Post-Secondary Education Enquiries


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Slivester

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Argh, this is really getting into me. Just 20 minutes to end of JAE submission, I have some deep enquires left unanswered.

I qualify for most of the courses provided by polytechnics, except for courses like Mass Communication, listed in Form A, but looking at the COP, argh. Anyway, I entered 12 choices for the JAE, with first 4 JCs, 5th MI and 6th onwards chemical science polytechnic courses.

Say I decided to go to polytechnic after I am posted to a JC, what should I do? I accompanied a couple of friends who did not make it to their desired courses in polytechnic to sign up under the Direct Admission Exercise (DAE), and I signed up as well, listing Biotechnology in RP, NYP and TP as first choice. Will I be considered by the polys even after I receive my posting results?

I am having second thoughts with A levels now, damn.
 

IMHO, A levels are a waste of time, and it's an outdated British educational system, unless u want to consider some academic/professional courses in future, such as medicine, science/math, law, etc.

Poly grads have a whole lot more practical skills and they do cope much better at unis actually. Problem is that, though there is now a much better acceptance of poly grads into the local unis, as compared to say 10-20 years ago, the figures are still dismally few.

I think the education here is still somewhat conservative and there is still an unspoken desire for educators to discourage students to take the poly route if they want to study at the local unis. If there were no such rules, I can assure u a typical engineering poly grad would score much better in the uni than an average JC student after A levels. Then maybe they have to close down some JCs as it would not be a popular route to go to after the O levels! Which is not what they want.

If u have been accepted into JC and want to switch to a poly, they might still accept you if yr results qualify for that course and provided they still have vacancies. Naturally u will be at the last priority compared to others who choose polys as their first few choices. Risky. I think it's better you make a proper decision than rely on this method. It's unfortunate that Singapore's educational system is very unforgiving. U got to make decisions early in your life. 1 wrong move and it could affect your future study/career path. Changing subjects/interests midway is very difficult here.

Good luck!
 

Well to each his own.

I took the JC route some 17 years ago, as I could not tell which poly course and career I would like to pursue then, and there were not much choices at the poly then.

Although I barely made it into JC, I must say that i had little regrets. The A levels is at a higher level than the O levels and is mainly used as a route to the U. You still have to wear uniform, but systems is similiar to that found in the universities, with lectures and tutorials.

Personally, I think that the A level course I went through taught me to write better, see things from different angle and give me a well rounded understanding of the subjects I took and the world in general.

It would depend on your final aim. There are still many degree courses, which do not allow the poly route. Find out more to make an informed decision. Ultimately, you must not have regrets in whichever route you take.
 

blive,

Thanks for sharing... That's another perspective to view it.

Of course, if given a choice, I still prefer the American system. Even polys are too specialized. But i still think it's way better than JCs if u r doing course requiring hands on applications. But you got to be careful... if u do decide to study at the local unis.

The American system is very much more well-rounded. Over here, it's really restricted. The O's and especially A's. I think it's about time we moved away from the British system.

I'm not exactly sure about it now, but during my time, you get streamed into science/arts/commerce at a tender age of 15 (Sec 3). If I'm in science, I can no longer study Literature or Georgraphy, depending on your school. Of course unless u are in the gifted stream or SAP schools where u take 10 or 11 O level subjects which comprises 2 Humanities, 3 pure sciences. Then again, some schools dun offer Bio at all, which is so important. So the system here has essentially axed u from studying certain courses in future. At that kind of age, how do u know what u like?

Then at A levels, u get axed further. As a science student, for eg, u drop totally all Humanities subjects (with very rare exceptions) and study only limited science/math subjects. Even then, there are other interesting if not important subjects like Econs, Literature, History, etc that u have no choice over.

So by the time u get to uni, your knowledge is very limited and there is a more limited choice of subjects to study. In most US unis, u only make a decision to major in particular subjects usually much after your freshman (1st) yr. That makes sense cos only by that age do u get a feel of what u want to major in. And even if you are an engineering student, say, it's good if u have knowledge on politics, music, literature, etc. Or maybe your interests are in these areas too. You can't do that here. That's why it's not surprising most grads will spend thousands of $ more to take degrees after degrees cos they felt they didn't make the right decision earlier on. The sustem here gives me a very "elitist" (spelling?) kind of feel.
 

Even before my Os, i knew i wanted to go the Poly route even though I knew i wanted to get into a local uni. However, that didn't stop me from studying hard (by my standards) for my Os. After I got my results, I pretty much didn't have a problem getting into most JCs (don't talk about RJ, VJ, etc lar) but I still chose to go to a Poly (Ngee Ann!) to do multimedia computing because I knew that's what i wanted to do.

Anyway, long story short, I'm now in NUS doing Computing - Communications and Media (as close to multimedia as I could find). So, the moral of the story is: Make up your mind early, stick to your guns and work hard and everything should work out. :) It's still not too late to decide. Figure out what you want to do eventually first rather than look at the short term.

Just my $0.02, from someone that has tread the unfashionable path.
 

