Is it worth doing a double degree? (2 Viewers)

[~ ReNcH ~]

Are double degrees only worth doing if you can't decide which course you'd like to specialise in? For instance, is it worth doing a BCom/BSci if you only have a real interest in pursuing a business career? Do employers like seeing candidates with double degrees as it looks as though they are "more well-rounded", or is it irrelevant in such a situation?

 

[Slidey]

Don't do a course simply because it'll look good. Just wanted to say that first.

I personally am wary of any dual degree because I fear that both parts don't form a whole. Id est: the degree is diluted. I think this is evident by the fact that a single degree takes 3 years, yet a dual degree takes 4 to 5.

 

[ur_inner_child]

i was going to do b music & arts at sydney uni...

making a decision to stick with b music was the best thing ever.

sorry, but four years is enough for me. not to mention expensive enough.

 

[Supra]

Rench u seem like a pretty smart guy and u wont have much trouble getting into the double degree of ur choice...with a double degree u can use extra skills and put them in practice when u work, it opens a lot more oppurtunities...e.g com/llb, u can go into hte legal side of things (i.e become a barrister/solicitor), or u can go into Investment Banking (i.e mergers and acquisitions, takeovers etc)... antha example, Com/Sci...u can make ur sci include maths and statistics, and then pursue an actuarial career, or become a quant, i.e ur applying the skills u learn in sci (maths and stats) and apply it to financial situations...there is the option howeva, of doing a single degree honours...it depends on ur desired career

I get what slide rule means, the double doesnt seem to gel naturally, but in fact they do complement each other (e.g Actuarial+AppFin)...but things like Enginering/Commerce doubles seem to have less in common...it depends on teh double degrees that u want to do

 

[gordo]

Don't do a course simply because it'll look good. Just wanted to say that first.

I personally am wary of any dual degree because I fear that both parts don't form a whole. Id est: the degree is diluted. I think this is evident by the fact that a single degree takes 3 years, yet a dual degree takes 4 to 5.

its because certain subjects over lap

like atm for me, i don;t have to do professional engineering for 1st semester engo b/c the content is covered in law

 

[Josie]

Whatever you do, don't do Architecture/Law. You'll lose your mind. It's guaranteeed.

 

[withoutaface]

I get tons of overlap between engineering and science, eg this semester all 12 of the science credit points I'm taking are either in the engineering course anyway, or give me exemptions for engineering subjects.

 

[ur_inner_child]

you guys have it good

if i decided to do my double degree of arts and music, i'd be continously switching campuses from main sydney campus, to conservatorium campus (near circular quay)... and possibly back

grrrrr

 

[Generator]

I personally am wary of any dual degree because I fear that both parts don't form a whole. Id est: the degree is diluted. I think this is evident by the fact that a single degree takes 3 years, yet a dual degree takes 4 to 5.

Electives from one are generally used to meet the requirements of the other and some units may overlap (as gordo stated). You really should look through the particular programme's structure if you want to make an informed, rather than a superficial, observation.

Edit: As for the original question... We cannot tell you what to think, but we can offer some advice to help you ground your own opinion in some way. Just ask yourself whether you consider a particular double programme as being worthwhile. Better yet, ask yourself what it is that you want out of your time at uni, and then look through what is on offer. Given that your interests seem to be leading towards a commerce degree, start from there and see what you come up with.

 

[Soma]

Yeh but if you do comm/llb you generally only do one commerce major so it is true that the course is diluted, but generally one of the degrees takes prominence, i.e. in the same scenario the student will do a whole law degree but less commerce.

 

[babez_hamp]

what about a degree like fine arts/arts ?....any point merging the two, or just stick with fine arts by itself ?

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

The only double degree I'd consider is Com/Sci coz I'm not particularly interested in pursuing a career in Law. But as Slide Rule and other's have said, I'm afraid that the course would be diluted and hence, I'd be better off doing straight Commerce. Although it may sound ambitious at this point in time, I'd like to do a M Com (money and time permitting) in which case my 4th year at uni would be better spent heading in that direction. As of now though, I just have to consider all of my options.

