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Help on deciding on an alternate path to physio (1 Viewer)

donaldduck

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Jan 17, 2010
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Hi everyone. So this is my current situation:
I was not offered a main round offer for my desired course of physiotherapy which requires an atar of 97.4 of which I only achieved 96.7. I know that there are still february offers however I'd like to have a backup plan in case the turnout is not desired..
I was offered Speech Pathology at USyd.
Since not getting an offer I decided that I want to do post-grad physio after doing a bachelor of exercise and sports science. However, I am not sure about the vacancies in the course so I need a backup plan to this plan.
My options are:
- do the bachelor of health science and then do post-grad since there are vacancies in this course. I know this is a popular choice but looking at the course outline it looks Booring.. but to be honest I don't know much about the course, anyone care to elaborate? Is this a worthy path to take?
- Do Physio at another uni i.e. Charles Sturt, UWS, ACU. anyone done this or know someone who has? and can tell me about it.
- Take my speech path offer and transfer later. Is it true that you can transfer after one semester or is that a myth..
- Do the B Exercise physiology at UNSW. i don't know much about this course at all besides from it being new and in the medicine faculty. anyone know anyone doing it? It seems a bit random.
Any help, advice, anything would be greatly appreciated (or if you know anyone that can help) because I honestly don't know!!!
 

ashtomashto

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Hey,

I do a combined Health sciences at USYD and the Health Science content is pretty good. There are 1 or 2 units which are painful (you may lose the will to live at times) , but apart from that it's pretty good. Most of my friends do the movement major an really like it. It's hard work the movement units, but you learn heaps and end up with two degrees and a masters in physio at the end of the day. Two degrees with one of the being a masters, sets you up and the health science knowledge is desirable in the industry. The benefit of the USYD BHS is that you qualify for the graduates entry into the masters programmes in the health science area and if you have a credit average, you are guaranteed a spot in the masters course you want. if you studied something else at another uni or another programme and wanted to do a M physio at usyd, you would most likely need a higher mark than a credit and you would be competing again to get in, as it is such a popular course.

All in all, I really enjoy the health science content and didn't think I would originally. It opens up other doors to things like bio and psych, which I would not have taken otherwise. Most of the health science exams are almost 3/4 mcq and then a few short response questions.

Transfer into physio is EXTREMELY competitive. You are up against all the year 12 leavers of that year. I have never heard of anyone transferring in with less than a distinction average, so it would mean you need to work really hard for your first year. Also, I'm pretty sure there is no mid year admissions to physio. I could be wrong, but there are only a few subjects that exists for and they are more generic, like arts.

Hope this helps!
 
Last edited:

mitchy_boy

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ACU do a physio degree.

it was like 94

edit: also my sister just finished a health science degree at USYD, and a lot of her friends didn't get into post grad Physio...
 

RVN76

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It's great that you have an interest in the physiotherapy area of health sciences. I'm a second year student at UWS and I'm doing the podiatry program. I applied for the physiotherapy program last year through UAC and I got the offer with a GPA of 5.5 but I declined it. I'm thinking of pursuing the master of physiotherapy at UWS after I graduate since I like podiatry and I would love to continue and finish the degree.

I think if it's possible, try applying and putting your top preferences for physiotherapy (since there might be vacancies - some people declining offers) at UWS, USYD, ACU, Newcastle and Charles Sturt for the late round offers. Also, apply for various sport and exercise science degrees with the exception of UWS (no electives in this degree) since they don't cover neuroscience as a core unit (which is one of the essential prerequisites for entry into the master of physiotherapy programs at UWS and USYD). Once, you finish the sport and exercise degree for 3 years with a credit/distinction average (GPA of 5 and above), you can do the master of physiotherapy for 2 years at either UWS or USYD.

Also apply for the health science degree at USYD, do the human movement science major, complete the 3 years with a credit/distinction average and I'm confident you can get into the master of physiotherapy at USYD.

Anyways, I do hope everything goes well for you this year. Let me know if you have any problems to discuss about alternate pathways for physiotherapy, I'm glad to help.
 
Last edited:

donaldduck

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thanks a bunch for the replies, it has definitely helped!!!

i think im pretty keen on usyd so i think i'll go for the post-grad since transfers seem to be trickier business...
is ATAR relevant to post-grad entry in any way?

Also- do you pick majors straight away? and what sort of things do you study in b health sci... cos the course outline is pretty unclear ><
 

RVN76

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Yea, if your keen on going to USYD post-grad, they will take your WAM/GPA results from the USYD health science degree. Your ATAR will not be used for post-grad entry into the master of physiotherapy, only your WAM/GPA results will be used for entry purposes. It's best to have a credit/distinction average for entry into the masters as it will be competitive.

I just looked at the USYD health science degree that they offer and I pretty much highlighted the units that you will be doing from first year to third year. You have core units (you have to complete them), your electives (you can pick subjects/units from the same discipline like science/health science/medical science or something from nursing, IT, law etc) and the alternate units from the Unit Block BHS.

