commerce vs. commerce/law

[year12]

Hi guys!

I have a dilemma which to share and hopefully have it sorted by 20th.
I've got a fair ATAR although it doesn't seem like it will get me where I want to be. Hence, to my plan B: commerce. I thought, let's just study really hard for another 3 years and go and earn!

At the moment, my first pref. is dean's scholars program at Moansh (I think it's new for 2011, they had arts and science before). I have completed uni extension at Melbourne and I quite like the campus, and (sort of!) know its way around, how to get to uni, etc. etc. but they don't give out scholarships (unless one attains 99.9, or be from rural region). And monash does!  So I was just hoping to get into the scholar's program but my parents are suggesting me to consider commerce/law. I have not done anything to do with law before and have absolutely no idea if I am going to like it or not.

Any advices?

I am just so lost at the moment! 

[sam.utute]

If you are certain that you will probably go to Monash, then it is definitely worth putting Comm/Law first. The course goes for 5 years, but after three years, you will still have completed your Commerce degree. The only difference would be that you have gained some knowledge of Law by doing a few Law subjects concurrently. You could, after 3 years, even decide to give up the Law degree (as the last two years are dedicated purely to Law) and graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce, as per your original intentions.

[year12]

thanks for the advice sam.utute! but aren't law and commerce subjects completed concurrently throughout the 5-year period?

[appianway]

If you are certain that you want to do commerce, go with the Dean's Scholars' Program. The program itself entails more benefits than an additional law degree, and if it's the same as the Scholars' Program in science, you might be able to finish the degree earlier. I think that to even stay in the program, you need a really high average - so if you decide that you'd like to do law later, you should be able to get in. In my opinion, the scholars' program is much better if you want to do commerce - I know that the science one involves mentoring, a lot of flexibility, acceleration...

[sam.utute]

thanks for the advice sam.utute! but aren't law and commerce subjects completed concurrently throughout the 5-year period?

Nope. Commerce and Law subjects are concurrent during the first three years only. The last two years are devoted purely to law. I am 100% sure of this because it has a timetable in the Law brochure I got on the open day

[year12]

thanks for the advice, appianway and sam.utute! I think I will put down: 1. commerce dean's scholars 2. comm/law (at the moment, my 2nd is environmental engineering - which i am quite interested in but my mum prefers me to take comm/law) 3. melb or monash commerce.

[sam.utute]

Environment Engineering? There is huge demand for graduates with that degree right now. My mum is currently working as one at a multinational. Great course in my opinion.