Can't decide on my second preference

[Special At Specialist]

My first preference is Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, but I'm not sure what I want to do as my second preference. So far, I'm tossing up between:
A) Bachelor of Arts at UoM
B) Bachelor of Arts/Science at Monash Clayton
C) Bachelor of Science (Statistics) at RMIT City

I just can't decide... I've basically put all my eggs in one basket and assumed that an 88.5 ATAR + underrepresented school should get me into BSci at UoM, but that's not guaranteed.

The University of Melbourne is my favourite university, followed by Monash Clayton. The benefit of RMIT is the location, given that I'll probably move to the city next year at the UniLodge, opposite UoM Parkville.

The Bachelor of Arts will allow me to study things like philosophy, criminology, psychology and other interesting things like that, but I'll be missing out on a lot of maths subjects (which is the only thing I'm really good at). Doing Arts/Science will be more flexible for me, but I'm not sure that I want to spend 4 years at university, especially at an area like Clayton which is inconvenient for me to travel to on a daily basis.

I love the sound of the Bachelor of Science (statistics) course, and it's at a convenient location, but I don't really like RMIT University. I don't know anyone who goes there and the university isn't in the G08 so I won't get much prestige from my degree. Besides, I've heard that the maths courses in that degree aren't the same difficulty as the maths courses at UoM, so that's what makes me hesitant to go with that.

Basically, the Goldilocks course for me is Science at UoM. But there's no guarantee that I'll get into that, so I have to decide what I want to put down as my second preference, and I'm really struggling... VTAC change of preference closes tomorrow morning, so I have to make the decision tonight.

What should I put as my second preference?

[Hancock]

I thought underrepped school lowers the BSci ATAR requirement to 78? Or is that just financial aid?

[Special At Specialist]

I thought underrepped school lowers the BSci ATAR requirement to 78? Or is that just financial aid?

I thought this too, but I rung up the university and they told me otherwise. They said that underrepresented school makes me eligible for Access Melbourne, which would lower it to 78, but it doesn't guarantee that. If too many people apply for Access Melbourne under either disadvantaged financial background or medical hardships, then I may miss out and I will have to compete in the middle band, which is a lot more competitive.

[chasej]

I thought this too, but I rung up the university and they told me otherwise. They said that underrepresented school makes me eligible for Access Melbourne, which would lower it to 78, but it doesn't guarantee that. If too many people apply for Access Melbourne under either disadvantaged financial background or medical hardships, then I may miss out and I will have to compete in the middle band, which is a lot more competitive.

In all honesty, very high probability you would be fine.

If you want to do Science (and thereby Maths) I suggest you do that, obviously uni's with higher reputations are better ceteris paribus but you also should consider location. BSc+whatever-double at Monash may be good for you? as you say you would likely be moving anyway. Why not move to Clayton (or the city and train to Clayton for uni).

If I was you I would go.

1. Bsc Melb
2. Bsc+Ba Monash
3. stats rmit

Obviously though it's up to you and you are the best judge of your own circumstances.

[spectroscopy]

just another thought - you could do a B.A at melbourne and a diploma in mathematical sciences which is equivalent to a math major
just an idea