Overseas Uni funds preparation

[doodbug]

@bbbay

I feel that in our kids’ generation, even among the top JCs, the ‘desire’ to go overseas to study is not exactly strong. In part because our local universities are a very strong proposition. I don’t see many kids yearning to go overseas to experience life in the West or the East - there is no deep fascination or intrinsic interest - perhaps because there is so much we can watch and learn and know about foreign countries through media nowadays. Also, in the past, there was always a notion of learning from more developed countries - this doesn’t quite apply nowadays!

I feel its okay to be frank with our kids about what one is willing and able to provide in terms of university education. It’s not uncommon for parents to pay for local uni, and making it clear upfront that if they would like to study overseas, the family is not able to afford this path and that they would have to find their way (through scholarship, financial aid or whatever).

There are many parents who also fear that kids will pick up undesirable traits (haha, like some Western practices or values which parents may not embrace) if they study overseas, or perhaps grow distant from the family due to vastly different experiences. I can understand that point of view. A more independent and questioning person could come across as assertive or disrespectful or ungrateful to an Asian parent. Again, how a child evolves with experience is very individual.

On reflection, the travails of navigating landlords and tenancies, backpacking across countries in Europe, studying with people from vastly different backgrounds etc - I’m glad I experienced all of it. I’m not sure how far it made me a better person, or how it built me up, but no regrets, and it made for a more interesting life and memories.

[bbbay]

Since most students in local universities will be going on a one semester exchange program (students get to choose where they want to study for the semester; I heard those with good result get to choose first), it is also applicable to students going for overseas study full-time. could parents share what you know about the pros and corn studying in each country. Personally I prefer UK than US or Australia. UK to me has got a good balance of deep traditions and open mindedness. True? Some start heading to Scandinavian countries. The pristine landscapes are attractive, if the semester is during the summer season. Japan, Korea, or China?

[bbbay]

Some interesting stuff I’ve heard from a relative who has studied in US for his local university exchange program. According to him, his result was not that great so he didn’t get to choose first. He said those popular choices are Korea and Japan. Next are the universities in UK. Universities in US were not popular. So with his relatively poor result, went to “left over” uni in US, a “small” one. I don’t know the right term, county level uni? It is so sparsely populated. while waiting for a local bus outside the train station, in his words, there wasn’t a single person within one kilometre radius. Ha ha… he may be dramatising, but I understand what he’s trying to say.

[sharonkhoo]

@bbbay said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

Some interesting stuff I’ve heard from a relative who has studied in US for his local university exchange program. According to him, his result was not that great so he didn’t get to choose first. He said those popular choices are Korea and Japan. Next are the universities in UK. Universities in US were not popular. So with his relatively poor result, went to “left over” uni in US, a “small” one. I don’t know the right term, county level uni? It is so sparsely populated. while waiting for a local bus outside the train station, in his words, there wasn’t a single person within one kilometre radius. Ha ha… he may be dramatising, but I understand what he’s trying to say.

Good culture learning! I know someone who went to Montreal, and another who went to Norway or Finland (can’t recall now). 1 semester gives a good taste of living abroad, but is necessarily a more limited experience than living overseas for 3-4 years. Of course, where they live, who they mix with, how much effort/time they have to venture beyond the university… all this affects the experience. As an undergraduate overseas, I lived in college all 3 years, and my experience of “real life” was more limited than the 4 years we lived in the same country later on when married, and then with kids. But it’s not the actual place that really matters; the crucial learning is from undergoing transitions - different language and social norms, different climate, etc. It’s learning to cope with uncertainties, being new and unfamiliar, adjusting to new food etc. that is the real learning experience. Building up the ability to cope with transitions is what helps them cope better in later life.

[doodbug]

@bbbay

I’m not sure if ‘most’ is the right term - many in local universities opt not to go for semester exchanges too. Most will get to go out of Singapore at least once, but this could be 1 to 2 week programmes as well.

For those with kids studying in local universities, it. may be better not to prescribe or ‘target’ certain countries or universities. There is a huge list of exchange programme universities, but for each student, who is pursuing a particular degree, the options will depend on which partner universities there are available offering the relevant modules / courses that can be mapped back etc. Eventually the list of universities one can choose from may not be that many. It’s true that the top ranked universities overseas are likely the most sought after (I mean, who doesn’t want to go to Yale or whatever) and all students will roughly know whether they are amongst those who would be considered for these choicest exchange spots.

Regardless where one choose, there is learning value in student exchange programmes. In cases where universities freeze the GPA during exchange semester, grades don’t really count so the local university students really have a ball of a time overseas haha.

[SG_KP1]

With regards to location, the population in Canada and Australia is much more concentrated in a handful of cities than it is in the US (I’d guess that the UK is somewhere in the middle). Hence, the exchange universities there are more likely to be in a city comparable to Singapore.

Outside of the big names, the US has some very good universities, but not all of them are in the main cities and a fair number of them are in college towns (rural areas or smaller cities with not much there besides the school).

For the UK, London is probably on a short list of global cities for which there are very few peers. I’m not sure what it is like elsewhere in the UK.

The rest of Europe and Asia all have their own language/cultural nuances.

For a semester or year, I also don’t think it matters very much. The underlying experience will be similar. Hence, target where you like, but ultimately be happy with what you can get or what works with respect to courses.

There are probably other considerations if the child is looking at working abroad for a few years or potentially seeking residency. Socially, culturally, and politically, I think most of the English-speaking countries are fairly similar.

[bbbay]

@doodbug said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

@bbbay

I’m not sure if ‘most’ is the right term - many in local universities opt not to go for semester exchanges too. Most will get to go out of Singapore at least once, but this could be 1 to 2 week programmes as well.

You are right. Local universities’ overseas exposures
could be overseas internships, overseas community services, which are short-term programs. Not all are Semester long exchange programmes.

I have the Impression in NUS, 80% qualified to apply for semester long exchange program. And around 50% Will get selected. The other 30% either opt not to go, or not selected bcos they got outranked by other students. Because many students will choose that same few popular overseas universities and there are limited vacancies

[Imp75]

@bbbay
Overseas Uni or not really depends on kids nowadays. I don’t think parents have any say in this. Hv one child already obtained a fully funded non-bonded scholarship to Japan yet is mulling over the decision to live in Japan for 5y.

[Coolkidsrock2]

@Imp75 said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

@bbbay
Overseas Uni or not really depends on kids nowadays. I don’t think parents have any say in this. Hv one child already obtained a fully funded non-bonded scholarship to Japan yet is mulling over the decision to live in Japan for 5y.

This is true.

My kid just “informed” us that she received a scholarship and would be giving up her place locally…

For her post-graduate, the only question to us was whether to accept or give up as she already has a job offer in hand.

Her classmates are all either working or continuing studies overseas. Am sure she will “let us know” when she will leave again - many countries now offer self-sponsored visas which she qualifies and will apply at the right time.

[bbbay]

There are another groups of students, that are without scholarships and parent has to pay for overseas education, like how this thread started. The child will have to seek support from the parents? Even for child with scholarship, if they aspire to study overseas, I am sure most parents will be supportive of them. Most of us would think it will be a good exposure. But where they choose to study (the discussions have been on) I think parents can still give valuable advice, even when the child does not seek it from us, maybe they are preoccupied with the adventure ahead . Take for example one of my child has very sensitive skin. I would remind her to opt for more temperate destinations instead. For the sake of her health.