Hi,
Currently need some advice. I am graduating from poly this year and my cumulative gpa is 3.9+. I am currently 23 years old and have done my NS.
I have two options to do a private degree which takes 1 year, and another option to take a degree at NUS/SMU/NTU. I am more inclined to finish up a private degree, and then follow up with a Masters at SMU. SMU has noted that this private degree is recognized in their intake for Masters.
I do not want to waste too much time on a 4 years degree cost.
Is there anything to watch out when if I do take this move?
Hope someone experienced can enlighten..
better take local degree la if you can enter.
I do have an option to enter it, quite ironic that having more choices now is actually giving me a headache.
Just feel that at times what I am going to do at uni level is quite similar to poly level, and if I can move fast to Masters with this private degree, why not?
Verify with SMU first if the degree entrance is the real deal or not (i.e. Scully you have to be actually be in that university physically taking that degree and not through local private institution, etc)
Things to note on private degree is their modules track and their quality. Although you may be taught here but your exam papers might be flown to the actual Uni for marking. In that case, your grade is based on the Uni Professor grading and not through ur local assessment. Hence if your educator here is f**k up, you can get screwed easily so do take note.
If you must, try to see if you can take via well established private educators. First, they are less likely to fold. Second, their modules are more structured where there are classes, do note there are some private schools that organised their classes differently where you have to do a lot of "self learning". So if you are the kind that cannot self-discipline, you are going to have a hard time.
Lastly, you have to weigh your odds, what if you get the private degree and you can't get into SMU Masters? Find out their acceptance stats and their class size, if the class size is small your chances are diminished rapidly because you are not only competing with ppl like yourself, you also have ppl who have degrees from the local Uni trying to get in also.
I do not know ur background so I am giving my 2 cents from a Engineering/science perspective, Uni is going to be totally different, example, there are some course in Uni that are finish in one semester that covers 2 or more years of work in poly. And Uni (in general) tends not to practice poly system of "I feed you everything, you vomit everything in exams" approach, testing modal are usually focus on seeing if you have understood hence you get a lot of "thinking questions" even in labs practical, etc.
You have to judge for yourself how much is needed for your plan study, the key idea here is dun disadvantage yourself by choosing a shorter route. You have to dig a lot of information here before you can make a better judgement.
fast track programmes are usually frowned upon, especially if you do not do it on the actual campus of the school....a safer bet is to do the local uni, that's a sure bet...and here you are talking about a doing it in 1 year instead of 4, something you can't possibly explain away with your prospective employers....
Degree is not all the same. Degree also have GPA and grade, 1st class, 2nd .. merit.
Poly have ranking 1st: SP, NP, TP, NYP, last: RP. Uni also have ranking 1st: NUS, NTU, last: SMU.
Who wants to go to a sub-standard school to have a sub-standard degree, which has no real value?
Originally posted by dukedracula:fast track programmes are usually frowned upon, especially if you do not do it on the actual campus of the school....a safer bet is to do the local uni, that's a sure bet...and here you are talking about a doing it in 1 year instead of 4, something you can't possibly explain away with your prospective employers....
actually, it can be explained why he can complete a private degree in 1 yr.
Most UK degrees are completed in 2 years, w/o honours.
taking into consideration of 1yr exemption due to poly background, it is possible to complete the said degree in 1yr.
But, TS, something to be noted.Does the private degree confers you with honours?
to get into any masters class, excluding MBA, they will be looking at Second Upper class honours, or its equivalent. a mere pass degree might not be to your advantage if you cannot eventually make the cut to ur desire smu masters course
hi keneal,
my question would be are you sure you will stick to doing a masters at smu and that you can get the necessary grades to enter?
There are alot of variable factors from your poly graduation to your uni graduation(regardless of private or local). Usually people decide to do a masters only after they are close to undergrad graduation or with a few working years experience. There are people who decide that masters is not their cup of tea at the end. Oh having a master degree only matters if its relevant to your future career.
cheers
Hi all,
@deathmaster: You are correct, I was told that the university - University of Glamorgan - helped to setup TP's IT courses. They are clear with what the Singapore polytechnics offer to students and they offer a 1-year course to get a degree. Depending on the grades, you might be able to get an honours in an additional 6 months on top of that 1 year.
@octega: Thanks for your reply too. Your points are valid and to be considered.
Thanks for all your replies.They are all very helpful in my deliberation of choices - I will most likely apply to join SMU and see what happens after that..
if u want to climb in the local context, NUS/ NTU degree is a first....do what u want later...
an MBA (prestigious school) is the next....
privat edegree got money can already, and faster.
Holding a degree in business, but never start a business, instead hv to work for people, haiz, degree or no degree is not an issue nowaday, cos in india, china or indonesia, you can buy it and come here as FT, the issue now is how are you going to survive after getting a degree, so what if you have a degree but no degree in working and selling skills?? the most end up with one condo and a family struggling to make end needs
You have good score.Congrats.
What do you want to do in life?Plan to study more after this? Do you need to study for the sake of study or for a Degree?Plan to stay locally or go elsewhere.
You have all the answers.
Originally posted by angel7030:Holding a degree in business, but never start a business, instead hv to work for people, haiz, degree or no degree is not an issue nowaday, cos in india, china or indonesia, you can buy it and come here as FT, the issue now is how are you going to survive after getting a degree, so what if you have a degree but no degree in working and selling skills?? the most end up with one condo and a family struggling to make end needs
don't pray pray, got condo 1 leh, got degree 1 leh ![]()
Originally posted by Bio-Hawk:You have good score.Congrats.
What do you want to do in life?Plan to study more after this? Do you need to study for the sake of study or for a Degree?Plan to stay locally or go elsewhere.
You have all the answers.
got lots of dgree, study, but quality issue with one lithium battery cannot foloow up properly ![]()
Try getting a Li-Poly.
if u have good connections, father/ mother rich, o level oso can make it....