Masters by Coursework (1 Viewer)

[Ultimate]

Hey guys, just interested to to see what ppl's opinions are on a commerce masters by coursework versus a commerce bachelor's degree. The only disadvantage of a masters i can think of is the cost which is around 20K over 1 and a half years if u manage to get some subject exemptions. Apart from that i've been told it is better than a bachelors since fewer ppl have it, it's post-grad, it's a "higher qualification", better starting salaries on avg, good for job promotions to senior positions, very specialised in a particular subject major, and it also takes half the time to complete.

 

[flyin']

Generally speaking you would be expected to have a Bachelor of Commerce, before you can study your Masters of Commerce. So it is "better". In terms of job prospects, there are ups and downs. You can be overqualified for many "entry" positions, but you can also be more qualified for some positions that might be hard for Bachelors to get into. As you already know, the amount of time is a factor. You could be out working and moving up while someone else is doing a Masters. A Masters by Research is probably more interesting imo.

 

[stazi]

Masters isn't a waste of time. However, it strongly depends on where you do it. You also really need to have a bachelor's course - many master's courses require both a bachelor's degree and/or years of experience in the field.

For Harvard, they only have a 11% acceptance rate. As one could imagine, the degree and majors are a major factor in the selection process.
Apparently at Harvard average wage before Masters degree = $60k
Average wage 1 year after: 70k
Average wage 5 yrs after: 130k

 

[Ultimate]

Yeah the "overqualification" aspect was something i was a little concerned about, and the problem of not having enough practical work experience to work in a job u are qualified for by transcript.

At the end of this year I get a B science(adv maths) and am trying to weigh up whether to continue with my commerce degree which i would get in another 2 yrs time, or do the masters by coursework in commerce, which would take 1 and a half yrs.

So in terms of time the masters is shorter and supposedly "better". But if this were the case why wouldn't most ppl be taking this option? I can only think of the financial problem as being the main obstacle and the overqualification aspect

At Usyd the commerce masters simply requires a bachelor's degree from a recognised uni and a credit avg. Compare that to the Master of business which requires 2 full years of work experience in order to get accepeted.

 

[stazi]

Yeah the "overqualification" aspect was something i was a little concerned about, and the problem of not having enough practical work experience to work in a job u are qualified for by transcript.

At the end of this year I get a B science(adv maths) and am trying to weigh up whether to continue with my commerce degree which i would get in another 2 yrs time, or do the masters by coursework in commerce, which would take 1 and a half yrs.

So in terms of time the masters is shorter and supposedly "better". But if this were the case why wouldn't most ppl be taking this option? I can only think of the financial problem as being the main obstacle and the overqualification aspect

At Usyd the commerce masters simply requires a bachelor's degree from a recognised uni and a credit avg. Compare that to the Master of business which requires 2 full years of work experience in order to get accepeted.

as has been said by yourself and others overqualification is a BIG problem. Ask yourself this: are you employable? Do people instantly like you? Have you ever had trouble getting a job? If your answer is no to any of those, go for work experience first before masters. If you're smart, you'll get your company to pay for you as well.

 

[flyin']

Yeah the "overqualification" aspect was something i was a little concerned about, and the problem of not having enough practical work experience to work in a job u are qualified for by transcript.

At the end of this year I get a B science(adv maths) and am trying to weigh up whether to continue with my commerce degree which i would get in another 2 yrs time, or do the masters by coursework in commerce, which would take 1 and a half yrs.

So in terms of time the masters is shorter and supposedly "better". But if this were the case why wouldn't most ppl be taking this option? I can only think of the financial problem as being the main obstacle and the overqualification aspect

At Usyd the commerce masters simply requires a bachelor's degree from a recognised uni and a credit avg. Compare that to the Master of business which requires 2 full years of work experience in order to get accepeted.

where do you want to work? do you need a masters?

i dunno... but it wont make much difference if you do a bachelors or a masters of commerce, considering you won't be covering too much material differently (because you wouldn't have covered the basic undergrad commerce anyway), or thats what i think.

 

[§eraphim]

you should start looking to pursue some kind of professional qualification. eg FIAA, CFA, which has met industry standards. Or do an Master of Finance at unsw. www.fce.unsw.edu.au/mfin

 

[stazi]

sorry to hijack but can you do honours at another uni, rather than the uni you graduated from? I'm looking to do honours when i finish next year, but I cant stand to live away from home for another year.

I'd think you need to transfer to another uni. As honours is just an extension of a degree (i.e. you can't take honours seperate from a degree)

 

[Minai]

sorry to hijack but can you do honours at another uni, rather than the uni you graduated from? I'm looking to do honours when i finish next year, but I cant stand to live away from home for another year.

