ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Faculties => Science => Topic started by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 06:16:26 pm

Title: Science Degrees
Post by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 06:16:26 pm
Out of these degrees, which one do you think is the most prestigious?

BSc @ Melbourne
BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
PhB (Science) @ ANU

Are there any particular advantages or disadvantages of each degree (excluding location) ?

Also is there a big difference between doing a normal 'BSc' and doing one of these hyped up programs like they offer at Monash or ANU?

Thanks
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: appianway on September 23, 2009, 06:28:42 pm
I'm not sure, but I'd probably put UniMelb last.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 06:29:43 pm
I'm not sure, but I'd probably put UniMelb last.

hahaha yeah I was thinking of that too
except Melb Uni might be deemed more prestigious than the other two unis so i'm not sure
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: appianway on September 23, 2009, 06:31:26 pm
I'd say ANU is a more prestigious uni than Melbourne. After all, it IS the best in Australia.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: dekoyl on September 23, 2009, 06:34:46 pm
Hahaha /0 :P I've been doing some research after asking you.
What do you want to do after university (I think it's relevant to which uni you should choose)?

Anyway, I hear that at an undergraduate level, B.Sc programs don't differ that greatly. Having said that, if you want to work at CSIRO, in research/academia, or possibly overseas, then I would say ANU.

If you're certain about what field you want to pursue, go to Monash. If you're still deciding (and might change your mind later), I think B.Sc at UoM is more flexible.

But you're talking about prestige so I'd say ANU.
(I know this can be irrelevant/inaccurate, but Time's Higher Education ranked ANU>UoM>Monash in 2008).
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: ben4386 on September 23, 2009, 06:46:20 pm

BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
Thanks

you can do a science degree in two years and not 3 if you choose this, i guess it means some extra work but your uni physics will deffs help
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 06:46:47 pm
Thanks dekoyl and appianway... I'm still tossing up between Science and Actuarial studies.
Like, I don't know how far into Actuarial studies I wil get before I get bored... it seems so boring... but it's a great career.
Otherwise I would do science, maybe get a degree in physics or engineering but not so sure about career... =/

If I just sign up for every course in my VTAC application then I get more time to decide right... until I get my offers?

Oh I didn't know that ben, thanks for that... might be useful
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: dekoyl on September 23, 2009, 06:54:00 pm
but it's a great career.
Great career in what sense? :P Monetary sense?
I'm pretty sure you won't be bored with it as you're doing it. It's pretty intense stuff.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 06:58:26 pm
but it's a great career.
Great career in what sense? :P Monetary sense?
I'm pretty sure you won't be bored with it as you're doing it. It's pretty intense stuff.

lol yep $$$ :D :D :D
Actually I like all the probability parts of it but the business stuff turns me off!
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: TrueTears on September 23, 2009, 07:03:04 pm
Go Finance if you want $$$ and maths.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: /0 on September 23, 2009, 07:04:35 pm
not enough maths :(
I think it's ironic how Bachelor of Actuarial Studies has Financial Maths
But Bachelor of Finance does not have Financial Maths
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: TrueTears on September 23, 2009, 07:11:43 pm
Bachelor of Finance overlaps a lot into Accounting as well.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: mark_alec on September 23, 2009, 11:11:13 pm
Don't judge a degree purely on which university it came from. If you are interested in a BSc, which fields of science most interest you? The universities listed have different strengths in different areas.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: humph on September 23, 2009, 11:48:32 pm

BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
Thanks

you can do a science degree in two years and not 3 if you choose this, i guess it means some extra work but your uni physics will deffs help
You can do this at ANU as well. I do have a friend at Monash right now who's done this (well, in 2 and a half years instead of 3, but same diff).

Don't judge a degree purely on which university it came from. If you are interested in a BSc, which fields of science most interest you? The universities listed have different strengths in different areas.
+1. Universities vary greatly in their strengths and weaknesses. Even in maths, different types of mathematics are stronger at different unis - e.g. USyd is good for algebra, ANU great for analysis, Monash good for statistics, and so on.
Basically, look far enough ahead to see which subjects are offered, as this gives you the best idea on what that university focusses most on.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: vexx on September 24, 2009, 04:26:03 am
This may be a stupid question but i was researching on the website about the BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash. However, it doesn't have an ENTER requirement. Or is it the same as the normal BSc degree, but to get the scholar's benefits, it just requires a distinction average?
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: mark_alec on September 24, 2009, 09:06:39 am
It is typically about 99.5, with an intake of <dozen a year.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: appianway on September 24, 2009, 09:25:36 am
I think last year it dropped down to about 99.2, but even so, that's still a freakishly high ENTER.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: humph on September 24, 2009, 11:10:48 am
Out of these degrees, which one do you think is the most prestigious?