First Year - First Semester

BIOL1003: Human Biology (Core unit)
HSBH1006: Foundations of Health Science (Core unit)
HSBH1007: Health Science and Research (Core unit)
PSYC1001: Psychology 1001 (Core unit)

First Year- Second Semester

HSBH1008: Health Determinants and Interventions (Core unit)
HSBH1009: Health Care Resources and Systems (Core unit)
2 Electives

Second Year - First Semester

BIOS1170: Body Systems: Structure and Function (Core unit)
BIOS1171: Neuroscience (Core unit)
EXSS1018: Biomechanics of Human Movement (Core unit)
1 Elective

Second Year - Second Semester

BIOS1168: Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy A (Core unit)
EXSS1032: Fundamentals of Exercise Science (Core unit)
2 Alternate units from the Unit Block BHS Senior UoS

List of Alternate units to choose from (Unit Block BHS Senior)

Semester 1 HSBH3002 Health Information Science
Semester 1 HSBH3004 Health, Ethics and the Law
Semester 1 HSBH3006 Research Methods in Health
Semester 1 HSBH3011 Rural Health

Semester 2 HSBH3001 Health and Indigenous Populations
Semester 2 HSBH3003 Health Service Strategy and Policy
Semester 2 HSBH3009 International Health Project
Semester 2 HSBH3010 Health and Lifelong Disability
Semester 2 HSBH3005 Evidence Based Health Care

Third Year - First Semester

BIOS1169: Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy B (Core unit)
EXSS2027: Exercise Physiology for Clinicians (Core unit)
1 Alternate unit from the Unit Block BHS Senior UoS
1 Elective

Third Year - Second Semester

EXSS2025: Motor Control and Learning (Core unit)
1 Alternate unit from the Unit Block BHS Senior UoS
2 Electives

I got the link for the USYD health science movement major http://server11.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/students/view-degree-page/degree_id/69. Also, I think you can pick the human movement major from the beginning. Once you get the offer for health science, just check and see if you can. I hope this helps!!!!
 
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patdoon

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Hi everyone. So this is my current situation:
I was not offered a main round offer for my desired course of physiotherapy which requires an atar of 97.4 of which I only achieved 96.7. I know that there are still february offers however I'd like to have a backup plan in case the turnout is not desired..
I was offered Speech Pathology at USyd.
Since not getting an offer I decided that I want to do post-grad physio after doing a bachelor of exercise and sports science. However, I am not sure about the vacancies in the course so I need a backup plan to this plan.
My options are:
- do the bachelor of health science and then do post-grad since there are vacancies in this course. I know this is a popular choice but looking at the course outline it looks Booring.. but to be honest I don't know much about the course, anyone care to elaborate? Is this a worthy path to take?
- Do Physio at another uni i.e. Charles Sturt, UWS, ACU. anyone done this or know someone who has? and can tell me about it.
- Take my speech path offer and transfer later. Is it true that you can transfer after one semester or is that a myth..
- Do the B Exercise physiology at UNSW. i don't know much about this course at all besides from it being new and in the medicine faculty. anyone know anyone doing it? It seems a bit random.
Any help, advice, anything would be greatly appreciated (or if you know anyone that can help) because I honestly don't know!!!
if you have listed physio, do podiatry instead, it is much bette and your scope of practice is better

Podiatry is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. The term podiatry came into use first in the early 20th century United States where it now denotes a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), a specialist who is qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. Within the field of podiatry, practitioners can focus on many different specialty areas, including surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, oncology, dermatology geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, or primary care.
out of all health professions podiatry isnt really considered allied health (even though media protrays it that way) it is more of a medical profession or like dentistry in its own field

In australia there are 3 professions that specialise, do surgery and are providers of professional attention, they are medicine, podiatry and dentistry.

Podiatrists scope of practice in australia is much less then the US however in the AU:

-Podiatrists can prescribe medications
-specialise further to do surgery, sports medicine, diabetes etc
-along with medcine and dentistry you can call yourself a 'Dr'.
-refer for diagnostic imaging ie MRI, cat scans etc
- starting salary is from 65k to 110000k
- get in now while its still an undergrad degree cos its changing to postgrad in the future
 

geofrefrey

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Jan 3, 2014
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Hi everyone. So this is my current situation:
I was not offered a main round offer for my desired course of physiotherapy which requires an atar of 97.4 of which I only achieved 96.7. I know that there are still february offers however I'd like to have a backup plan in case the turnout is not desired..
I was offered Speech Pathology at USyd.
Since not getting an offer I decided that I want to do post-grad physio after doing a bachelor of exercise and sports science. However, I am not sure about the vacancies in the course so I need a backup plan to this plan.
My options are:
- do the bachelor of health science and then do post-grad since there are vacancies in this course. I know this is a popular choice but looking at the course outline it looks Booring.. but to be honest I don't know much about the course, anyone care to elaborate? Is this a worthy path to take?
- Do Physio at another uni i.e. Charles Sturt, UWS, ACU. anyone done this or know someone who has? and can tell me about it.
- Take my speech path offer and transfer later. Is it true that you can transfer after one semester or is that a myth..
- Do the B Exercise physiology at UNSW. i don't know much about this course at all besides from it being new and in the medicine faculty. anyone know anyone doing it? It seems a bit random.
Any help, advice, anything would be greatly appreciated (or if you know anyone that can help) because I honestly don't know!!!
I am a year 12 leaver and am facing the similar situation this year. Just want to know what subjects you did in high school and what bands you got, since achieving band 4 or above in at least 2 of adv eng, maths(excluding general) and all 3 sciences allows you to receive extra atar points through usyd's flexible entry scheme for b physio. Then I can see what my chances of getting in are
 

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