BComm & French?

dip

Just wondering if there are any BComm&French students who could tell me what they think of the course?

I was considering doing it next year but I'm still torn between it and B&L, cos I love French but B&L looks interesting too

Any advice at all would be great!

singingstranger

I'm not actually in Commerce & French, but I'm on a year out from Commerce & German so I might be able to help you out a bit. I didn't want to leave your comment unanswered because I know the CAO late applications deadline is approaching and advice is always better received sooner rather than later.

The BComm (Intl) degree is a good one; it definitely sets you apart from the BComm which has about 250 graduates coming out every year, and having language skills is definitely a boost in trying to secure a job in later years. Plus, the Erasmus year in the BComm Intl, while not being as great as otherwise because it's prescribed rather than chosen, is pretty amazing and though you won't know it at the time, it'll really make you as an individual, and (in my personal opinion) you'll come out of a BComm (Intl) a lot more mature as an individual than from the B&L.

That said, and it kinda pains me to say it, B&L is probably the greatest course in the greatest college in the country. The camaraderie between the class is amazing, it easily has the best community atmosphere in the college (which is SO important in a college like UCD, although the community between the BComm Intls isn't bad either!), and you get a degree that's well regarded in both business and the legal world.

It might be worth investigating whether you can keep up two French modules under UCD Horizons and do B&L - if you can, I'd recommend that; if not, then do Commerce & French.

Stepherunie

Looking at the Horizons page they don't have any electives.

However the Applied Language centre used run language courses outside of electives - you could look into doing that to keep up the french too.

roz88

Hi, I'm 1st year B.Comm and French- DON'T DO IT!!! I'm dropping out and going to Commerce in September(at the cost of 5k of fees). I had B&L first choice, but was 5 points low so got Comm & French. The people in the class are brilliant, class parties and trips and banter but unless you are consistent A/B standard in French don't do it. Its very literature based, tons of grammar and piss all oral. It may look better, but it's better to have an excellent degree in business than a so so one with a language. If I were you I'd put B&L first then Commerce and maybe do French as an elective within the Horizons programme. Or you could put Commerce with another language-starting Spanish or Italian from beginners in first year-they all seem to really it so far and everyone else is at the same level.

If you've any questions at all, mail me and I'll either answer or ask someone in the know. Anyways good luck in the LC.

Theresalwaysone

Do B and L.

lemon_sherbert

I'm in B&L, and though we don't have electives, in 2nd year there are the options for french classes, and you can apply to do your third year in France or Brussels if you want, hope that helps.

t_ucd

roz88 wrote: »

Hi, I'm 1st year B.Comm and French- DON'T DO IT!!! I'm dropping out and going to Commerce in September(at the cost of 5k of fees). I had B&L first choice, but was 5 points low so got Comm & French. The people in the class are brilliant, class parties and trips and banter but unless you are consistent A/B standard in French don't do it. Its very literature based, tons of grammar and piss all oral. It may look better, but it's better to have an excellent degree in business than a so so one with a language. If I were you I'd put B&L first then Commerce and maybe do French as an elective within the Horizons programme. Or you could put Commerce with another language-starting Spanish or Italian from beginners in first year-they all seem to really it so far and everyone else is at the same level.

Haha I'm in final year Comm and French and I'd advise the complete opposite! You're right about the standard of French, most people really underestimate the language part and there's a huge attrition rate - the size of most of the Comm + language classes has been halved over the past four years with people dropping out or switching to BComm and B&L. You do need to either love the language or be good at it to get by.

I definitely recommend BCIT or B&L over BComm if you have the choice - you get more variety and employers have told me that they hold them in higher regard than straight Commerce (thought obviously that's a great degree as well). If you think you're up to it then go for it - the ERASMUS year alone made up for all the literature classes I've had to sit through.

leavo08

Im in the same position! Just wondering if there is much maths in commerce and in B&L as I hope to get a B3 in OL leaving cert....

TelePaul

I think it's a simple decision to make - if you want to work abroad, or see yourself enjoying working abroad, do the BCOMM International. Otherwise just do the BCOMM, you take far more business related subjects at the expense of the language and literature courses.

TelePaul

leavo08 wrote: »

Im in the same position! Just wondering if there is much maths in commerce and in B&L as I hope to get a B3 in OL leaving cert....

I did ordinary maths/pass maths/happy maths and it didn't hold me back in the slightest.

TelePaul

singingstranger wrote: »

That said, and it kinda pains me to say it, B&L is probably the greatest course in the greatest college in the country.

You cannot be referring to UCD?? :eek:

singingstranger wrote: »

and you get a degree that's well regarded in both business and the legal world.

The 'L' aspect of a B & L degree isn't worth much in itself. Good for keeping your options open I guess.

muffinman

TelePaul wrote: »

The 'L' aspect of a B & L degree isn't worth much in itself. Good for keeping your options open I guess.

Are you serious? :eek: That's my no.1 on my CAO and I'm doing it to be "uniquely equipped with a comprehensive range of relevant skills to help you succeed in the legal and business fields"
as they claim.. I was led to believe that it's more comprehensive/intensive than the B.Corp.Law in Galway, in that it offers major elements of both the B and the L... Am I wrong?

leavo08

Thanks alot thats a relief that the maths isnt too difficult. Do most people that do commerce go do a Masters afterwards? and do you happen to know if it is a good base course for going into law afterwards??

jimi_t

muffinman wrote: »

Are you serious? :eek: That's my no.1 on my CAO and I'm doing it to be "uniquely equipped with a comprehensive range of relevant skills to help you succeed in the legal and business fields"
as they claim.. I was led to believe that it's more comprehensive/intensive than the B.Corp.Law in Galway, in that it offers major elements of both the B and the L... Am I wrong?

UCD is a business, not an academic institution.

Welcome to the playground my friend.

TelePaul

muffinman wrote: »

Are you serious? :eek: That's my no.1 on my CAO and I'm doing it to be "uniquely equipped with a comprehensive range of relevant skills to help you succeed in the legal and business fields"
as they claim.. I was led to believe that it's more comprehensive/intensive than the B.Corp.Law in Galway, in that it offers major elements of both the B and the L... Am I wrong?

Anyone can sit the FE1s, for example; they're a required exam if you wish to become a solicitor in this country. You are required to pass them, even if you graduate with a Law degree. 'B & L' combines aspects of the law course with aspects of the business courses. It's quite varied and allows you to choose from a huge number of classes in third year. But it's not altogether specialised.

TelePaul

leavo08 wrote: »

Thanks alot thats a relief that the maths isnt too difficult. Do most people that do commerce go do a Masters afterwards? and do you happen to know if it is a good base course for going into law afterwards??

I certainly wouldn't say that most Commerce gards continue with a masters - I can't prove it one way or the other, but the general feel seems to be that less than half would undertake a Masters...purley from asking around, accountancy grads seem to be split 50-50 between doing a (sometimes sponsored) Masters or working for one of the 'big four'. keep in mind a masters in Smurfit will cost you €11,000+

Not being smart, but Law would be a better base course if you wish to practice Law! In Commerce (in UCD) you touch off Law of Contract and Law of Tort in the Business Law class, although you really only get a taster. See my above post regards the FE1s.