Uni decisions help (1 Viewer)

[Im2unbothered]

Hi there, just inquiring about university experiences at USYD, UTS and UNSW. I am a 2025 graduate who keeps overthinking my university preferences due to the convoluted information out there about each university. I want to study media and communications with either a bachelor of laws (first preference), sociology or other art/social science degree to become a journalist. My top choice at the beginning of the year used to be UTS due to hearing positive feedback about their "hands-on approach" but given their cuts to the media and communications faculty, I am unsure if the courses in that department have now deteriorated. For USYD, it is now my top choice however I hear that they focus heavily on theory and undergraduates only gain hands on experience in the last year of their degree (for media and communications). UNSW is only one of my preferences due to being a respectable school, though I have not heard too much about its media and communications/law programs. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! My teachers and I estimate me to get a 98 atar though MySydney and other programs catered to schools in low socioeconomic areas meaning I could probably meet most atar requirements. Thanks in advance.

 

[herbimycin]

The short answer is that all three of them are, in the grand scheme of things, great unis.

But your concerns are very much valid and its still good to consider which uni is best for you. Just make sure not to worry excessively about it, you can always change unis later if it ends up being that bad

I don't know much about that area of study so can't help you much there sorry. But in terms of hands on experience, do be aware that this can change hugely student to student in some degrees depending on how much they go after it. Some students go looking for internships, jobs, programs and stuff like that constantly, and so they get lots of experience. Others just do the bare minimum to pass and get none. In some degrees this is very self-driven, in others it is much more part of your subjects.

Again, I don't know about comms and law, but in other study areas these opportunities change a lot depending on the specific subjects you take. E.g. in science the lab programs in the advanced streams tend to be a lot more challenging and more akin to stuff you would do in a real research lab, sometimes doing legit research (only lab work) as a part of it. So Advanced and SSP (special study program) streams can be great for that. Occasionally (mostly SSP) subjects require you to work with a researcher in their lab for a semester, which is great experience.

IDK if that will be the case for your subjects, but its worth considering. The cuts at UTS (and ANU for that matter) have definitely been concerning and I know people who have been looking at changing to another uni bc of it. But do remember that if you change your mind later you can transfer, so its not like your entire career is dependent upon a uni not making more cuts.

One more thing to note - every uni will tell you that there is some 'special reason' that they are better than the rest in whatever particular degree. Some uni's are more convincing than others. Listen to what they have to say, but take it with a grain of salt - they all want to say they are the best.

Good luck, hope the results go well and I'm sure wherever you end up will be fine.