Hey all,
i need some advice, im heading into my 3rd yr electronic engineering degree and im kinda lost really. During the end of my 2nd yr i lost heaps of motivation with engineering and i failed 2 subject cos of that. I chose engineering because i enjoy doing maths, but the electronic theory that comes into it really screws up my mind really bad.
Now im having a serious think about changing to commerce, which also has alot of maths, but at least the theory behind it all is more easier to understand and makes sense i hope.
I'm pretty sure heaps of ppl here do commerce, so whats it like?? Should i change or stick with engineering?
cheers all
hey paddy,
i totally understand where ur coming from, im not here to make ur decision, as it is always u who has the final say.
i did change from engineering to commerce, and i must say everything is much easier. the theory is easier, the calculations are easier.
but take into consideration that u are changing career paths!
i did change from engineering to commerce, and i must say everything is much easier. the theory is easier, the calculations are easier.
ahh cool, thats what i wanna hear
but take into consideration that u are changing career paths!
yeh i know. Do most commerce graduates secure a job when they out of uni? One of the reasons why i chose elec engineering because its easy to get a job since its very high demand
thanks for ur reply soos
math in commerce=learn to use the calculator, commerce is way easier overall. Though the odd law subjects needed for commerce is quite screwy.
Decent prospects for Jobs in both Commerce and Engineering.
Engineering is much better though - better pay for graduates as well.
Do most commerce graduates secure a job when they out of uni?
Depends what you major/specialise in. Accounting has good career prospects, but many people find it boring
Depends what you major/specialise in. Accounting has good career prospects, but many people find it boring
what about Finance and Banking?
what about Finance and Banking?
finance can be very lucrative if you do IB, but places are very limited and there is a lot of demand from graduates, so you really need to be at the top of your game to succeed (i.e. HD average + relevant work experience) just to have a chance.
I don't know much about banking
keep in mind regarding commerce marks,
for engineering pass marks can get u top jobs, where as commerce u need HD's or u got no chance at all getting any grad jobs.
One thing to keep in mind is that Commerce is full of assignments. I'm not sure if in engineering you get a lot of assignments/essays but be prepared to write a lot of 2000-4000 word papers. Also, this may be depending on your uni but its likely there'll also be a lot of oral presentations.
IB, but places are very limited and there is a lot of demand from graduates, so you really need to be at the top of your game to succeed (i.e. HD average + relevant work experience) just to have a chance.
hah, no chance for me. But surely finance can lead to other jobs instead of IB right?
where as commerce u need HD's or u got no chance at all getting any grad jobs.
err, im pretty sure thats not true right :S
It's not unusual to question why your at Uni doing Engineering during 2nd year. I remember having the same thoughts during 2nd year.
If you do well at Eng/Maths, you should cream Commerce/Banking/Finance. Also think about Economics (or Econometrics), there is quite a shortage of Economics graduates at the moment.
The other things to think of are switching to another Engineering discipline, or maybe converting to a Eng/Commerce double degree, that way you don't lose credit for everything you've done.
The other things to think of are switching to another Engineering discipline, or maybe converting to a Eng/Commerce double degree, that way you don't lose credit for everything you've done.
Best advice on this thread so far - depends on the OP's financial situation too of course, taking on the extra degree and all the HECS debt that comes with that (or full fees if that be the case).
Eng/Commerce double degree, that way you don't lose credit for everything you've done.
yeh i wish, but i dont think griffith uni offers that. Plus, the commerce degree allows me to transfer 80CP from engineering, so its not THAT bad...i think
err, im pretty sure thats not true right :S
welll not necessarily HD, try at least high C and D's...
if u dont beleve they go get ur passes and see the outcome.
edit: from experience...
i'm reading some funny comments here.
i study engineering and commerce (double-degree) so here's my 2 cents worth. for commerce, u don't need to be good at maths, you probably need the maths for engineering more. unless you do some hardcore finance work, the maths should be challenging but not overwhelming.
commerce is definitely bludgier than engineering, but like someone said, there are legal courses (which you may or may not need to do) that are more demanding but also more interesting.
as for salaries, i think eng salaries start a bit higher. average around $50K whereas accounting usually starts around the $44K mark.
