All About Polytechnics

[schweppes]

ttlkbs:

schweppes:

What does the student prefer? Or where does his interest lean to? If interest leans to poly, then must also decide in which particular area/courses?

Must also consider:
- learning style (bookworm type? hands-on learning type?)
- strength in languages (EL? mother tongue?) if want to go JC

Style : Lazy to the max, doesn't read at all
Strength : C5 for EL and B4 for MT. A's for both Maths & Sci.
Preference : No idea!

Alamak... like that very hard to advice.

Whether go the poly or JC route, must still read, revise and review to keep up with lesson plan.

Student may not have an idea could be because there are too many choices out there. It can be rather overwhelming having to decide on one's future at 16yo. Time to go \"shopping\" for courses tomorrow and go for JAE counselling.

JC: student may find GP a challenge due to the EL score

Poly: as the student's strength is in Maths and Science, then perhaps explore courses related to his areas of strengths. Look at the Engineering courses/ Bio Tech/ Bio Medical Sciences / Applied Chemistry, etc

If you think the student needs a more structured study environment to stay committed and on-path, then go for the JC route.

If student prefers a more hands-on learning style, consistent course work throughout (and not dependent on one major exam), then consider poly route

[schweppes]

write-up by SMRT (Feedback)


https://www.facebook.com/smrtsg/posts/916080005082879

So O level results were released a couple of days ago. Here are some advice kids:

1) If you are planning to take Law/Social Sciences/Education/Psychology/Engineering/Science, you're better off going to JC or MI but you better make sure you can get into Uni or else your A level certificate can be used as toilet roll. Or, you could go to the poly route and get a degree at SIM. Companies especially MNCs are favourable for both routes.

2) For those taking Accounting especially, alternative route is ACCA which will get you even further than Poly and Uni qualifications combined. Do note however, ACCA is considered the Mt Everest of accounting (EDIT: Ok, maybe not Mt Everest, ICAEW is.) The qualification is one of the toughest to attain but well worth it when you've achieved it.

3) If you're planning to take Marketing/Business Management, go to Poly.

4) If you're planning to take Arts/Film and other creative major, go to La Salle or NAFA - the latter is more munjen oriented. But end of the day it's not really your paper qualification, it's actually your portfolio. If you have a degree in graphic design, but your portfolio is shit, you are in fact still shit. As such, we recommend you taking a generic diploma as a backup (eg. business mgmt), and dabble in the creative arts as a hobby. This is Singapore. Not Europe. Being artsy don't bring you the dough unless you are really goddamn creative. Be realistic.

5) If you like hands-on, or are thinking of going to the blue collar industry, go to ITE. People in marine and offshore etc. earn triple in half a year what the goons at Shenton Way can earn in a year.

If you're not planning to take anything, it's ok. We still need people at Mcdonalds.

Just kidding. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg were all dropouts. They also did drugs too. But make sure you have the balls and the drive to be an entrepreneur. If you haven't failed, you haven't experienced shit. Oh, and don't do drugs.

-----


Don't really know what you want to do? Here's our personal tip:

- Go into computer science. Learn coding.
- Arm yourself with marketing skills. If you don't want to go back to school, set up ways you can market something. A blog, youtube, whatever, and use it as a case study. Build your portfolio.
- Learn basic accounting. Know your numbers.

Coding + Marketing + Accouting = A safer, well-paying career path that will be the top posts company will look for from now till the next century. Companies are no longer looking for single-skilled individuals. Be multi-skilled.

[jetsetter]

http://i62.tinypic.com/nd1jjo.jpg\">

(Today, 15 Jan, Pg22)
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/2014-polytechnic-grads-employment-rate-dips-marginally

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/employment-rate-for/1589044.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/education/story/job-prospects-and-salaries-remained-good-poly-grads-last-year-2015011

http://www.gmprecruit.com/pdf/newsroom/2014/Jan14/11012014_BT_Fresh_poly_grads_employment_down_pay_up.pdf

[twengche]

blesspring:

Hi,


What are the Polytechnics courses that have very stringent requirements whereby only the top students can get in ?

Why are you answering this question?

[twengche]

Kafer:

If the same poly courses (chemical engineering) r offered by NP, SP & TP. We placed 1st choice as SP as SP has the lowest cut iff point. If the child did not get into SP will he/she be allocated ti NP or TP instead? Although his 2nd choicr for course may be mass comms instead?


