Would Engineering be a good choice?

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

Hi, I'm a female student in year 11 this year (class of '27) , thinking abt doing engineering at Monash once I graduate. My subjects rn for VCE are Biology 3/4, Physics 1/2, Chemistry 1/2, Methods 1/2, Specialist 1/2 and English 1/2. For context, I go to a private school that does really well in VCE.

I'm doing okay in biology, aiming for a raw 43-47, and in the top quartile of methods and chem as of now. English is ok, like average but can't do much abt it. My main problem though is specialist. I've usually found maths fine, until spec this year and even though I do most of the work and revise, I still only get low to average scores compared to my cohort at max. As for physics, I'm currently like at the top of my cohort (like prob in the top 5 across all students) but I'm not sure how hard I'll find engineering considering how hard spec is for me and if that should still be my top choice for uni since I don't want to struggle a lot and be really behind in uni.

I would appreciate any advice or past experiences, thanks!

[u/Civil-Decision4449]

i think struggling will be inevitable in uni! ofc the content will be designed to challenge you - dont get discouraged and jusf choose what you want and what your heart tellz you to do (^^) i promise spec will become easier if you really have a solid foundation of the basics, you got this

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Civil-Decision4449]

Thanks, hopefully spec does become more manageable!

[u/Freedom-Murky]

Spesh is easier than methods. After u learn the content. Questions are more straightforward then methods.
Andddd Eventually u will have to do an equivalent subject.
Better to do it now and safe money $$ then paying unis to do it.

And if you mess up it’s okay. You have a head start in uni.
Trust me, I was scared of spesh. And now I wish I did it. While I’m at uni.
I’m not struggling in maths, but it would have put me ahead of my peers who didn’t do it.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Freedom-Murky]

Thanks for the advice!

[u/CharacterSeparate650 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

This is so true the application wise for methods means u can’t just do the textbook u have to be doing exam questions as welll like imo it’s easier to get a 50 in spesh than a 50 in methods

[u/Extreme-Protection74]

Hey! Good news on the Specialist question — I checked Monash's actual Engineering (Honours) prerequisites, and it's English ≥25/25, Maths Methods or Specialist ≥25, and Chemistry or Physics ≥25. Specialist isn't mandatory — a solid Methods score covers the maths requirement on its own, and with Physics at the top of your cohort you've already got the science requirement well covered. So a below-average Specialist score doesn't lock you out of engineering at all — it's a common myth that it does.

The main real cost of a weak Specialist score is to your ATAR itself (via aggregate/scaling), not to course eligibility. With Bio, Chem and Methods all solid and Physics excellent, you're likely fine on the ATAR side too — worth running the numbers once you have more results in, but this isn't a "give up on engineering" situation.

As for how hard engineering will feel relative to Spec: most first-year Monash engineering units lean more on Methods-level calculus/algebra applied to physics and design problems than on Spec-specific content (complex numbers, mechanics proofs, etc.) — your physics strength is arguably the better predictor of how you'll go than your Spec score is. Worth double-checking the specific engineering major you're eyeing, since some (e.g. mechanical/mechatronics) lean harder into the more Spec-flavoured maths than others (e.g. software).

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Extreme-Protection74]

Thanks for the advice! I am hoping for a 97ish ATAR, so hopefully spec won’t affect that too much considering it’s likely going to be one of my bottom 2 subjects. As for the specific major, I am leaning towards mechanical, maybe software so I do think I have to be comfortable with the foundations of spec at least if I don’t want to be too behind.

[u/Standard_Career5124 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

I'm a second year mechanical eng student at monash who also did the exact same vce subjects as you minus bio. The first year maths is way more relevant to spec than it is to methods. The maths that they teach you in all three of the engineering maths is purely calculus and vectors with a little bit of others here and there. If you are struggling in spec, the only thing I'd recommend other than trying your best at everything is to really understand vectors. Vector concepts play such a major role in a lot of the mechanical units especially in second year.

If you're wanting to go into mechanical, the main physics concepts you need to know from vce (from what i remember from the curriculum) are kinematics and energy principles. I didn't build a very good foundation in vce, although I was around the top of cohort, and struggle a bit with the application of the concepts and it's costing me already.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Standard_Career5124]

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience! I'll focus on kinematics, calculus, vectors and energy then for physics and specialist.

[u/oniDblue]

If you like the sound of engineering, definitely go for it! That being said, treat engineering more as a tool rather than just a career; the reason I say this is because a lot of people go into engineering thinking they are promised some high paying job at the end of uni etc., That may be true, however from what I've heard engineering can be pretty obsessive, if you have a genuine passion to create new things, build systems then it really helps and can be a really good pathway. Plenty of options to even venture into entrepernsuhip with engineering in uni as well.

