USYD or Macquarie? Have an urgent decision to make! (1 Viewer)

[ccc333]

I was offered a place at USYD for a bachelor of science, but I'm unsure as to which uni i should go to. The reason I picked USYD over MQ in my preferences is because it has way more extracurricular/clubs/social stuff, which is kind of important to me because i don't want uni to just be: i go there, do the work come home and thats it. Ive heard macquarie doesn't really have much of this. The thing is, MQ is 10 minutes away from my home whereas USYD is an hour. Is it worth it?

If not, how would I go about changing to macquarie? I put science at macquarie in my preferences, but i wasn't offered it because science at sydney was higher in my preferences. I'm confused as to what i should do now, so anyone at either of these unis please help me out!!!

 

[brent012]

You should of changed preferences over 24 hours ago for late round, theres still final round if you wish though. Besides social life, the reputation/prestige of USYD is greater than Macquarie. It seems like the only thing Macquarie has going for you is shorter travel time. I'd suggest you start at USYD and look into everything over the year and transfer next year if you think the convenience of Macquarie (or perhaps something else, idk since im not doing B. Sc. or considered either MQ/USYD) outweighs the benefits of USYD.

 

[Lolsmith]

You should of changed preferences over 24 hours ago for late round, theres still final round if you wish though. Besides social life, the reputation/prestige of USYD is greater than Macquarie. It seems like the only thing Macquarie has going for you is shorter travel time. I'd suggest you start at USYD and look into everything over the year and transfer next year if you think the convenience of Macquarie (or perhaps something else, idk since im not doing B. Sc. or considered either MQ/USYD) outweighs the benefits of USYD.

Don't listen to this person or any other person that even mentions the word "prestige" in a post about universities as a considering factor. They are morons.

An hour isn't a long time to travel, for starters. They're both decent universities but it's pretty clear that Sydney is your preferred choice.

 

[Kittenslayer]

@lolsmith, with prestige, dont employers hire people from unis such as usyd or unsw more than others?

 

[Lolsmith]

that's not a matter of "prestige" it is a matter of having superior faculties and staff and usually students as well

 

[Azure]

You're misinformed about the social life at Macquarie. I would argue that it has one of the best social atmospheres out any university in Sydney. We have a ton of societies and clubs, plus things like conception day, uBar etc...

You can't really go wrong with your preferences, but I wouldn't use the social setting at either university to come to a decision.

 

[CCMc]

In my opinion if you are going for a non-specialist degree like Arts or Science you are always better off going for the University with higher prestige. I'm doing and always planned on doing a BA and had to consider between MQ, USYD and UNSW, I quickly ruled MQ out for both social, prestige and employability resasons as I realised that if your going to do a BA, the best way to counter the fact there isn't much demand for the degree in the workplace is to do it at a G8 Uni. I'd say this rule also applies to plain BScience degrees. I'll be commuting from the Central Coast but luckily I got my timetable at UNSW down to 3 days.

 

[-may-cat-]

I always find it incredible that people only ever think of Arts and Science degrees as 'general' and that future employment opportunities will be determined by the overall prestige of the uni in which the degree was attained. An Arts/Science degree may be as general or focused as you choose to make it, the degree itself isn't what is in demand, it is the the skills that are obtained within the degree. Do people not consider that some universities have better departments for certain disciplines than others? That skills in a certain discipline may be taught better in one university than another, regardless of overall 'prestige'...?

 

[OzKo]

I always find it incredible that people only ever think of Arts and Science degrees as 'general' and that future employment opportunities will be determined by the overall prestige of the uni in which the degree was attained. An Arts/Science degree may be as general or focused as you choose to make it, the degree itself isn't what is in demand, it is the the skills that are obtained within the degree. Do people not consider that some universities have better departments for certain disciplines than others? That skills in a certain discipline may be taught better in one university than another, regardless of overall 'prestige'...?

This is usually an assumption made by people who have never studied in a tertiary institution and think they've got the world figured out.

Some of the misconceptions I've seen here on BoS have really surprised me to be honest.

I was offered a place at USYD for a bachelor of science, but I'm unsure as to which uni i should go to. The reason I picked USYD over MQ in my preferences is because it has way more extracurricular/clubs/social stuff, which is kind of important to me because i don't want uni to just be: i go there, do the work come home and thats it. Ive heard macquarie doesn't really have much of this. The thing is, MQ is 10 minutes away from my home whereas USYD is an hour. Is it worth it?


If not, how would I go about changing to macquarie? I put science at macquarie in my preferences, but i wasn't offered it because science at sydney was higher in my preferences. I'm confused as to what i should do now, so anyone at either of these unis please help me out!!!

It seems that you have only justified MQ as an option because of the distance. I commute from the Epping area to USYD and I don't find the distance an inconvenience. It takes roughly one hour from my front door to campus.

 

[CCMc]

I always find it incredible that people only ever think of Arts and Science degrees as 'general' and that future employment opportunities will be determined by the overall prestige of the uni in which the degree was attained. An Arts/Science degree may be as general or focused as you choose to make it, the degree itself isn't what is in demand, it is the the skills that are obtained within the degree. Do people not consider that some universities have better departments for certain disciplines than others? That skills in a certain discipline may be taught better in one university than another, regardless of overall 'prestige'...?

