tehpyro said:
BScIT is a 3 year course, just like BIT. You can choose to do industry training (completely optional) which will extend it to 4, but you're pretty much working full time with a little uni work for one of those years, so it's beneficial in a number of ways.
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Honestly, though, I can't see why the BIT is so attractive (apart from the $14k/year, which is a nice touch). BScIT shares the same CORE subjects, but then goes on to major in an area, (networking, programming, mathematical computing or information systems), whereas BIT strips you of three of these, leaving you with information systems. I know a BIT student can choose electives to equal a portion of a particular major, but that's a lot like a medsci student studying physics (sorta related-- but not overly useful).
Pardon the rant, but anybody who feels their lives are over because they didn't get into BIT should understand that, while more prestigious when applying for a job straight out of uni, it won't mean sh*t compared to a BScIT student after a few years in the industry (when they'll look at your track record, not your IT degree).
TL;DR: Don't be too hard on yourself if you didn't get into BIT. Hey, maybe you'll find "networking essentials" more enjoyable than "introduction to information systems" and the BIT degree will be all but worthless. Personally, nothing could be less enjoyable [to me] than a life of diagrams.
I agree, there are many pathways apart from BIT to get into IT, and the BScIT is probably the best one for that. The big drawcard of industry experience is there as well, but it is done in a different way to BIT as you have to go out and get your own job rather than being given the connections and jobs automatically through your course.
The money does help for BITs, and whoever says it doesn't is full of sh*t really. They give you the money because it is pretty much your salary from working for a year at a sponsor company (so 40 something k, BScITs usually get a tad lower (35) than this fyi for their DipITPP year) but they give a fraction of it to you every fortnight instead of one lump sum, so it helps me not having to get a P/T job at Maccas or something (but some people do and that is their own choice) whilst having to complete subjects at uni.
BITs are lucky in that they do get the industry experience built in and already paid for, and because grad recruiters want to have people with experience in the workforce within their companies, this is what makes BITs enticing to them. The BScIT does
not have this, they've changed the course so now the Diploma of IT Professional Practice (aka Industry Training) is something different which you apply to in the BScIT. But BScITs have to go find those jobs themselves, so they don't get the automatic luxury of being able to work for major companies such as Westpac, IBM and Deloitte while they are still at uni. However in saying that one of my friends doing BScIT has landed Commbank as their Diploma training but they had put in a lot of effort and time to get that.
BIT actually has a few more core subjects than the BScIT (BIT gets 4 electives while BScIT gets 8) and they are a bit more holistic. For example, BIT has 2 core programming electives and BScIT has one (unless you do a specific type of major). They want BITs to have an overview of everything for IT. We do Database Fundamentals, Networking Essentials, Applications Programming, Software Development and Processes just to name a few of the technical subjects.
I think i've said this in another post, but BIT isn't just information systems or business it. There are a few BITs in all of the years which have a primary focus on networking or on programming. But at the same time there are students who are doing the more info systems side, but it is
purely up to their own choice. As BITs only have 4 electives, each one is extremely valuable and so everyone does stuff that they're passionate about. Most (not all!) BITs want to get into IT management, and so they will do equivalent subjects that will give them an idea of how to manage IT correctly. And it is important that IT managers do understand technical concepts and issues, which is why a lot of BITs do undertake programming and other technical electives on top of the technical subjects we already have to do.
I really don't understand why there has been so much bitching about BIT over the last couple of months and I really think that we shouldn't be arguing over which course is better. Both courses have their strengths. tehpyro is right in saying that it isn't for everyone, but they're saying it for the wrong reasons. The main reason for the prestige, high UAI and high appreciation for the course in industry is that BIT is an intensive course - i have had to do an overloaded semester (5 subjects instead of 4), work full time and manage a uni subject within a semester, manage major projects (system development project) and do core subjects (not major subjects) that are at a higher level than what you get in the BScIT. BITs also attend industry talks where they hear about sponsor companies every week for at least an hour, and BITs go to these talks because these are the companies that they are going to work for - so you lose a bit of free time there as well.
It may suck not being able to specialise in an area of interest, but it is a sacrifice BITs are usually willing to take to get the industry training and networking connections with sponsor companies. I did YAA (Young Achievement Australia) this year and because of BIT, I was able to get in contact with one of our sponsor companies who purchased 1000 units from my team, which may have been a bit harder if I hadn't built up a relationship with them being in BIT.
After already experiencing a taste of what is going to happen with Grad (I'm currently a summer vaccie at Deloitte, but i didn't get this through BIT I had to apply myself), the reputation of being a co-op student does preceed you a bit which helps get your foot in the door for the interview, but like for any position you do need to be able to prove that you are capable and qualified for the job. This is the same for BScIT and for any other degree, but you need to be able to push yourself a bit further to get your foot in the door, but if you do, the result of employment will be the same as in BIT.
I guess my one snippet of advice for anyone doing BScIT (whether you applied for BIT or not) is to network as much as you can. If you're a girl, join
FITT because they have great networking lunches and usually companies will sponsor high achieving girls from UTS:IT to go; attend any sort of networking evening or awards night because there are always going to be company reps (from big and small) there and you never know who you are going to meet; and get involved with societies and IT activities (YAA) because everyones knows now 'it's not what it you know, it's who you know'
