Help with my degree

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heisenberg

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#130943 3-Oct-2013 12:52

Hey guys,

So from next year i start uni :D

I need advice a little bit of advice on what i should do and i thought you guys might be able to help.

At this stage i plan to do a conjoint/double degree: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce.

I am quite good at maths, economics, accounting and computers and so i have decided to do the above degrees. I am having trouble on which majors i should do within those degrees and was hoping for a bit of help.

My question is, what can i do with my above strengths that can help me get a descent job in 4-5 years when my degree finishes.

At this stage, I have narrowed down the following majors for a BCom:
- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Marketing

I really want to do accounting as i am good at that but i dont know if i can land a descent job in 4-5 years. Doing a major in economics would be cool and very interesting but i dont think it can really help me get a job :/
Finance and Marketing seem interesting and i feel like i could find a job in 4-5 years if i majored in one of them. What do you think?

Now the Bachelor of science degree, i want to do computer science but don't understand what i will be learning in it. I want to learn java and webdesign while also learn about networks etc.. I am a little confused on the BSc side of things and don't know what i should/could learn.

I don't know if its the right place, but i need your advice :)

thanks guys!

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#907050 3-Oct-2013 13:17

Which uni? Some give more flexibility than others around exactly which topics you can include. Typically, Computer Science will focus on the theoretical underpinnings, and will cover off some development topics (such as C++, Java, etc), algorithms and data structures, and logic. Some unis will also allow you to include classes on networking, databases, etc.

What sort of career do you intend to pursue?

reven

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#907061 3-Oct-2013 13:27

for programming you can do a BSc in Computer Science or a BE in Software Engineering. At UofA, theyre very similar (some classes are the same class just with 2 different names depending on the degree you are doing).

For networking you can do Information Systems (which is part of Bcom i think..).

At uni (7-8 years ago) I did a BSc in CompSci and I did a up to stage 3 in infosystems. I never bothered getting a double degree, needed maybe 4 more stage 3 papers to get a second one, but i just wanted to get out of uni.

Took me about 5 years to start getting paid very very well as a web/windows developer in C#/asp.net

Kim587

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#907067 3-Oct-2013 13:38

I'm just finishing my degree. Probably the best thing you can do is just follow what you find the most interesting and not get too hung up on what job opportunities it might lead to (unless you have a specific job in mind of course). That way you're probably more likely to stay motivated and get better marks as a result. Most university degrees should equip you with a range of skills that quite a wide variety of employers will find attractive. I did history as my major because it was something I had always enjoyed. Most people scoff at it because they think you can only be a professional historian with that degree, but in reality I've learnt all kinds of research, analytical and written communication skills that I could apply in all sorts of places.
So unless you're eyeing up a particular career, I'd just find whatever subject excites you the most and go for it.

insane

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#907071 3-Oct-2013 13:45

By themselves an Accounting or Marketing major will not get you onto the kind of $$ you may expect. Sadly starting wages in those industries is rather low.

I'm glad you're doing double major as you'll get more out of two complementing disciplines.

i.e Marketing + CompSci (web dev) might be a good combination

Kim587: I'm just finishing my degree. Probably the best thing you can do is just follow what you find the most interesting and not get too hung up on what job opportunities it might lead to (unless you have a specific job in mind of course)....
So unless you're eyeing up a particular career, I'd just find whatever subject excites you the most and go for it.

Spoken like you haven't actually tried to find a job yet :)

Kim587

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#907086 3-Oct-2013 13:48

I already have actually :-)

Inphinity

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#907093 3-Oct-2013 13:53

insane:
Kim587: I'm just finishing my degree. Probably the best thing you can do is just follow what you find the most interesting and not get too hung up on what job opportunities it might lead to (unless you have a specific job in mind of course)....
So unless you're eyeing up a particular career, I'd just find whatever subject excites you the most and go for it.

Spoken like you haven't actually tried to find a job yet :)

I agree with Kim587, to a point. Once you've at least narrowed down the industry, you can be reasonably free in determining which specific role you target based on your preference, rather than on what's available. If you're genuinely good at something that has value to people, you'll find a role. Of course, don't go "Hay I like farting and watching TV" because that's not something that really has value to others, but deciding between, for example, application support, web development, or graphic design, I'd say "Which do you enjoy most, and which are you most inclined to be good at?".

