Studying languages for interest? (1 Viewer)

[boomshaka]

Hi, I'm in Year 11 and currently thinking of possible degrees to take in USYD. I'm set on taking Bachelor of Science (or any Science degree of the sort) and Masters of Nursing (not quite sure with this one, but quite a possibility) with the intention of proceeding to post-grad Dentistry. However, for a long time I've always wanted to learn a language and study overseas in uni. The Bachelor of Arts (Languages) really appealed to me (especially that two semester in-country study) but I know that I don't want to do Bachelor of Arts by itself; I'm merely interested in learning languages and not so much any of the other majors (although I see some science subjects, is that normal?) and I can only see myself working in health, nothing else.

I know I can self-teach myself a language but I prefer learning in uni so I can become more immersed in the language, especially when studying abroad. Also knowing me I don't think I'll even have the initiative and motivation to self-teach myself and end up making no progress.

I have some questions, if anyone can kindly answer:

a) Is there some possible way to major in a language with a Bachelor of Science? If not, will the short language courses at USYD suffice?

b) I'm aware that for post-grad Dentistry, I'm able to take any degree beforehand, but I'd rather take a degree that will be useful for the GAMSAT. But let's say I do take Bachelor of Arts (Languages), would the science majors be enough to cover the possible topics tested in GAMSAT?

c) If anyone has taken Masters of Nursing, is it any good?

Thank you!

 

[asianese]

a) You cannot major in a language with B Sc. You can, however, take electives of languages units as part of your science degree. I am not familiar with short language courses are USYD but I think they have had mixed reviews. You can look into the Diploma of Language Studies at USYD which is 1 year intensive language study that you do after/before/anytime after/before your degree.

b) I am not 100% sure but I don't think you can major in a science under the B A (Lang).

What I would suggest is that you take a B Sc / B A combined degree. This degree has LOTS of flexibility in what science or arts units you can choose. It takes 4 years and will adequately prepare you for post-grad dentistry, as well as fulfiling your interests in languages.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with the M Nursing degree.

 

[boomshaka]

How many electives would I have to take within the 3 years of my degree? Are they long or short? Sorry, I don't know much of this uni stuff. But that's good, I'd rather take language units for my electives rather than do the short courses anyway.

I see that you're taking a BSc (Adv Maths)/BA degree at USYD. How is it? I've considered the combined degree before but I wasn't quite sure if Bachelor of Arts would be worth taking. Is it more time consuming and/or difficult? I'd like opinions

 

[asianese]

Here are two SAMPLE course guides.

They give you an idea of the number of electives you can take.


For me, I am having mixed feeling about B Sc / BA, purely because I am planning to study mathematics alone, with Japanese/Asian studies attached. However, I have found that I am really not cut out for essay-ey subjects such as Intro to Asian Cultures (ASNS1601) which is a history/culture course on pre-modern Asia. I don't think I will take the 2nd semester continuation Modernity In Asia (ASNS1602) due to this. However, if you are keen on some of these subjects, (have a look on the arts page to see the range of subjects available), then B Sc/ BA may be for you. With Japanese, I am taking a 2nd year course for people who did it in the HSC. Sad to say, I have found the course to be disappointing in terms of its structure, teaching, and peer level (I'm not trying to sound snobbish but many are misplaced into a much higher level than they are at). I do not mean to discourage you from studying a language, as it may be a totally different situation in a different language/unit/teacher w/e.

After half a semester or so of my course I think I will be switching to B Sc (Adv Math) and dropping B A simply because I cannot do essays (its not 'in me'). Moreover, I may be inclined to study a 4th year honours in mathematics, so having the extra year of arts won't exactly help. However, I will be taking Japanese as an elective up until the end of next year, at least.

If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

 

[boomshaka]

Thank you! This is heaps helpful.

I don't mind some of the subjects, but I have no other intentions of taking Bachelor of Arts other than learning a language, and according to my mum it's worthless so she's against it (lol). But I think I'm not going to take Bachelor of Arts in uni; though it may still be a vague possibility, I have no interest in pursuing a career art-related. For Japanese, is it one of your electives for BA or BSc?

