Let your child study overseas if you can afford it?

[wonderm]

sleepy:

UncleLim:

If money is not an issue, would you rather your child have a university education abroad?


Singapore is a very small place. Yes, there are a few universities to choose from locally... but the culture, the people, the attitude of staff and students are roughly the same, bearing the Singaporean hallmark.

If given the chance, would you let your child broaden his or her experience somewhere else?

YES if I get to go too.

Hubby & I studied overseas, felt like an extended holiday to us. Hence, this mummy would very much like to enjoy the experience again & this time lagi more fun because I don't need to study, only have to play tourist

Must have scholarship though, this mummy too poor

Must the scholarship cover mummy's expense as \"tourist\"? :lol:

[sleepy]

wonderm:

Must the scholarship cover mummy's expense as \"tourist\"? :lol:

Hey, if have such good lobang, must :celebrate: 7 days 7 nights :lol:

Hehe, no worries, I can still play tourist on a shoe string budget

[kiddo]

hquek:

And it doesn't have to be US/UK/Australia, if his chinese can make it, China will be an interesting option. But I think I'll draw the line at other developing economies.

Yes Qinghua or Beijing Uni ...but boi Chinese must make it :faint:
But how to get into these Uni ???

mummy also want to follow maybe get a chinese deg too :boogie:

[wonderm]

kiddo:

hquek:

And it doesn't have to be US/UK/Australia, if his chinese can make it, China will be an interesting option. But I think I'll draw the line at other developing economies.

Yes Qinghua or Beijing Uni ...but boi Chinese must make it :faint:
But how to get into these Uni ???

mummy also want to follow maybe get a chinese deg too :boogie:

Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) offers through-train programme to top China universities such as Peking, Tsinghua and Fudan. See details at this news link: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090924-169778.html

[verykiasu2010]

whether is education or work, an overseas experience open the mind, build experience, expand network, build fortitude and resilience … and go to those pioneers in education, especially those unis that have longer history than Raffles finding Singapore in 1819


if just for ordinary run-of-the-mill degree, forget it

[d1s2]

verykiasu2010:

whether is education or work, an overseas experience open the mind, build experience, expand network, build fortitude and resilience .... and go to those pioneers in education, especially those unis that have longer history than Raffles finding Singapore in 1819


if just for ordinary run-of-the-mill degree, forget it

Same for me. If only my kids get into well established reputable universities overseas, otherwise, I think that our local universities with the addition of taking a semester or year abroad is just as good.

Both my husband and I studied and worked overseas quite a number of years. While it had been fun, exciting and interesting with doses of accelerated growing-up and independence, I also felt that I missed many good years with my parents and siblings.

[Pen88n]

d1s2:

verykiasu2010:

whether is education or work, an overseas experience open the mind, build experience, expand network, build fortitude and resilience .... and go to those pioneers in education, especially those unis that have longer history than Raffles finding Singapore in 1819


if just for ordinary run-of-the-mill degree, forget it

Same for me. If only my kids get into well established reputable universities overseas, otherwise, I think that our local universities with the addition of taking a semester or year abroad is just as good.

Both my husband and I studied and worked overseas quite a number of years. While it had been fun, exciting and interesting with doses of accelerated growing-up and independence, I also felt that I missed many good years with my parents and siblings.

Sama sama here. Preferably with a scholarship that can foot the annual fee and expenses. If based on parent's $$, I can foresee I have to slog for many, many more years, and retirement is not within the horizon at all. So decided, my kids have to \"earn\" the overseas study with their own effort and hard work!

[Pen88n]

Based on recent ranking, top 10 US / UK universities:

1. Cambridge University
2. Harvard University
3. Yale University
4. University College London
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6. Oxford University
7. Imperial College London
8. University of Chicago
9. California Institute of Technology
10. Princeton University

Check this out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11227693

[noobparent]

Yes, only if the overseas Unis are the prestigious ones, and better than local Unis.


Actually nowadays NUS is getting quite good and the international recognition of NUS has gone up a lot in the past 10 years.

[rosemummy]

noobparent:

Yes, only if the overseas Unis are the prestigious ones, and better than local Unis.


Actually nowadays NUS is getting quite good and the international recognition of NUS has gone up a lot in the past 10 years.

That's the most ideal situation to be in - child can get into any course at any of the local uni or some of the most prestigious foreign uni.

But many may not find themselves in such an ideal situation.
For example, the child may not get into the course he wants in a local uni. And many very good students, including some with straight As, have found themselves in such a situation in recent years.

The other issue is prestigious unis. It's a little shallow to just look at the general ranking. You have to look at how the uni is ranked for the specific subjects and areas your child is seeking admission for. For example, none of the top US universities in the list by Pen88n has an undergraduate business school. And amongst business schools, some are renown for certain areas.

A third issue is time taken to obtain the first degree. If you send your child to US or Canada immediately after her O levels, she can get her first degree before 20. Things can be a little more complicated for boys due to NS, but he'll still be years ahead of his peers. For Australia (and I believe NZ as well), the child can start his / her foundation programme at the uni immediately after O levvels and start their undergrad studies within a year after that. Most would end up being a year or 2 ahead of their peers.

At the end of the day, I think it's really about providing the most suitable education for your child within your means. If it's within your means to help your child fulfil his / her ambition, and the child is responsible and passionate in his chosen area, I think it's good to do so. I've friends / relatives who're happy doctors / lawyers because their parents chose to support them through a foreign education when they couldn't get into the local medical / law school.