Melbourne Uni Bachelor of Arts - No idea what subjects to choose.

[selim31]

So I want to go to Melbourne Uni and do a Bachelor of Arts next year, however, I am not exactly sure what subjects I should do.
I mainly want to go to Melbourne University cuz it's got a very good reputation. 

I want to be a Lawyer, so I obviously I would have to do a Post Grad in Law (JD @ Mel Law School) as I will not get a super perfect 99.00 ATAR score so I can go to Monash and do an Undergraduate Degree (I don't want to go to Monash anyway).  This leaves me with Melbourne University and follow my current plan (see above).

The only thing is that the Bachelor of Arts does not really have subjects that I would enjoy doing for three years, but I love everything else about the University eg. Social Life + (see above!). Now I'm stuck. I was thinking about doing a major in Economics but I have not done Unit 3/4 Methods (only Unit 1/2). Would I still be able to major in Economics @ Melbourne Uni somehow?

[Russ]

Yes, you can major in economics through a BA. Schmalex is doing just that, you might want to PM her

[Menang]

http://ba.unimelb.edu.au/about/field-of-study.html
Scroll down to E -> Economics.

You can major in Economics but you need a 25 in methods to enroll.

[mikee65]

Thats an interesting quote by Young, implies degrees of justice, I always though of justice as a dichotomy, such as truth or falsity, something half true is impossible, unless you subscribe to Supervaluationism or Fuzzy logic

[slothpomba]

Reputation isn't everything :p. Monash and Melbourne now need the same ATAR to get in, just sayin... and if you're going for postgrad even if you got your Ugrad from somewhere like rmit it hardly matters. Not to troll but whats wrong with monash? Your best option is trying to get into undergraduate monash law, that really is your best option by far. Theres no guarantee you'll get into the JD.

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/faces/htdocs/user/search/SimpleSearch.jsp This would help you i think

[selim31]

I know that I can major in Economic through a Bachelor of Arts, however, I haven't done METHODS UNIT 3/4. I was wondering if I can get into the Economics major even though I won't meet the prerequisite???  Would Melbourne Uni allow me to do Economics if I do a few maths alongside? I'm quite competent with the content of Unit 1/2 Methods as I did that last year, and perhaps even a bit of the Calculus covered this year (I had a sneak peak in my friend's Textbook)

@kingpomba

Monash is almost 3 hours away from where I live, so Melbourne would be my best bet in my situation. Uhh, and, there's no such thing as On Campus living for me as I am not going to be able to afford it. A scholarship is out of question.

Arrogantly enough, I do believe that I will get into a JD program, and so does my Legal Studies teacher.
 

[Gloamglozer]

I know that I can major in Economic through a Bachelor of Arts, however, I haven't done METHODS UNIT 3/4. I was wondering if I can get into the Economics major even though I won't meet the prerequisite???  Would Melbourne Uni allow me to do Economics if I do a few maths alongside? I'm quite competent with the content of Unit 1/2 Methods as I did that last year, and perhaps even a bit of the Calculus covered this year (I had a sneak peak in my friend's Textbook)

In that case, you'd have to do this subject:

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2011/MAST10012

Passing that subject will satisfy the Methods pre-requisite.

[selim31]

I know that I can major in Economic through a Bachelor of Arts, however, I haven't done METHODS UNIT 3/4. I was wondering if I can get into the Economics major even though I won't meet the prerequisite???  Would Melbourne Uni allow me to do Economics if I do a few maths alongside? I'm quite competent with the content of Unit 1/2 Methods as I did that last year, and perhaps even a bit of the Calculus covered this year (I had a sneak peak in my friend's Textbook)

In that case, you'd have to do this subject:

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2011/MAST10012

Passing that subject will satisfy the Methods pre-requisite.

 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! THANK YOU!!!

[Eriny]

Why would you do an Arts degree if the subjects don't really interest you? I'm curious. In addition, if you did decently in that maths course, you could possibly transfer from a BA into Commerce or something that would interest you, though you probably couldn't get credit for all of the subjects you've taken (which means it would probably take a bit longer to graduate).

I definitely you should have a think though about what degree WOULD interest you (ignoring, just for the purpose of the exercise, what uni you can do the degree at). Also, do you know what you would like to do with your Law degree? If you're gunning for a place at a big firm, you may be wise to hold out for a place at Melbourne or Monash, but on the other hand, if you don't get the required ATAR, it's not like a degree from other universities make you unemployable. I don't know where you live, but La Trobe and Deakin both have good on-campus life. Another option is doing undergrad law straight out of school and then looking to transfer to a more 'prestigious' university, or doing a Masters degree after you graduate.

