NUS / NTU medicine application 2018/2019

[juzeveleee]

Hi, my DS is looking at applying Medicine this year. But currently he is serving Army too. What about your DS? Thanks!

[rylee]

Yes. My DS will be applying. He also serving NS now. So timing will be a bit tied as they only come back in the weekend.

[Jamestpy]

My DS has perfect score in his recent A Level exam and he took BCME subject combination in JC. I encourage him to apply for medicine although he dont seem to be so keen. He was originally keen to study medicine which is the reason he chose this subject combination but somehow his interest kind of drifted and now he want to study Finance overseas. His interest now is to work in wealth/fund management sector probably in US. I have no problem with his interest in finance or working overseas but I felt kind of wasted if he gave up his original interest with his results and portfolio. I am afraid he will regret later in life. Medicine is a professional job and a valuable skill to have. So many people want to apply but can’t and he is giving up like that? Should I talk to him further?

[sharonkhoo]

Jamestpy:

My DS has perfect score in his recent A Level exam and he took BCME subject combination in JC. I encourage him to apply for medicine although he dont seem to be so keen. He was originally keen to study medicine which is the reason he chose this subject combination but somehow his interest kind of drifted and now he want to study Finance overseas. His interest now is to work in wealth/fund management sector probably in US. I have no problem with his interest in finance or working overseas but I felt kind of wasted if he gave up his original interest with his results and portfolio. I am afraid he will regret later in life. Medicine is a professional job and a valuable skill to have. So many people want to apply but can't and he is giving up like that? Should I talk to him further?

Many students with perfect scores do not choose to study Medicine. Medicine is not the only \"professional job and valuable skill\".

I would always let the student follow his interest, within reason. He will put the most effort into something that he is interested in, rather than something that someone else has told him is \"good\". But that doesn't stop you and him having a good talk about the pros and cons of the choices, and the values than underly the choices. If he is only following the money, but had a real heart and passion of Medicine in the past, maybe you might want to find out what has caused him to change his mind. But it could equally be that his \"interest\" in Medicine was simply that he didn't know what he was interested in, and Medicine seemed OK since many people told him it was a good choice, and now having grown a bit and studied Econs, his interests have changed.

Finally, there are post-graduate medical courses, and if he so chooses, he can still study Medicine after a first degree in something else if he changes his mind later.

[zac's mum]

(Unless things have changed since my time) studying Medicine requires student to dissect a cadaver during anatomy class.


Not everybody can bear doing this. That’s why not all of the triple science cohort from my JC went on to study medicine, even if their score qualified them to.

[Zeit]

zac's mum:

(Unless things have changed since my time) studying Medicine requires student to dissect a cadaver during anatomy class.


Not everybody can bear doing this. That’s why not all of the triple science cohort from my JC went on to study medicine, even if their score qualified them to.

Erm, of course still need to dissect now. If you don't dissect, how are you going to be a doctor huh? Need to take pledge and respect the 'silent mentors' (unclaimed / donated).
Also last time needed to deliver at least 4 babies too at Gyn&Obs dept.
Needed to purchase whole or half skeleton and put at home for revision. Half set was cheaper.

[Zeit]

Jamestpy:

My DS has perfect score in his recent A Level exam and he took BCME subject combination in JC. I encourage him to apply for medicine although he dont seem to be so keen. He was originally keen to study medicine which is the reason he chose this subject combination but somehow his interest kind of drifted and now he want to study Finance overseas. His interest now is to work in wealth/fund management sector probably in US. I have no problem with his interest in finance or working overseas but I felt kind of wasted if he gave up his original interest with his results and portfolio. I am afraid he will regret later in life. Medicine is a professional job and a valuable skill to have. So many people want to apply but can't and he is giving up like that? Should I talk to him further?

Oh why not, if he can get into a top uni in US? Many top global banks at Wall St will come knocking on their doors before they even graduate. Most can secure lucrative packages and perhaps even find an ABC gf with same high pay package, then both can buy an apartment at Tribeca, followed by immigration after some years. :evil:

But finance sector is volatile. Be prepared to be retrenched in a downturn, but child can always go to HK, Shanghai, London or Frankfurt or back to Singapore. Still highly sought after as we're also a financial and wealth mgmt hub.

[jtoh]

Jamestpy:

My DS has perfect score in his recent A Level exam and he took BCME subject combination in JC. I encourage him to apply for medicine although he dont seem to be so keen. He was originally keen to study medicine which is the reason he chose this subject combination but somehow his interest kind of drifted and now he want to study Finance overseas. His interest now is to work in wealth/fund management sector probably in US. I have no problem with his interest in finance or working overseas but I felt kind of wasted if he gave up his original interest with his results and portfolio. I am afraid he will regret later in life. Medicine is a professional job and a valuable skill to have. So many people want to apply but can't and he is giving up like that? Should I talk to him further?

If he is no longer interested in Medicine, it isn't a 'waste' not to apply for it. Better to realize it now than to spend 5 years studying for MBBS then realizing you don't like it but are still bonded to the government. Did he do any medicine-related attachments? Does he have a realistic view of medicine? Maybe being immersed in these environments made him realize that medicine wasn't for him.

[moonee]

i agree fully with Jtoh, its better if he pursue something he is passionate about or else he may land up doing medicine just to please u or do it half way and hating it. No harm talking to him again tho.

[iFirefly]

zac's mum:

(Unless things have changed since my time) studying Medicine requires student to dissect a cadaver during anatomy class.


Not everybody can bear doing this. That’s why not all of the triple science cohort from my JC went on to study medicine, even if their score qualified them to.

I understand that NUS teaches using prosecrion & dissection of real cadavers, whereas NTU uses synthetic cadavers (or both?).