Conflicted! Choosing between two universities (1 Viewer)

[Memi]

I'm set on doing a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) regardless of which University I will go to. However, my local university doesn't offer the specific major that I would like to undertake study in - Immunology, and has very limited majors. If I was to go to my local Uni, I would be majoring in Biological Sciences. First year and third year for this course is entirely the same as the University which is two hours away from me, with the only difference being a few second year subjects. I really do not want to move to the University offering the Immunology major due to financial factors etc etc, yet I'm scared prospective employers will look at my degree and see Biological sciences, assuming I was studying marine/terrestrial etc.
I'm so much more comfortable in this area, and could not cope moving away at this stage knowing the burden it would place upon my parents.

I have absolutely no idea what to do! .__.

 

[OzKo]

Does your local university offer Honours? Perhaps you can do an honours thesis on Immunology?

 

[Memi]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes my local university does offer Honours and I will automatically be admitted into that if I choose the Bach. of Science (Advanced).

 

[Dylanamali]

I'm set on doing a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) regardless of which University I will go to. However, my local university doesn't offer the specific major that I would like to undertake study in - Immunology, and has very limited majors. If I was to go to my local Uni, I would be majoring in Biological Sciences. First year and third year for this course is entirely the same as the University which is two hours away from me, with the only difference being a few second year subjects. I really do not want to move to the University offering the Immunology major due to financial factors etc etc, yet I'm scared prospective employers will look at my degree and see Biological sciences, assuming I was studying marine/terrestrial etc.
I'm so much more comfortable in this area, and could not cope moving away at this stage knowing the burden it would place upon my parents.

I have absolutely no idea what to do! .__.

I'm actually in quite a similar position..
Having received a scholarship @ UWS.. of 5k/year I was thinking that Adv Science there may be a good idea.
Another benefit of doing the course there was that it could open up the possibility for a first year transfer to Medicine, provided that I met the requirements.

But in saying that, if I was to not make it into Medicine in that 1 year span, I would much prefer to graduate from Usyd or UNSW with B Sc (Adv) rather than UWS.. even with the 5k scholarship.
Do you know if it's relatively easy to transfer from one university to the other.. say if you get a credit/distinction average, and then not have to complete an extra amount of years. e.g. complete 1 year of my course at uws and the remaining two at usyd..

 

[Memi]

^ That, I am not sure about. Sorry.

 

[Kimyia]

I'm set on doing a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) regardless of which University I will go to. However, my local university doesn't offer the specific major that I would like to undertake study in - Immunology, and has very limited majors. If I was to go to my local Uni, I would be majoring in Biological Sciences. First year and third year for this course is entirely the same as the University which is two hours away from me, with the only difference being a few second year subjects. I really do not want to move to the University offering the Immunology major due to financial factors etc etc, yet I'm scared prospective employers will look at my degree and see Biological sciences, assuming I was studying marine/terrestrial etc.
I'm so much more comfortable in this area, and could not cope moving away at this stage knowing the burden it would place upon my parents.

I have absolutely no idea what to do! .__.

Its just my opinion but I would say stick with your local uni. If the course is pretty much the same, but a few subjects in 2nd year, it doesn't sound like your major is too big a problem. Biological science is a fairly wide category, which would include immunology, so if you wanted to do post-grad, you could specialise more then. Maybe even when you get started, you might find that you prefer the wider-ranged major of biological science. I don't think your prospective employers would jump to the conclusion that your doing some other field of science which you are not. 2 hours is fair distance and staying at home sounds like the much better option, which would kind of rule out the further away uni. And like OzKo said, you could do your honours on Immunology. I hope that helps maybe a litte

 

[Drongoski]

Given the choice always choose the more established and prestigious university - for better prospects.

Suppose a 3rd liner uni has an excellent offering in immunology - do you think your prospective employers would be aware of that. They will generally assume the better established unis would offer a better programme. Unfortunately that's the way the world works.

 

[Carrotsticks]

Given the choice always choose the more established and prestigious university - for better prospects.

Suppose a 3rd liner uni has an excellent offering in immunology - do you think your prospective employers would be aware of that. They will generally assume the better established unis would offer a better programme. Unfortunately that's the way the world works.

True. Theoretically it should not matter, but since when were humans indiscriminating? The tough fact is, employers would rather pick a USYD or UNSW Maths person with a WAM of 90, than a UTS or Mac graduate with the same WAM, doing the same degree.

 

[OzKo]

True. Theoretically it should not matter, but since when were humans indiscriminating? The tough fact is, employers would rather pick a USYD or UNSW Maths person with a WAM of 90, than a UTS or Mac graduate with the same WAM, doing the same degree.

This is factual.

If you choose to attend your local university, make sure you involve yourself in many other activities so you can push yourself ahead of all the other graduates who attend more prestigious universities and failed to participate in said activities.

 

[Memi]

Yeah, not much longer to decide either. Do you think if I major in Biological science, employers will think I studied aquatics, terrestrial mammals etc rather that mainly immunology? This degree is so flexible that I am able to focus mainly on Immunology at my local University, but I will nevertheless graduate with a degree in Science Advanced (Biol. Sciences) ._.

 

[mitchy_boy]

Go to the one with immunology. Follow your dreams.

 

[OzKo]

Yeah, not much longer to decide either. Do you think if I major in Biological science, employers will think I studied aquatics, terrestrial mammals etc rather that mainly immunology? This degree is so flexible that I am able to focus mainly on Immunology at my local University, but I will nevertheless graduate with a degree in Science Advanced (Biol. Sciences) ._.

Employers don't look at a degree name and then toss it out if it doesn't fit their presumptions. Just make sure that you disclose information that you majored in Immunology within your degree program.

 

[Memi]

Employers don't look at a degree name and then toss it out if it doesn't fit their presumptions. Just make sure that you disclose information that you majored in Immunology within your degree program.

Yeah..you're probably right Thanks!