Now that you’ve got an idea of what it’s like studying a Bachelor of Science at ANU, let’s find out about some of the pros and cons of the degree!
We’ve spoken with Eleanor, a fourth year Arts and Science student at ANU, to hear all about what she really thought of the degree.
Want to know more? Let’s get started!
Why should you study a Bachelor of Science at ANU?
Top 3 Pros of a Science Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Science Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting an ANU Bachelor of Science
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying an ANU Bachelor of Science
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Bachelor of Science at ANU?
If you know that you want to study something as specific as water science or biochemistry, then a Bachelor of Science is exactly the place to do this. Alternatively, if you have no clue of what you want to do at uni, but you enjoyed science throughout high school, then a Bachelor of Science is also perfect for this.
You have the opportunity to explore a huge range of majors, minors and specialisations which means that you study as specifically or as broadly as you’d like!
Top 3 Pros of a Science degree
#1: Applicable to everyday life
A Bachelor of Science looks at different aspects of the world through a scientific lens so that it can be studied and understood.
Eleanor said, “I love how you use it in everyday life; in human behaviour and motivation, we looked at communication styles and personality traits for instance. Whatever you end up going into, the degree will still be useful!”
Being able to see the everyday relevance of what you’re learning is a great way to apply your studies into different situations. It’ll help you become more familiar with concepts and also understand them better.
#2: Broader understanding of the area you’re studying
Speaking of understanding, a Bachelor of Science at ANU gives you the opportunity to dive into the deep depths of whatever it is you choose to study specifically. It means you become greatly acquainted with certain areas of science and develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject area.
“I think you do get a broader understanding of what you’re learning and the world in general. [In a Psychology major] You look at different cultures and their behaviour, prejudice and discrimination,” Eleanor said.
#3: ANU are very accommodating to students’ needs
This is more in general to ANU, however they are known to accommodate well for all their students who come from different disciplines, learning backgrounds and levels of experience.
Eleanor said, “I think what ANU does really well is that they make your first year really accessible, and they understand that everyone comes from different places.
“So I actually didn’t do much science from school, so I came into it already behind, and it wasn’t at all easy — I had to work harder than the average student. But ANU made it really manageable for me, they offered different weekly tutoring sessions, and one-on-one sessions with the tutor.”
Top 3 Cons of a Science degree
#1: Dry content
“There is a lot of dry content as well, especially in the first half of the degree, we had to do a lot of foundational subjects for Psychology. There was a subject on the Fathers of Psychology, and it was on old theories that did not feel relevant to today,” Eleanor said.
This is most commonly the case for many degrees, where the first couple of semesters are designed to introduce you to the course, consequently being very dry and theoretical, and it can be hard to see yourself staying in the degree at times.
#2: A lot of time and commitment
“It’s not an easy degree,” Eleanor said.
“There are a lot of hours that go into it, not just contact hours, but time spent doing assignments, studying, and reading. The consensus among the cohort is not expecting how much work we had to do!”
Be prepared to dedicate yourself to this degree, as the sciences can be particularly demanding and content heavy. If you are passionate and genuinely invested in what you’re studying, you will find it easier to spend hours working through your degree every single day.
#3: It’s stressful
As with high school and uni, it is stressful. More specifically to a Bachelor of Science, at ANU there is a particularly strict expectation on attendance, and you have to be present for all your classes and lectures unless you can provide a doctor’s certificate.
Further, a Bachelor of Science has a lot of exams in comparison to assignments, with mid-semester and final exams.
“Because it is exam heavy, it can be quite stressful, you can work really hard and not know what to expect. You can walk out thinking ‘that wasn’t a fair exam’ because it focused on a couple areas of the subject whilst you studied all the content,” Eleanor said.
Any regrets?
“In the first year when you go through old theories I do wish I put myself more into it, got more involved and more interested in it, because it does come back and you can see the connections in the long run throughout third and fourth year.
“The work that you put in in first and second year makes the later years easier,” Eleanor said.
Essentially, coming out of high school and after finishing the HSC, it can feel like you’re able to cruise through the first year without too much hard work. And while it’s important not to create unnecessary pressure on yourself, it’s also important to still work your hardest.
The foundational understanding that you develop in first year relates heavily to what is taught throughout later years of the degree.
What do you wish you had known before starting a Bachelor of Science at ANU?
It is very common to change degrees or change majors, minors and specialisations within a Bachelor of Science. If you aren’t enjoying an area of study as much as you had expected to, you can always change, and often the subjects you’ve already completed may still be able to count towards your degree as an elective, so not all is wasted!
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
Eleanor said, “To be honest it was the college experience for me that made me move to ANU to begin with.”
Many students at ANU live on campus, building a tight knit community where students are really involved in societies and social events. It creates a great campus experience and you make a lot of new friends who you will most likely become very close with!
What inspired you to choose a Bachelor of Science at ANU?
“I think the flexible double degree. Because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school, doing a science and arts degree has kept my options open! I also wasn’t really sure if I wanted to be a psychologist or not,” Eleanor said.
Being able to complete a Bachelor of Science, with any major, minor and specialisation alongside a second degree, gives you an abundance of choices to follow everything that interests you! It is perfect if you have no clue what to do after high school, and it encourages you to pursue what interests you.
What are the possible career paths?
There is a whole range of career opportunities after doing a Bachelor of Science at ANU. Depending on what majors you complete, or if you’ve done a double degree, your options will vary slightly.
However, generally speaking you could pursue many of the careers from this short list, and more!
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- Biologist
- Researcher
- Academic
- Psychologist
- Physicist
- Meteorologist
- Teacher
- Fieldworker
Nandini Dhir is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Marketing) and a Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications), as a Dalyell Scholar, at Sydney University. She enjoys covering local issues in her area and writing about current events in the media. Nandini has had one of her pieces published in an article with the Sydney Morning Herald. In her free time, Nandini loves doing calligraphy, ballet, and sewing, or is otherwise found coddling her cats.