Hey Paddy,
I had went through a similar thing to you, except I stuck at Engineering (Telecomms) and moved into a double degree with Finance instead. This got me out of a few engie subjects, etc.
From experience Finance was so much easier than Engineering. I was an up and down Engineer when it came to marks - a few C's and D's, coupled with a few (too many) P's, however Finance was mainly C's and D's. And Finance seemed to get easier as it went along. Final year was a piece of cake compared to some of the formative subjects (Macro & Micro Economics, Financial Eco), although this may have had something to do with overall workloads, rather than the difficulty of the subjects (5 or 6 Engie subjects along with a 4 point Finance one makes for a busy semester).
As far as job prospects go there are heaps on both sides of the fence. I'm working as an engineer at the moment, however i'm tossing up whether to have a crack at some of the banking grad programs and see how I go there. I had absolutely no trouble finding a graduate engineering job (not through a big grad program mind you), and my mates from Finance / Commerce haven't had any probs either (most are working for Big4 accounting firms now).
Good luck in your choice mate. I think the biggest thing, if you want to change to Commerce and succeed is to pull your finger out and get some good grades (C's as a minimum). You can then pick your grad role in any big multi-nat and spend the next 5-10 years transferring between offices around the world.
Cheers
Engineering is much better though - better pay for graduates as well.
There was a govt. add on TV about an Engineer shortage, it's a bit of a worry because Engineering is such a broad spectrum of discplines.
I think you have to look at the industries, there's obvious growth in Mining, Petro-Chemical, and Civil Infrastructure, but the manufacturing industry is taking a real clobbering, affecting disciplines like Manufacturing Eng, Mech. Eng, as well as Computer and Software Eng (both with are Elec.Eng disciplines).
i need some advice, im heading into my 3rd yr electronic engineering degree and im kinda lost really. During the end of my 2nd yr i lost heaps of motivation with engineering and i failed 2 subject cos of that. I chose engineering because i enjoy doing maths, but the electronic theory that comes into it really screws up my mind really bad.
Don't give up now. 2nd year engineering sucks. First year they give you a basic overview and show you a broad range of interesting things, second year they hit you with the theory. Third and final year you actually start looking at the applications of the stuff you have learned.
I failed a couple of subjects in 2nd year, but finished up with honours.
If you need a break, consider (as others have pointed out) a double degree, so you won't lose your credit.
thanks alot for the advice guys, especially the last few.
Just wanting to know more about the job prospects for commerce. Will majoring in finance or banking be good? And is it really necessary to get at least a "D" to have any chance of getting a graduate job?
also, if im transferring degrees, does my GPA start from scratch, or does it carry over from my engineering one. My gpa atm isnt really good, 4.1 ><
Third and final year you actually start looking at the applications of the stuff you have learned
hah, doesnt look that fun to me. Especially with the stuff like audio and video communications signals...WTF!!!!!
Will majoring in finance or banking be good?
Well, do you want to work in an Investment Bank 18 hours a day?
I'd rather work as an Engineer * 50!
And is it really necessary to get at least a "D" to have any chance of getting a graduate job?
It's a mandatory if you want to really get into finance (eg, Investment Bank -> Macquarie), they're not as harsh in the Accounting world, but still tough apparently.
Competition is high for graduate jobs in Finance and Commerce.
also, if im transferring degrees, does my GPA start from scratch, or does it carry over from my engineering one.
Carries over. They might seperate the GPA for each componene though. So GPA of 3.5 for Engineering, 7 for Finance ;-)
also, if im transferring degrees, does my GPA start from scratch, or does it carry over from my engineering one. My gpa atm isnt really good, 4.1 ><
Spend some more time studying and less time posting on WP mate ;)
Also, what does majors actually do to u?
I mean like, if i major in accounting, can i still go work in the finance or economics industry?? or am i not qualified?
Also, what does majors actually do to u?
"Majors" are specific areas of study within the course; e.g. Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management. What major you choose to do is important because it lays the foundations for what you want to end up doing once you graduate. It gives you the exposure and knowledge to the area of study you want to specialise in.