I insert JC for my first choice, and Biotechnology of Republic Polytechnic as second choice (too late to amend now), but I am definitely hoping to get Biotechnology. I will appeal through all possible alternative means, and just hope I get it.
 

it all boils down to interest & competency... of course, you know it yourself...

if you think that you are academically competent then by all means, go take your A levels. Dun go thru the long way to get a degree if you think that you are ultimately going for the degree. Get it done, get focused. (but u still have to serve the NS before that... too bad for singaporeans...)

and if you think that, you would like to get a diploma 1st, not going to get stressed out with the intense competition, and also take your time, build up your experiences then go take a degree, then go poly... it does not mean that going poly is stupid thou, its just that its easier to make a foundation in Poly then direct to JC then Uni... they missed out the fun of hands on & such, imagine going poly then uni, about 5 years graduate (3 year poly, 2 year uni, cos 1 year exemption... *depends on course) u get to go slow & steady win the race...but u earn that 1* year lesser than those who went direct to uni... (they get 2 year JC, 3 year uni...)


anyway.... i am the worse lah... me study dunno wat sh*t i also dun even remember... not meant to study anyway...
 

I am very interested in life sciences, but although my aim is probably to become a historian or lawyer someday. I was informed that say I graduate with merit from polytechnic, I will be able to switch subjects; from life sciences to political science.

Is that quite true?
 

Poly would be too specialized a path at our tender age...?
 

Cannot go into U, As can't do sh!t.

If cannot pass As, can't do no sh!t either.

Poly pass liao cannot go U can still do distance learning & at least can find work because specialised area of training/work.





6 years of Enligsh/Maths/Chinese/Science
4 years of advance Enligsh/Maths/Chinese/Science

Now another 2 years of further studying of the same things? Buay sian ah?
 

I took the American education route 20 years ago. After completed my 'O' levels, I applied for an American college. I took a pre-university program for 2 years, and was later enrolled into an university. Within 3 years, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism.

I decided to advance myself further after that. Two years later, I received my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in photography. With 7 years of my life and a US$100,000 loan, I went from 'O' level to a master degree.
 

Speaking from experience, my Sec 4 classmate had already made up his mind to go to Poly to pursue computing. However, he still joined JC to check out JC life (%$^&*), and quit after 2 weeks of school.

As a current J2 student, there are certain topics that I feel are not going to be important in my life in the future, but as major topics, I've no choice but to study them.
Consider this: You know that a particular topic is not going to be of help in your future, but yet you are forced to study it though you don't like it. As a result, you fail your exams or do not do well in it. However, you excel in other areas you are intersted in. What are you going to do if you do not qualify for the university course of your choice due to poor results?

Personally, I feel that universities should just set a minimum score that students have to achieve to qualify for the U (e.g DDE), and when it comes to choosing courses, applicants are given n entry test to decide whether they qualify for that faculty.
 

+evenstar said:
Speaking from experience, my Sec 4 classmate had already made up his mind to go to Poly to pursue computing. However, he still joined JC to check out JC life (%$^&*), and quit after 2 weeks of school.

As a current J2 student, there are certain topics that I feel are not going to be important in my life in the future, but as major topics, I've no choice but to study them.
Consider this: You know that a particular topic is not going to be of help in your future, but yet you are forced to study it though you don't like it. As a result, you fail your exams or do not do well in it. However, you excel in other areas you are intersted in. What are you going to do if you do not qualify for the university course of your choice due to poor results?

Personally, I feel that universities should just set a minimum score that students have to achieve to qualify for the U (e.g DDE), and when it comes to choosing courses, applicants are given n entry test to decide whether they qualify for that faculty.
Click to expand...


care to share what caused u to choose JC route 2 years ago?

after JC for a few weeks, I believe one can drop out by choice, and enter a polytechnic, given there are vacancies..
 

I believe I am going to drop out of JC if my mindset continues to set in this manner; I have lost some faith in 'A' levels certification, in fact, the pro-GCE education system.
 

Slivester said:
I am very interested in life sciences, but although my aim is probably to become a historian or lawyer someday. I was informed that say I graduate with merit from polytechnic, I will be able to switch subjects; from life sciences to political science.

Is that quite true?
Click to expand...

Since you mentioned that you are interested in the life sciences, why not get some info from PSB Academy? They provide Life Science degree in as little as 4 years.
 

jamestan said:
Since you mentioned that you are interested in the life sciences, why not get some info from PSB Academy? They provide Life Science degree in as little as 4 years.
Click to expand...

PSB Academy? Sounds familar, local degree?
 

Sometime family environment do come into consideration too.
My family belong to the lower income group. 6 of us staying in a 1-room flat.
Although my 'O' level result does qualified for JC, but I decided to take the Poly route to aquire a skill. This allows me to join the workforce early to ease the load.
Through work and study, I did graduate with a degree eventually. This is a long and difficult route.

If $$$ is not a problem, I would suggest go with your heart. Don't follow the crowd because it is your life and future. You must enjoy what you are studying else everyday can be a torture. Treasure the opporunity that you are given else you will regret one day.

If your aim is to be historian or lawyer, maybe the JC route would be better for you.
Take the Poly route if you are a more hand-on person.

Just my 2cents. ;)
 

after i pass my sec , i enroll straight for poly course in business admin major finance. after i grad, i work n study part time acca so now waiting for my cpa status.

if there is not financial constraint , i would have learn photography , so u really need to sit down n think it thru how u want 1 2 lead your life, once u spend some time to swim thru n its wasted , it will just take u longer to be where u 1 2 be.

especially here in singapore , wasting time is really not the option , u sure dun1 2 be like me when old stick need to work to live when others can really retire.
 

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