Overseas Uni funds preparation

[bbbay]

In terms of university rankings, it seems we should not take it as an absolute indicator of how “good” they are. NUS is at 8th, Princeton at 22nd, Yale at 23rd. So does it mean people will/should opt for NUS, over Princeton and Yale? Even Brown and Dartmouth, 2 of the Ivy Leagues Unis, are ranked 79th and 243th respectively, are behind many Asian universities. Our SMU is at 585th.

I think another way of selecting Uni is to also look at it niche.

[bbbay]

On this site RI JC alumni sharing their experiences studying in overseas universities. A lot of these universities I have never heard of.

https://rafflespress.com/category/please-mind-the-platform-gap/pmtpg-universities-edition/

[doodbug]

@bbbay

It certainly is very interesting to read these accounts. Thanks for sharing.

For some of us who do not have deep enough pockets to support kids overseas purely for exposure or learning, inevitably I would be concerned if the kid is opting for a name that is unfamiliar among Singapore employers, if the child plans to return to Singapore to work. Of course, if the kid plans to work overseas in a location where the university is recognized, that’s different altogether.

In the same way for example, if a kid wishes to practice Medicine or Dentistry in Singapore, then it is important that he or she gets a qualification that is recognized by the Singapore bodies to practise here.

I think it is very difficult to give general advice on overseas studies. It is down to the individual circumstance, child’s interest, options, future plans, even character and values and maturity, and parents’ financial means - there is no cookie cutter solution.

[bbbay]

@doodbug

Thank you for your view.

Agree that everyone’s circumstances are different. Each will have their own sequence of boxes to check that reflect their own considerations: availability of study funds, whether suited to study overseas, recognition of the university in Singapore, likely will be at the forefront of the considerations sequence. Taking medicine course will have their own set of check boxes. When one has checked through the boxes and reached the stage of deciding which overseas university, maybe we shouldn’t be solely depended on ranking or how well known the uni is. Actually to Singapore employers, I think there are only a handful of well-known overseas universities to them(Oxbridge, Harvard etc) and they are not easy to get in. Or Unis with well known states/cities names in their names: California Uni, University of Paris.

I think if the student has seriously thought through it and strongly believe that the university they chose can benefit their growth, and indeed that Uni is niche in those areas, I think the student will be in a good position to convince prospective employers through their resume/interviews performance, even when that Uni is not well known in Singapore. Just need more efforts than those from well known unis. I personally think is worth the trouble if my child become a more able person because of that Uni. Benefits from personal growth will last a lifetime, whereas reputation of Uni affect only first job search?

The reason why I share that website of Uni experiences bcos since some of our academic able students have chosen those lesser known Uni, it may not be that bad. I may be wrong. Unless all those students will not be depending on the qualifications to earn a living.

Other parents, pls share your thinking whether a degrees from lesser known Uni will affect the child’s job search in Singapore?

[sharonkhoo]

@bbbay said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

Other parents, pls share your thinking whether a degrees from lesser known Uni will affect the child’s job search in Singapore?

Factors to consider:

• how well can the student “sell” himself and his experience? If he has the personality and presence to explain the choice and the benefits derived convincingly, it can make him stand out from the crowd. Some employers will appreciate this (maybe not the most conservative ones).
• what niche is the student intending to work in? Some are less conservative (see above) and potential employers may possibly be more willing to consider less usual backgrounds. And they are also more likely to appreciate the skills needed in that specific niche.
• how important is it for the student to get a job quickly and earn decent money asap? Students who have younger siblings, parents who need financial support etc may prefer the tried and true routes as they can’t afford to take risks and need to start earning money quickly. Those who don’t have these constraints can afford to try the road less-travelled and take a bit more time to find an employer that appreciates what they offer.

[doodbug]

certainly, we should not be obsessed with university (or school) rankings. neither should rankings be discarded in the considerations.

For niche interests or value propositions, the considerations are different. This applies even at decisions at the schooling stage (e.g. certain special programmes, SOTA for Arts & Music etc). If a child is going to read say Dentistry in a not so well ranked university overseas, but earns a degree recognized by the singapore accreditation board, and wishes to practise in Singapore, i think most parents will support (if they are financially able to). so it there is a clear niche such as studying in Germany with plans to work for German firms in Singapore, or working in Austria/Germany in future, I think that’s fine.

However, if the child has no clear plans and wishes to keep job options in Singapore as wide as possible (not unusual among university-going students), then I guess my general take is that going to local universities or more widely known universities may open the most options. As slmkhoo explained, it’s also down to how the candidate is able to position the experience and his/her choice, and to contextualise it to the employer’s hiring needs.

[Imp75]

@doodbug
As parents we always make rational and logical decisions about our kids education because we want to path the way for them to avoid making mistakes along the way. Do any parents then actually think since we only live once, why don’t we just let them go whichever Sch/uni they want even if there’s no good reason to do so as long as they are responsible for their actions (at 18, they should be able to think for themselves or be accountable for their actions).

[bbbay]

This post is deleted!

[bbbay]

@doodbug said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

For niche interests or value propositions, the considerations are different.

For me, if everything else being equal and absence of any obligations, if niche interests give the child happiness plus 3 job offers after graduation , and value propositions give the child half the happiness plus 6 job offers after graduation, I will support the former.

[sharonkhoo]

@bbbay said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

@doodbug said in Overseas Uni funds preparation:

For niche interests or value propositions, the considerations are different.

For me, if everything else being equal and absence of any obligations, if niche interests give the child happiness plus 3 job offers after graduation , and value propositions give the child half the happiness plus 6 job offers after graduation, I will support the former.

How will know how many job offers a graduate will get? If it’s a niche area, I really wouldn’t be able to assess the chances! And it depends on the student too - my daughter only applied to 3 places, received 1 offer, and accepted it. I suppose she would have received more if she had applied to more places since she studied a generic and widely applicable subject, but I wouldn’t have the same confidence for a niche area.

A real example: I have friends whose daughter is very keen to continue training in ballet (in the UK, which leads to a BA of some kind) instead of going to “normal” university, and they have supported her choice (although with some misgivings). They decided that since she can always go to “normal” university later in life if the ballet doesn’t work out, but it’s not possible the other way round, they should let her follow her dream while she’s young. By the “3 job offers” criterion, they would have said “no”.