BSc @ Melbourne
BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
PhB (Science) @ ANU

Are there any particular advantages or disadvantages of each degree (excluding location) ?

Also is there a big difference between doing a normal 'BSc' and doing one of these hyped up programs like they offer at Monash or ANU?

Thanks
Difference for PhB at least is certainly noticable - we basically get much more personal treatment than normal science students. As far as the "research" component goes, it can be a bit hit and miss. I personally enjoy my Advanced Studies Courses a whole lot, but in all fairness in maths they're usually just studying something more advanced than you'd usually see at an undergraduate level. Mind you, I have friends who in second year physics have done ASCs that led them to help making major breakthroughs, and they got to go along to conferences and be a coauthor in published papers.

I think last year it dropped down to about 99.2, but even so, that's still a freakishly high ENTER.
It's about the same as PhB at ANU (though that's more about 30 people a year, and usually two or three of them are below 99).
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: appianway on September 24, 2009, 11:23:26 am
Hang on, conferences in 2nd year physics?!?!?! Geniuses.

So you CAN accelerate the PhB? Hmm, maybe I'll go to ANU.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: vexx on September 24, 2009, 12:28:51 pm
It is typically about 99.5, with an intake of <dozen a year.

oh wow, that's so high. it doesn't even look that different to the normal course! does anyone know the differences between that and the normal Bsc  :P
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: QuantumJG on September 24, 2009, 01:04:59 pm
Out of these degrees, which one do you think is the most prestigious?

BSc @ Melbourne
BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
PhB (Science) @ ANU

Are there any particular advantages or disadvantages of each degree (excluding location) ?

Also is there a big difference between doing a normal 'BSc' and doing one of these hyped up programs like they offer at Monash or ANU?

Thanks
Difference for PhB at least is certainly noticable - we basically get much more personal treatment than normal science students. As far as the "research" component goes, it can be a bit hit and miss. I personally enjoy my Advanced Studies Courses a whole lot, but in all fairness in maths they're usually just studying something more advanced than you'd usually see at an undergraduate level. Mind you, I have friends who in second year physics have done ASCs that led them to help making major breakthroughs, and they got to go along to conferences and be a coauthor in published papers.

I think last year it dropped down to about 99.2, but even so, that's still a freakishly high ENTER.
It's about the same as PhB at ANU (though that's more about 30 people a year, and usually two or three of them are below 99).

I'm guessing if you are doing a PhB (Bachelor of philosophy) you are wanting to go for a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). Can you jump from PhB to PhD, without doing an honours or masters degree?

In Victoria I'm not 100% sure but I think we don't have a PhB.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: Mao on September 24, 2009, 05:05:19 pm
It is typically about 99.5, with an intake of <dozen a year.

oh wow, that's so high. it doesn't even look that different to the normal course! does anyone know the differences between that and the normal Bsc  :P

You get a scholarship, you don't strictly follow the course structure (i.e. you study whatever you want). You get to research faster.
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: vexx on September 24, 2009, 05:17:14 pm
It is typically about 99.5, with an intake of <dozen a year.

oh wow, that's so high. it doesn't even look that different to the normal course! does anyone know the differences between that and the normal Bsc  :P

You get a scholarship, you don't strictly follow the course structure (i.e. you study whatever you want). You get to research faster.

ah okay thanks. i knew about the course structure bit, but still not a big difference. i'm most likely going to have it near the top of my preferences though. but i doubt i'll get 99+
Title: Re: Science Degrees
Post by: humph on September 24, 2009, 05:26:22 pm
Out of these degrees, which one do you think is the most prestigious?

BSc @ Melbourne
BSc (Scholars Program) @ Monash
PhB (Science) @ ANU

Are there any particular advantages or disadvantages of each degree (excluding location) ?

Also is there a big difference between doing a normal 'BSc' and doing one of these hyped up programs like they offer at Monash or ANU?

Thanks
Difference for PhB at least is certainly noticable - we basically get much more personal treatment than normal science students. As far as the "research" component goes, it can be a bit hit and miss. I personally enjoy my Advanced Studies Courses a whole lot, but in all fairness in maths they're usually just studying something more advanced than you'd usually see at an undergraduate level. Mind you, I have friends who in second year physics have done ASCs that led them to help making major breakthroughs, and they got to go along to conferences and be a coauthor in published papers.

I think last year it dropped down to about 99.2, but even so, that's still a freakishly high ENTER.
It's about the same as PhB at ANU (though that's more about 30 people a year, and usually two or three of them are below 99).

I'm guessing if you are doing a PhB (Bachelor of philosophy) you are wanting to go for a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). Can you jump from PhB to PhD, without doing an honours or masters degree?

In Victoria I'm not 100% sure but I think we don't have a PhB.
PhB has an honours year (as does Dean's scholars program at Monash). But then yes, once you've done that you can go straight to a PhD.