What are you planning to be in the future? And may I ask, how is BSc (Adv Math)? Is BSc (Adv Math) similar to BSc (Adv) excluding the majoring in maths? I'm definitely considering BSc (Adv) but I'm not quite sure about the difficulty - I heard you have to keep up a certain GPA or else you get dropped down to the normal BSc course. I'm tossing between BSc and BSc (Adv). I'd love to take the Adv course but my main priority will be to maintain a high GPA, and if it's harder to achieve in BSc (Adv) as opposed to just BSc, I guess I'd rather take BSc instead.

And one more question, is BSc (Adv) regarded more highly than BSc regardless of GPA?

Thank you.

 

[asianese]

Arts degrees aren't worthless. They have a wide (too wide) applicability and so no one really specifies: Arts degrees -> This profession. E.g. If you do a B Actuarial Sciences, you will probably become an actuary. If you do LLB (Laws) you will become a lawyer. Broad degrees like Arts and Science do not have a prescribed profession and are thus seen as 'useless' or not 'practical' since they do not have this specification.

I do not have an interest in pursuing an arts-related career, either. Japanese is my B A elective.

I do not know exactly what I 'will be', but my choices are varied. I may become a financial stock broker, a banker, a statistician, a mathematician (research), an engineer, a baker or whatever. B Sc AdvMath is the same as B Sc and B Sc (Adv) for the first year - it is not until 2nd and 3rd year that you do much higher mathematics courses. B Sc (adv) is not a difficult course unless you make it do be one. Uni is about your effort levels. If you have them, you will do fine and have a high GPA (USYD does not do GPAs, they do weighted annual marks). Why do you need to maintain a high grade average? Exchange? Again, B Sc and B Sc (Adv) are identical in first year - you don't even need to take adv units in B Sc (Adv) in first year.

Perhaps B Sc (Adv) is more highly regarded..but it really doesn't matter a whole lot.

 

[someth1ng]

Arts degrees aren't worthless. They have a wide (too wide) applicability and so no one really specifies: Arts degrees -> This profession. E.g. If you do a B Actuarial Sciences, you will probably become an actuary. If you do LLB (Laws) you will become a lawyer. Broad degrees like Arts and Science do not have a prescribed profession and are thus seen as 'useless' or not 'practical' since they do not have this specification.

I do not have an interest in pursuing an arts-related career, either. Japanese is my B A elective.

I do not know exactly what I 'will be', but my choices are varied. I may become a financial stock broker, a banker, a statistician, a mathematician (research), an engineer, a baker or whatever. B Sc AdvMath is the same as B Sc and B Sc (Adv) for the first year - it is not until 2nd and 3rd year that you do much higher mathematics courses. B Sc (adv) is not a difficult course unless you make it do be one. Uni is about your effort levels. If you have them, you will do fine and have a high GPA (USYD does not do GPAs, they do weighted annual marks). Why do you need to maintain a high grade average? Exchange? Again, B Sc and B Sc (Adv) are identical in first year - you don't even need to take adv units in B Sc (Adv) in first year.

Perhaps B Sc (Adv) is more highly regarded..but it really doesn't matter a whole lot.

No, just Arts

But admit it, having "Advanced" in your degree sounds so much more awesome!

 

[asianese]

Yeah it sounds awesome to you..

And I have to say, boomshaka, you're gonna accomplish great things, just because your dp is of totoro.

 

[boomshaka]

To be frank, I'm not even entirely sure of what I want to be; part of my decision is influenced by my parents' high expectations of me (which is sorta funny, but not really). So it'll be impractical to do a Bachelor of Arts with no certain path I want to take.

"baker" - sorry I lol'ed. According to the USYD site, "Applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelors degree and have a at least a credit average at the time of application, as indicated by Grade Point Average (GPA), to be considered for admission." This is for post-grad dentistry, and that's only one of the few things I need to do in order to be considered.

Okay, BSc (Adv) doesn't sound too bad now, but I recently just dropped Maths Ext 1 - not because I wasn't capable, but because it was too time-consuming for me, considering the difficulty and effort. With the addition of having a job and my combination of subjects, it was hard to balance everything and I'd find myself spending much more time with Maths Ext 1 (just homework) despite not improving much whilst neglecting all my other subjects. Anyway, my point is, do you have to be very proficient in maths in order to succeed in BSc (Adv)? Would 2U Maths be sufficient? I don't have anything against just a normal BSc degree, but I feel that I need to push myself, and I'm assuming BSc (Adv) might just do that.

HAHA thank you! Totoro is awesome. And I see you have a dp of Totoro too.