Advanced Science or Advanced Mathematics?

[Trebla]

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Hi,
I am in Year 12 at the moment (and naive about university lol) and I am considering taking the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) degree at USYD next year. I am also having a look at Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) degree as well.
I am currently having a juggle between the two. Presumably the Advanced Mathematics course means you must study the Mathematics unit at an advanced level as well as science, whereas the Advanced Science course focuses more on Science areas of study.....right?
So, can anyone who is doing either of the courses at the moment (or has done) give a brief outline of what it is like and what is studied? (and if possible give any advice/recommendations)
Thanks....

[SeDaTeD]

They essentially have the same structure, with the difference with Adv Maths being that you must have at least one major being Mathematics or Statistics. Both maintain the flexibility of subject choices of a regular science degree (of course with the Adv Maths ones you must plan your degree so that you are allowed to major in maths). A science major is basically doing half a normal full time load of 3rd year subjects in one subject area, so most people do 2 majors. Of couurse both are Adv streams so that means you have to do a minimum of some number of units at the adv level and also at least one major being made of Adv level units (eg. maths if you are doing adv maths).

So, to make a decision between the two, it doesn't really matter since you can still graduate with a BSc(Adv maths) if you do the BSc(adv) and major in maths (adv). So choose adv maths if you are sure you intend to have maths for at least one of your majors, otherwise, do Adv Sci to keep you options more open.

One advantage of being enrolled in Adv maths is that you are automatically invited to the 1st year Maths Special Studies classes, which are just 1 extra hour per week doing extra curricular topics of interest. If you are not, then selection will be based on your 4u marks and UAI.

[withoutaface]

Do adv maths for the SSP then you can change to regular adv if you decide not to do a maths major.

[Templar]

Just do adv science. What can adv science do? Everything. What can adv maths do? A strictly smaller subset of adv science.

[casebash]

Wrong. Advanced Maths gets you automatically into the SSP and you can downgrade to Advanced Science at any time (in fact you are automatically downgraded if you don't meet the prerequisites).

[Templar]

Should you achieve the requirements as adv maths entry but do adv science, you can still get into ssp very easily. Plus half of the first year maths ssp topics were crap anyway.

If your marks are sufficient, you can do everything under adv science. Can you do two non maths majors in adv maths? No. Hence adv maths is a strictly smaller subset of adv science.

[Trebla]

What is SSP? lol
On a side note, I'm considering applying for scholarship for science. Can someone please provide information about this?
Also, in regards to HECS what does it mean when "Students who choose to pay their student contribution upfront receive a 20 per cent discount"?
Sorry for my naivety......
Thanks again......

[Trebla]

Um....Hello?.......*echoes*

[Templar]

SSP, not to be confused with TSP, is the special studies program. Refer to USyd maths site for more information.

Just look at the scholarship site and forms. They should be available late next month at the lastest.

Suppose your HECS is $1000. Should you choose to pay upfront, you only have to pay $800 ie 20% discount.

[KeypadSDM]

Originally Posted by casebash

Wrong. Advanced Maths gets you automatically into the SSP and you can downgrade to Advanced Science at any time (in fact you are automatically downgraded if you don't meet the prerequisites).

Templar's point still holds. If you can get in to the ADV maths degree, then you qualify for SSP anyway.

Moreover anyone who does a combined degree can't do "advanced" or "advanced (maths)" in any case.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by KeypadSDM

Moreover anyone who does a combined degree can't do "advanced" or "advanced (maths)" in any case.

Nah, I think that only applies to us (or just you), since for other combined degrees the science faculty is in charge, as opposed to engineering in BE BSc

[Super Pig]

BSc (Adv Maths) is merely a marketing device to attract more ppl into maths. They could have easily introduced BSc (Adv Biology) or BSc (Adv Bludging) or whatever else they wanna promote. BSc (Adv) is more flexible, in case you wanna dump maths and major in a related subject area (e.g. physics). The title of your degree does not matter much at all when you get into the job market. Employers care more about whether you can solve practical problems using your quantitative skills.

[Templar]

Too true. It's all a marketing trick.

[KeypadSDM]

Everything's a marketing trick, I was considering doing the degree. In hindsight, I'm glad I've got the option of a physics major now...

[xiao1985]

doesn't matter any way... even if you ARE in b sci (adv maths) and you don't major in math (adv) and stat (adv), you'd be "downgraded" (supposingly) to the appropriate stream..