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Krishant007

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#907151 3-Oct-2013 14:34

Ive done Bachelor of Engineering (Software) and Bachelor of commerce conjoint (Finance and Infosys) and can throw this in as my 2c, dont do a conjoint. It is not worth the time. You are better off focusing on one degree, and then going on to do masters in that field. Thats the option I wish i had gone with.

For example, go do software engineering at UoA and then go do masters. It will take you about the same amount of time (or maybe an year extra), but you get a lot more out of it. Especially if you want to go into the IT field.

deadlyllama

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#907170 3-Oct-2013 14:50

heisenberg: Hey guys,

So from next year i start uni :D

I need advice a little bit of advice on what i should do and i thought you guys might be able to help.

At this stage i plan to do a conjoint/double degree: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce.

I am quite good at maths, economics, accounting and computers and so i have decided to do the above degrees. I am having trouble on which majors i should do within those degrees and was hoping for a bit of help.

My question is, what can i do with my above strengths that can help me get a descent job in 4-5 years when my degree finishes.

At this stage, I have narrowed down the following majors for a BCom:
- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Marketing

I really want to do accounting as i am good at that but i dont know if i can land a descent job in 4-5 years. Doing a major in economics would be cool and very interesting but i dont think it can really help me get a job :/
Finance and Marketing seem interesting and i feel like i could find a job in 4-5 years if i majored in one of them. What do you think?

Now the Bachelor of science degree, i want to do computer science but don't understand what i will be learning in it. I want to learn java and webdesign while also learn about networks etc.. I am a little confused on the BSc side of things and don't know what i should/could learn.

I don't know if its the right place, but i need your advice :)

thanks guys!

GeekZone probably isn't the best place to ask for advice about accounting/etc. There are jobs in economics available, if you're good -- a friend of mine did an economics major and now works as an economist for the Reserve Bank. I think they have some sort of summer internship programme, too. If that sort of thing is your passion, there's no harm looking at what your options are.

In my experience (VUW, 10 years ago) Computer Science (BSc) is harder than Information Systems (BCA) but much more theory oriented. This is actually a good thing, vocational-style training like what you'd get in INFO will get you to the point of banging out an app that does something faster. But it skips underlying theory to teach you some specific technologies. Which means when new technologies come along, you will be less adaptable. Most Computer Science students will build websites/apps/etc in their spare time anyway. But it requires that you take maths papers, and they're not everyone's cup of tea.

Of course, Information Systems may mean you can do a double major rather than a cojoint, and that make mean you don't need to spend as much time at uni. Remember you can always take some non-commerce points and contribute them to a commerce degree. So one option is to take a smorgasboard of first year courses to decide what's actually for you, and after that firm up your ideas on what sort of degree(s) you should go after.

I don't know what the various Engineering degrees are like, because they'd only just started offering them when I left university. My impression is they're closer to the compsci way of doing things than they are to information systems.

As to job availability, I can only speak from personal experience, which is that if you're good at what you do (and thus a no-brainer for someone to recommend you), and you have good contacts in industry (friends from uni who end up in industry count, as do lecturers who know people who work at or run local companies), finding work is easy. These days internship programmes like Summer of Tech are available to help you find work in industry over summer. In my day we had to walk to and from summer uphill both ways over broken glass, etc, etc.

vexxxboy

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#907173 3-Oct-2013 14:52

my son is in his first year of BSc in Computer Science and Chinese at Waikato, He has discovered he doesn"t want to carry on with computers even though he passed with an A+ average he just finds it boring and he now wants to switch to a teaching degree and teach english to Chinese speaking students in China, so he has wasted a whole year and a few thousand $ finding that out.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

nicnzl

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#907194 3-Oct-2013 15:13

vexxxboy: my son is in his first year of BSc in Computer Science and Chinese at Waikato, He has discovered he doesn"t want to carry on with computers even though he passed with an A+ average he just finds it boring and he now wants to switch to a teaching degree and teach english to Chinese speaking students in China, so he has wasted a whole year and a few thousand $ finding that out.

Better off wasting a few thousand dollars, than wasting your life doing something you don't enjoy.

