specialist 3/4 in your VCE subjects. If you're even halfway decent at maths, take a couple of units from the maths faculty. They're not 'easy' units, but if you like maths and you put in some work, its easier to a high mark in them (and hence push up your GPA) then it is in subjects with a larger written component.

Thank you!! That's so exciting, congratulations! I hope to follow a similar path in my near future. I do like maths so it's comforting to know that I can continue this into my uni years. I just wanted to ask, if it's not too personal, what did you major in?
2017 (½): math methods, specialist maths, english, physics, visual communications and design, veta morphus
2018 (¾): mathematical methods, specialist maths, physics, literature, vcd.

2018: basically the same as above, minus veta morphus

VanillaRice

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Re: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2018, 09:48:38 pm »
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Yeah no, I don't think I'd do well choosing my subjects based on what will boost me up! I am very maths oriented, but I understand that a BSc at Monash requires a minimum of 5 specific units that must be completed (related to bio/med) if I want to be eligible for MD afterwards. I'm just not sure which subjects people found quite worth it (as in the content was quite useful).
My apologies, I feel like I misinterpreted your question somewhat. In your first year of the BSc at Monash, you'll have the opportunity (actually, you're kind of "made" to :P) to sample units from at least two different fields (for example, maths and biology). In my opinion, this first year will probably give you the best insight into the types of units you should pick (whether they be bio-related or not).

To somewhat answer your question, I don't have any experience as to what content is covered in the first year of MD, but to be honest, as someone who has just completed their second year, I've already forgotten some of the things I learnt in first year. I guess what I'm trying to say is that once you've covered the 5 prereq units, you should feel adequately prepared for the MD, and therefore free to explore other topic areas or delve further into something you found interesting. Having more background/prior knowledge will definitely help in your first year of MD, but I think that you should also be able to explore other topic areas that interest you (especially since you might not be seeing much of them (in a formal sense, at least) once you begin your medical studies :P).

As another point of consideration, you'll also find that most students selecting their units to fulfill the Monash graduate MD prereqs also select units that fulfill the UniMelb prerequisites as well.
VCE 2015-16
2017-20: BSc (Stats)/BBiomedSc [Monash]

bg1011

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Re: Monash Science into Grad Medicine help!
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2018, 11:55:14 am »
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Thank you!! That's so exciting, congratulations! I hope to follow a similar path in my near future. I do like maths so it's comforting to know that I can continue this into my uni years. I just wanted to ask, if it's not too personal, what did you major in?

Thanks :)
No problem, I did the double major in biochem (because it covers 4 of the prerequisites; I did a physiology subject to cover the last prerequisite) and a minor in Maths. I couldn't fit the full major for maths in because of all the units in the biochem double major, but it would be very easy to fit in with a single bio focused major. One other thing which wont really be relevant for you until third year is that the research in action subjects (subject codes XXX3990) are really fun, and also good for both keeping your GPA high (pretty much everyone in the cohort ends up with an HD) and whipping your presentation skills into shape before the med interviews.

Good luck with the degree! The science program at Monash is really fun and you have so much choices and opportunities, I'm sure you'll love it!