Where do biomedical university courses lead to?

by Cornell University Store

Question by Hello: Where do biomedical university courses lead to?
I’m a year 10 in australia and I need to choose subjects for vce, I want to make money in the future and I have chosen to take methods, chem, and bio as well as normal mainstream english (and also health and human and sociology as private interest) so I’m looking for something in medicine. The highest goal, my ‘everest’ you may possibly say if you wanted to sound like my retarded teachers, is to be a doctor (just your average GP) but the atar score is (apparently) high 90′s, although I have seen courses for atars of around 95. I don’t reckon I will get an atar that high, but I am pretty smart and in VCE bio (I’m responsibility unit1 and 2 in yr 10) I’m averaging B+ to A+, and I passed the methods exam. I reckon I will get an atar of at least 85. On the vtac website ( http://www.vtac.edu.au/cgi-bin/coursesrch/byinst.cgi ) the smarty pants health check courses are all R/C (I’m not just so sure what it means, but something by the side of the lines of “too smart for me”) and the others are called biomedicne. WTF is biomedcine and what does it lead too? Why is the atar so low and if it only goes for three years and doesnt involve a UMAT test, will it benefit me in anyway? What comes with this course (eg. further courses, job)? Can I still become a doctor if I do this course to commence with?

Please helpxx

Best answer:

Answer by Masqued
Hiya!

I’m guessing you’re from Victoria? I’m currently studying Med in Queensland so I don’t know if the uni’s systems are that much uncommon, anyway…

Aim high. It’s excellent that you’re sitting on an ATAR of 85 at the moment but I know a lot of people who surprised everyone and shot up to the top of the class in their closing 2 years…so, yeah, make academic frenemies

There are basically 2 options to get into Med: via UMAT or via GAMSAT.

At some universities, UMAT is even more vital than your closing exit grade, so if you can, do a prep-UMAT course maybe next year. But even if you don’t pass UMAT, such around for universities that don’t require them. This may include moving/studying interstate (depends on how much you want to become a doctor…and quickly). In this area a third of my Med cohort now are from interstate. I know this may sound daunting but UMAT, and I’m sorry to say, IS the simplest and quickest way to get into Med. This is because you enter via “Provisional Entry” which is only available for Year 12/teach-leavers [this means that you have a guaranteed spot into Med as long as that you reach a minimum score in your undergraduate degree].

OK, now to Biomedicine and GAMSAT.
Biomedicine IS a VERY useful degree when you’re working towards getting into Med (it’s like the theoretical side of Medicine without the clinical placements/working in hospital part). If you unfortunately missed out on the high rank needed, then you need to choose an undergraduate degree that preferably relates closely to Med, and Biomed is just right. But this would mean that you have to sit GAMSAT, which is a test you do with your 3 year degree.
Remember when I said UMAT was simpler? This is because GAMSAT is longer in length, and tests your KNOWLEDGE (whilst UMAT just tests your thinking and empathy skills). And if you don’t pass GAMSAT then you may be in a pickle in this area choosing what to do next (either do Honours on your existing degree or start a new degree, then wait in anticipation of the next year to try GAMSAT again).

Most universities offer a quick-track program via UMAT-entry.
For example, 2 years of an undergraduate degree + 4 years of Med = 6 years total
But like I said before, some uni’s are just looking for high ranks.

Through GAMSAT, you would have to end an undergraduate degree (like Biomed) first.
So… 3 or 4 years of an undergraduate degree + 4 years of Med = 7 or 8 years total

Phew! I hoped I helped in some way or a further…
If you have any questions just write them in ‘Additional Details’ and I’ll get back to you when I can.

Best of luck!

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