Regrets -Studies-

ezchoice SG

Hi all.

In around a week, i reckon i'll just be another one of those who didn't make cut from the A levels to Sg Uni. I would appreciate it of you guys could shed some insight into the alternative routes available for me before i enlist into NS in April.

Firstly, i wonder if i should continue in SIM/ PSB and the like or just go for an overseas education? What are the disadvantages of studying in Singappore in such schools?

Suppose i transfer to the campus in my final year, i would have saved on accomodation fees but would any indication of 'external' be there? I've read in posts saying mentality is all that matters, but i'm not sure if thats the case for employers. Another case for concern is whether a cert from such establishments (SIM, PSB and the like) will penalise me by a LARGE extent when i'm in search for a job when compared to my counterparts from NUS, NTU and the like.

Furthurmore in such schools the hours are like a few hours a day so i foresee myself wasting much time.

I'm enlisting in NS so i'd like to have some information of the things i could do (if any) instead of seeing my peers with an uni place guaranteed for them when they come out of it all.

I've wasted two years of my life.
Can't afford to make another ill-informed decision again.
Regrets again, for not focusing in the run-up to the As.

Regards.

caicaicai SG

SIM and PSB ain't that bad, especially SIM. It's just some elitist will tend to WTF is that.

If you have no money and your results cannot make it, private local uni is the only choice, although they cost alittle more.

Let's take SIM for an example, if i am not wrong they do provide some overseas degree from RMIT which is not too bad i heard.

And i got to agree, you only go to school a few days a week, for only a few hours then head home already.

Don't ever choose to retake my friend, syllabus changed plus when you go army how to even remember how to do maths and everything? When you come out and retake, i bet your results will be worst then current.

Oh well, let's hope for the best then, maybe you will get all As Very Happy

Crazy_Horses SG

Go to SIM and take a look. It's not bad at all. I have worked in UOB Bank and Ministry of Law before. There are several bank asst vice-presidents & top civil servants who were from SIM. It was after all set up by a statutory board EDB. You can choose either UniSIM which is a local uni or overseas university. Look at SMU how it has gained so much recognition since its establishment and it is less than 10 years old. SIM has been around since 1964 and has such a wealth of experience and recognition that it is able to award its own degrees.

You can even choose to work full-time and study a flexible part time degree course like several people are doing anyway. No harm taking a look. PSB, MDIS and several other institutions are worth taking a look as well. Nothing has been wasted, don't worry. You would be amazed at how many SIM students were from N levels -> ITE -> Poly -> Uni. Same goes for other institutes as well whether local universities or other top institutions. Education is about the journey and your satisfaction at the end of it. Some people pass a level with some luck, some people study so hard but still fail. So just take a look, you are still young.

Go through the websites and check out the courses, ranging from Engineering, to Finance, to Business, to Law, to Science etc. Go and spot those details that say "students may gain entry to be a member of Institute of Engineers Singapore/ICPAS/Law Society" etc. And good luck

ShrodingersCat SG

Depends on what you want to do and what industry you looking at joining when you return.

If you want to join government sector, do realise that they do not recognise some overseas certificates and part time degrees are also sometimes 'penalised' (god knows WHY cos it is so much harder to work AND study to get good results)

SIM should be recognised though so you shouldnt have a problem if you go there.

As for overseas uni, a lot depends on yourself - what you want in the future and what you want to get out of it. Best is take some time to understand yourself better (maybe during NS?) and then select the path you want to take?

deathscythe99 SG

Regarding whether they recognise the degree by SIM, I think it's more prefable if you check it out first Wink

Ito_^ SG

many A lvl and poly ppl go SIM. Laughing like cultural convergence.

fymk SG

I would say if you can afford it , go overseas to experience how life is outside of Singapore. If You cannot , go for the cheaper option . Depends on what you want to do and what interest you have. University classes are only a few hours a day and the time is not wasted - you have time to recuperate and revise .

Nothing is really a waste - you just learn from your mistakes and move on with life. Regret only make you standstill.

mamamamama SG

sidetrack abit..

are most overseas degree "lousier" then local ones?

Fatum SG

you're just trying to get a reaction from people with this question aren't you .... Laughing

bonnybear SG

would say if you can afford it , go overseas to experience how life is outside of Singapore. If You cannot , go for the cheaper option . Depends on what you want to do and what interest you have. University classes are only a few hours a day and the time is not wasted - you have time to recuperate and revise .

Nothing is really a waste - you just learn from your mistakes and move on with life. Regret only make you standstill.

I agree with wad fymk said. i'm frm oversea studies too. i dare not to say i'm frm a rich family, indeed oversea studies could cost a bomb. (my dad work his ass off juz to send me there).

wad i want to suggest is tat, try goin oversea. at least for the experience & exposure. australia would be a cheaper choice, if u can handle the school work load, maybe u can apply for working visa & earn afew pocket money to lessen ur family burden. (optional)

i'm frm engineering but i'm not sure which or wad kinda of course interested u. so i reckon tat u go check out those uni in tat particular country u wanna go & see whether their degree/cerf is recongise in singapore a not.

juz consider loh...

boyrage SG

Remember, whether your degree is world-class or not, is at the mercy of the companies. When you go for interviews, it matters whether the interviewer is from which background.

A degree is just a piece of paper but some degrees given by certain Uni. are just cheaper than the rest.

ShrodingersCat SG

actually the few friends of mine who work in HR department in government places, say that SIM is more 'recognisable' than part time degrees and some overseas universities.

mamamamama SG

no, seriously.

with my grades, i doubt that i can make it to a local UNI.

i just want to know whether an overseas degree is comparable to the local one or not

Fatum SG

okie, well, sorry for the tone ...

but seriously then, you'll get nowhere with a question like that ... those who've gone one route would say one thing, those who've gone the other route would say another ... unless we're talking about the ivy leagues and Oxbridge types versus the locals, then the debate can continue till the cows come home ...

make your own decisions ... don't listen to anyone else ... Wink

nanren4ever SG

Definitely NOT! Its just that it all depends on what sector u are going to work in next time! Usually, in Government sector, it will be good if you have a local degree, but that doesn't mean that they will "look u no up" should u be a student who has a foreign degree. In private sector, I am not too sure, but I have a lot of friends who are in that sector that says that they somehow value more those people with foreign degrees because their thinking and mentality is different from those with local degrees. Seems that these foreign companies emphaise more on creativity, thinking skills etc and their biased perception is that local students, who are graded more on the examinations, may not be creative enough or think deep enough.