I m kinda lost with the JAE poly application. Can someine advise?

He will be allocated to him 2nd choice course \"Mass Comms\" and not TP or NP Chem Eng

[ttlkbs]

DS finally decided to go TP since he is not strong in English and doesn’t like Chinese.

His top 3 choices are Accounting & Finance, Aviation Management & Pharmaceutical Science. Has not decided on the sequence yet since his point is lower than the COP of all courses in TP.
My concern now is which one has a better chance to enter local uni? Better prospect ?

[footy]

ttlkbs:

DS finally decided to go TP since he is not strong in English and doesn't like Chinese.

His top 3 choices are Accounting & Finance, Aviation Management & Pharmaceutical Science. Has not decided on the sequence yet since his point is lower than the COP of all courses in TP.
My concern now is which one has a better chance to enter local uni? Better prospect ?

If I may just give my two cents.

If your child is not clear what he is really interested in (and that is reinforced by the diversity in his top 3 choices), it may be wise to consider the option amongst the 3 that gives the highest possible future pathways, be it in further education or future employment. And that option would be A&F.

Aviation Mgt may sound sexy but the potential pathways are rather limited if he subsequently decides the aviation field is not his cup of tea.

Pharmaceutical Science is even narrower in potential pathways if one is really not inclined to get to a minimum of a degree in that field.

With A&F, the core skills you are equipped with allow you to either further yourself in the accounting and related fields like audit and taxation or branch off into banking and investments and even general management eventually. This means your options for both further education and future careers are wider ranging.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

[starlight1968sg]

footy:

Aviation Mgt may sound sexy but the potential pathways are rather limited if he subsequently decides the aviation field is not his cup of tea.

Cheers!

Agreed.
Highly professional and specific but in a way, narrowed your potential job scope ie once you get in, you are stuck and unable to transform to work effectively elsewhere.

[ttlkbs]

Thanks to all for the valuable advises.

My initial ranking of the courses was
1) Aviation mgmt
2) A&F
3) Pharmaceutical Science

Then I altered a little to below :
1) Aviation mgmt
2) A&F
3) Aerospace Engineering
4) Pharmaceutical Science

Aviation Mgmt & Services was ranked 1st since only TP offers this course.

So now seems that if I can convince him with all your opinions, I may have to rank them :
1) A&F
2) Aviation mgmt & Services
3) Aerospace Engineering
4) Pharmaceutical Science

Headache! Worried if we are making the correct decision?
Can’t imagine if I am not educated and can’t help him at all, what will happen to him?

[iRabbit]

schweppes:

iRabbit:

What's the difference between SOTA & NAFA?

Don't forget to include Lasalle College of the Arts too.

iRabbit:

Which one is more renowned?

Depends on who you ask!! Haha

Jokes aside, can't compare SOTA with NAFA/Lasalle as they are different education categories.

iRabbit:

Sorry if I sound ignorant, but they really do seem similar to me.

They are same same but different.

SOTA
Accepts artistic students based on their PSLE results and talent (performing arts, visual arts, etc). SOTA is like the IP schools and students get an International Baccalaureate Diploma.

It's not an enrichment centre type school.

NAFA and Lasalle
Offers different types of arts related programs. It's an alternative route from the usual JC/Poly post-secondary education.

They are private tertiary institutions but receives funding from MOE. So, the certs are definitely recognised by MOE. NAFA and Lasalle are like the poly equivalent, with the students focusing on the arts. Government is encouraging a more dynamic and vibrant arts culture in Sg, so this is where NAFA and Lasalle come in.

NAFA/Lasalle - offers diplomas and degrees. Lasalle offers Masters courses as well.

For Lasalle's Fine Arts degree prog, it is a partner institution with Goldsmiths, University of London.

(highly regarded in the arts world, http://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_10 ... a_programs )

For NAFA's degree music prog, it collaborates with Royal College of Music, London

Only NAFA offers enrichment activities in the arts (music, art, dance) for pri and sec students. That's the Junior Art prog, and caters to 6yo to 16yo.

edit: to add content

Thanks for the details, schweppes.

Erh, so do you teach in SOTA or NAFA?

*awkward silence ensues ...