[playsimme]

^ Just wondering.. if you wanted to pursue law but didn't make it into Melbourne/monash.. and instead chose deakin, would it be a really bad move for employment prospects? Is there actually much difference or is it just hype? I didn't go to open day.. so I really have no idea about Deakin. I just hear people bag anything but Monash or Melbourne :s

[Eriny]

I honestly don't know to what extent it would matter, and I think it would depend on what you wanted to do. In the end, experience does tend to trump education, even in the legal industry, so if you weren't a contender for a super-competitive job straight after graduation, it doesn't mean that you could never be after you've done some related work with other firms. Most unis have some idea of what their students are doing after graduation, so it might be a good idea to email someone at Deakin and ask them what percentage of law graduates are employed and in what areas. It could also be a good idea to email/call a legal place that you'd like to work for one day and ask them what you can do to best get a position there.

I think as well, you wouldn't be excluded from selection at most places just because you went to Deakin, but job selection for the very top firms can be brutal. We're talking about jobs which may have hundreds of applicants and only a handful of places. You need to do anything possible to increase your likelihood of getting selected, which includes more than just education stuff. Monash and Melbourne grads do tend to be selected more often, but whether this is because their degree is more prestigious or because they have been able to demonstrate their achievements throughout their whole CV is unclear.

[selim31]

Why would you do an Arts degree if the subjects don't really interest you? I'm curious. In addition, if you did decently in that maths course, you could possibly transfer from a BA into Commerce or something that would interest you, though you probably couldn't get credit for all of the subjects you've taken (which means it would probably take a bit longer to graduate).

I definitely you should have a think though about what degree WOULD interest you (ignoring, just for the purpose of the exercise, what uni you can do the degree at). Also, do you know what you would like to do with your Law degree? If you're gunning for a place at a big firm, you may be wise to hold out for a place at Melbourne or Monash, but on the other hand, if you don't get the required ATAR, it's not like a degree from other universities make you unemployable. I don't know where you live, but La Trobe and Deakin both have good on-campus life. Another option is doing undergrad law straight out of school and then looking to transfer to a more 'prestigious' university, or doing a Masters degree after you graduate.

Well the main reason for me wanting to do a Bachelor of Arts is because I won't get into an undergraduates at a good Law School, but still get a good enough score so I can do a Bachelor of Arts @ Melbourne.  I'll most probably get an ATAR in the high 80's, but not higher than that. It really seems to be my only option. I thought about doing undergraduate law at Deakin, but I don't know if I'll get in as they have a very limited amount of places for their Law courses.

So because I'm so snobby about getting into a good University I'm left with Melbourne Uni and a Course which does not really have the subjects I'm very interested in. Well, now I thought about an Economics major, which would require me to take that extra maths subject. Don't know if I will pursue it though. 
However, what turns me on about Melbourne Uni is its Uni Life - they have at least 5 clubs I want to join + its ranking is a big plus. Deakin doesn't have most of this.


I definitely want to work in criminal law (Barrister!) , and maybe even have my own Law practice firm sometime.

Again, I know I sound very arrogant but I can't help it. Going to an Elite University has always been my dream. Throughout High school I always worked so hard while my classmates ridiculed me for this. Yep, that's right, I'm a Western suburb kid. The only place where Education is looked down upon. 
 

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Have you considered other undergraduate degrees in Melbourne that you might be more interested in? Environments, Science should be in the 80s as well for next year. If you choose to go with Arts, and given your interest in the law, maybe you should consider majors such as criminology, politics or sociology. Are you interested in learning any languages, you can major in languages in an Arts degree I think.  Not trying to put you down, but I don't think any school leaver right now could safely say that they can surely get into the JD program in three years time. You do need to maintain a H2A average in your undergrad years, a decent written application and grab a competitive score in the LSAT. So make sure you are doing something you enjoy in that 3 years undergrad. Deakin's cut off for undergrad law is around 93 from memory, their degree is very business oriented, and it seems as if they have a pretty good social life up there, according to a friend who goes there for law. But since you are a ranker, I suggest you talk to a Melbourne pathway advisor to get your undergraduate sorted out properly. Talking to some JD students, and getting informed through talking to the Melb JD faculty, looking at the LSAT papers etcc might also be helpful.

[Eriny]

Why would you do an Arts degree if the subjects don't really interest you? I'm curious. In addition, if you did decently in that maths course, you could possibly transfer from a BA into Commerce or something that would interest you, though you probably couldn't get credit for all of the subjects you've taken (which means it would probably take a bit longer to graduate).

