The Biggest Dilemma for Soon-To-Be Undergraduates Part-3

And now to the 2nd Big Question!

The Biggest Dilemma for Soon-To-Be Undergraduates Part-2

 
Now, Let's look at our 1st Big Question Undergraduates ask themselves.

"Should I choose a Local University or Private University for my tertiary education?"

Local university refers to NTU (Nanyang Technological University), NUS (National University of Singapore) and SMU (Singapore Management University). So far, there's only 3, and there will be more in upcoming years.

Private University refers to private institutions set up by companies in Singapore and provide degrees and education from overseas countries. For example, SIM offer degrees from RMIT, a university in Australia, University at Buffalo, USA. PSB offer degrees from UON, from Australia, and other countries too.

In my experience, this question came up for most people whose A level results are not up to their expectations, and they are unable to get a place in a particular course in a local university. Hence, they are deciding whether to pursue that particular course in a private university, or pursue another course(with lower demand) in a local university.

This seems like a choice which you have to give up one to get another:
- Go to a local university, and pursue a course which you don't like, but you manage to get it because of its low entry grades or low demand.
- Go to a private university, and pursue a course which you like, but you will not have the bragging rights of being in a local university (which many people want!).

What's the issue here?

I know of some friends who manage to study in a local university, but not in a course they like. People usually named these courses 'dumping ground', which means these courses are taken up by people who can't get the course of their choice. They go for the University they want.

I also have friends who can study in a local university, but did not choose it in the end, because they did not get the course of their choice. Hence, they choose a private university, and pursue the course of their choice instead. They go for the Course they want.

Look at this, which one is more important here?
The education at a local university or the education you want to get from the subject you like?

At a local university, the education you get can be of certain standard and quality. Some professors who are teaching there have vast academic experience and research experience. They come from renowned universities around the world too.

Secondly, some people chose a local university because they don't want to feel left-out in the crowd. They see many of their friends enter local uni, and feel that if they go private uni, they are regarded 'second-grade'. Hence, the reputation is not there. They try to squeeze into a local uni, regardless of whatever course they are offered.

Thirdly, people thinks that a degree from a local university will be more 'profitable' than private uni degrees. 'Profitable' meaning higher income. This may be true to a certain extent. But I can say a local degree is not a deciding factor whether someone is being paid more. We talk about that later.

That's bascally the 3 reasons for people choosing a local university than a private one.

Quality of Education:

It's true that local universities provide a certain standard of education to their students than private ones. The professors are certified, and most are experienced. Local uni also have good facilities like laboratories and computer labs for students to do research.


However, private institutions in Singapore are not as bad as what we think last time. They are also building big campuses soon. SIM can be regarded as a private university with high-class services too. They have their own professors, lecture and seminar rooms too.

However, 1 minor disadvantage for private university. As far as I know, private uni does not provide a very good environment for research to be done, especially sciences (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) research. They do not have million-dollar machines and devices in their schools, unlike local universities. That's why you notice private universities hardly provide degree courses in Sciences, which require research work. Most courses offered are 'not lab based', like Business, IT, Accountancy...etc.

Otherwise, private uni are not very far off, in terms of the quality of education both provides.  Both type of universities have their good professors, and also their boring professors.




Reputation:
Of course, if you have a choice to study in a well-known, local university where the top 10% of students study there, why not? Everybody will grab that chance. You will feel smarter, being in a school where the 'top10%' are.

But does that mean those that did not make it, are not smart? Yes! They may not be so 'academic-smart' compared to those local uni students, but I can say many are more 'street-smart' than the local uni grads! However, I did not say private uni students are lousy in their grades, or local uni students are not 'street-smart' either.

When you get into a local uni, people will think that your future is gonna be bright, you must be a very clever student, you must be highly intelligent, you will be very successful one day. They praises you, and you feel good (people love praises!). If you are from a private uni, people will think that's because you're a lazy student who play too much, and didn't study hard enough, or someone who is not smart
enough to enter a local uni.