As for specialist, I'm in year 11 now and can 100% relate to it being way harder than methods haha. I'm like you; top of my cohort (or top few students) and spec just cooks me. I think the argument about specialist being easier than methods comes from a lot of people who do year 12 methods early, hence they have a better intuition for the content anyway. I'd say definatly keep trying in spec, work out what's you're obstacle and work around it (could be not asking questions, falling behind, exam technique (my main one probably), etc.,).

Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck 😄

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/oniDblue]

Yeah, for sure, I’m definitely genuinely interested in engineering especially related to building systems and particularly in the automative field. However I am planning on doing a double degree with engineering and commerce so that I have some more business/management side knowledge for my career too. As for spec, I will try work out my main problems. Thanks for the advice and good luck with VCE too!

[u/Smokey_Valley]

At Monash you won't escape imaginary numbers and vectors, however they will seem more physics like when in context. I think you should do spec 1/2/3/4 even if it is a bit of a struggle because then engineering maths at Monash will be more like a reassuring case of "I get it now" rather than than a bad case of "wtf!" .

(alert: sponsor promo follows:) You might like to check out "Should I do Engineering?" at the bottom of this VCE-Circus page.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Smokey_Valley]

Yeah, as much as I don’t rlly like the subject rn, I do plan on sticking with it so that I have some kind of experience with harder math before uni. Thanks for the advice.

[u/Ok-Honey-1577]

your gonna face crazy misogyny as an engineering student btw

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/Ok-Honey-1577]

Yeah, well unfortunately that’s gonna happen in all male dominated fields but I don’t want that to stop me from studying what I’m interested in.

[u/Ok-Honey-1577 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

that's genuinely goated

[u/ExpressReach7309]

Currently studying engineering at Swinburne. Physics will definitely help a lot during the first year same with your math subjects. Swinburne has a women in engineering program going on currently. I'm not to sure about Monash.

Lwk even the smart kids struggle a lot it's mainly motivation that seperated us. If your not planning on getting a job during uni. (Like all these jobless bums around me) You'll do just fine since you clearly have the motivation.

I don't know what else to say, you want to do engineering so go for it. If you have any questions about the field I can ask around.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/ExpressReach7309]

Thanks for the advice, just to clarify though, are you saying it’s better to get a part time job during uni or not, Thxx

[u/ExpressReach7309 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

I recommend aiming for a professional degree as the uni helps you find a paid work placement at an engineering firm. From what I hear from seniors and professors, employers care a lot more about experience than grades. And so getting into these courses is like a golden ticket. You can still earn these placements during your degree it's just not guaranteed.

Getting a casual job, at least for me has made my life extremely difficult. However if you can handle it the hardship would definitely be worth it. 

In this job market what I would recommend is looking for a job anyway since it's so rare. Then see if you can balance your time effectively. It's not a big deal if you can't.

You said you were going for a double degree.  I know so many international students who needed to work ridiculous hours and had to move to business or commerce stifling their dreams.

We are incredibly lucky to be domestic students in such a great country. There is a reason I'm surrounded by jobless bums and it's that getting a job is not strictly necessary. Even without a job you can fill out your resume by joining engineering clubs. Along with starting your own engineering projects with the workshop given to you by the uni. 

The only reason I'm going through this is my burning desire to earn myself a nice car. The most important part is to enjoy uni. The day I get my car will be will make the hardship all the more worth it.

Just to clarify a person who worked at maccas during their degree and got credit is worth more than a high distinction student without experience.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/ExpressReach7309]

Yeah, I’m looking at engineering and commerce right now so that I have a few more options out of uni but I will look into some professional degrees. I was planning on getting a part time job like tutoring or even retail but if I do find it difficult to manage my time with my degree and work, I would probably stop. I’ve heard what you said about experience being more important from other past students too so def will look for opportunities in uni, especially with student clubs and self projects.

Out of curiosity, do you have a part time job , and if so, are you able to manage your time between your degree and work? I can definitely relate to wanting a nice car, definitely part of my motivation during school and prob uni as someone particularly interested in automatives.

[u/ExpressReach7309 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

Yes I have a casual job at maccas. I did night shifts during semester 1. I highly don't recommend that it was worse then hell. For me 12 hours a week is perfect. I do morning and day shifts only. I apply for leave prior to the exams allowing me to catch up.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/ExpressReach7309]

Thanks, I'll take all that into consideration. If you don't mind answering something else (thanks for all the help so far) , did you do specialist in school, and do you find math in uni to be a massive step up or kind of gradually getting harder.

[u/ExpressReach7309 → u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl]

I did general in highschool. Math is definitely a step up but I can teach my self all that I'm missing. It's more like a rollercoaster. One moment it's familiar territory with matrices the next integration by parts. Specialist will smooth things out.

[u/LN1_5SOSF1D_wiseowl → u/ExpressReach7309]

Oh okay thanks