Getting into medicine without UCAT (1 Viewer)

[amber1107]

Hi there,
Currently I am doing my HSC and missed the opportunity to complete my UMAT this year. I do not wish to take a gap year and would rather go straight to uni but I’m hoping to go into medicine. As most unis require the UMAT this is making it very difficult. I am planning on just starting a different degree (maybe law) for a year and doing my UMAT next year behind the scenes, then applying to medicine the next semester. I would like thoughts on this process? Would it be smarter to do a medical science degree for a year? Or take a gap year? Also if I don’t get into medicine would I be able to continue my law degree despite this?
Any help would be great!! Thanks

 

[dasfas]

First of all, it's the UCAT you should be taking. The UMAT was the exam of a couple years ago.

I don't think it's that uncommon to do the UCAT in first year uni and your ATAR will still be valid to apply for medicine. You could take a gap year (not recommended unless you are very confident in getting into uni) or just do a degree that you see yourself enjoying if you don't make it into medicine. I don't recommend studying medical science as the job prospects are poor and it isn't necessary to get into medicine.

Lastly and most importantly, make sure you actually study something that you have a passion for. Med and law will drive you into the ground if it's not something that makes you passionate and eager to learn more about.

 

[specificagent1]

Med and law seem to be very different things. Are you sure you want to study law? If so, why do you want to study law? Like dasfas said, you need to be passionate in law to study law or else don't study it.

 

[amber1107]

Thanks for the reply, sorry I meant UCAT but you got the idea.

I’ve always wanted to do medicine but was fearful of the competition and kind of just thought law is the next best thing. I understand the lack of passion you speak about but at the moment my idea is just to explore different routes like law and see if I enjoy them, the amount of schooling isn’t something that discourages me.

I have read numerous other threads and many speak about not doing medical science and not taking a gap year so I don’t think I would choose to do either of them. I am more curious if other paths would be smarter. Also I was wondering if I should apply to a uni that has both a law and med program. Cause at the moment my top uni for law is UTS but as they don’t offer a med program would it be smarter for me to apply to that entails both (eg USYD or UNSW)? Or does the uni I would be previously at not matter?

 

[specificagent1]

Thanks for the reply, sorry I meant UCAT but you got the idea.

I’ve always wanted to do medicine but was fearful of the competition and kind of just thought law is the next best thing. I understand the lack of passion you speak about but at the moment my idea is just to explore different routes like law and see if I enjoy them, the amount of schooling isn’t something that discourages me.

I have read numerous other threads and many speak about not doing medical science and not taking a gap year so I don’t think I would choose to do either of them. I am more curious if other paths would be smarter. Also I was wondering if I should apply to a uni that has both a law and med program. Cause at the moment my top uni for law is UTS but as they don’t offer a med program would it be smarter for me to apply to that entails both (eg USYD or UNSW)? Or does the uni I would be previously at not matter?

I don't think you should do it just because it's the "next best thing". You need to understand that if you end up with this degree you would be working in the industry for a very long time and it is not worth it for some sort of perceived prestige or what other people think about the career. You need to consider whether you would enjoy it, whether it suits your passion and your end goal. Again, I understand that you are considering many different degree but the question still remains, out of all the degrees out there why are you choosing Law as your back up plan/pathway? Why do you think you might be interested in Law in the future?

On the topic of passion, would you not want to do a degree that is more aligned with your passion and interest in medicine. Now I understand that medical science may not be the best of degree but have you considered things like paramedicine, biomedical engineering, or other allied health professions?

Cause at the moment my top uni for law is UTS but as they don’t offer a med program would it be smarter for me to apply to that entails both (eg USYD or UNSW)?

On the topic of Law entrance, in order to study Law at UNSW you are required to have sat the LAT exams. USYD is just based on ATAR. Additionally, both WSU and Maq also offer medicine degrees as well as law.

 

[amber1107]

Med and law seem to be very different things. Are you sure you want to study law? If so, why do you want to study law? Like dasfas said, you need to be passionate in law to study law or else don't study it.

To give you some insight between year 8 to year 10 I was very interested in doing medicine but once I learnt how difficult the competition was in accumulation with the pressures of my family wanting me to also do med I decided to look at other paths in fear of not meeting expectations. Silly I know. Don’t get me wrong they never pushed me into med but once they learnt I was interested they became very intense about it which at the time decreased my passion for it. And with that I kind of just thought why not law. i think over time I convinced myself I was passionate about it but in reality I still always wanted to do med. nevertheless, there was still a couple years I wanted to do law and I don’t want to throw that away in case it’s something I regret later in life thats why im thinking I might do a year of law see how it is and look at other options if I hate it.

