Double degree vs degree with honours

[monkeywantsabanana]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking for so long about this and have talked to umpteen people about this issue: What do you guys think would give better job prospects? Some with a double degree or someone with a degree with honours?

For example: Comm(honours in Economics) or a Comm/Law degree?

Any opinions/advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

[sluu001]

Dbl degree with a low gpa wont really help you unless you are in a highly sought after field like engineering. Honours means you have completed a degree in the field with a high level of proficiency (Usually 75+ average to gain admittance (high 80s at melb uni due to the competition); which will always look attractive to employers.

[paulsterio]

Does it really matter?

My advice is just do a double degree and then do honours, i.e. probably what someone like truetears would be doing

[aes_999]

Well, it kinda depends on you, really. I've always thought of a double degree as a way of offering more 'flexibility', so say you got into comm/law. Then you get into a law firm, found out it wasn't for you, then you can go to the corporate world. Honours is also a good option, particularly if you know you really really know what you're doing.

[monkeywantsabanana]

If you did Comm/Law - that's minimum 5 years, and say do honors, that's another year is this correct? So that's 6 years in uni, will that be a lot? I mean, compared to those who just do 3 years... are those 3 extra years worth it in the end?

[TrueTears]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking for so long about this and have talked to umpteen people about this issue: What do you guys think would give better job prospects? Some with a double degree or someone with a degree with honours?

For example: Comm(honours in Economics) or a Comm/Law degree?

Any opinions/advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Depends on the field of study I guess, I mean if you did Comm then progressed on to honours, I would personally think that it would have more credibility than doing a double degree bachelors. The only good thing about a double degree is that it not only caters for your other interests but if you pick the correct double degree it also complements each degree nicely. However if you planning for further studies, progressing onto honours/masters/doctoral, then the other undergraduate degree would not account for much, it's like saying you did both biology 1/2 and chemistry 1/2 but then you only did chemistry 3/4 in year 12 and dropped bio, that biology 1/2 wouldn't really matter.

[ninwa]

Better job prospects in what field?

PS> honours degree in law does not require any extra time so you could theoretically end up with double honours in comm/law with 1 year's extra work

[monkeywantsabanana]

Better job prospects in what field?

PS> honours degree in law does not require any extra time so you could theoretically end up with double honours in comm/law with 1 year's extra work

At the moment, I have no specific destination yet. I just want to try a bit of this and that to see what I like. Most likely that it'll be in the Banking/Finance sector - which I understand is extremely competitive.

It sounds to me that Comm/Law complements each other - I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but you can work in the Banking/Finance sector with only a law degree.

All that said, the main objective is to set myself apart from the millions of Commerce kids.

[ninwa]

Well, honestly, there are MANY people doing commerce/law as well. However, obviously you'll be setting yourself aside from the other with only a commerce degree.

[sluu001]

There are plenty of different job positions in the banking/finance sector. If you are looking at some of the more high paying/prestigious offerings such as Investment Banking or Corporate FInance/Consulting - then a double degree in Commerce/Law will probably aid you much more than an honours in a commerce major: PROVIDED that you maintain a high average in both. This is because most IBs look for graduates who have completed a very comprehensive and rigorous degree (law is one, engineering being another) - these degrees simply provide evidence to IBs that the applicant can handle the enormous workload required. In fact, the concepts needed in IB/investment consulting is fairly rudimentary (most finance graduates/maths or statistician graduates would have no problems understanding the basic concepts needed to do the job) - it is simply the hours worked (8 in the morning to well over 10 at night, 5-6 days a week during project submissions and presentations) that would drain even the most dedicated employee. Therefore, IBs don't want to take on graduates who will simply quit after a short period with them - and the best way to thin the herd is to select the most motivated and hard working graduates out there (and the only quantitative way to do that is the ones who achieve the best marks).

Doing the above is also only one of several criterias that these firms look for in prospective candidates; the other is someone who has very good related work experience and/or outstanding extra-curricular activities. These prove to them that you will be easier to train and would work well in a group of people during large project submissions.

However, having said that - graduating with honours in Commerce will not really put you at a disadvantage either. I know plenty of people who have graduate with honours in finance/economics and even accounting who have gone to work for Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and the other big IBs straight out of Uni. Mind you, they achieved averages of 85 - 90+ during their studies and all graduated their honour program with a H2A or above (anything below that is considered a waste of doing honours IMO).

[slothpomba]

If you did Comm/Law - that's minimum 5 years, and say do honors, that's another year is this correct? So that's 6 years in uni, will that be a lot? I mean, compared to those who just do 3 years... are those 3 extra years worth it in the end?

The economic idea of opportunity cost might interest you. Basically, in those 3 extra years of being stuck at uni, you could of had a job, been earning cash (maybe made something like $180 000 total) and working your way up. However, the extra 3 years and honours might get you something even greater. It's all a trade-off. Some people do honours simply because they want to or like the area. You don't necessarily need to get something out of everything you do in life, the journey is worth it too.

Honours can be fairly grueling though and usually people who want to go down a research or academia track do it but that by no means suggests you cant just do it simply out of interest. The university will happily take your money and cheap labour either way.

I'm talking towards more the science/arts honours where you actually have to spend a year doing research. If its like the engineering version, where its completely awarded on marks, then, its a bit of a non-issue hey?