Commerce or economics? USYD or UNSW? - Need help with preferences

[Rawf]

Hello, we have to pick our uni preferences soon so I have a few questions I want to ask.
What is the real main difference between a bachelor of economics and commerce? I've heard commerce is more business orientated. And if I did pick economics, is it hard to find a job? I heard the RBA only hires individuals who have completed an honours degree.
I perform quite well in business studies and economics, as well as 2u maths and I feel like that's where my forte lies. Furthermore, I really enjoy learning business and economics at school.
My ideal of a perfect job would be something like... sitting in an office, like a manager or something, or even owning my own business [I'm not quite sure what type though] or maybe even watching the economy and what happens around the world. If I do pick commerce I'm looking at doing a major in economics as well as management or something. (My friend told me there's not many jobs in management though argh)
On the otherhand, if I did a bachelor of economics.. I don't know what other major to do apart from 'economics'.
I've been looking up jobs and I found a job called a 'business analyst' or something similar.. I think it's a job which basically falls into all the things we've learnt in business studies, and it looks quite interesting too.

Onto the second question.. if I were to pick either economics or commerce, which university should I choose? UNSW or Usyd? I know the ATAR is considerably lower in Usyd:
UNSW Commerce - 96.3
UNSW Economics - 94
USYD Commerce - 94
USYD Economics - 90
I had a chat with one of my careers advisor and she suggested a course in Macquarie university like commerce or business management which is only 82-83 ATAR... I asked my mum and she told me a course with 90+ atar will probably be more likely that I'll get a job. [I don't exactly want to do a course which has an ATAR cut off in the 80's either].

Thanks in advance.

[tambam]

Why don't you do a double degree in commerce & economics?
In first year you pretty much do a bit of everything (economics, management, statistics, accounting, finance)
& then you could continue to do both, or focus on the one you prefer more.

Unsw is the best for commerce, but remember the atar cutoffs are inflated because they give bonus points.
& if you can meet the atar requirement don't go to macq.

[Shadowdude]

Read the course outlines on the Handbooks.


Why? Because they outline the subjects and requirements for your degree. For example, I recall hearing about Sydney Uni's old requirement to learn a language for a Pure Mathematics major - with the aim that "students must know how to read mathematical texts in a language other than English" or something like that.


So for you: http://handbook.unsw.edu.au/

[mandapanda155]

I think Commerce is a lot broader than Economics. My mum said if you are interested in Investment Bank job, Economics will suit, more specialised.

But Commerce can be for any Business Analyst jobs in any bigger companies. She has business analysts at her work.

[Rawf]

Why don't you do a double degree in commerce & economics?
In first year you pretty much do a bit of everything (economics, management, statistics, accounting, finance)
& then you could continue to do both, or focus on the one you prefer more.

Unsw is the best for commerce, but remember the atar cutoffs are inflated because they give bonus points.
& if you can meet the atar requirement don't go to macq.

Do double degrees take a really long time to complete? (like... a normal degree is around 3 years, if you do a double is it longer?) Also, I don't want to go to uni that often because I live quite far from the city/where it is located. Furthermore, I think money might be an issue.

I think Commerce is a lot broader than Economics. My mum said if you are interested in Investment Bank job, Economics will suit, more specialised.


But Commerce can be for any Business Analyst jobs in any bigger companies. She has business analysts at her work.

Mmm.. I'm not that interested working in a bank to be honest (apart from the RBA maybe). Are there lots of positions available for those who want to be business analysts?
Which major do you think would best suit a business analyst within Commerce? I'm thinking of doing business economics and management (or should I do human resource management) - I might even be thinking of becoming a CEO or manager of a business.

Also, what is the difference if you did a major in 'Financial economics' within a bachelor of commerce and 'Financial economics' within a bachelor of economics? Do you learn the exact same thing? I know the cut off is lower for economics, so I was wondering could you become a business analyst within an economics degree? it also provides a management course in UNSW.
I just researched more into the occupation 'business analyst' and it has stuff to do with IT and technology o_o is this a main part of the job? I'm not the best with new technologies and such (I know how to operate a computer but not code things!). Isn't a business analyst one who does like SWOT analysis's and all that jazz we learn in business studies?
@ShadowdudeThanks for the link, I was looking at the undergraduate book they give out on career days and they're quite brief haha.

[converge]

Do double degrees take a really long time to complete? (like... a normal degree is around 3 years, if you do a double is it longer?).

Well the Commerce/Economics double at UNSW is four years. So it's only an extra year compared to the standard Commerce degree.

[Shadowdude]

Yes, the undergraduate books have to be short. I mean... they print thousands of them.

All you need to know is in the Handbook but it'll only make real sense to you when you're a uni student because most of the terminology is foreign to you right now.

[mandapanda155]

BA is a broad job role. It could be doing all sort of things, whatever the business requires. I think your questions will be answered if you go to one of those Uni open days. They will tell you what type of jobs for what degrees.

BA is a entry level role. As you get more experienced, you may become assistant manager, then manager, etc.

Sorry, couldn't be more help.

[Proteus]

Well,

I just left my B Economics @ USYD to Study LLB + B Commerce at Macquarie.

1. It was too focused on econometrics (which is essentially based on statistical calculations and playing around with it)
2. Excessively based on calculations - now I did 3u maths and in the beginning hated it, but by the end of HSC I actually began to appreciate it and performed decently.
3. @ USYD at least, you will be doing each microeconomics and macroeconomics per semester, for 2 years. THESE ARE CORE SUBJECTS. So check carefully, if it isn't something you like, you ideally don't want to be stuck doing it for 2 years.

Check the core subjects for the majors, I certainly didn't like all the econometrics, regression modelling and alike that I was going to do in 2nd year - hence I left.

Relating back to Investment banking and finance, there is a major called 'Financial Economics' which explores Capital and dynamics, the economy and forecasting it for business purposes, business cycles and asset markets which I think will land you in a more consultant job rather than a broker / front line job.

Also consider which university is closer and easier to access, despite USYD being much more convenient, I bit the bullet and took the offer @ Macquarie.

Honestly, so far I am enjoying law - far more than microeconomics and statistics.
Maybe it is just me maturing and seeing academic studies differently. Placebo effect anyone? Lol

Good luck mate.

[Clean Sweep]

Well the Commerce/Economics double at UNSW is four years. So it's only an extra year compared to the standard Commerce degree.

Won't it be better to take an honours year than waste time on a double degree?

[Ajaxx]

Well from what you said it looks like a combined Commerce/Economics degree would suit you or alternatively just a commerce degree.

Also at UNSW the ATAR requirement is lower than 96.3 because you can get up to (I think) 5 bonus points for getting band 5/6 in a number of subjects.

[Shadowdude]

Won't it be better to take an honours year than waste time on a double degree?

Yeah, if you'll do well at Honours. Like First Class Honours.