Maths and Commerce(Maybe Actuarial)

[Kittykat123]

I'm in year 12 this year and am looking at doing either maths or commerce or maybe both at uni next year.
I'm pretty good at maths - Methods last year got 46 and doing Specialist now.
There's limited info here regarding monash's maths courses and what i have found seems pretty uninspiring, both in its own regard and compared to Melbourne which is another option.

Everyone i've been talking to says actuarial! You'll make the big bucks! But i've done heaps of research and am not convinced thats what i want to do.

To the point
a) Whats the deal with Monash's maths dept. Are the subjects challenging? I've read that most people taking them just do it because they have to in order to complete their major (like physics etc), so subjects like 1035 and 2015 are they any different?
b) Monash's actuarial dept? Is it interesting and challenging? Drop out rate high? Is it easy to go into another course if you do drop it?
c) My joy is maths, so would an actuarial and a maths major as part of a BComm BSc double be overkill?

Cheers

[Kittykat123]

Also any info regarding UoM Maths and actuarial would be appreciated

[spectroscopy]

if youre so worried about monash and want melbourne so bad, do actuarial studies at melbourne, and if it isnt enough math for you (which it should be) you can do more in your breadth, and if you REALLY want more, you can do a concurrent diploma in mathematical sciences

BOOM: http://www.undergraduates.ms.unimelb.edu.au/course_advice/dip_math_sci/dip_math_sci.php

[TrueTears]

I'm in year 12 this year and am looking at doing either maths or commerce or maybe both at uni next year.
I'm pretty good at maths - Methods last year got 46 and doing Specialist now.
There's limited info here regarding monash's maths courses and what i have found seems pretty uninspiring, both in its own regard and compared to Melbourne which is another option.

Everyone i've been talking to says actuarial! You'll make the big bucks! But i've done heaps of research and am not convinced thats what i want to do.

To the point
a) Whats the deal with Monash's maths dept. Are the subjects challenging? I've read that most people taking them just do it because they have to in order to complete their major (like physics etc), so subjects like 1035 and 2015 are they any different?
b) Monash's actuarial dept? Is it interesting and challenging? Drop out rate high? Is it easy to go into another course if you do drop it?
c) My joy is maths, so would an actuarial and a maths major as part of a BComm BSc double be overkill?

Cheers

If your joy is maths, then just do maths, Monash's maths department is very good.

[Lasercookie]

Everyone i've been talking to says actuarial! You'll make the big bucks! But i've done heaps of research and am not convinced thats what i want to do.

If you're convinced that Actuarial is not what you want to do, then why consider doing it then? You probably don't want to clog your workload up with subjects that you don't enjoy at all.

do actuarial studies at melbourne, and if it isnt enough math for you (which it should be)

Not necessarily, depends on the type of maths degree you'd be wanting to take. Just looking at the Actuarial course and the Maths major for Melbourne (http://bcom.unimelb.edu.au/majors/actuarial_studies), the type of maths subjects you do beyond first year would probably end up differing. But yeah that diploma would get around that and let you do a regular maths major.

[Professor Polonsky]

If you enjoy maths, and that's what you want to do, then do a Science degree! If you feel like you want other options, then perhaps consider a double degree with Commerce at Monash.

[Mao]

Send TrueTears a PM. He has done pretty much precisely this (math + commerce), he'll be able to give you a lot of advice.

[charmanderp]

UoM offers a concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences, which could be studied alongside a BComm (:

http://coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/concurrent_diplomas/1-diploma-in-mathematical-sciences

[Kittykat123]

Thanks for the answers all. But can anyone whose done actuarial or maths give me any info about them, like if its  challenging and any other specific info.
Cheers

Oh and i've also pmed true tears who hopefully can shed some light

[Kittykat123]

UoM offers a concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences, which could be studied alongside a BComm (:

http://coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/concurrent_diplomas/1-diploma-in-mathematical-sciences

Hmm i didnt know about this. Thanks, will do some more research on it.

[Kittykat123]

Not necessarily, depends on the type of maths degree you'd be wanting to take. Just looking at the Actuarial course and the Maths major for Melbourne (http://bcom.unimelb.edu.au/majors/actuarial_studies), the type of maths subjects you do beyond first year would probably end up differing. But yeah that diploma would get around that and let you do a regular maths major.

Ye thats the thing - i really enjoy the pure maths that im doing at the moment and other stuff ive taught myself, however havent had much exposure to the kind of stuff they do for actuarial so cant really say i wouldnt enjoy it as much.

Also some of you may have thought that i was pro Melb, but im definitely leaning towards Monash - closer to home, better scholarships (fingers crossed for the atar ) and it seems to be a lot more flexible

[Fluttershy]

IMO Actuarial at Melbourne is actually pretty cool so far, though it's only been a semester, so I don't have too much experience. I've found Accelerated Maths difficult only in that it takes a while for the concepts to sink in, mainly because everything is covered so fast. But you hit a point where everything sort of clicks and all the questions just become really logical and straightforward. There are 4 lectures a week and one 2-hour tute/computer lab class a week for Accelerated Maths 1. Apparently AM2 is pretty hard as well.. (FYI, I'm not the best at maths, got 43 in Methods and 42 in spesh)

As you probably know, actuarial stuff is mainly stats and probability, so if that's not your kettle of fish, maybe not actuarial... if you enjoy that kind of stuff, then you'll probably like the course in second/third year (we haven't done any of that stuff yet in first semester).

Commerce subjects aren't particularly hard, at least not from what I've done so far. Accounting is a matter of reading the notes and understanding all the jargon, Microeconomics is very logical and easy to grasp.

Again, just to clarify, I'm talking about UoM here, I assume Monash's course would be similar in a few respects at least? O.o

[Mao]

Oh and i've also pmed true tears who hopefully can shed some light

He's not on AN that much anymore. If he takes too long to reply, send me a pm and I'll spam him on facebook.

[Kittykat123]

He's not on AN that much anymore. If he takes too long to reply, send me a pm and I'll spam him on facebook.

Haha na he's been very helpful, i've messaged him multiple times and has been super quick to respond.
Plus i didnt actaully realise this but he was the second person to comment on this topic 

[iroflmfao]

I used to love Maths in highschool.

Came do Maths in Uni.
Never have i been so wrong.