The well: The Students of Medical Science Society any questions you got (3 Viewers)

[tmahendradatta]

Yes it is correct you do not have to pay for your research degree if you are a local student. But you will find that most people doing a PhD have got a scholarship to support their daily living expenses. Most students would not want to study for another 3-4 years and have to support themselves. Might as well go and find a job!

No reason why this well can't e about post grad too.

I was thinking about doing my PhD overseas in England. Don't really care about which uni. What was the process for you/ how about did you end up with the score at Cambridge?

 

[Survivor39]

I was thinking about doing my PhD overseas in England. Don't really care about which uni. What was the process for you/ how about did you end up with the score at Cambridge?

I only applied to Cambridge so I can only comment on that. Application for one university already killed me so I couldn't be bothered apply to Oxford.

Luckily, unlike American universities, you don't have to sit the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). You just need to start contacting potential supervisor early on, then discuss about the project and see if you are interested. Once that is established, you go through this long process of filling in the application form, with many sections containing essay-type questions. hahaha. then you ask for 3 references (they must write a referee letter plus filling in this other form about your abilities), send them all in and hope for the best.

I did quite well in my MedSc degree so I thought I have a chance getting in. But most importantly, I was lucky enough to get a fully-funded scholarship - without it, it would be hard to see how I can find $150,000 to pay for the PhD as an overseas student.

 

[tmahendradatta]

I only applied to Cambridge so I can only comment on that. Application for one university already killed me so I couldn't be bothered apply to Oxford.

Luckily, unlike American universities, you don't have to sit the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). You just need to start contacting potential supervisor early on, then discuss about the project and see if you are interested. Once that is established, you go through this long process of filling in the application form, with many sections containing essay-type questions. quote]

So how long is the 'long process' in months?

 

[Survivor39]

You should start contacting potential supervisors one year before the deadline for the admission application. The application deadline for an October start is mid December of the previous year. Which means if you want to start as a graduate student in October 2011, you should start contacting potential supervisors now, gather all your materials and send everything in by mid December 2010.

 

[tmahendradatta]

You should start contacting potential supervisors one year before the deadline for the admission application. The application deadline for an October start is mid December of the previous year. Which means if you want to start as a graduate student in October 2011, you should start contacting potential supervisors now, gather all your materials and send everything in by mid December 2010.

Cheers, thanks for the answers --> What about the process for attaining a scholarsip to study overseas?

How much do marks matter; an do they weight to honours year?

 

[Survivor39]

You apply for a scholarship when you apply for admission. There is one section within the application form dedicated just for that. These scholarships are obviously specific to that University and you compete with everyone applying to that University.

As to how much marks matter, you probably need a high first class in your Honours year and high marks throughout your degree, show research potential. e.g. any research publications, patents, book chapters etc generated from your Honours or previous research.

You can also go for scholarships that are funded in Australia to allow students to go overseas. e.g. Rhodes Scholarships (to Oxford) and the John Monash Scholarships (anywhere). The requirements for these also takes extracurricular stuff (sporting achievements e.g.) into account, not just academic.

 

[tmahendradatta]

You apply for a scholarship when you apply for admission. There is one section within the application form dedicated just for that. These scholarships are obviously specific to that University and you compete with everyone applying to that University.

As to how much marks matter, you probably need a high first class in your Honours year and high marks throughout your degree, show research potential. e.g. any research publications, patents, book chapters etc generated from your Honours or previous research.

You can also go for scholarships that are funded in Australia to allow students to go overseas. e.g. Rhodes Scholarships (to Oxford) and the John Monash Scholarships (anywhere). The requirements for these also takes extracurricular stuff (sporting achievements e.g.) into account, not just academic.

Which/what type of scholarship are you on?

Also; what was the thought process on deciding on studying overseas and deciding which lab to choose? For example, "It was was an easy choice because british chicks> oz chicks" (<-- I just made that up; but you know what I mean).

Also; if you were to go back in time to the whole decision process again; what else would you consider before taking the 'leap of faith'?

Oh; i should add that survivor = my new hero. cheers for the answers.

 

[Survivor39]

These are all very good questions so I will try to answer them as best as I can.

Which/what type of scholarship are you on?

I'm on a Cambridge international scholarship funded by Cambridge uni.

Also; what was the thought process on deciding on studying overseas and deciding which lab to choose?

I know I am interested in a career in research way back in 2nd year after finishing a summer reseach scholarship. I knew it would be great for my career if I have 1) overseas experience and 2) a degree from a renown university.

So after Honours I sort of narrowed it down Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard. Harvard was out first because I didn't want to do a 5-6-year PhD (all North American PhDs are that long). So it was down to the two in England and I found Cambridge to be better in Science in general and offers projects that appeals to me more. It was then just down to e-mailing several potential supervisors and see whether they are interested in taking up a PhD student and whether they have the projects that interest me. Once all that is finalised you go ahead and apply.

Also; if you were to go back in time to the whole decision process again; what else would you consider before taking the 'leap of faith'?

There is nothing to think about! It's the best decision I have ever made! Well.. if I was rich enough I would probably fly over to Cambridge first and see the potential supervisor in person but then again, you never know whether you get along until you started working with them. The only downside to applying overseas is you don't get to meet your supervisor in person. But it's really not an issue for most people considering half of the PhD students at Cambridge come from overseas.

 

[tmahendradatta]

I've got more questions coming. Thanks for the insight so far.

