Alexander Said:

What scores/qualifications are needed to get into medicine in Victoria, Australia?

We Answered:

There are two ways to get in - you get around 99% on your year 12 score and get straight in or you get a degree in Science or something else - you must get a Distinction/Credit average (that is 80% for every subject in each year) and the apply.

Andrew Said:

How to become a GP in Australia?

We Answered:

doesn't we feel relax without degrees sometimes lol
i am stuck in degrees game also hahaha

Ken Said:

From leaving school, to being hired, what steps would you need to take to become a fully-fledged doctor/GP?

We Answered:

Correspondance - you have got to be kidding.

You need to attend the university. You can either do a Bachelor of Surgery/MEdicine directly from high school (e.g. UNSW) or do an undergraduate degree - gain a credit/distinction average and the a postgrad degree (e.g. Uni Syd).

Alicia Said:

How do I become a GP Doctor in Australia?

We Answered:

It makes no difference what subjects you take at high school to get into medicine. None whatsoever.

There are two processes - undergrad and postgrad. Undergraduate medicine is the hardest to get into as the number of degrees are becoming limited to only one per state. That is a 6 year program. Postgrad medicine is becoming the norm and only requires an undergrad degree with a Credit/Distinction average (although this i becoming close to a distinction average - will be by the time you get there). Undergrad 3-4/postgrad 4.

Then you have the intern year - then a number of years in a hospital (RMO 1-6). Once you are an RMO you apply for a GP program (as you do to get into university - 100s apply and only the best doctors get in) and then it is another 3 -4 years.

So you are looking a around 10-13 years of university.

Greg Said:

How do I become a GP in Australia?????

We Answered:

Hi Mel,

You should approach a couple of the universities by contacting their faculty of medicine course co-ordinator or student advisor. These guys will give you an idea of prerequisites necessary.
More than likely, you will have to complete year 12 with advance scores to be offered a place.
Alternatively you can get into bachelor of science and 'bridge' your way into medicine by selecting similar course components (for example: anatomy, physiology,etc). After you complete your undergraduate degree (3 years for a bachelor of science) you can then approach the university's medical department as a potential candidate and go from there.

However, considering the high competition for medicine places in OZ, there are also other alternatives that you may (should!) consider, including nursing (many specialties including emergency, IVF, surgical theater to name a few - pretty cool) and ambulance officer (also highly competative but its front line work, including the important role of the MICA unit - another cool job).

Also next time you drop by your doctor's clinic, just ask them if they can let you into the pros/cons of their jobs. It may be an eye opener.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Ben Said:

Med School Requirements?

We Answered:

There are no set-in-stone requirements for every medical school. Many medical schools will make exceptions or emphasize different courses and topics in their admissions process. However, there is a basic set of courses and examinations that is commonly accepted as basic medical school requirements that will be considered by nearly every school.

Most often, an initial screen of applicants is done by computer to ensure that basic things like courses taken, GPA and MCAT scores meet a desired minimum. After that, it's all about the person and not the numbers. The medical school admissions process is a mix of science and art. To get an idea of how competitive your mcat scores and GPA are, try our Medical School Search tool.

Coursework

The commonly accepted coursework requirements for medical school include a minimum of 1 year of:
General biology
Physics with lab
General chemistry (inorganic chemistry) with lab
Organic chemistry with lab
Calculus
English
If you are planning to do your premedical coursework after you get your undergraduate degree, you can take these courses at nearly any four-year college.
GPA
Medical school admissions are competitive, so you need to have a strong GPA. A GPA above 3.5 is preferrable. A GPA below 3.5 can somtimes raise a flag, especially if you attended a school famous for grade-inflation, like Harvard. While things might have changed a little at Harvard, there is still the impression that everyone gets a minimum 3.3, so the GPA cutoff might be more strictly enforced.

MCAT

Your MCAT scores are important. They say little about you as a person, but they are given substantial weight by medical schools. The sections of the MCAT are similar to the required coursework: physical sciences (physics and inorganic chemistry), biological sciences (biology and organic chemistry), verbal, and a writing sample.

It has been estimated that 70-80% of all medical school applicants have taken an MCAT test prep course.

Baccalaureate Diploma

You need a college degree. BUT, it does not have to be in the sciences. In fact, for some schools a science degree is a negative - Johns Hopkins, for example. You need to show medical schools you are passionate about something. That you're willing to spend four years, study a topic you love, learn it, and be able to build on it. Selecting a college major should not be about getting into medical school, it should be about study what you love to think about or do.
Research - optional

If you do enjoy science, then research is one way to show you're serious about it. If you're going to do a research project as an undergrad, start early. Freshman year is not too early to start. That gives you a year or two to learn the ropes, then a year and a half of serious work before you get to present your work in your medical school interview. Choose a respected faculty member doing research that interests you. Work hard. Read. Understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. You should be able to explain and defend your work to an educated scientist who doesn't work in your field.
Physician shadowing - optional

I'm personally not a big fan of shadowing a physician. It doesn't show much committment, and suggests you're just interested in getting into medical school. If you're truly not sure you want to get into medicine, then shadow a physician and find out what it's like. Don't expect a "shadowing experience" do carry a lot of weight on your application.
Volunteer service - optional

The impact of volunteer service on your application will depend on the quality of the service, and your committment to it. Is this a one month, two-times a week thing organized by someone else, or is this a project you've involved in for several years and are taking a leadership role in. How does this project affect you, and how have you made a meaningful contribution to the project.

Remember, medical schools are looking for people who are willing to take the time and effort to make a serious contribution. That contribution can be in a volunteer program, an academic pursuit, research, or even sport. You just have to show that you are willing and capable of working hard enough to accomplish an important goal.

Julio Said:

Im studying pharmacy.....should i consider doing Medicine or not? (AUSTRALIA)?

We Answered:

Bill hasn't quite got that one right, it's a 4 year post-graduate course, then a compulsary intern year, then a non-compulsary (but most people do it) resident year, then 3-4 years 'specialist training' to do general practise before you're a GP. GP, as well as everything else, is now a 'specialty', it just takes less time than the others.

Pharmacy is a job I can't imagine anyone with a medically inclined mind enjoying, and the profession is going to come under threat as big companies such as woollies start pushing for automatic medicine dispensers.

If you get the opportunity to study medicine (and you can't guarantee that) then i'd say go for it - you can always drop out, but at least you'll never regret trying!