 

[Slidey]

Well I think as somebody pointed out, it's more a case of only one part being diluted. So if the part that's diluted is extraneus in the first place, I guess a dual degree wouldn't hurt.

 

[neo o]

The only double degree I'd consider is Com/Sci coz I'm not particularly interested in pursuing a career in Law. But as Slide Rule and other's have said, I'm afraid that the course would be diluted and hence, I'd be better off doing straight Commerce. Although it may sound ambitious at this point in time, I'd like to do a M Com (money and time permitting) in which case my 4th year at uni would be better spent heading in that direction. As of now though, I just have to consider all of my options.

Ask Minai, he's said something to the effect of com/law giving you nothing but an extra year off the corporate ladder, if you want to work at one of the big four firms.

 

[Minai]

As someone said earlier, if you do a Com/Sci degree, you're better off choosing majors that compliment (ie Actuarial/Maths or Finance/Stats, or even HRM/Psychology). Doing a combination like Accounting/Biology is pointless and a waste of a year. So my advice is do the double degree if you know you're going into the finance/actuarial field because the maths part of your science degree will be really valuable.

 

[Generator]

I would like to point out that a particular combination is only pointless if you deem it so. Accounting/Biology, for example, isn't a waste if you want to pursue an accounting career yet take the time to study a science that you enjoy. Some may say that that is pointless if you are seeking a hardcore business career, but your degree programme does not have to be entirely vocational in nature (if at all) in order for it to be worthwhile.

 

[doe]

i agree with generator

the flipside is thinking you need a degree in commerce, law and accounting to get a good corporate job/have a career, which is not the case.

 

[LeftrightOut]

A double degree is worth it if you can afford that much time and money. I went in for a 3 year degree and it ended up taking nearly 5 years after changing majors, changing unis, changing degrees and failing along the way. I'd hate to think where I would be had I started a double

Not everyone finishes their 3 year degree in 3 years, so if you sign up for 4-5 then chances are you might not finish in that time either. Consider you spent almost the same amount of time at high school, can you handle that duration again doing one thing at the same place?

Remember you are at uni not for a job but for knowledge, do you want to learn that combination and are you genuinely interested? Then do it.
Are you doing it because you think it will boost your employment chances? Then don't do it because a lot changes in 3-5 years, just ask all the IT people

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

As someone said earlier, if you do a Com/Sci degree, you're better off choosing majors that compliment (ie Actuarial/Maths or Finance/Stats, or even HRM/Psychology). Doing a combination like Accounting/Biology is pointless and a waste of a year. So my advice is do the double degree if you know you're going into the finance/actuarial field because the maths part of your science degree will be really valuable.

I'm hestitant about doing Actuarial as I'm unsure as to whether I'd enjoy it. That said, I haven't completely eliminated it as an option. I'm definitely going to major in Finance...the second is undecided though. Would a BSci (major in Maths) help with an occupation in Finance? I can understand that it would help with Actuarial, but what about the other Commerce majors?

Btw. Minai, what major would you reccomend? If I can't decide, I'll most likely stick with the safe option of an Accting/Fin major.

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

Remember you are at uni not for a job but for knowledge, do you want to learn that combination and are you genuinely interested? Then do it.
Are you doing it because you think it will boost your employment chances? Then don't do it because a lot changes in 3-5 years, just ask all the IT people

You have a point there.
That said, I enjoy Chemistry and it's one of my favourite subjects...I also enjoy Maths. However, I'm not a fan of Physics and I'm impartial towards Biology....I'm not doing either of the latter two in the HSC. This is one of the reasons why I'm hesitant towards a double degree, as I'm afraid that I'll stuff up the Phy/Bio part, despite enjoying the Chem/Maths part.