UniMelb BSc or Monash BSc Scholar Program

[acinod]

I am stuck between deciding which of the two following course I will aim to get in after Year 12.
I will probably be doing a double major in Maths and Physics or maybe double Maths.

University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Science

• More prestige (parents don't care what I'm learning, they just want me to go to Melbourne)
• Less travel time (half the time it takes to get to Monash)
• More convenient postgrad. (might be considering doing postgrad at UniMelb even if I do undergrad at Monash because they offer Doctor of Optometry)
• Easier to get in (85.05 ATAR)

Monash University - Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)

• More flexibility in choosing courses, no annoying breadth program
• Possiblity of finishing the degree in a shorter amount of time
• Harder to get in (99.05 ATAR), so there must be some big benefits to it?

[Gloamglozer]

You don't seem to be a big fan of the breadth component:

More flexibility in choosing courses, no annoying breadth program

I have had friends who have transferred out of UoM solely because of the breadth component - they found it annoying before they got to uni, had that thought confirmed when they started and subsequently had an agonising semester or whole year before they got out.  And you also believe that Monash has "more flexibility".  Doesn't that sound good?

[rustic_metal]

The science scholar's program is shit. I had it as my 12th preference and it was the only one I received a scholarship for, despite being a good 7 enter points higher than my next highest preference. Binned that offer straight away.

[Gloamglozer]

The science scholar's program is shit. I had it as my 12th preference and it was the only one I received a scholarship for, despite being a good 7 enter points higher than my next highest preference. Binned that offer straight away.

And I presume that was back in the days when you could receive more than one offer in any one round, yeah?

[taiga]

The science scholar's program is shit. I had it as my 12th preference and it was the only one I received a scholarship for, despite being a good 7 enter points higher than my next highest preference. Binned that offer straight away.

So many things in this post don't make sense to me

you had more than 12 preferences? and I don't see how the ENTER thing is relevant.

OT;
I think it is alright given you get free money, the program is slightly adjusted, and I think there might be some special deal to do with honours

[Gloamglozer]

The science scholar's program is shit. I had it as my 12th preference and it was the only one I received a scholarship for, despite being a good 7 enter points higher than my next highest preference. Binned that offer straight away.

So many things in this post don't make sense to me

you had more than 12 preferences? and I don't see how the ENTER thing is relevant.

OT;
I think it is alright given you get free money, the program is slightly adjusted, and I think there might be some special deal to do with honours

He said it was his 12th preference so I presume that would have been his last preference.  Also, the way I've interpreted it is that his 11th preference was 7 "ENTER points" lower than his 12th preference.

[taiga]

aah fair enough re-read it and it makes sense!

I think both programs are probably good, but really if you're an elite sort of program WITH a scholarship, it's a bit hard to say Melbourne is better =\

[rustic_metal]

Nah, as in the science scholar's program was 7 or so enter points higher than any of my other preferences. Actually I might have had a couple of those Monash double degrees with hardly any intake and "N/A" listed as their entrance score if you count them as higher, but they were loitering near the top of the bottom half of my preferences and more to fill in space than anything else.

And I'm talking about letter scholarships; they came completely separate to the first round offers, remember?

As nice as it is to receive a bit of recognition like that, it's sort of useless when it's your last preference and has the highest enter. They must have been in serious need to flog it.

[acinod]

The science scholar's program is shit.

How? On paper it sure seems more suitable for me than Melbourne's BSc, due to less restrictions and more flexibility in subject choices. I have also heard that the teaching is better at Melbourne. However in Monash, it appears that I get some sort of mentor to guide me if I do the Scholar Program.

But lets talk about more into the future; would I be more recognized if I complete a BSc at Melbourne or a BSc Scholar Program (which sounds at bit fancy) at Monash?

[taiga]

The science scholar's program is shit.

How? On paper it sure seems more suitable for me than Melbourne's BSc, due to less restrictions and more flexibility in subject choices. I have also heard that the teaching at Melbourne is better than Monash. However, it appears that I get some sort of mentor to guide me if I do the Scholar Program at Monash.

But lets talk about more into the future; would I be more recognized if I complete a BSc at Melbourne or a BSc Scholar Program (which sounds at bit fancy) at Monash?

If you're looking for Australian employment a science degree at any Gof8 uni should be considered equally. Your marks and other aspects are the most discriminating factors.

[rustic_metal]

If you're looking for Australian employment a science degree at any Gof8 uni should be considered equally. Your marks and other aspects are the most discriminating factors.

This. You'll be just as qualified at any of those universities. But qualification is a tick the box thing. Some employers prefer certain institutions over others, however.

[Russ]

Also, unless the mentor is going to give you a lab placement it's really not worth that much at all.

What's so bad about breadth? 4 subjects isn't going to kill you and you might actually enjoy taking something less full on. They don't have to be history of english literature if you don't want them to be

[humph]

Go to ANU!

Disclaimer: it's not in Melbourne...

[jimmy999]

What's so bad about breadth? 4 subjects isn't going to kill you and you might actually enjoy taking something less full on. They don't have to be history of english literature if you don't want them to be

You can do breadth subjects at Monash if you wanted to. They are completely optional which is why I would pick that over the Melbourne Model.

If you were considering a career in research, or at least doing a postgrad degree, then sci scholars would be better as you could set up your undergrad degree to prepare you better for postgrad.

You should do sci scholar over science at melbourne, both of them would look equally good on a resume (hence prestige won't matter) and if you get into the sci scholar, then you'll be given a scholarship and thus will be paid to study. There are other factors such as the flexibility (which has been really good to most people I know doing it, seriously, being in sci scholar, you could do a third year subject in first year without meeting any of the prereqs, they'll let you do anything)

[rustic_metal]

My mate at Melbourne has just finished second year and has already written a chemistry thesis and created his own compound.

Doing a third year subject in first year without doing the prereqs...I don't know about Monash, but here prerequisites in science (particularly in 3rd year) generally mean you will literally be unable to attempt the subject without studying them.