All About Overseas Education

[sharonkhoo]

pirate\" post_id=\"2132504\" time=\"1712857349\" user_id=\"66252:

About this introvert thing. Socialising and academic discussion/debate are two very different things.

Also, how to do business without socialising? What kind of business no need to socialise one? Other than the business of being a landlord.

I guess there are degrees of socialising depending on sector and role? And the introvert-extrovert trait is a continuum. Not all business socialising requires high extraversion. And not all people want to \"do business\" anyway. Many work in a business but need not socialise much.

[bbbay]

Last week was my child’s JC teacher/parent session. I asked teachers for advice on overseas studies financial matter. The teacher told me nowsaday local

Uni come with overseas exchange programs of up
to 1 semester or a year. Unlike last time, now local Unis can offer some overseas living experiences too.

My relative went to US for half a year exchange program while in NUS.

I remember during SMU talk they mentioned 100% of their students will have the opportunity for overseas stint.

[Coolkidsrock2]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2132506\" time=\"1712880736\" user_id=\"175278:

Last week was my child’s JC teacher/parent session. I asked teachers for advice on overseas studies financial matter. The teacher told me nowsaday local
Uni come with overseas exchange programs of up
to 1 semester or a year. Unlike last time, now local Unis can offer some overseas living experiences too.

My relative went to US for half a year exchange program while in NUS.

I remember during SMU talk they mentioned 100% of their students will have the opportunity for overseas stint.

Think a lot depends on the course and what the kid wants.

Exchange students do not get to participate in on-campus recruitment drives and it is also not feasible to be constantly flying in and out for global recruitment sessions - a 2-3 days session becomes a one-week affair after taking in flying time.

There are also some industries which are deeper or more developed overseas, more internship opportunities, summer school or learning subsidies for full-time students, etc.

Also noticed that kids' social circle can become quite small - everybody knows everybody or will somehow have mutual friends - some of kids' friends turned out to be our friends' kids.

[doodbug]

Singaporean students will generally get a degree regardless which university you go to.


The difference is in the education and the experience.

How much we value overseas university experience differs by family and individual. There are some who can well afford to send their children overseas, but don’t find it worthwhile at all as local universities are so reputable and well-ranked. Some others may feel that the opportunity to live on one’s own is a process of growth and self-discovery, as is the exposure to a new environment, new opportunities, enriching one’s world view, seeing the world and the competition out there, learning from a different education system and setting. Some families, even if it is at the expense of retirement or involving a lot of financial sacrifice, are willing to send their kids overseas because they value this aspect.

There are many opportunities offered at local universities. Studying overseas also opens opportunities. But ultimately it is down to the individual - there are many students who do not avail themselves nor are they interested in participating in these opportunities.

Hence, the decision where to study and how much to make out of what is offered, still boils down to the individual interests, inclinations and moltivations.

[bbbay]

What I was sharing is to suggest there is a 3rd way to looking at university experience now, instead of thinking has to be choosing only between study local or studying overseas. Currently all local Uni also has this in between option that may meet the needs of certain group of students: may prefer local environment but also do not want to miss out some experience of independent living in a new environment too.

[00skyblue00]

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2132498\" time=\"1712843544\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2132498 time=1712843544 user_id=195250]
So....am I having a much better life than those people in Beijing and Shanghai?[/quote]

U r doing very well, eating all buffets and playing your weekly games.

At least we don't have to panic under zero covid policy back then.

So many prc moved to SG and turn pr and citizens. Life here isn't so bad lah... See many migrate to China? Shanghai?

HK residents may have lots to say.... Lol
:siam:

[Liew Nga Wing]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2132521\" time=\"1712899596\" user_id=\"143605:

U r doing very well, eating all buffets and playing your weekly games.

At least we don't have to panic under zero covid policy back then.

So many prc moved to SG and turn pr and citizens. Life here isn't so bad lah... See many migrate to China? Shanghai?

HK residents may have lots to say.... Lol
:siam:

The Zero Covid Policy had protected million of people in Mainland from dying from Covid 19.

Many American Chinese are moving back to China because of the opportunities there. Tim Cook just visited China recently.

For Hong Kong residents , many are staying and working in the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macau Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区) now and many of those flee to the United Kingdom or Canada before are planning to return to Hong Kong (回流) as most could not find a decent jobs there.

About 20+ years ago, there were many people from Mainland China wanted to apply PR and Singapore citizenship, however recently, many whom I know - are return back to their homes.

Yes, I agree life in Singapore is not so bad.......

[Coolkidsrock2]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2132517\" time=\"1712894533\" user_id=\"175278:

What I was sharing is to suggest there is a 3rd way to looking at university experience now, instead of thinking has to be choosing only between study local or studying overseas. Currently all local Uni also has this in between option that may meet the needs of certain group of students: may prefer local environment but also do not want to miss out some experience of independent living in a new environment too.

Agreed, the same was shared by DS who only wants to spend some time overseas through exchange or internship program.

There is also the option of summer school programs (have seen for as young as 9 years old) as sampler of what it is to live overseas.

[SG_KP1]

My current feeling is that the overseas uni has some advantages (many of the reasons mentioned above), but that many may put too high of a premium on it.


And when judging the two options, what are we evaluating? Experience? Happiness? Job opportunity set/performance in the initial working years? Just like any other level of schooling, I’m sure we all know of examples on both ends of the spectrum (generalisations aside, the individual matters more?).

I also think a lot has to do with where you plan to work initially. As someone mentioned, nowadays I also think there are advantages to being here in Singapore during uni. But if you want to study and then work overseas for a handful of years, of course try to go there as soon as you can. Exactly where you are going overseas may also be part of the calculation.

BTW, all of the "experience" things apply to the alternative destinations mentioned in relation to Third Languages. Yet, many defaulted back to the UK/US. So are we really talking about experience or only experience as it relates to our perception of what the labour market values (not saying this wrong)?

Lastly, in addition to the exchange programmes, kids can also live with friends during the uni years away from home (if finances are not a constraint and you can afford the overseas tuition) in an attempt to become more independent.

Anyways, if you are lucky enough to be able to consider both, just apply and see what happens. You can make a decision once you actually know where you can go. In today’s world, it’s unlikely any route is a guaranteed golden ticket / the alternative means you can never catch up.

[lee_yl]

Coolkidsrock2\" post_id=\"2132467\" time=\"1712804381\" user_id=\"48901:

Thanks thanks.

I wanted him to go overseas, if not Western, then other Asian uni, but he is adament about doing it locally so had been working very hard. NUS offer came (too quickly in my opinion), before SMU, though am quite confident of an offer.

Am an introvert, so am aware how stressful it is to have to be sociable / have to talk and possibility of being pass over if not \"able to talk well\", hence would like him to use this opportunity and time to work on his natural biasness and widen his comfort zone.

His concerns are probably same as your daughter. And because of his personality, am also mindful about sending him too far in case the stress plus homesickness tip him over to the wrong path.

I too thought it would be good training to send my introvert daughter to SMU Biz to be more outspoken which is a good life skill to have. However, when my friend told me it may backfire and she might not enjoy her 4yrs there, I panicked. Even my neighbor said DD1 is not suitable for SMU Biz. Neighbor described my DD1 as quiet, detailed person more like an accountant.

I did ask DD1 to describe her dream job. She said she would like to work in an office, look through charts/files/documents, etc. and do not want to be out to meet / talk to different clients on a regular basis. Therefore, after much discussion, we decide to give up smu biz.

Just last week she asked about SMU Biz again, I told her don’t talk about it, Uni application closed!