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#907208 3-Oct-2013 15:35

vexxxboy: my son is in his first year of BSc in Computer Science and Chinese at Waikato, He has discovered he doesn"t want to carry on with computers even though he passed with an A+ average he just finds it boring and he now wants to switch to a teaching degree and teach english to Chinese speaking students in China, so he has wasted a whole year and a few thousand $ finding that out.

Discovering that something you thought you wanted to do, isn't, and acting on it, is well worth a few thousand dollars and a year. Some people spend their whole lives doing that.

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heisenberg

18 posts

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#907209 3-Oct-2013 15:38

Thanks for your reply guys

I plan to go to VICTORIA UNIVERSITY.

I want to pursue a career in commerce and/ or computer science.

At college, currently i am very good at maths, economics and accounting and computing. I am pretty good at computers too but haven't really done any programming before although i really want to and know that it can be hard. Ive done a little bit of web development, but pretty basic. In my computing degree i want to look into programming, web design/development and networking. Would a computer science be the right major for this. Things like ASP web/windows developer in C#/asp.net as mentioned above, would that be part of the computer science major? Or do i need to do computer engineering for that?

I am quite interested in doing a BCom degree just because i am worried that i may not be able to find a job later on. I dont want to work really hard in computer science and not be able to find a job.

I am a little confused and overwhelmed with planning a degree :p

How about doing a BSc with computer science and Marketing (or accounting) as majors? Or do you think it would be smarter to do computer science and something else related as a major (if so, please recommend).

Sorry for being all over the place, i am just a little confused. Ive called vic and they are going to call me back but i need some general advice from you guys :P

Thanks guys
X

crackrdbycracku

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#907228 3-Oct-2013 15:45

OK, a couple of things that might not have been covered.

If you are going to study in order to get a job it pays to have some idea of what that job would be like, particularly at the entry level where you will be starting when you graduate.

Draw up a list of 3 companies from each discipline and do some research. If possible ask people who work there what it is like, what kinds of things they look for when hiring and where the industry is going. Xero seems to be an obvious choice with what you have said before, why not email them? The worst they can do is ignore you.

Try to get some variety in you studies, particularly in first year. If you can do the pre-requisite stuff for things you might not want to do later, such as Law, which you might be able to cross credit to something you actually want to do, like Commerce. Also, you want to be able to talk to people at parties keep that in mind when picking courses.

While studying use your time to build professional networks, don't expect to graduate and then get hired by a great firm paying you big bucks at first sight.

Remember your paying for the time at university so you need to make it worthwhile.

And don't forget to have some fun. You only have this time of your life once.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

Inphinity

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#907229 3-Oct-2013 15:46

heisenberg: In my computing degree i want to look into programming, web design/development and networking. Would a computer science be the right major for this. Things like ASP web/windows developer in C#/asp.net as mentioned above, would that be part of the computer science major? Or do i need to do computer engineering for that?

CompSci is your best choice then, imo. Your alternative would be a BE with Honours, to do Network Engineering & Software engineering, but that'd be 4 years under a typical course load compared to 3 for a BSc. The BE will be more practical learning, the BSc more theoretical. The former is great to hit the ground running with specific platforms and technologies, the latter will give you a better understanding and grounding to be able to adapt, imo.

Let's play What Do I Want to Do. What would your 3 preferred roles be (in no particular order of preference) that you would want to land post-study?

nicnzl

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#907243 3-Oct-2013 15:58

Bachelor of Commerce and Administration at Vic requires you to do 7 level 1 core papers in various fields (Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Management, Government Law, Information Systems and one more I think). I started that degree without really knowing what I wanted to do, but after one year, really enjoyed the information systems paper, so that's the path I took. I ended up graduating in 2011 with a BCA majoring in Info Systems and e-Commerce (3 year degree). I've now been working for 18 months at a IT consultancy company specialising in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing.

Everyone seems to do marketing in that degree, so unless you are going to fully commit to marketing (i.e. continuing on to do honours or masters), I wouldn't recommend it.

From my point of view, the degree is just a bit of paper to get your foot in the careers door. I've learned far more in the last 18 months of working than I ever could have at uni, so my advice is chose a uni path that leads you to a job you want to spend a lot of years doing.

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