BSci or BMedSci as undergrad? (1 Viewer)

[madijd]

I know there is no 'recommended' undergrad for postgrad medicine but is it more beneficial to do med science over a normal science degree?

 

[Squar3root]

 

[tyrone97]

What the universities usually look at is your performance in your undergrad degree as well as GAMSAT. So I think you'd be better off doing whatever interests you (even if its an arts degree) and therefore, you will get a higher grade point average in. The only thing I've taken into consideration here is maximising your chances of getting into postgrad med - after you get in you might find that med science helps with regard to understanding content and studying (not entirely sure about this though, you should probably ask someone whose gone through this pathway).

Hope that helps.

 

[bangladesh]

They are both pretty much the same thing anyway.

 

[sorkii]

Medical Science generally has less flexibility than Science, at least at UNSW anyway. The bonus is that you have an extra opportunity to get into med via the lateral pathway.

That said, if you are gearing for postgrad, it's best to choose an undergrad degree that you will do well in because only your marks really matter when applying for postgrad. Medical Science does give you a wealth of knowledge that will most definitely help you in med, but you won't be losing anything if you choose an irrelevant course either. Basically, you are better off choosing a degree that you like and will likely excel in.

 

[louielouiee]

My mate is doing UNSW medical science and he has essentially learnt EVERYTHING I have learnt so far, minus the clinical aspects of actual medicine.

However the most important thing is getting a good GPA and preparing yourself for the GAMSAT so don't forget that.

 

[madijd]

So in terms of best preparing myself for the GAMSAT i should stick with a science based undergrad but it wouldn't REALLY matter if its normal science or medical science?

 

[fizzbylightning]

So in terms of best preparing myself for the GAMSAT i should stick with a science based undergrad but it wouldn't REALLY matter if its normal science or medical science?

You can kill two birds with one stone if you do science as you will have some idea of the science behind medicine as well as having a head start when it comes to preparing for the science component of the GAMSAT. Your question is whether a science or medical science degree will give you a better chance of GETTING INTO MED right? (As opposed to helping you out during your postgrad med degree?)

I personally think a med science degree is more beneficial as it's tailored more to medicine. As opposed to a science degree which has several streams/specialisations unrelated to med. It really depends on the specialisation and subjects you choose in a science degree - whether you choose subjects that med science students do if you are interested in biomedical specialisations or choose something like physics because you are interested in it and know that you will attain a high GPA that will help you in getting an offer to study postgrad med. I'm thinking that if you were to choose the science degree, you would choose the subjects that medical science students do as you have an interest in medicine. If that's correct, I think you may as well choose med sci. If you don't and you want to spend your undergrad choosing subjects/a specialisation you are interested in and/or choosing subjects that are "easy" in order to maximise your GPA, choose science as there's greater flexibility there.

But considering all aspects, I would choose med sci. I'm going into my third year of med sci in 2015 (happy new year by the way!) at UNSW and I got an offer to study lateral entry med as part of the graduate scheme which is kind of like postgrad medicine but not the conventional pathway. If you have any questions about this, I'd be happy to answer them!

 

[madijd]

You can kill two birds with one stone if you do science as you will have some idea of the science behind medicine as well as having a head start when it comes to preparing for the science component of the GAMSAT. Your question is whether a science or medical science degree will give you a better chance of GETTING INTO MED right? (As opposed to helping you out during your postgrad med degree?)

I personally think a med science degree is more beneficial as it's tailored more to medicine. As opposed to a science degree which has several streams/specialisations unrelated to med. It really depends on the specialisation and subjects you choose in a science degree - whether you choose subjects that med science students do if you are interested in biomedical specialisations or choose something like physics because you are interested in it and know that you will attain a high GPA that will help you in getting an offer to study postgrad med. I'm thinking that if you were to choose the science degree, you would choose the subjects that medical science students do as you have an interest in medicine. If that's correct, I think you may as well choose med sci. If you don't and you want to spend your undergrad choosing subjects/a specialisation you are interested in and/or choosing subjects that are "easy" in order to maximise your GPA, choose science as there's greater flexibility there.

