monash vs melbourne.

[spaciiey]

mmkay. I shall try to be as coherent as possible. I don't really know what I wanna do for a living yet. Getting *into* uni isn't going to be hard... cause I'm doing fine marks-wise.

I love math and science. At the same time, I love literature and english-based subjects, and I absolutely adore Japanese. Unfortunately, I cannot study both at the same time (equally), undergrad at Melbourne. The closest I would be able to get is to pick, say, Arts, then do a Diploma in Math... or pick science and do a Diploma in Languages. See the problem lies in the fact that I don't really know which I like better over arts/science cause I've always liked them equally.

I can, however, study everything that I want to at Monash, by doing an Arts/Science double degree. And I have to admit, I rather like the campus better, compared to Melbourne. Also, after quizzing some of the staff at Melbourne about the Melbourne Model, I found that a fair few of them didn't really like it, especially as they had cut the double degrees.

Also, to add another spanner into the works, I live in, whoop whoop. Not literally but close enough. No matter which uni I pick as preference one I'd be looking at over an hour's travelling time, either way. Just if I went to Monash I'd have to drive, and if I end up going to Melbourne it'd be public transport, and it is slightly, slightly closer. Sadly, due to circumstances at home which I won't go into, I am unable to move out for a few years.

Also, my family and friends and teachers think I am nuts for wanting to go to Monash when I could easily get into Melbourne for the snob factor, even though they don't do double degrees anymore.

So my question is, if you were me, what would you pick?

[akira88]

Monash because it would offer the double degree that you want! There's no point going to a "prestigious" university if you don't want to do a course there! Who cares about your family and friends and teachers, do what you want!

[andy456]

Just from what I've read I'd say Monash Arts/Science, because it gives you that freedom to study both areas that you love equally.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

I love math and science. At the same time, I love literature and english-based subjects, and I absolutely adore Japanese. Unfortunately, I cannot study both at the same time (equally), undergrad at Melbourne. The closest I would be able to get is to pick, say, Arts, then do a Diploma in Math... or pick science and do a Diploma in Languages. See the problem lies in the fact that I don't really know which I like better over arts/science cause I've always liked them equally.

Another option would be B.Science at UoM, with a Diploma of languages and a breadth sequence in other Arts subjects, which is effectively, 2 subjects off a B.Sci/B.A double degree at Monash. This is what I intend to do. If you end up liking the Arts portion more, you could switch to Arts with a diploma in maths and a breadth sequence in other sciences, which again, isn't really that different from a double degree at Monash.

I don't really know what I wanna do for a living yet

UoM it is.

And I have to admit, I rather like the campus better, compared to Melbourne.

lol, that's a first.

I'm kind of biased though because I'm bitter about Monash and only went there because I got sucked in by the option of a double degree.

[ninwa]

Melbourne isn't any better (speaking in general; obviously it has its strengths in certain faculties) than Monash, so don't make your decision based on "snob factor".

That said, SmRandmAzn's option might actually work out better for you if you don't know what you want to do, since you can get a taste of both science/maths and humanities/arts in 4 years I think - degree + 1 year for diploma (compared to 5 years Monash double degree).

However. Monash obviously gives you the advantage of having two degrees, which means you can pursue further study in either your arts majors or your science majors. For example if you majored in history at Monash and decided that you loved it, you could easily do honours history and then move on to PhD if it interested you that much. At UoM that wouldn't be possible as you don't actually have an arts degree (I don't know how further study after a diploma of languages works though). Also IIRC UoM doesn't do honours degrees anymore, so you can't go straight onto PhD.

This also helps if you don't know what you want to do in future.

So my question is, if you were me, what would you pick?

You won't get an unbiased answer to this I would pick Monash personally because I'd prefer to keep the option of further study open for both arts and science. But I don't know what your aspirations are in this regard.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

compared to 5 years Monash double degree

The Monash Science/Arts degree is actually four years (overload in final year).

...I realise that weakens my argument =[

[schmalex]

You can do the same sort of thing at Melbourne Uni by doing one degree after the other, but the disadvantage is that you can't defer honours for that long, so if you decide after the second that you want to do honours in the first degree you're screwed. It's a messier option. My advice would be to look through specific subjects if you're determined to make the best choice.

[zhenzhenzhen]

i like the food at melbourne better

but i didnt really like arts at melbourne so ye

[Eriny]

I really think Arts/Science at Monash is the better option, for all the reasons stated above. It's 4 years, you get to do all the subjects you like, for instance in first semester you could do a science subject + a maths subject + Literature/English + Japanese, doing all the things you want straight away, without having to tack on an extra year for a diploma and without having to decide whether you would prefer a named BA or a BSc. It's a perfect double degree for someone with your interests! Don't worry about the snobbery, they don't really know what they're talking about.

[jimmy999]

In terms of uni being far away, I drive to uni everyday averaging a 45 minute trip to get to monash. The best I've ever done it is 30 minutes one way. If I took public transport it would take far too long especially with 8am starts. I've been doing this for some months now and you just get used to it. It's worth it to get to the better uni for your course. Also given where I live, none of my friends went to monash however I was able to make many friends quite quickly. And if you think there's nothing to do for that drive, you'd be surprised at how good morning radio can be. Though afternoon/evening radio can be terrible bar a few stations.

[zhenzhenzhen]

how do you get to uni btw? thru the citylink? $$$

[kamil9876]

Can't imagine Monash's LMS fucking up as much as and as often as Melbourne's

[Gloamglozer]

Also IIRC UoM doesn't do honours degrees anymore, so you can't go straight onto PhD.

This.  With the B.Sci, they got rid of honours and I don't understand the reasons behind it.  It just delays your PhD by two years since you need to complete a Masters of Science first before going on to do a PhD.

Can't imagine Monash's LMS fucking up as much as and as often as Melbourne's

Oh, I know two friends who still need to complete an online mid-semester test and the LMS has been down since midday today and they're fretting.

[humph]

This.  With the B.Sci, they got rid of honours and I don't understand the reasons behind it.  It just delays your PhD by two years since you need to complete a Masters of Science first before going on to do a PhD.

...and hence they squeeze more money out of students.

[Gloamglozer]

This.  With the B.Sci, they got rid of honours and I don't understand the reasons behind it.  It just delays your PhD by two years since you need to complete a Masters of Science first before going on to do a PhD.

...and hence they squeeze more money out of students.

Yup.  Especially if you've used up all your SLE or more likely, you're not in a CSP place because of the limited number of places available then you're in a bit of trouble.

It's a crapload to fork out.