I mean like, if i major in accounting, can i still go work in the finance or economics industry?? or am i not qualified?
If you choose to major in Accounting, you won't have the skills/expertise that are required in the Finance and/or Economics industry. However, this doesn't mean that you can't crack into an area you didn't specialise in. Some companies will take you on -- provided you've demonstrated that you've got the right stuff -- and will train you as required. Nevertheless, it's better to make a decision as to which area you wish to end up in while completing your degree :).
I started out doing a double degree in Comp Sys Engineering and Finance, it turns out I'm no good at programming so I dropped out of engineering and I'm just finishing my Finance degree now, really enjoy it too which is a bonus.
However as I'm applying to various graduate positions atm, I think I'm caught in no mans land. Most firms are either looking for accounting grads with a view of doing CA/CPA or the IBs looking for corporate finance grads with HD averages.
Seems like no one out there wants a B.Finance grad with a credit average, it's quite disheartening really getting all these rejection emails.
I'm just finishing my Finance degree now, really enjoy it too which is a bonus.
What about Management consulting?
What about Management consulting?
Don't you need B.Commerce(Management) for that? I dont think many companies take on grads for a management consulting role anyway.
My advice would be taking accounting as a major and maybe do another one like finance or economics, at end of day, lets face it, most of big accounting firms or international companies want someone with accounting degree and also if they are willing to take on CA or CPA in the future.
Don't you need B.Commerce(Management) for that? I dont think many companies take on grads for a management consulting role anyway
Many of consulting firms want people with CA/CPA/MBA qualifications.
Don't you need B.Commerce(Management) for that? I dont think many companies take on grads for a management consulting role anyway.
You don't need a BCom (Management) degree to be considered for a position in a management consulting firm. If anything, the management consulting firms I know of prefer applicants with other specialisations (e.g. Engineering, Law, or other majors of Commerce). Their recruitment philosophy is to recruit exceptional students from their respective fields and to train them to become management consultants. This may include sending off employees to complete an MBA program at the top business schools in the world.
Hey all,
once again thank you for all your comments. I've been speaking with the admins about changing. They said i can transfer 80CP over from my engineering course, which is not bad. But the thing is, if i transfer, i can only major in one thing. Is having only 1 major good enough to secure a job when i graduate?
Also, im tossing up between banking and finance, which one will have a better chance of securing a job? I dont mind either of both since they both look interesting. And since both look similar, if i choose banking as major, would i be able to move on to the finance industry later on my career?
thanks all
Also, im tossing up between banking and finance
The two aren't mutually exclusive. Indeed, you are tossing up the wrong options. At the end of the day, it is like asking how long is a piece of string. A bank is a very large complex organisation with many different jobs and career paths.
Within a bank you will have traditional 'banking' roles, as well as funds management, trading, sales etc. The common denominator you need is really just a keen interest in the financial system and the markets.
This applies to everything really and is just common sense. I suggest you take a 2nd year finance subject (most likely called 'Business Finance' or along those lines) as that will give you an idea of what the field is all about.
One of the IB uni recruitment sessions I went to had an analyst there who was an arts grad majoring in history. Obviously this is not the norm but the point is that your degree per se is not what they are looking for, rather your interest and passion in the field itself.
I've been speaking with the admins about changing. They said i can transfer 80CP over from my engineering course, which is not bad. But the thing is, if i transfer, i can only major in one thing. Is having only 1 major good enough to secure a job when i graduate?
One major is good enough to secure a job provided your performance meets the bar set by the companies you're applying for. With that being said though, I personally wouldn't carry over credits from a previous degree if I were in your position since it'll restrict the number of subjects I can take. I'd want to be in a position to compete with other students and I'd be handicapping myself if I decided to only major in one field.
Think about it: you'll be competing against people doing straight Commerce degrees, or with those doing a combined degree with Commerce. The only people who'll be doing one major are those who are undertaking a combined degree and they're in a better position than you because, well, they've got a combined degree. On the other hand, the straight Commerce degree students will be fully utilising their degree and at the very least will be exposed to all facets of Commerce.
