Had a friend from this programme. It's basically a master's
programme coated in an undergraduate degree. If you search
online,computational biology is so specialised that it is often
considered as a master's degree programme.
You have to start the academic year,overloading modules(6-7)
instead of the regular one.(5) And you are also meant to be a
jack-of-all-trades,learn programming,biology,maths,etc. It is
definitely not so simple as it sounds. And yep,the high dropout
rates sucks big time. If I am not wrong,NUS chemistry is also
pretty harsh on it's curriculum.(got to do
organic/physical/inorganic) The thing is that,most people tend to
be either more qualitative(organic/inorganic) or
quantitative.(physical) At the end of first yr,about 100+ students
switched major from chemistry to bio or physics,some switch to
other fields from an initial cohort of around 250++.
That is not to say that,computational biology has an even
tougher curriculum. I am mainly speculating that the high drop out
rates has a lot to do with getting what one bargains for rather
than the intensive rigour. Think about this,if you could get better
GPA in bio(closest to comp. bio major) vs better degree scope(comp.
bio is better than bio),most will pick the former because at the
end of the day,the performance in one's degree programme stands out
more. In order words,it's a red flag if you can't perform
exceptionally well in your degree.
And the lack of detail on the website is killer. Many signed up
for something they are not prepared for and end up regretting it.
Better to err on the safe side of things and don't bite off more
than you can chew.
Haha i just feel interested to try out something difficult to
challenge myself.
From what you said about NUS chemistry,those main branches of
chemistry mentioned are areas of chemistry that I'm relatively
strong in and like a lot so i might consider NUS chemistry instead
if i choose not to take comp. bio,doubt i will go for bio even
though i like bio as a generic degree as prospects for life science
graduates in Singapore seems to be dimming over the years.
Also consindering Computing(Information Systems) in NUS,given my
Mid Year and Common Test Rank Points this year and comparing it to
2016 UAS(81.25),I'm well within the range so might consider that
instead.