Cadetship vs BCom/BEng (1 Viewer)

[m1tch37]

Okay here is my situation: I am going to apply for all the cadetships/coop degrees I can, and I would like to hope I got a chance at getting one of them. My problem is, I am confused if I actually want one.

I want to end up spending the rest of my life in finance, that's for sure, but I also have a passion for engineering. I really wanted to do some at uni purely for self interest. Now if for example I was lucky enough to get a finance coop degree, I wouldn't be able to do eng...

I am trying to work out if the advantages of fees paid and a foot in the door outweigh my utility of doing something I enjoy (mind you, I equally love finance) and presumably the increased stress of the actual cadetship.

Are these programs intense? Are they hard, long hours and high stress? I am realistic about the stresses of the real world, but I kind of liked the idea of relaxing a bit at uni. Other than the scholarship, does a cadetship REALLY further your career?

Basically what I'm asking is: Is the value of a cadetship so great to justify not doing a subject I love as well?

Cheers

 

[undalay]

BCom/Beng (at usyd)

is more tailored towards engineering with commerce as an add on.
I mean Beng is 4 years. Bcom/Beng is 5 years.

I think career wise, a cadetship is better.

Furthermore, you have electives in straight bcom where you can do engineering subjects, and that being said you can do engineering subjects from many fields, rather than being forces to specialise in a regular degree. (Although ur electives will probably be entry level engineering subjects)

 

[velox]

Just remember, cadetships are usually for lowly accounting or mundane back office finance jobs. Pick the com/eng degree, get decent marks/extra curics, and you'll be fine.

 

[jenecis]

Pity this year the Business Cadetships got cancelled. They allow you do do any degree of your choice, including combined degrees, so long as one of them is a bachelor of commerce.

So technically, if you could have done a comm/eng AND a cadetship.

Damn financial crisis.

 

[Affinity]

coop vs BCom/BEng.. hard pick....

Coop > cadet
BCom/BEng > cadet

 

[Vagabond]

Mitch: I'm not sure how you're so sure you love finance or engineering without having studied them at uni first, so purely on that I'd recommend doing the plain double degree so you can narrow your interests down. You seem set at the moment on finance but you may end up changing your mind.

A (/n accounting) cadetship will definitely provide you with cash and experience... as velox arrogantly pointed out however if the field isn't right for you then there's probably no use pursuing it when you're already divided between two different fields finance and engineering. I reckon that when the going gets tough, during the cadetship you won't have enough motivation to push on.

...Plus either way engineering will also make you more competitive for finance jobs so it's a double whammy of goodness.

 

[hopethisworks]

beat the shit out of him with a baseball computerclip

 

[hopethisworks]

brb

 

[jenecis]

coop vs BCom/BEng.. hard pick....

Coop > cadet
BCom/BEng > cadet

Disagree.

Cadet > Coop.

Coop has limited choices and punishes you for being too smart.

 

[seremify007]

Just remember, cadetships are usually for lowly accounting or mundane back office finance jobs.

That statement is not always true. Depends on the cadetship really.

 

[Bacchus]

I reckon cadetship > co-op

but actuarial/finance/marketing co-op > cadetship

well at least for me.

 

[spence]

That statement is not always true. Depends on the cadetship really.

you do realise what 'usually' means don't you?

 

[seremify007]

you do realise what 'usually' means don't you?

My post should've read something more along the lines of BS but then I realised this thread could be covering business cadetships which I don't know much about.

But from an accounting perspective, cadets unfortunately don't get some boring lowly accounting job (at least not where I work). It's very full on with proper work, training and benefits. It also takes a lot of commitment. Again this all depends on which firm you end up in but the cadets which I speak to have had similar experieneces.

 

[seremify007]

Are these programs intense? Are they hard, long hours and high stress? I am realistic about the stresses of the real world, but I kind of liked the idea of relaxing a bit at uni. Other than the scholarship, does a cadetship REALLY further your career?

Basically what I'm asking is: Is the value of a cadetship so great to justify not doing a subject I love as well?

Cheers

In all honesty it is a bit full on at first but you get used to it- it's more the staying awake and basic time management which is a challenge. The other people you work with will all be understanding of your situation and commitments so don't worry too much about it. You'll still have your weekends too (well nearly all of the time). The program does work out well and remember you are only doing the full time work over your first 2 years of part time uni (so you can relax for the other years if you wish), but you get the benefits of a grant and a grad offer potential which others won't get (something even more valuable in this current economic climate!).

 

[jenecis]

Plus, you've got to consider what degree you want to do at university.

I know plenty of coops who regretted their choice of the coop scholarship when they could have done combined law etc.

You have to be clear on what degree path you would like to follow and select the options that best tailor towards it. Not the other way around.

 

[velox]

That's true Seremify, but if he wants to aim for trading/ib jobs then he will find accounting boring. Ask any eng/com student if they like accounting...

Btw; Nice article, gave us a good change.

 

[seremify007]

That's true Seremify, but if he wants to aim for trading/ib jobs then he will find accounting boring. Ask any eng/com student if they like accounting...

Btw; Nice article, gave us a good change.

Agreed. If you aren't interested in accounting/business in general, chances are you won't enjoy an accounting cadetship. After all, a cadetship is a fancy word for a full time job in an accounting firm which gives you extra benefits/leave in recognition and understanding you have university commitments. Definitely a great program if you are curious or interested in the field, but if your heart lies on the trading floor, you probably aren't going to be that excited about auditing one.

The only thing I would be asking if I was the TC, do I really know what 'finance' entails?