What to DO at ANU? (1 Viewer)

ecokid101

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I can't decide which double degree I want to take with Law, so I thought you guys could help me out with experience :).
I'm currently in year 12 and have always wanted to do Law at ANU. I'm undertaking my VCE and my current subjects are
- Maths Methods
- English
- Economics
- Chemistry
- International Studies

and last year I did two subjects aswell. Biology (got a 48 raw), and Legal Studies, in which I got 41 raw (despite the fact that I enjoyed Legal more then biology)

Nonetheless
I'm pretty much loving ALL of my subjects this year (except Methods, which I'm just liking, not loving :D)

So my question is: Should I do Commerce/Law, Arts/Law or Science/Law

Science/Law
I want to keep my options open for Medicine. I really like science and am enjoying Biology and Chemistry this year. I think it would be good to do this in terms of giving me more options, incase University Law isn't what I want. In terms of job prospects, I think I'm sort of restricted to Law.

Arts/Law
I would enjoy university most if I chose this, I'm probably more humanities inclined even though I like science aswell. I would probably major in International Studies, but like Science/Law, this would

Commerce/Law
The degree which I would probably enjoy the least, but in terms of the future, its the best for me. It would increase by job prospects and I find economics very interesting, so I'd major in that. The only problem is I won't like it as much as the other two.

Can anyone share there experiences with me, I'm really stuck!

Thankyou everybody
 

Davo1111

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Arts/law is REALLY popular, but arts has a low number of contact hours - which is beneficial if you have a job. I'm not sure about law, but i'm pretty sure there is a lot of background reading/torts reading. If you've got a genuine interest for arts subjects then go for it. If you're doing arts/law because its 'fashionable' then I'd think otherwise. Law is apparently hard/time consuming - but i don't think it's going to be much of an issue if you enjoy the subject. (i haven't done the subject so i don't have personal experience with the subject).

Science/Law will be very time consuming - especially if you have to have a job. But you get a lot of flexibility with subjects and majors - particularly with a Bsc. I'd probably expect 6 contact hrs a week per science subject (particularly with pure sciences). I do a science and really enjoy it. You said you enjoy "Biology and Chemistry" so i'd probably go with this one, but it's really up to you and how you feel.

Commerce law is probably in the middle somewhere. A lot of people do commerce (and related subjects) here, they can probably fill you in a bit more about it.

It's a bit hard to help tbh, which subjects are the strongest?/enjoy the most?
 
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blacksunset

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you can always change once u get there.
arts law is good because u can do science subjects in your arts, which is what im doing.
what school are you currently studying VCE at in melb? congrats on a 48 raw for bio..
 

neo o

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You wouldn't major in economics if you did a commerce/law degree, you'd just do an economics/law degree. It's an urban myth that commerce/law will increase your employability in a legal position over arts/law, science/law or other combinations. While commerce increases your OPTIONS (i.e. you can work as an accountant, investment banker etc) it doesn't enhance your law degree since you do all the business related units you'd want in the law part of your degree i.e. tax, corporations, bankrupcy, takeovers etc.

My suggestion is to do the degree that you think you'd most enjoy doing, in this case arts. Even if you do arts/law, you can still apply for postgraduate medicine programs after taking the GAMSAT. You don't need to do science. I know med students whose first degree was in new media arts.
 

ecokid101

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I'll probably enjoy Arts most. In fact, most BY FAR (less contact hours, enjoyable subjects)
Does anyone know of potential careers you can get from an arts degree?
 

Sammy-Blue

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ecokid101 said:
I'll probably enjoy Arts most. In fact, most BY FAR (less contact hours, enjoyable subjects)
Does anyone know of potential careers you can get from an arts degree?
LOL
 

blacksunset

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a much broader range from what u get freom an actuarial studies degree, let me tell you that.
 

Davo1111

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I'll be honest - i would never do arts. They're not real degrees... okay maybe just above visual arts.
 

ecokid101

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lol ok
arts is sort of out of it now

Its probably going to be commerce or science

Science - My first current pref is med, but with the realistic chance I don't get it after high school, I can train myself up for the GAMSAT using this degree

Commerce - I'm worried I won't get into med even after the 2ND TIME ROUND (if I did sci/law) ... so this is a good backup, commerce gives me more career options




ARGH DECISIONS DECISIONS

by the way, what jobs can a science graduate get (Majoring in Anatomy or Physiology or Chemistry or Biology, or something along the health science line)
 

Sammy-Blue

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Dude, decide whether medicine is what you really want to do. If it is, ditch law and do straight science and work your ass off. If it isn't ditch science and do comm/law.
 

Davo1111

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What do you want to do? law or medicine? jesus.

Are your parents influencing you into this?

I never thought i'd say it but... follow sammy's advice.

EDIT - when he says Comm/law - maybe make that science/law
 

khing

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There is an anu academic who is both a doctor and a lawyer. He makes it a point to point (pun!) it out at every single lecture he gives.
 

blacksunset

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Davo1111 said:
I'll be honest - i would never do arts. They're not real degrees... okay maybe just above visual arts.
how can you say its not a real degree when you dont even do it? i could say commerce isnt a real degree because u dont go straight into a job, and u have to specialise. which amazingly, you have to specialize in arts too... alot of jobs are now taking double degree students who have arts in their degree because they have that broader range of knowledge.
 

Sammy-Blue

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blacksunset said:
how can you say its not a real degree when you dont even do it? i could say commerce isnt a real degree because u dont go straight into a job, and u have to specialise. which amazingly, you have to specialize in arts too... alot of jobs are now taking double degree students who have arts in their degree because they have that broader range of knowledge.
Um, pardon? I think most degrees require a level of specialisation after graduation. To get anywhere in the field at least...
 

Davo1111

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blacksunset said:
how can you say its not a real degree when you dont even do it?
I classify commerce, computer science, engineering, finance, actuary etc as "real degrees" and i don't do them.

Arts isn't useful - sorry but it's true.

Oh wait, you're right - they're useful to 'water down' combined degrees.
 

cricketfan10

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okay it seems like an arts degree is quite useless, but i just wanted to get this straight...if you did it with law, it's not that bad is it? im not fond of maths and that's why i've never really considered comm/law. i don't mind the business side of it though...is it possible that i can completely avoid the maths aspect of it if i do comm/law?
 

Sammy-Blue

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cricketfan10 said:
okay it seems like an arts degree is quite useless, but i just wanted to get this straight...if you did it with law, it's not that bad is it? im not fond of maths and that's why i've never really considered comm/law. i don't mind the business side of it though...is it possible that i can completely avoid the maths aspect of it if i do comm/law?
To clarify, arts usability will depend on what majors you take (there are a number that are fairly useless). You'll just need to put up with alot of people ragging on you for doing it :eek:.

The maths used in commerce depends on what route you go down. From what I've seen none of it is that difficult. Although if you wanted to avoid maths as much as possible you'd probably be looking at managemnet/IB. I wouldn't think the stuff in accounting is much more than adding and percentages.
 

neo o

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Pre-law in the United States is a specialised arts degree for a reason. There's nothing wrong with doing an arts degree with law. Learning languages and studying philosophy and history will make you a more well rounded person, and that can only be a good thing! As I said before, commerce and science will increase your career options but won't enhance your chance of getting a legal job. Knowing another language however, will be looked at favourably. Also, if you think that you'll enjoy arts that alone is worth it. Chill out about what degrees will give you what future careers, law gives you heaps of options as is.
 

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