What are my choices?

furb SG

Pardon me, this is going to be long.

I have been thinking of what should I do after I have graduated from poly for some time and have become more serious in the thoughts when I realise (<- yea that's the word, time flies) I'm going to be in my final semester soon. Afterwhich, I will be going to serve my NS for 2 years.

I have thought about furthering my studies to get a degree after graduated from poly and that's where I'm having problem with. With my current GPA of 2.8, it's impossible to get into any local university (well, except SIM which is a private university). Even if I work hard in my final semester and pull my GPA to 3.0 (which I'm intending to achieve), local universities is still out of my choices. Get into SIM?

I thought of making use of this "chance" to broaden my views/mindset by going overseas to pursuit my degree. Australia is the only choice I have?

I have tried doing some research on the application requirement through visiting some of the Australia universities' webpage and the information it gaves me is so confusing and vague. What are the chances of Australia universities accepting me with my current GPA scores?

What is the level of recognition of overseas degrees in Singapore (I do intend to come back)? If you were to compare, which is better? SIMS degree? Overseas degree? Why?

Can anyone with experience/knowledge in overseas universities answer some of my questions above or share some info with me? For example, life in Overseas/Australia universities?

One thing that is making me hesitating in going for overseas degree is that unable to accustom, my proficiency in english language and to make it worst, my minor introvert personality.

Please don't answer me with "why didn't you study harder instead" kind of question instead. I know that and there is no point in crying over spilled milk. We should look forward instead and learn from past experiences, shouldn't we?

Thanks

charlize SG

You have 2 years to think about it during NS.

What you decide now will likely change once you enter the army.

Really.

Agenda SG

Go into a arts course?

If you wanna take a overseas degree, you must understand where you would be headed and how much would it, can you afford it? I assume that you're a chinese.

Australia wouldn't be the best place for you, in fact I would advise against it.

Maybe somewhere in Britain would be better. And maybe you could do something constructive during your 2 years NS life depending on your determination.

Take private A levels if you would or learn a third language, there are some universities in Europe that provide free or extremely cheap university education, provided that you speak their language.

And also, I think going overseas would get you better recognition. My impression has always been - SIM is for people who didn't make the cut or have less than 2.0 GPA.

furb SG

Go into a arts course?

If you wanna take a overseas degree, you must understand where you would be headed and how much would it, can you afford it? I assume that you're a chinese.

Australia wouldn't be the best place for you, in fact I would advise against it.

Maybe somewhere in Britain would be better. And maybe you could do something constructive during your 2 years NS life depending on your determination.

Take private A levels if you would or learn a third language, there are some universities in Europe that provide free or extremely cheap university education, provided that you speak their language.

And also, I think going overseas would get you better recognition. My impression has always been - SIM is for people who didn't make the cut or have less than 2.0 GPA.

Arts course is quite impossible for me. Currently, I'm pursuing an IT-related diploma and have no intention of switching. If I were to pursuit my degree, I will go for IT-related degree too.

Normally, I would hear/see people going for Australia. Can you give a reason why Australia isn't a best place for me to go to? You mentioned I'm a chinese, so is racist the reason?

You said Britain but I've seldom heard people go to britain for overseas education.

About SIM, I too do not have a good (to be exact no impression at all) impression of it and that's the reason why I'm thinking overseas universities.

furb SG

You have 2 years to think about it during NS.

What you decide now will likely change once you enter the army.

Really.

Yea, I understand what you means, 2 years is long and whatever happen during the period of time can affect your decisions/plans later but 2 years can also pass quickly in a blink of an eye.

If you ask me, I scored pretty good (in my point of view) for my O-level because I have an aim to get into the course I want in poly. However, during my poly years, I have no aim/plan at all on where I should go except getting into NS which is predetermined. It's hard to work on something without a plan/aim.

Agenda SG

I'm also pursuing a IT diploma, I'm switching over to take up a double degree in business and hopefully econs.

You see, it's has already become a fact to me that IT can be self taught and why not pick up another skill while I hone the other and eventually use them together?

Australians are extremely racist, even the politicians. Just my 2 cents.

furb SG

I'm also pursuing a IT diploma, I'm switching over to take up a double degree in business and hopefully econs.

You see, it's has already become a fact to me that IT can be self taught and why not pick up another skill while I hone the other and eventually use them together?

Australians are extremely racist, even the politicians. Just my 2 cents.

Indeed, I heard that Australians can be racist. I'm not sure to what extent though since I have not experience it yet.

True enough, IT can be self taught but to get employed into the IT sector will still ultimately require you to have the papers....

Agenda SG

Indeed, I heard that Australians can be racist. I'm not sure to what extent though since I have not experience it yet.

True enough, IT can be self taught but to get employed into the IT sector will still ultimately require you to have the papers....

True, that's why my diploma would come in handy. And I do have a portfolio to show for and the frameworks and language used are not taught in school.

Forbiddensinner SG

Pardon me, this is going to be long.

I thought of making use of this "chance" to broaden my views/mindset by going overseas to pursuit my degree. Australia is the only choice I have?

What is the level of recognition of overseas degrees in Singapore (I do intend to come back)? If you were to compare, which is better? SIMS degree? Overseas degree? Why?

Can anyone with experience/knowledge in overseas universities answer some of my questions above or share some info with me? For example, life in Overseas/Australia universities?

One thing that is making me hesitating in going for overseas degree is that unable to accustom, my proficiency in english language and to make it worst, my minor introvert personality.

Thanks

Have you tried applying?

