Ep 4 - Biomedical Engineering and Medicine

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Join me today as I speak to Sarah, a medical student who first completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) before pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.

What we’re talking about:

Sarah’s perspective from moving schools at the end of Year 10
Biomedical Engineering
The process of applying to study Medicine
What you actually do when you’re studying Medicine

Sarah’s perspective from moving schools at the end of Year 10

Sarah moved schools at the start of Year 11, having already completed Maths Methods Units 1&2 at her old school. Learning that her new school felt she should repeat this rather than continuing to accelerate when maths had always been a strength of hers was particularly difficult, however she now views the perspective she gained from seeing how different schools focused on different aspects of school life as really positive.

Biomedical Engineering

Sarah’s undergraduate degree was Biomedical Engineering and she discusses what this course is like. Sarah didn’t do Specialist Maths in VCE but was able to catch up during the course and didn’t notice any difference between students who had previously completed Specialist Maths and those who hadn’t in terms of marks. The placements allowed students to explore a range of options, from fixing equipment in hospitals to researching areas such as building prosthetic limbs.

The process of applying to study Medicine

Once Sarah decided she wanted to pursue Medicine, she had to ensure that she had completed the relevant prerequisites in her undergraduate degree and then take on the application process including the GAMSAT and multiple mini interviews (MMIs). She takes us through the process and we discuss why it’s a good one, even though it can cause a lot of stress for students.

What you actually do when you’re studying Medicine

Sarah outlines the course and explains what you study at university before going out to work on placements. While she is still deciding which path to take after she graduates, it’s clear she’s made the right decision as she has found every rotation super interesting and enjoys learning more about the different opportunities available to her.