 

[specificagent1]

To give you some insight between year 8 to year 10 I was very interested in doing medicine but once I learnt how difficult the competition was in accumulation with the pressures of my family wanting me to also do med I decided to look at other paths in fear of not meeting expectations. Silly I know. Don’t get me wrong they never pushed me into med but once they learnt I was interested they became very intense about it which at the time decreased my passion for it. And with that I kind of just thought why not law. i think over time I convinced myself I was passionate about it but in reality I still always wanted to do med. nevertheless, there was still a couple years I wanted to do law and I don’t want to throw that away in case it’s something I regret later in life thats why im thinking I might do a year of law see how it is and look at other options if I hate it.

I think you're still passionate for medicine, just not the admission process and that's perfectly understandable given how difficult it is. I think as with all degrees you need to ask yourself why you are interested in that degree? and if you're able to give yourself an answer then you should pursue it, but if it's on the basis of because it is a 'good' or 'prestigious' degree, are you studying it because you love the degree or you love what's associated with the degree/ you like the idea of studying it?

 

[uniqueusername1]

Thanks for the reply, sorry I meant UCAT but you got the idea.

I’ve always wanted to do medicine but was fearful of the competition and kind of just thought law is the next best thing.

Isn't law also competitive? If not more competitive?

 

[specificagent1]

Isn't law also competitive? If not more competitive?

I would argue that law is less competitive than medicine as it has no caps

 

[amber1107]

I don't think you should do it just because it's the "next best thing". You need to understand that if you end up with this degree you would be working in the industry for a very long time and it is not worth it for some sort of perceived prestige or what other people think about the career. You need to consider whether you would enjoy it, whether it suits your passion and your end goal. Again, I understand that you are considering many different degree but the question still remains, out of all the degrees out there why are you choosing Law as your back up plan/pathway? Why do you think you might be interested in Law in the future?

On the topic of passion, would you not want to do a degree that is more aligned with your passion and interest in medicine. Now I understand that medical science may not be the best of degree but have you considered things like paramedicine, biomedical engineering, or other allied health professions?



On the topic of Law entrance, in order to study Law at UNSW you are required to have sat the LAT exams. USYD is just based on ATAR. Additionally, both WSU and Maq also offer medicine degrees as well as law.

I have already signed up for the LAT so that is all fine and I am hearing what you saying about law. If I am being honest, I think I’m the type of person who gets enjoyment from academic success and that goes hand in hand with perceived prestige but no one is forcing me to do law or med it is on my own account I am thinking of doing those degrees. If I were to do law I would go into criminal law cause personally business law would be way too boring for me. And if I were to do medicine it would be in the hopes of plastic surgery which is why I am not as interested in biomedical science and other degrees like that.

 

[uniqueusername1]

I would argue that law is less competitive than medicine as it has no caps

Aight fair enough.

I guess OP should do what she wants then. If she wants the money then I guess she could just go for it then.

 

[amber1107]

Isn't law also competitive? If not more competitive?

They’re pretty similar but law is a lot more achievable for most people. I have already gotten into law from the early entry program at ANU so there is always that as an option for me as well which kind of hinders any competitiveness of it.

 

[specificagent1]

I have already signed up for the LAT so that is all fine and I am hearing what you saying about law. If I am being honest, I think I’m the type of person who gets enjoyment from academic success and that goes hand in hand with perceived prestige but no one is forcing me to do law or med it is on my own account I am thinking of doing those degrees. If I were to do law I would go into criminal law cause personally business law would be way too boring for me. And if I were to do medicine it would be in the hopes of plastic surgery which is why I am not as interested in biomedical science and other degrees like that.

Ultimately the decision is up to you and if conscious of all this and you believe that law is right for you then pursue it.

 

[quickoats]

I think with both pathways you need to consider the not-so-glamorous outcomes and if you’d be happy doing those i.e. if you can’t become a plastic surgeon/criminal lawyer, then would you be happy being a GP/solicitor (a much more common outcome). Note that with law, there is more mobility to branch outside of the field.

Prestige and academic success (i.e flexing imo) should not be the main contributing factor in terms of deciding what career to pursue.

 

[amber1107]

I think with both pathways you need to consider the not-so-glamorous outcomes and if you’d be happy doing those i.e. if you can’t become a plastic surgeon/criminal lawyer, then would you be happy being a GP/solicitor (a much more common outcome). Note that with law, there is more mobility to branch outside of the field.

