Which course to choose for Poly?

[lobo]

In Singapore, having Poly diploma is good enough to survive, right? Don’t really need a degree for many jobs.

[snappleapple]

lobo:

In Singapore, having Poly diploma is good enough to survive, right? Don't really need a degree for many jobs.

Yes, that's true. With a diploma, you can find a job and start working.

[TheAnswer]

lobo:

In Singapore, having Poly diploma is good enough to survive, right? Don't really need a degree for many jobs.

Many well paid jobs do require a degree. It really depends on your definition of good enough to survive. Think about what kind of life style would you want to have. There is a growing number of university graduates. Think about how to compete with them. How about the foreign talent?

[jedamum]

snappleapple:

lobo:

In Singapore, having Poly diploma is good enough to survive, right? Don't really need a degree for many jobs.

Yes, that's true. With a diploma, you can find a job and start working.

It is good to work towards a degree eventually. I do see very experienced people having to report to noob superior just because the latter has higher qualifications. Some company also don't promotewithin organisation and if you are employed as adipolma grad, you can't take degree job. .in my line previously, our academic portfolio eg dipolma or degree is one of the criteria to determine how much project value we can handle. Imagine also doing same amount of work, or more than your degree peers, but paid few hundreds lower because you are diploma holder.
Always good to upgrade. Diploma is a good start too, nevertheless .

[lobo]

Is the Poly engineering diploma very adaptable in a sense that there are always jobs available for it in various fields ? If so, which engineering diploma is the most adaptable?

[Millicent]

My child enjoys and does well in A Math, E Math, Biology, Chemistry & Combined Humanities (scores A1s & A2s) but is weak in English and Chinese (scores between B4 & C6). Has a cheerful disposition, good leadership skills and enjoys helping people. Aspire to go to a local university after poly. Can anyone please share your thoughts which poly courses in SP, Ngee Ann and Nanyang Poly are suitable for my child? Many thanks.

[meinteel]

Millicent:

My child enjoys and does well in A Math, E Math, Biology, Chemistry & Combined Humanities (scores A1s & A2s) but is weak in English and Chinese (scores between B4 & C6). Has a cheerful disposition, good leadership skills and enjoys helping people. Aspire to go to a local university after poly. Can anyone please share your thoughts which poly courses in SP, Ngee Ann and Nanyang Poly are suitable for my child? Many thanks.

Start of with asking your child his area of interests. Business/Engineering/IT/Science etc. Do take note that for diploma holders, chances of going local uni is quite slim. He needs to get about 3.8 (perfect score is 4) for business courses and 3.5 for almost all other courses.

Accountancy has much to offer and holds long term prospects though the first 3-5 years will be very tough going. There is always a demand for account graduates locally and overseas (Aust/New Zealand/UK).

Marinetime/Aerospace Management/Engineering. Marinetime has always remained strong in SG. Aerospace has been on the rise and a major aerospace hub is being constructed at Seletar now. Huge increase in demand for skilled labour in this sector is expected for the next few years.

[Millicent]

Thanks meinteel for the sharing.

[lobo]

It’s gone viral: Minister Khaw Boon Wan seems to discourage having "too many" Singaporeans getting a degree. He doesn’t want 100% of degree holders in Singapore, otherwise who are going to do the jobs which do not require a degree ? He was quoted by various forums and The New Paper as saying what is the point of having it when "you can’t eat it ?.."

Satirical, ironic or simply realistic ?

[meinteel]

Simply realistic. Not everyone is suitable for academics, so why should everyone be getting a degree?


It’s good to have more university places but the government must ensure that these universities continue to be ranked top 100 globally. Otherwise there is little point in it for anyone to be doing a degree in that university.

I believe some of you have maids with degrees and master degree - my aunt do too. I also have penpal from Malaysia with degrees and master degree, they can’t find work in Malaysia. Even if they did, they would earn much more working as a retail assistant (no qualifications needed) in Singapore than a job requiring that degree in their homeland.

Have more university places? Yes. Allow all? No. Only accept the cream of the crop - just as any decent universities would. This way, even if there are not enough jobs locally, Our children’s qualification would still be highly valued at whichever country they move to.