I am currently having a dilemma between 2 university courses and
I would appreciate if anyone of you, especially university
graduates/current students, could render me the appropriate advice.
Thanks!
I am currently holding a law offer. In Singa-pragmatic-pore, a
law degree is perceived as "lucrative" because it is professional
in nature, ensuring job stability and good career prospects. I
never fail to elicit approving nods or even raise a few impressed
eyebrows whenever I tell people [who ask] that I will be reading
law in the near future.
However, while serving NS, I struggled quite abit
internally. Deep down, I have always been interested in the study
of economics. Academic-wise, I have always performed well in
mathematics and economics. However, everyone has been telling me
that a social science degree is too "general" and doesnt provide
solid career prospects unlike law. So far, very few, if any at all,
have provided me with an alternate view.
I really don't know whether to pursue my passion or be more
pragmatic. I guess the reason why I'm skeptical about going to law
school is not so much the lack of interest as the intense
competition amongst law students. Ultimately, law
school admits students who are academically strong [I'm not one of
them though, just got lucky I guess] and the cohort size is small.
After talking to students and law graduates, I have come to the
conclusion that law school is tough and the competition is
cutthroat.
On the other hand, mathematics is to me what cooking is to chefs
or what aeroplanes is to aerospace engineers. It comes just so
naturally without the need to put myself through pain and misery.
When I was studying mathematics or economics at school, I find
myself enjoying the process without finding it laborious at
all. In fact, without the need for external "push", I
actually took the initiative to consult my tutors and
source for information myself. Independent studying
became so easy, and may I add, natural, when I was so
interested in what I was studying. And ultimately, I did
consistently well in both subjects and even topped my class in
these subjects during the prelims.
But doing well, or having interest, in any particular
subject doesnt translate into a good career. I noticed that in
the financial sector, there is a disproportionate amount of people
with finance, law and accounting backgrounds. It's pretty
undeniable that an arts degree plays second fiddle to professional
degree when it comes to job search.
Law does seemed interestng but the thing is I would never know
if it would turn out to be something I hate tremendously. It sucks
to see myself dragging my feet through 4 years of school reading
something I dread. 4 years is alot of time and I need to make sure
that what I'm studying is at least of marginal interest to me so I
can be motivated to study. Once studying becomes a chore, I would
tend to do badly in physics, as was the case during my physics A
levels [Physics was my hated subject in JC].
I'm really in a quandary and would appreciate if anyone could
provide me with some wisdom, perspective or insight that have
somehow eluded me one way or another.
Law school is tough alrite.. lol.. trust no one. Well..unless u
are up there with the pros that hang together, its pretty much a
solo effort.
Since u are good at mathematics , good at what u do. Why not ?
at least u love what u do. Unless u really REALLY need a law degree
for like a big plan or something. If u got no plan, just do what u
like to do. Do it well. N when u come out, with ur good results n
ur passion for ur subjects, i am sure there will be big companies
that will hire you. Hire u for ur attitude too. ;p .
There are good high earning economists out there la. U can even
double major.
Good luck.
U do what u like first , then if u really wanna take up law
later u still can and should be 'easier' in terms of concepts n
stuff.If u are really as passionate, i think u wil have very good
grades. Law school looknig at law subjects, they will also look at
ur non-law subjects n see how u fare as well. So yeah.. Never too
old to study man.. but then again, ;p Its up to you,.