Prestige and academic success (i.e flexing imo) should not be the main contributing factor in terms of deciding what career to pursue.

It’s not my main contributing factor but at the end of the day what I want to do in life wasn’t the question I posed it was how to go about the process of achieving it. I understand the not so glamorous outcomes and have thought in depth before deciding between these careers. I don’t think prestige should be a deterrent as to why I shouldn’t look into a career and I shouldn’t have to justify my choice between law or med either. I would rather be given insight on how I would transition to med come the opportunity.

 

[specificagent1]

It’s not my main contributing factor but at the end of the day what I want to do in life wasn’t the question I posed it was how to go about the process of achieving it. I understand the not so glamorous outcomes and have thought in depth before deciding between these careers. I don’t think prestige should be a deterrent as to why I shouldn’t look into a career and I shouldn’t have to justify my choice between law or med either. I would rather be given insight on how I would transition to med come the opportunity.

Prestige shouldn't be a deterrent nor should it be a reason to study a degree. I think we are just trying to discuss how law can lead to med, ie how you see that they are related and in the scenario that you don't get med whether law is a viable path to go down. On another note, are you considering transferring to med as undergrad or postgrad?

 

[amber1107]

Prestige shouldn't be a deterrent nor should it be a reason to study a degree. I think we are just trying to discuss how law can lead to med, ie how you see that they are related and in the scenario that you don't get med whether law is a viable path to go down. On another note, are you considering transferring to med as undergrad or postgrad?

The reason I am not looking at doing degrees such as medical science and nursing are for those reasons exactly, I simply don’t see them as careers I would end up pursing which is why I would rather do law as if I don’t get into med which is highly likely I can continue law as a degree and get a job I would enjoy. I was thinking of doing undergraduate for med, basically just applying along with highschool leavers but instead I’ll have done a year of law and the UCAT in the background.

 

[quickoats]

I shouldn’t have to justify my choice between law or med either.

You will have to do exactly that in a med school interview…

 

[specificagent1]

You will have to do exactly that in a med school interview…

Even if not for any formal requirements, you would need to justify it for yourself

 

[totally_screwed]

Hi there,
Currently I am doing my HSC and missed the opportunity to complete my UMAT this year. I do not wish to take a gap year and would rather go straight to uni but I’m hoping to go into medicine. As most unis require the UMAT this is making it very difficult. I am planning on just starting a different degree (maybe law) for a year and doing my UMAT next year behind the scenes, then applying to medicine the next semester. I would like thoughts on this process? Would it be smarter to do a medical science degree for a year? Or take a gap year? Also if I don’t get into medicine would I be able to continue my law degree despite this?
Any help would be great!! Thanks

your questions have probably been answered already but I will offer my 2 cents.

if you don't want to take a gap year then I suggest you don't. taking a gap year just to study for the UCAT is not worth the time off because 1. there's still a chance you won't make it to med, and 2. it'll be a complete bludge year of zero productivity if all you're doing is studying for UCAT. if you're also working, volunteering, picking up new skills, travelling etc. then a gap year imo would be worth taking to then pursue med, it needs to be a planned productive experience not a time to laze around and not gain much from. personally a gap year to try again for med would not have been good for me, because I'm lazy asf and if there's no pressure in my life I'll spiral into bad habits and lose the momentum I graduated high school with

I think you should study law (or anything else) for first year and sit the UCAT as well, if you get into med then you can transfer to med, if you don't get into med, you can continue with your law degree. my friend is doing engineering this year (first year) and she (re)sat the UCAT as well, idk if she heard back from any uni's regarding med but if it doesn't work out for her, then she'll continue with engineering which is obviously employable and not a risky one like medical science


for those saying prestige, pay and academic success (which is not flexing btw) should not be the main contributing factors in which degree you pick, I very much agree. but I don't think anyone should be shamed for picking a degree based on these factors.

I've gotten shamed for pursuing dentistry because it's the "next best thing to med" and not because I wanted to, and it's so ridiculous lol. like stfu and mind ur own business not everyone has a dominating passion as they leave high school, and sometimes thinking of prestige and what path matches one's academic levels can help give a sense of direction when you're lost or unsure. btw now I love what I'm studying, it's just that one year ago during HSC, I had no idea what I was interested in so I just picked degrees based on prestige and academics and minor interest, nothing wrong with this at all. I still managed to prove to interviewers that I wanted to do dentistry despite picking it for largely other reasons, but now I genuinely want it it just took some time after school to realise