Yes, you can take the honours component at another university. You just have to apply directly to the specific faculty. It's common for students to do this as they find that the area they wish to research does not have a suitable supervisor available, or there aren't enough places at their current uni

 

[Ultimate]

where do you want to work? do you need a masters?

i dunno... but it wont make much difference if you do a bachelors or a masters of commerce, considering you won't be covering too much material differently (because you wouldn't have covered the basic undergrad commerce anyway), or thats what i think.

I plan to work in the financial/stockbroking/investment/superanuation area with firms like macquarie bank or the RBA. From what I've heard from friends applying to these places like macquarie bank, u really need to have an honours or masters degree to get noticed and have a chance. Atm i've covered the equivalent of 1 year of a commerce degree (due to my combined degree) so in terms of basic comm knowledge i have attained that. Masters is supposedly good for promotions to higher management positions (most CEO's have some kind of masters).

So i dunno, its a tough call, having two bachelor degrees doesn't necessarily make me better off than someone with just a single comm degree say (even though i would have worked 2 extra years at uni and would prob need some kind of honours which would make it another yr), but a masters would. So I guess i'll prob do a masters, sorry for the long winded response lol.

To natstar, yes u can do your honours at other universities, but would prob need to meet certain criteria markswise ( in terms of ur GPA or WAM obtained for ur bachelor's degree).

 

[Ultimate]

as has been said by yourself and others overqualification is a BIG problem. Ask yourself this: are you employable? Do people instantly like you? Have you ever had trouble getting a job? If your answer is no to any of those, go for work experience first before masters. If you're smart, you'll get your company to pay for you as well.

I know what ur saying but if overqualification were such a big problem then ppl with phd's or doctorates would be unemployed, which is hardly the case. Even if u were overqualified there's nothing to say u can't take a 'lower job' . U would also have a greater competitive advantage. At school u see some teachers who have a masters, or honours which is way overqualified for a teaching profession, but they're still working. I personally think the benefits of overqualification outweigh the negatives, but that's just me. I've also applied to a few graduate positions and the impression i get is that a pass degree is just not enough when ur up against ppl with honours or masters.

Also with the work experience thing first, i personally think its tough to come back and study once u've lost the momentum for a couple of years.

 

[stazi]

I know what ur saying but if overqualification were such a big problem then ppl with phd's or doctorates would be unemployed, which is hardly the case. Even if u were overqualified there's nothing to say u can't take a 'lower job' . U would also have a greater competitive advantage. At school u see some teachers who have a masters, or honours which is way overqualified for a teaching profession, but they're still working. I personally think the benefits of overqualification outweigh the negatives, but that's just me. I've also applied to a few graduate positions and the impression i get is that a pass degree is just not enough when ur up against ppl with honours or masters.

Also with the work experience thing first, i personally think its tough to come back and study once u've lost the momentum for a couple of years.

People with phds tend to already have extensive work experience.

 

[flyin']

I plan to work in the financial/stockbroking/investment/superanuation area with firms like macquarie bank or the RBA. From what I've heard from friends applying to these places like macquarie bank, u really need to have an honours or masters degree to get noticed and have a chance. Atm i've covered the equivalent of 1 year of a commerce degree (due to my combined degree) so in terms of basic comm knowledge i have attained that. Masters is supposedly good for promotions to higher management positions (most CEO's have some kind of masters).

So i dunno, its a tough call, having two bachelor degrees doesn't necessarily make me better off than someone with just a single comm degree say (even though i would have worked 2 extra years at uni and would prob need some kind of honours which would make it another yr), but a masters would. So I guess i'll prob do a masters, sorry for the long winded response lol.

To natstar, yes u can do your honours at other universities, but would prob need to meet certain criteria markswise ( in terms of ur GPA or WAM obtained for ur bachelor's degree).

- "Go ask professionals" is my advice, not students who have heard stuff from somewhere. That is, go to places where they hold information sessions for places where you want to work, and ask questions.
- Most CEO's have some kind of masters, yes. Masters of Business Administration. =p
- CFA would be a useful qualification for investments.
- Places like Macquarie and RBA are hard to get into, even with Honours or Masters.

 

[stazi]

lol lol lol is there a Master in Baiting and Fishwork lolz lolz

 

[sarevok]

not in the social sciences

yes, from my experiences most people who work in usyd's social sciences department are all there because theyre too inept to go out into the real world and thus have chosen academia as their career path

 

[stazi]

yes, from my experiences most people who work in usyd's social sciences department are all there because theyre too inept to go out into the real world and thus have chosen academia as their career path

I strongly disagree: in fact I'm sure a number of them have worked in the real world. In fact, have you even done any social sciences subjects?