starlight1968sg:

OT: I wonder how many are actually applying what they have learnt in work. The degree, however, is an entry pass to many jobs. I am sure you have heard that many with engineering background went to work in financial industries.


I agreed with insider too; work can come later and although one may say can return to school after working for a few years but I can say it is not easy at all especially when age is catching up.

I have wanted to do another degree and have been thinking it for years but I dont think I will ever get it done.

SAHM_TAN:

I don't have the answer. But I can share this.

Niece A after As decided to go poly becos she couldn't find a course she like in uni. After poly, she can still go to uni if that's what she wants. She's not bothered by the sunken cost or the possibility of being in the same poly as her younger sis.

It might be easier to switch fr As to poly, I don't know. My research is only till sec schools LOL not yet post secondary education. She didnt meet resistance fr her family too. I don't know her grades, we don't talk abt grades during gatherings. We don't avoid but just there are many stuff to catch up on LOL. So we don't compare grades and don't know what are their grades. All I know is she could go to uni but is choosing poly instead and it's something she wants to do.

slmkhoo:

Is the prospect of switching area of study so grim in Singapore? I really can't see that doing a university course in an area in which the student has no interest can be a good thing. Surely that will 'doom' her to that area even more than if she strikes out to try something new now? And if she has little interest, is she likely to do well? I would still say re-think and wait until she has a better idea what she wants to do. A year or 2 surely doesn't make that much difference at 20yo.

KSP:

Can she apply the course she wants at other private schools besides local unis?

havok_ex:

Uni first. You can take a minor or a second major in what you are interested in in University. Or even better, you can transfer to a course you like after your first semester/year.


You can't defer admission unless there is either a medical reason or NS. Other reasons won't be accepted by the universities.

In any case. I think she should pursue her studies in IT. If she doesn't like it, she can try transferring. If she goes to work now, she may be doomed to the IT industry forever based on her diploma. What's worse is that she might be doing something she doesn't like but paid a low wage because she only has a diploma. At least with a degree, even if she doesn't like what she does, she would at least get paid a higher salary.

slmkhoo:

Yes, I realise that. For this girl, I would also recommend that she do a degree first unless the one she has been admitted to is one she really hates, or she fears she cannot pass. But beyond that, I feel there is no strong reason for necessarily 'finishing' studies when young; the more mature, middle-aged and oldies can study too!

jtoh:

I agree with schweppes. If it's possible for her to go to FASS or do a double degree/minor in marketing/mass comm, that would be an option for her to pursue her marcomm/mass comm career.

schweppes:

Some possible options:


1) Go ahead with IT at uni (since this is already confirmed) but do a minor/double degree/double major in Marketing or Mass Comm.

2) Did your niece apply to do Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences at the local unis? Grads from these courses do end up doing marcomm, mass comm or related as their career choices. If registration has not closed yet, she might want to consider applying for these courses at the local unis.

3) Consider applying to SIT or SIM Global Education to study Marketing


One thing NOT to do, is to study IT at uni thinking that one can just ask for transfer or switch to another course or school/faculty. It is not so easy and there is no guarantee. A lot depends whether the other course/school has vacancies or whether they think the student is good enough for them. So, don't just bank on this option.

rains:

slmkhoo:

I think there is no need to think that studying MUST come first, then work. Sometimes, there is value in alternating them. I don't say that it is the best way if maximising earnings is the main aim, but that's the way it works out sometimes. I did a university course (which was interesting but I didn't do the obvious job it led to), worked 3 yrs in a fairly unrelated area, then did a MA in that area. By the time I did the MA, I had learned on the job most of the stuff I needed to know, so the MA was just to get the paper qualification. My husband worked 9 yrs in a job unrelated to his degree, then did a MA and PhD in yet another (related) area! It hasn't paid off in money, just satisfaction. But we have never had to go hungry.

I am sure you have already noted that in your and your husband's cases, both of you had done a degree before venturing out into other fields or working world. It's very different from the thread starter's niece's situation in which she doesn't even have a degree yet. In your and your husband's cases, both of you did complete your studies at degree level before going to work.

slmkhoo:

I think there is no need to think that studying MUST come first, then work. Sometimes, there is value in alternating them. I don't say that it is the best way if maximising earnings is the main aim, but that's the way it works out sometimes. I did a university course (which was interesting but I didn't do the obvious job it led to), worked 3 yrs in a fairly unrelated area, then did a MA in that area. By the time I did the MA, I had learned on the job most of the stuff I needed to know, so the MA was just to get the paper qualification. My husband worked 9 yrs in a job unrelated to his degree, then did a MA and PhD in yet another (related) area! It hasn't paid off in money, just satisfaction. But we have never had to go hungry.

julongmum:

Hi all

My niece has just graduated fr poly n been accepted by local Uni for an IT course. However she has no interest in pursuing IT and her GPA can't get her to the other courses like business or marketing in govt Uni. Private full time Uni is not considered cos of financial constraint.

Would like to hear yr opinion as to whether she should just go ahead with the IT in Uni and obtain an IT degree or should just abort and join the work force. She is someone who enjoys companion and thus very active in poly therefore I think she would continue to like Uni life. However pursuing a course that doesn't interest her, does it make sense?!

Many thanks in advance for any of yr comment.

insider:

Then next came my master degree. Another $30,000 that I actually didn't need to go for the course since I am the boss. Still remembered what sifu said and attended. Met a group of like-minded classmates and made my millions eventually (and I am still making).

sleepy:

Yes, agreed wholeheartedly. 书中自有黄金屋

Although I did not make much money from my heavy investment in education (unemployed for > 10 years) but I do have fond memories of my experience studying overseas. And I suppose my dh would not be attracted to me in the first place if my qualification is not comparable to his.

insider:

One of the key teachings of my sifu is, just study, and the returns will always come in multiple multiple folds in many different ways (a spouse, future opportunities, fond memories that can last a lifetime, etc , etc).

Mawar:

I have a friend who is blessed with a golden spoon. He pursued one paper after another, from North America to Europe. Good professional degrees from top Us and which can earn him big bucks. Alas! He refused to leave his ivory towers. But he has enough family money to last a few lifetimes.

insider:

My take is always study first if one is still within the 'study age', as long as the course is not too 'repulsive' and never mind that if it is not a course that one originally wants.


Go uni, to me other then is to get another paper, the more important thing is to PLAY!

青春不留白！

Go uni and polish up a bit on harmless 'elementary politics' among classmates and lecturers first (on grades, on positions, on riders, on fairness/unfairness, etc) before going out to the real world to polish some more among the sharks.

After 'school age' next time can work work work and work, work till die.

So dont need to start work so early if the house is not waiting for her to open rice.

One of the key teachings of my sifu is, just study, and the returns will always come in multiple multiple folds in many different ways (a spouse, future opportunities, fond memories that can last a lifetime, etc , etc).