What I can say is, that's what other people thinking! And we should not make decision based on others' thinking! We choose what we want to have for dinner, because we want to have it, NOT because other think we should have it. "I want to eat vegetables for my lunch today, because I want to, not because you think I should be eating". 

With that said, I want to say that people who try hard to squeeze into a local uni, just to accept any course thrown at them, are making a very unwise decision. They just want to feel known, feel recognized by being in a 'top10%' school by others. They don't care what if they like what they learn, or what they will be learning in the school. "You think I should eat meat for lunch today, that's why I eat meat. If I eat meat, I will make you feel good about me (probably only macho-man eat meat). I do not care if I dislike the meat, or if the meat is nice"

Profitable Degree:
The truth is, A local university degree is more profitable than a private univeristy degree.
The myth is, A local university degree is more profitable than a private univeristy degree.
(Eh? Isn't both sentences the same?)

Yes. It's a truth, and it's also a myth.

True, a local graduate can get a higher pay than a private graduate, but we have to look deeper into various aspects. In the public service, a local degree is more recognized than a private degree, and pay structure for public service is determined by the grades you have in your degree (First Class Honours...etc)

In the private sector, pay structure varies. Some may look at the grades you get in school to determine you pay, but I can say, MOST do not care about your grades once you join them.

I have talked to many people regarding this, from students who are graduating soon, people who have already graduated, people who have went for numerous interviews, people who are in the workforce looking out for talents.

They have one common reply to me.

"Grades don't matter!"

If you have been called up for interview, the interviewer will close your resume, and start asking you questions. And, they do not ask question about your grades! They do not care about your grades!

They are interested in what value you can provide to the company, what skills and expertise you have. Can you work with people? Have you worked in teams or large organizations before? Do you have experience in other companies/industries before? Are you active in the society, leaders of some communities or organization? What are your interests and hobbies, your strengths and weaknesses?


If you really think your future-bosses are very concerned about your results, you may want to  ask some of your friends who went for numerous interviews. Ask them how many bosses actually ask them the As and Bs they get. :D

The most profitable job will be given to someone who shows and proves that he is valuable to the company. And this does not always refer to First Class Honours Students.

Share your comments with me. I would love to hear them :D

Next, we look at Question 2!

The Biggest Dilemma for Soon-To-Be Undergraduates Part-1

I once had that biggest dilemma too. It gave me a headache sometimes.

This problem is faced every year by many 19 year olds who have received their A level results. In normal circumstances, Guys usually have 3 chances to make their final decision, and Girls have 1 chance to decide.

By now, for those who have been through, you know what I'm referring to.

For those who have passed their A levels, usually, they would look at the next level of education - tertiary/ university education. (I said usually, because not everybody will move on to university, even though they have good A level results...)

There are usually 2 Big question marks in the minds of the youngsters after they got their result.

i) Which Uni should I go? Local/Private U?
ii) Which undergraduate course should I take?

1. Local or Private University?
For students who have done well enough, many would prefer to enter a Singapore local university, namely NTU, NUS or SMU.
For students who may not do so well, there are other choices to pursue their university education, at reputable private universities in Singapore, like SIM and PSB, which offers overseas degree programs.
Some may decide to pursue their university education overseas too.

2. Which undergraduate course should I apply? 
For those who have acheived the results they expected, they would have go on to apply for the courses they already have in mind before taking A level examinations.
However, there are also people who have also achieved exceptionally good results, but do not know what courses to apply to.
There are people who achieved 'not bad' results, but are unable to apply for their 'dream' course.
There are people who did not do that well to get their desired course, but trying hard to 'squeeze'
into the local U, by accepting any course thrown at them.
There are people who applied for a course in a Private U, because they wanted to pursue that course, which are not offered in local U, or the admission criteria in local U is too high.


I say that it is a Big Dilemma, because a wrong answer in either 1 of the questions, will determine the next 3-4 years of their lives. A good decision will let them enjoy the fun of studying in university. Wrong decision... it depends. Some people can force anything down their throat, even if they don't like it. Haha.

Alright.
Let's look into the issues of Question 1 in our next post! :D