There are people with 2.8 who got into NIE : D

deathmaster SG

Have you tried applying?

There are people with 2.8 who got into NIE : D

now nie is dam competitive, with the economic downturn attracting more people to turn towards the civil service.

now for poly grads, i heard they are asking for 3.3.

for IT and other technical/knowledge related field of studies like engineering, I think it is better to study in singapore, as it will be much cheaper than actually going overseas.

but if you are intending to take up 'softer' courses like business, economics and finance, it might be better for you to go overseas for ur degree, as the soft skills to be obtained there are not the same as what you will get in oversea study programme at SIM.

ssx SG

I have friends studying part time while in NS in SIM. It's an option, but it's probably going to cost quite a bit. You will be saving one to two years of your life though.

By the way, about UK (or Britain if you like it that way), we do have a lot of people going there to study, but mostly at LSE and Imperial. I am afraid they are out of your league. As far as I know, most poly students seeking university education overseas goes to Australia because their courses are managable and covers what they want.

Would suggest you visit the Aus University Fair/Open house when they come and make informed choices from there. Language barrier is not the problem here if you ask me, but your determination to improve your English is, since you actually have 2 years to think through it.

furb SG

First of all, I would like to thanks all for your help in answering my worries.

furb SG

now nie is dam competitive, with the economic downturn attracting more people to turn towards the civil service.

now for poly grads, i heard they are asking for 3.3.

for IT and other technical/knowledge related field of studies like engineering, I think it is better to study in singapore, as it will be much cheaper than actually going overseas.

Well, the only place I can think of in Singapore that will accept me is SIM and maybe some other overseas universities offshore (which is not popular I think since I don't see people put it as one of their choices generally) in Singapore. Frankly speaking, I have a negative view about SIM but I'm not sure how do others generally see it in reality.

furb SG

I have friends studying part time while in NS in SIM. It's an option, but it's probably going to cost quite a bit. You will be saving one to two years of your life though.

Sure I will take a look at the Aus University Fair/Open house when they do come. Any idea when will the next one be or where can I get info about it?

insidestory SG

Its not true at all that Australians are any more racist than Americans and Britons. Most of my friends in JC and sec school went overseas to study, with hardly any staying in Singapore. We all believe that local university education is substandard and we still do. Some of my friends who went to the UK, but not to London, eg further up like Manchester, Southhampton, Birmingham, did not experience racism in their universities, but only when they visited the countryside like The Lake District.

That said, studying in the UK and US is quite expensive. I'd say that LSE, Imperial, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol would be out of your league as they have stringent entry criteria.

There are many many many Singaporeans studying in Australia, UK and the US. Some go to Australia because it's the closest to Singapore distance wise, and is the cheapest among the three options.

Your grades will not get you into Uni of Melbourne, which takes in many top students from Australia, but there is a wide variety of lower rung universities there that you can apply to that shouldn't be a problem at all, eg Deakin, RMIT, La Trobe

insidestory SG

Pardon me, this is going to be long.

I thought of making use of this "chance" to broaden my views/mindset by going overseas to pursuit my degree. Australia is the only choice I have?

What is the level of recognition of overseas degrees in Singapore (I do intend to come back)? If you were to compare, which is better? SIMS degree? Overseas degree? Why?

Can anyone with experience/knowledge in overseas universities answer some of my questions above or share some info with me? For example, life in Overseas/Australia universities?

One thing that is making me hesitating in going for overseas degree is that unable to accustom, my proficiency in english language and to make it worst, my minor introvert personality.

Thanks

Overseas degree, depending on which universities, are more recognisd than local degrees in Singapore. Just look at our own PM, his father and where almost all the ministers studied. Not in loser local u which is meant for frogs in the well.

insidestory SG

now nie is dam competitive, with the economic downturn attracting more people to turn towards the civil service.

now for poly grads, i heard they are asking for 3.3.

for IT and other technical/knowledge related field of studies like engineering, I think it is better to study in singapore, as it will be much cheaper than actually going overseas.

Why would anyone study science or engineering in a country like sg?! Costs aside, subjects like science, medicine and engineering that hinge heavily on research and development must be best done in universities and countries that are at the forefront of science, research and development. Which is..the US.

Singapore has nothing. Not a single Nobel Laureate to its name. Not a Putlitzer prize winner or a Booker prize winner. Nothing. I think (A)NUS is only fit to be MIT's anus, it should change its name to ANUS.

If I was forced to study in Singapore, where even its arts course is anus shit, which is really a joke since you don't need to build a billion dollar observatory for the study of philosophy or history, I'd take up the course that is least dependent on the funding, research, brains and talent. something like degree in bartending or barista. That's the only thing the degree mills here like NTU, NUS and SMU are fit to give out.

Mybluemoon SG

ur future doesnt look very easy to me... you shld have worked harder in ur schooling days >.<

HyperionDCZ SG

That said, studying in the UK and US is quite expensive. I'd say that LSE, Imperial, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol would be out of your league as they have stringent entry criteria.

There are many many many Singaporeans studying in Australia, UK and the US. Some go to Australia because it's the closest to Singapore distance wise, and is the cheapest among the three options.

woah you sound so amazing! which uni were you from?

hisoka SG

Indeed, I heard that Australians can be racist. I'm not sure to what extent though since I have not experience it yet.

True enough, IT can be self taught but to get employed into the IT sector will still ultimately require you to have the papers....

it's not really racist if you go to places like melbourne or sydney. In fact for melbourne, it's flooded with chinese races from singapore, malaysia, china, hong kong.