Universities are more prestigious than others for a reason. I chose UNSW over Sydney or MQ because I want to do a second major in either Human Resource Managment or International Business. UNSW is held in higher regard than Sydney or MQ for Business/Commerce. Plus Sydney didn't offer an International Business major for an Arts degree. For specialist degrees like Engineering it doesn't usually matter as much what Uni you go to because proffesions like that are in high demand. I'm sorry to offend anyone but the only way to seperate yourself in an employees eye for Arts/Science degrees is to graduate at a G8 uni. Sure some employees will take the extra time to dwell into the schisms of the course and what uni has better lecturers/tuts than others, but most don't, they don't have the time.

 

[Azure]

The people that invoke "prestige" usually fall into two categories:

1) People who have never studied at university before
2) People who have absolutely nothing to offer an employer and resort to falling back on something that doesn't exist

I mean really, of all the reasons to choose one another over another.

 

[OzKo]

Universities are more prestigious than others for a reason. I chose UNSW over Sydney or MQ because I want to do a second major in either Human Resource Managment or International Business. UNSW is held in higher regard than Sydney or MQ for Business/Commerce. Plus Sydney didn't offer an International Business major for an Arts degree. For specialist degrees like Engineering it doesn't usually matter as much what Uni you go to because proffesions like that are in high demand. I'm sorry to offend anyone but the only way to seperate yourself in an employees eye for Arts/Science degrees is to graduate at a G8 uni. Sure some employees will take the extra time to dwell into the schisms of the course and what uni has better lecturers/tuts than others, but most don't, they don't have the time.

If a firm was deciding on hiring someone based on this, with all the money and time they need to invest in training and the like, they would have to fire the HR manager. It's awful business practice. I assure you that this is NOT how the employment process works in the real world.

 

[Azure]

Universities are more prestigious than others for a reason. I chose UNSW over Sydney or MQ because I want to do a second major in either Human Resource Managment or International Business. UNSW is held in higher regard than Sydney or MQ for Business/Commerce. Plus Sydney didn't offer an International Business major for an Arts degree. For specialist degrees like Engineering it doesn't usually matter as much what Uni you go to because proffesions like that are in high demand. I'm sorry to offend anyone but the only way to seperate yourself in an employees eye for Arts/Science degrees is to graduate at a G8 uni. Sure some employees will take the extra time to dwell into the schisms of the course and what uni has better lecturers/tuts than others, but most don't, they don't have the time.

You are in for one giant shock down the road. I'm not trying to pick on you, but there is huge inconsistency in what you're saying. The only way to separate yourself is by doing well in your course, gaining work experience and getting involved in extra curricular activities. "Prestige" in regards to universities is virtually non existent in Australia, especially at an undergraduate level. A university with a better faculty does not make said university prestigious.

I came back from a job interview on Friday with a firm that has floated some very well known IPOs and there were a chunk of people from "lesser known" universities like Bond & CSU in senior management roles making very respectable figures. This has also been the case at other companies I have worked at. A university doesn't make you. You make you.

There's nothing wrong with coming to the conclusion that one particular university is better for you than another, but if you think the concept of prestige is the only way (or even a way) to get ahead, then you are sorely mistaken.

 

[CCMc]

The people that invoke "prestige" usually fall into two categories:

1) People who have never studied at university before
2) People who have absolutely nothing to offer an employer and resort to falling back on something that doesn't exist

I mean really, of all the reasons to choose one another over another.

Just so we know you aren't just gestering on your moral high horse Azure, why not say what Course your doing at Macquarie so we know you are been objective?

 

[Azure]

Just so we know you aren't just gestering on your moral high horse Azure, why not say what Course your doing at Macquarie so we know you are been objective?

It's in my signature. Have a look.

 

[CCMc]

We are talking about generalist degrees, or at least I am. You can't blame me for wanting to do a BA at UNSW rather than Ourimbah Campus on the Central Coast?

 

[OzKo]

Remember that the university you go to is somewhat only a reflection of your academic ability (primarily in Year 12) and not your people skills, ability to adapt the challenges, teamwork etc. These factors are also very important when seeking employment and they aren't taught by tertiary institutions thus suggesting that prestige is important is ignorance.

Prestige may only count if you have two graduates who are exactly identical except for the university they go to. Even then, you would be surprised what human resources can come up with to differentiate them in the end.

 

[DavDav]

Just so we know you aren't just gestering on your moral high horse Azure, why not say what Course your doing at Macquarie so we know you are been objective?

Are you blind? Look at Azure's signature!

IT CLEARLY STATES IN CLEAR LETTERING: Bachelor of Applied Finance & Bachelor of Laws @ Macquarie University

I for one will be studying at MQ and to tell you the truth, your worries about distance, prestige and recognition of a degree in one university over another is laughable.

Do whatever you want because the system is there for you but the choices are up to the individual.

 

[Azure]

Of course not, and in all fairness it sounds like you made a good decision.

I'm not having a go at you or anything, so my apologies if I'm coming off as somebody on their high horse.

Better faculties, lectures, course structure, social setting and ease of transport are all valid reasons. My point however, is that the concept of prestige is superficial and non-existent.

 

[CCMc]

The concept of Prestige shouldn't exist, but It does exist. Sorry for not seeing you Signature, I didn't look to the far right hand corner. A Bachelor of Applied Finance with a LLB is a very specialist degree and I'm sure you will have no problem getting a Job. The difference between unis like UTS&Macquarie as opposed to USYD and UNSW is very subtle. But compare the USYD and UNSW to a uni like Ourimbah Campus, prestige will always come into the equation for an employer in that situation. I have seen too many of my siblings friends go to Ourimbah only to have to go do postgrad at a Sydney uni cause they can't get a job.