I definitely you should have a think though about what degree WOULD interest you (ignoring, just for the purpose of the exercise, what uni you can do the degree at). Also, do you know what you would like to do with your Law degree? If you're gunning for a place at a big firm, you may be wise to hold out for a place at Melbourne or Monash, but on the other hand, if you don't get the required ATAR, it's not like a degree from other universities make you unemployable. I don't know where you live, but La Trobe and Deakin both have good on-campus life. Another option is doing undergrad law straight out of school and then looking to transfer to a more 'prestigious' university, or doing a Masters degree after you graduate.

Well the main reason for me wanting to do a Bachelor of Arts is because I won't get into an undergraduates at a good Law School, but still get a good enough score so I can do a Bachelor of Arts @ Melbourne.  I'll most probably get an ATAR in the high 80's, but not higher than that. It really seems to be my only option. I thought about doing undergraduate law at Deakin, but I don't know if I'll get in as they have a very limited amount of places for their Law courses.

So because I'm so snobby about getting into a good University I'm left with Melbourne Uni and a Course which does not really have the subjects I'm very interested in. Well, now I thought about an Economics major, which would require me to take that extra maths subject. Don't know if I will pursue it though. 
However, what turns me on about Melbourne Uni is its Uni Life - they have at least 5 clubs I want to join + its ranking is a big plus. Deakin doesn't have most of this.


I definitely want to work in criminal law (Barrister!) , and maybe even have my own Law practice firm sometime.

Again, I know I sound very arrogant but I can't help it. Going to an Elite University has always been my dream. Throughout High school I always worked so hard while my classmates ridiculed me for this. Yep, that's right, I'm a Western suburb kid. The only place where Education is looked down upon. 
 

I think that's fair enough, and I don't think it's necessarily elitist to want to go to a specific uni, especially if, based on solid research, you like all the things they have to offer. You might want to be cautious though about locking yourself into three years of study in something you don't enjoy, as lovephysics said. I do arts and I think that arts is an awesome degree and very good preparation for a JD, but I've always been interested in arts subjects so it's little wonder why I think that. I definitely would also recommend taking criminology courses as well as philosophy.

[selim31]

Why would you do an Arts degree if the subjects don't really interest you? I'm curious. In addition, if you did decently in that maths course, you could possibly transfer from a BA into Commerce or something that would interest you, though you probably couldn't get credit for all of the subjects you've taken (which means it would probably take a bit longer to graduate).

I definitely you should have a think though about what degree WOULD interest you (ignoring, just for the purpose of the exercise, what uni you can do the degree at). Also, do you know what you would like to do with your Law degree? If you're gunning for a place at a big firm, you may be wise to hold out for a place at Melbourne or Monash, but on the other hand, if you don't get the required ATAR, it's not like a degree from other universities make you unemployable. I don't know where you live, but La Trobe and Deakin both have good on-campus life. Another option is doing undergrad law straight out of school and then looking to transfer to a more 'prestigious' university, or doing a Masters degree after you graduate.

Well the main reason for me wanting to do a Bachelor of Arts is because I won't get into an undergraduates at a good Law School, but still get a good enough score so I can do a Bachelor of Arts @ Melbourne.  I'll most probably get an ATAR in the high 80's, but not higher than that. It really seems to be my only option. I thought about doing undergraduate law at Deakin, but I don't know if I'll get in as they have a very limited amount of places for their Law courses.

So because I'm so snobby about getting into a good University I'm left with Melbourne Uni and a Course which does not really have the subjects I'm very interested in. Well, now I thought about an Economics major, which would require me to take that extra maths subject. Don't know if I will pursue it though. 
However, what turns me on about Melbourne Uni is its Uni Life - they have at least 5 clubs I want to join + its ranking is a big plus. Deakin doesn't have most of this.


I definitely want to work in criminal law (Barrister!) , and maybe even have my own Law practice firm sometime.

Again, I know I sound very arrogant but I can't help it. Going to an Elite University has always been my dream. Throughout High school I always worked so hard while my classmates ridiculed me for this. Yep, that's right, I'm a Western suburb kid. The only place where Education is looked down upon. 
 

I think that's fair enough, and I don't think it's necessarily elitist to want to go to a specific uni, especially if, based on solid research, you like all the things they have to offer. You might want to be cautious though about locking yourself into three years of study in something you don't enjoy, as lovephysics said. I do arts and I think that arts is an awesome degree and very good preparation for a JD, but I've always been interested in arts subjects so it's little wonder why I think that. I definitely would also recommend taking criminology courses as well as philosophy.

Haha, I was debating with a teacher whether I should do Criminology. Just of curiosity, are you doing Criminology? If so, do you like it?