But considering all aspects, I would choose med sci. I'm going into my third year of med sci in 2015 (happy new year by the way!) at UNSW and I got an offer to study lateral entry med as part of the graduate scheme which is kind of like postgrad medicine but not the conventional pathway. If you have any questions about this, I'd be happy to answer them!

Wow thanks so much for your answer! I'll be heading down to ANU next year and they aren't too keen on letting me into med science without yr 12 chemistry I'm planning on coming back to syd for postgrad med though!

 

[fizzbylightning]

Wow thanks so much for your answer! I'll be heading down to ANU next year and they aren't too keen on letting me into med science without yr 12 chemistry I'm planning on coming back to syd for postgrad med though!

You're welcome I did a bridging course for chemistry right before I started uni as I didn't do chemistry either. Good luck with your med endeavours and I have fun at uni!!

 

[madijd]

You're welcome I did a bridging course for chemistry right before I started uni as I didn't do chemistry either. Good luck with your med endeavours and I have fun at uni!!

On the ANU website they say you have to do the bridging course, one year of regular science then apply to transfer into medSci! So annoying! I wonder whether its even worth doing - I feel like normal science would be sufficient and I can pick more medical based electives! I did yr 11 chem so I'm sure that will get me through haha

Ill definitely shoot you a message if I have any more med/medSci questions! Thanks for all your help x

 

[fizzbylightning]

L

On the ANU website they say you have to do the bridging course, one year of regular science then apply to transfer into medSci! So annoying! I wonder whether its even worth doing - I feel like normal science would be sufficient and I can pick more medical based electives! I did yr 11 chem so I'm sure that will get me through haha

Ill definitely shoot you a message if I have any more med/medSci questions! Thanks for all your help x

No problemo! Yeah weird requirements ANU has there. I think my friends who did chem for the HSC said that the basics you learn in year 11 chem are more relevant to uni chem. I think year 12 chem is more specific with the streams/electives? they have. I think if you are pursuing graduate med, you can pick medical science subjects while still being enrolled as a science student - that's something that people do at UNSW.

 

[bangladesh]

Wow thanks so much for your answer! I'll be heading down to ANU next year and they aren't too keen on letting me into med science without yr 12 chemistry I'm planning on coming back to syd for postgrad med though!

sorry if its a bit off topic but why bother going down to ANU just to study medsci

 

[madijd]

sorry if its a bit off topic but why bother going down to ANU just to study medsci

haha all good! I'm going down to do a double degree science/Languages which you cant do anywhere else! I got into med science (~93) or probs languages at sydney (98.5) with EAS but I really want to do them both! Plus I want the experience of moving away from home/interstate etc

 

[bangladesh]

haha all good! I'm going down to do a double degree science/Languages which you cant do anywhere else! I got into med science (~93) or probs languages at sydney (98.5) with EAS but I really want to do them both! Plus I want the experience of moving away from home/interstate etc

fair enough

 

[turntaker]

Do science its easier to get a high GPA than medical science. That's if you want to do medicine afterwards.

Medical Science sounds good but its not as good as some people think. Its also not very easy. And if you want some type of job then you must do honours (you need this for your GPA preferably first class)

With science you can basically choose
most things you do in medical science.

Remember if you want to do medicine. They don't care what degree you have done. Your GPA and GAMSAT is all that matters.

 

[Medman]

I talked about this in another thread but I can't be bothered reiterating.

My 2 cents. Do science for more flexibility and potential for high GPA. Prepares you less well for GAMSAT depending on what you choose.

Med science prepares you well for GAMSAT but less flexibility and higher competition within cohort to get better marks. That being said you don't need an outstanding GPA for graduate medicine. Anything above 6 usually will suffice. Some universities take it more into consideration so the higher the better.

 

[thedemonpk3r]

hey guys... if i did b of science at usyd, what are the majors/subjects i should be considering of putting down to do if i in the end want to pursue medicine , through either gamsat or looking to transfer into med sci

 

[Medman]

hey guys... if i did b of science at usyd, what are the majors/subjects i should be considering of putting down to do if i in the end want to pursue medicine , through either gamsat or looking to transfer into med sci

Why would you transfer into med science? That's a horrible choice.

 

[thedemonpk3r]

Why is that a horrible choice