Assume hypothetically that you have been offered to do combined medicine at USYD with that $10,000 per year scholarship. But you have also been offered to do MBBS at UNSW with scientia. Which is better in your opinion and which would you select?
Keep in mind that the Scientia is only offered to 2 students in the Faculty of Medicine, at the Dean's discretion based on socio-economic considerations.
Back to the original question, I had to make the exact decision two years ago and I chose the Combined Medicine Program at USyd for a number of reasons:
1. I was, and still am, very interested in maths and chemistry. I later discovered computer science, which is now one of my majors. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I'd gone to UNSW. I'm really appreciating having the opportunity to pursue my interests and discover new interests in B Sc (Adv).
2. I really liked the idea of the Faculty of Science's Talented Students Program, which would give me the academic and administrative freedom to be in control of my own learning experience. After being a TSP student for two years, it's one of the BEST things I've ever done - I was able to do a 3rd year maths subject in 1st year and do 4 research projects with experts in different fields (applied maths, astronomy/computer science, neuroscience and medical informatics).
3. The Outstanding Achievement scholarship for $10,000/year, guaranteed. I can't compete with socio-economically disadvantaged med students for two Scientia scholarships at UNSW. I found out after enrolling that I was also awarded a $1000/year Liversidge scholarship for the highest HSC chemistry mark in '07, so that was an added bonus.
4. USyd offers a lot of opportunities (and scholarships) to go on exchange at some of the best universities overseas. Half of my cohort has just come back from exchange at uni like Berkeley, Cornell, Columbia, UCLA in America and Edinburgh, London in Europe. Although I didn't take up this opportunity for personal reasons, I still appreciate having it as an option.
5. USyd is a far more convenient commute for me as it's 10 minutes by train from Burwood to Redfern, with no stops in between. Plus, I'm not a big fan of buses and there is no other way for me to get to UNSW other than train to Central followed by bus.
6. USyd has the most active campus life, with over 200 clubs and societies. I've loved the people and the activities and got involved in everything from Day 1. I'm now the president of SciSoc (Science Society) and I've recently started a new club for all combined medicine students called COMA (Combined Medicine Association).
In fact, I think this pretty much sums up most of the Science/MBBS students. All the Music/MBBS students are exceptional musicians who were torn between pursuing music or medicine exclusively. The combined degree gives them the option of studying everything that they love. A lot of the Arts or Commerce/Economics combined MBBS students are interested in areas like public health policy, where there is an obvious advantage for them to study Arts or Commerce or Economics.
Clearly this does not interest everyone. So for someone who wants no more than to complete a med degree, get out there and start practicing as soon as possible (which is perfectly fine), then the Combined Medicine Program at USyd is probably not right and an undergraduate MBBS program will be better. But the Combined Medicine Program is just perfect for a group of students and it's very unfair to say what we're doing is "pretentious and unneccessary".
So Dragonmaster262, have a think about whether any of the factors I mentioned are of importance and interest to you. You need to make a careful and informed decision about where to study this lengthy MBBS program. You know you will get a well recognised MBBS no matter where you go so the structure of the program and other services and opportunities available at that particular uni become more important. I'm sure you will make the right decision for yourself.
