https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/young-university-rankings

NTU is often underrated. NTU’s niche areas in engineering, material science and technology are not glamorous domains to the general public. And NTU is relatively young actually. In his current form, it only started in 1991. it has 2 impressive engineering/research undergraduate programs: Renaissance Engineering program and CN Yang scholar program. Both programs prepare students for breakthrough/innovation engineering/science research works. These 2 programs take in around 100 students yearly. Less than the number of medical students.

I find this YouTube channel informative. 2 Chinese speaking YouTubers giving in depth analysis on Spore’s universities landscape. I think their target audiences are PRC intending to study in Spore Uni.

I find their analysis well structured. Some of the topics they talk about are

• comparing the NUS/NTU/SMU
• top 5 easiest/toughest majors to study
• top 5 easiest/toughest courses to apply
• why SMU is popular locally yet low in international ranking
• what is Yale-NUS
• what is NUS College

We local can learn something from this channel too

https://youtube.com/channel/UClUkqKsBM2voJNuT3uUu0gw?feature=shared

Thanks for this sharing ! Now better understanding abt why ntu low cut off point , losing shine
seem that there are alot of private corp support. Both nus n smu are 4 yrs biz course . My kid is in smu , enjoy the study but it’s also very competitive for the course. in uni grp work is a good live practical working skills , no complain, everyone do their part and want to do well . I find the time table not really packed , allow time for project grp work .

I find their analysis well structured. Some of the topics they talk about are

• comparing the NUS/NTU/SMU
• top 5 easiest/toughest majors to study
• top 5 easiest/toughest courses to apply
• why SMU is popular locally yet low in international ranking
• what is Yale-NUS
• what is NUS College

We local can learn something from this channel too

https://youtube.com/channel/UClUkqKsBM2voJNuT3uUu0gw?feature=shared

NUS is like a university inside a garden to me. Cosy. The colleges/residential buildings blend in with the lush trees. The student guide to me NUS has a particle accelerator.

SMU futuristic buildings designs.

NTU has the country side vibe.

My personal impression of NUS now is academically/research for Science more rigorous. NTU is more towards hands on engineering and SMU is geared towards real world business application and presentation.

My kids and I didn’t go for any! Perhaps they already knew what they were applying to, and were not exploring hall options. Also, NS boys seemed too sick or tired haha. Plus the NUS application deadline for Poly and IB applicants was way earlier than the Open House.

@SG_KP1

I read NUSC is the replacement of Yale-NUS

Not in its entirety. NUS discontinued YNC and University Scholars Programme. There is no more ‘scholars’ RC per se.

NUSC has taken the learning points from the two programmes, and opened it up to a much larger pool of interested students.

Everyone ends up liking their RC or hall, me thinks. There is palpable pride.

After attending NUS open house and a little research, my understanding is there are four types of accommodations:

Hall, House, Residence and Residential college.

Halls are the cheapest . Students must take up the meal plans too which is relatively cheap. Students have to take part in hall activities to earn points in order to continue staying in the hall next year. Some halls are good in sports. Others good in cultural activities.

Residence is the opposite from hall . Rent a room and no obligation to take part in any activities. Room rate is more expensive. No meal plans.

House is in between hall and residence. Instead of activities, houses have interest groups. Students are not obliged to take part.

Residential college : Students taking certain group of modules (example sustainability or inter-disciplinary) get to stay in the same Residential college. I think it is compulsory for those students to take up the residential and its meal plan. The meal plans are more expensive; course meal. I read somewhere the professors may be staying in the same residence too. I think the intention of residential college program is the build very strong professional network, starting from undergraduate days.

Did you all enjoy the Open House?

I think your understanding is correct. For first year Singaporean undergraduates, I don’t think you can apply for Residences though.

Halls have a very long and rich tradition - they have been in existence for many decades. RCs are newer, and really try to integrate living and learning together. UTown has a nice vibe. Houses seem to be quite specifically themed - catered to a particular interest or type of student.

My kids unfortunately are not drawn to living on campus. Too attached to home? lol They didn’t take part in any boarding programme in Sec School either.

I read NUSC is the replacement of Yale-NUS

Hall, House, Residence and Residential college.

Halls are the cheapest . Students must take up the meal plans too which is relatively cheap. Students have to take part in hall activities to earn points in order to continue staying in the hall next year. Some halls are good in sports. Others good in cultural activities.

Residence is the opposite from hall . Rent a room and no obligation to take part in any activities. Room rate is more expensive. No meal plans.

House is in between hall and residence. Instead of activities, houses have interest groups. Students are not obliged to take part.

Residential college : Students taking certain group of modules (example sustainability or inter-disciplinary) get to stay in the same Residential college. I think it is compulsory for those students to take up the residential and its meal plan. The meal plans are more expensive; course meal. I read somewhere the professors may be staying in the same residence too. I think the intention of residential college program is the build very strong professional network, starting from undergraduate days.

My elder dd scored 90rp last year, has some decent but not too spectacular portfolio. She was interviewed for her NUS college application n Law application. She applied both Global merit n Merit scholarship and was awarded NUS merit scholarship without further interview…

On the other hand, her friend at NTU has 88.75rp,
minimal potfolio. She did not apply for any scholarship in NTU but they approached her directly for USP - Uni Scholar Programme interview and awarded her with USP scholarship.

I understand also that these uni scholarships may not be awarded just for thoss 90rp, etc…it all deps on what course they hv applied for as 1st choice. Eg if he or she is applying for med, law or den, where there are just too many 90rp-ers, then it’s not easy to land one, notwithstanding their portfolio.

Similarly, my dd’s hostel mate at NUSC has 88.75rp but she has been awarded Global Merit scholarship. It all has all to do with your 1st choice in your application.

Hope this helps.

All I know is that my kids want to live at home and are not / did not explore halls or residential colleges or whatever.

I’m slightly confused with the local university scholarships.

Looks like there are different tiers? So the top tier scholarships will cover tuition fees, allowance, hall stays, exchange programmes etc - I guess the most comprehensive? And then the subsequent tiers cover fewer items?

Do you automatically get considered for the top tier ones, then next tier if you don’t get the top tier scholarship?

An NTU scholar told me during the open house, can just select all the scholarships and then see which one get thru. I think what he meant was to select a few that interest the students and then see how things turn out; cast the net wider.

From what I see, each scholarship has different requirements and each offer slightly different benefits. But most of them i believe offer full tuition fee coverage. Some scholarships are AI centric. Applicants must demonstrate strength/passion for AI during interviews. Others scholarships looks for strong leadership. So i think students must explicitly apply for each scholarship. On SMU booklet it offers tips on how to secure scholarship. One of the tips is research on that scholarship, what type of candidate they looking for, and then demonstrate that you for the bill. So there are some form of matching between scholarship and students.

Other parent pls feel free to correct my understanding

Looks like there are different tiers? So the top tier scholarships will cover tuition fees, allowance, hall stays, exchange programmes etc - I guess the most comprehensive? And then the subsequent tiers cover fewer items?

Do you automatically get considered for the top tier ones, then next tier if you don’t get the top tier scholarship?

Another student told me, students can decide on room type but university will decide which hall to allocate to the student