 

[Tim035]

Medical Scientists



BRB getting a PhD and MD

 

[nottellingu]

Some unis offer B Med Sci/B law, what kind of jobs are you looking at with this combo?

Is this likely to bump you up the pay scale?

Will it make a difference if i do undergrad med sci at unsw then do post grad law at usyd?

 

[Survivor39]

Some unis offer B Med Sci/B law, what kind of jobs are you looking at with this combo?

Is this likely to bump you up the pay scale?

Will it make a difference if i do undergrad med sci at unsw then do post grad law at usyd?

It would be good for medical law and areas associated with patent/commericalising medical research/bioengineering.

 

[tmahendradatta]

Some unis offer B Med Sci/B law, what kind of jobs are you looking at with this combo?

Is this likely to bump you up the pay scale?

Will it make a difference if i do undergrad med sci at unsw then do post grad law at usyd?

I've forwarded your question on to a friend who is working as a lawyer for Turks Legal. But here is my two cents:

I think in effect; you'l be graduating with a sci/law degree if anthing. So; you can either go in and work as a lawyer; but you've also got the patenting side aswell. OR you can go down the science road.

I assume it would; but I don't think you'd be paid better than any other lawyer.

I'm little confused. What difference's are you thinking about?

If its in term of a job; I don't think it should make a difference tbh. Specifics please?

 

[Survivor39]

Will it make a difference if i do undergrad med sci at unsw then do post grad law at usyd?

No. LLB/Sci at UNSW or USyd = doing the Science and Law separately at either uni.

 

[nottellingu]

I've forwarded your question on to a friend who is working as a lawyer for Turks Legal. But here is my two cents:

I think in effect; you'l be graduating with a sci/law degree if anthing. So; you can either go in and work as a lawyer; but you've also got the patenting side aswell. OR you can go down the science road.

I assume it would; but I don't think you'd be paid better than any other lawyer.

I'm little confused. What difference's are you thinking about?

If its in term of a job; I don't think it should make a difference tbh. Specifics please?

Hey thanks for the reply.

Can you explain what you mean by the patenting side?

My main questions was that if i had B Med Sci from UNSW and then go on to do graduate law at Usyd I would in essence have a med sci/law degree.
Would these two degrees combine to give me some unique job?

I ask because uts offers med sci/law so i was wondering why they do that and considering it as an option if i cant make it into grad med.

 

[nottellingu]

It would be good for medical law and areas associated with patent/commericalising medical research/bioengineering.

Would this be better income wise?

I really love the med sci degree and im sure i will enjoy it but my dream is to do medicine. Im worried about what might happen if i dont get in....and what i an do with a med sci degree...thats why im considering this law option.

 

[Survivor39]

Would this be better income wise?

I really love the med sci degree and im sure i will enjoy it but my dream is to do medicine. Im worried about what might happen if i dont get in....and what i an do with a med sci degree...thats why im considering this law option.

Then I think you should go for law/BSc and try undergraduate medicine after 1st or 2nd year. Perhaps even graduate med. If you don't get in, you still have your law degree while doing science and picking the subjects in medical science.

 

[Survivor39]

Hey thanks for the reply.

Can you explain what you mean by the patenting side?

My main questions was that if i had B Med Sci from UNSW and then go on to do graduate law at Usyd I would in essence have a med sci/law degree.
Would these two degrees combine to give me some unique job?

I ask because uts offers med sci/law so i was wondering why they do that and considering it as an option if i cant make it into grad med.

Yes you can do MedSc from UNSW and then Graduate law. This will be the same as doing it together (via combined law) but obviously it will take longer if you do the two degrees individually. You can still go into patenting where you help scientists patent a certain idea, invention or other forms of intellectual properties.

 

[tmahendradatta]

Hey thanks for the reply.

Can you explain what you mean by the patenting side?

My main questions was that if i had B Med Sci from UNSW and then go on to do graduate law at Usyd I would in essence have a med sci/law degree.
Would these two degrees combine to give me some unique job?

I ask because uts offers med sci/law so i was wondering why they do that and considering it as an option if i cant make it into grad med.

survivor has answered most of it. Just wanted to add more detail.

By patenting side; I mean you can become a patent attorney. Its probably the only unique job. I guess going into policy making as well in the science or medical field is an option as well where you'll use a little knowledge from science and law together. But in general; no. You won't come out with a unique job (unless you yourself get innovative - let us know how that goes ). It just means you can either go down research or being a lawyer (atleast thats what I've been told about double degrees from a guy doing comm/law).

As a patent attorney; You read through alot of inventions/novel ideas that are filing for a patent. You also consult with the inventor on the best way to go about patenting their idea or whether the idea is patentable or not.
If it is; you go and file for the patent and see how the app goes. Usually; there is alot of conflict about patents infringing each other. Its up to the attorney and the scientist to go about defending it. After about 1.5-2 years -> the patent gets approved and it becomes intellectual property of the scientist. In a nutshell; The patent attorney is valuable at he beginning of the commercialisation process. Scientists need expert knowledge on these kind of legal matters.

who cares what uts offers. In all honesty - medsci/law is like a sci/law degree. It looks like a marketing gimmick if anything. You can do a bsci/law at unsw and just do medical subjects for the science part. I know of one girl who does this - and she is thikning about going down corporate law (the last time I spoke with her).

 

[Tim035]

The other sort of related job you could do is Regulatory affairs. The pharmacist at the store I work at is going back to uni to do law so she can move in to this field.