In transferring, you've gotten yourself a clean slate. You can choose to compete against the combined degree people or straight Commerce people on more or less equal footing. You can maximise the number of subjects you can do, make the most out of it, and major in two fields. At the end of the day though, it comes down to how well you'll perform and how much you get out of your degree.
If you are impatient to get out of university, by all means credit your Engineering degree. Being risk-averse by nature, I just wouldn't advise it.
Within a bank you will have traditional 'banking' roles, as well as funds management, trading, sales etc. The common denominator you need is really just a keen interest in the financial system and the markets.
.....that your degree per se is not what they are looking for, rather your interest and passion in the field itself.
Very true. It really doesn't matter what you major in, as corporate jobs in banking/finance/accountancy are very interchangeable - for instance you could move from big 4 audit to corporate finance to trading markets. like jah said you could be a BA and still be accepted in IB, just as long as your attitude and passion towards the role can fit well within that particular corporate environment - they can teach you the skills easily.
Having such a deep passion for a high-end 'business-related' role is one thing, proving it 100% to these large corps during recruitment is another.
Unfortunately not many candidates with IT, and engie/math related backgrounds have these crucial social skills and aggressive attitudes to set themselves apart from the other flawless HD suits in there. OP, Do you?
Cheers.
2nd year engineering sucks. First year they give you a basic overview and show you a broad range of interesting things, second year they hit you with the theory. Third and final year you actually start looking at the applications of the stuff you have learned.
stick engineering out IMO, i didnt failanything but scraped through my second year and ended up with first class hons. if you are after something that is more pure mathematics have a look into structural. i did civil (with a structural major) and also a science degree in geology. i have been out of uni since 98 and have to say you learn more in your first year at work than you will ever learn at uni.
it is a bitch but so rewarding when you get out and working. i have quite literally driven across bridges and through a tunnel have designed. cant imagine commerce giving you the sense of contribution i get out of my job.
BTW you prolly would get paid more after a decade out of uni if you did commerce IMO, engineering is still underpaid (but this is changing since the shortage) but i find it so rewarding personally - i love my job.
electronics doesn't really involve much maths, because so much assumptions can be made which simplifies the logic.
you shouldn't feel bad about failing two subjects, i've failed four and im in my last yr of electrical & computer systems. I remember failing 3rd electronics too... i kept going at it, and now im doing a thesis related to power electronics haha;;
engineering isn't about maths (1st yr is though), its more about implementing ideas and management work.
engineering isn't about maths (1st yr is though),
I beg to differ - when I did engineering, we used maths every single bloody year and it just seemed to get more difficult each time!
Of course the implementing ideas and project-based work came into it but so much of engineering relies on having a decent mathematical background that it would be wrong to claim otherwise...IMHO :p
you shouldn't feel bad about failing two subjects,
lol, i said i failed 2 subjects in 2nd Year. 1st yr i failed another aswell :(
i need some advice, im heading into my 3rd yr electronic engineering degree and im kinda lost really. During the end of my 2nd yr i lost heaps of motivation with engineering and i failed 2 subject cos of that. I chose engineering because i enjoy doing maths, but the electronic theory that comes into it really screws up my mind really bad.
Now im having a serious think about changing to commerce, which also has alot of maths, but at least the theory behind it all is more easier to understand and makes sense i hope.
The replies on this thread have been very enlightening. However I'm more concerned about you not having had any actual experience with finance/commerce-related subjects. I'm a computer science grad who switched from a business degree. While CS isn't engineering, I did some eng subjects and believe CS shares a lot of commonalities with eng.
For me I found accounting and finance subjects tough because I thought they were absolutely boring. I can't stand over half an hour reading a book/article on finance (LITERALLY!) without feeling sleepy. I failed accounting while getting HD's in a few engineering and CS subjects including some where almost half of the class failed.
Why did I mention this? Because from your post above it seems you are a person driven by motivation and interest. Many people aren't, I believe, as they can switch between careers and degrees and it wouldn't matter if it interested them (cuz they don't know what they want anyway). People motivated by interest are harder to please so make sure you like what you're doing or you're going to suck at it...however easy people might say it is!!