<![CDATA[Which course to choose for Poly?]]>Is infocomm security management really that difficult? I went to SP’s open house and this course has peeked my curiosity and seemed quite interesting to me. However, as my brother was from IT in SP before me, he had talked about his experience and said that this course is actually quite difficult. He also said that it is quite difficult to enter university through this course and thus asked me to choose another course. As i was quite interested in it, i wanted to put it as my first choice, however, my mother was convinced by my brother and had told me to join Computer Engineering. So i am wondering which is a safer and easier course to join?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/49302/which-course-to-choose-for-polyRSS for NodeMon, 04 May 2026 09:57:37 GMTFri, 11 Jan 2013 14:12:43 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 07:52:11 GMT]]>Seemed that even you have a degree, it does not guarantee you a well paid job… Hmm…


Here is my personal comment.

The truth is qualification is partially important. More importantly is that your experience on the field. As working adult like me, I have Diploma, Adv Diploma (Polytechnic) and Degree (Overseas).

Even I went to interview for a few times, employers are only interested to know how well your knowledge/ability in your own field and what you can contribute to your future companies.

For example, if you are in the sales profession. The first question employer will ask is your networking. Academic qualification will be the next priority. I remember one employer told me that they did not really consider whether I have a degree or not as long as I can perform.

However, of course, for specialize job like accountant and etc, a degree is encouraged to allow you to move up the corporate ladder.

Therefore I believe it is all depended on individual’s goal.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1039525https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1039525Tue, 16 Jul 2013 07:52:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Fri, 17 May 2013 17:32:55 GMT]]>I agree that the Polytechnic Diploma is very well received by employers in Singapore.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1005586https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1005586Fri, 17 May 2013 17:32:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Wed, 08 May 2013 05:48:35 GMT]]>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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/999648https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/999648Wed, 08 May 2013 05:48:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Wed, 08 May 2013 05:34:53 GMT]]>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 ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/999638https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/999638Wed, 08 May 2013 05:34:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sun, 05 May 2013 06:48:14 GMT]]>Thanks meinteel for the sharing.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/998115https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/998115Sun, 05 May 2013 06:48:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sat, 04 May 2013 17:08:01 GMT]]>

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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/998002https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/998002Sat, 04 May 2013 17:08:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Thu, 02 May 2013 01:38:03 GMT]]>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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/996683https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/996683Thu, 02 May 2013 01:38:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:36:07 GMT]]>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?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/978453https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/978453Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:36:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 13:50:36 GMT]]>

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 .

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/978007https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/978007Sun, 31 Mar 2013 13:50:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:06:46 GMT]]>

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?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977875https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977875Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:06:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:32:00 GMT]]>

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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977675https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977675Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:32:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:47:24 GMT]]>In Singapore, having Poly diploma is good enough to survive, right? Don’t really need a degree for many jobs.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977368https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977368Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:47:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:02:34 GMT]]>Choose something that you will really like and where your interests lies in.


Do not be like me, I went from molecular biotechnology to nursing!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977258https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/977258Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:02:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:48:42 GMT]]>

worried parents:
Anyone can advise on this :


Applied food science & nutrition in Temasek Poly and Food science & nutrition in Nanyang Poly, what is the main different and which is better ?

Thks.

Hello there. Since both of them are relatively similar courses, choose the one that is nearer to your house. Precious time spent on travelling can be used to sleep for a few minutes more/study.
I live in the East and actually travels to YCK everyday and I find it quite tiring because I have to wake up as early as 6am for 8am lessons. It's really tiring in the long run because you wake up early and reach home late. By the time I've reached home, i will be too tired to do my homework!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/967553https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/967553Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:48:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:00:56 GMT]]>

worried parents:
Applied food science & nutrition in Temasek Poly and Food science & nutrition in Nanyang Poly, what is the main different and which is better ?.

Just choose the school nearer to home. Doesn't make sense wasting time travelling. The difference between the two courses is insignificant.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/937078https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/937078Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:00:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:31:26 GMT]]>Anyone can advise on this :


Applied food science & nutrition in Temasek Poly and Food science & nutrition in Nanyang Poly, what is the main different and which is better ?

Thks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/936663https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/936663Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:31:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:27:26 GMT]]>personally I’ll recommend you to do a general IT diploma and specialise later (in uni or take a professional certifications). It’ll leave you with more career options.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/936024https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/936024Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:27:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which course to choose for Poly? on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:56:18 GMT]]>Different people think different. You should find out why he think that the course is difficult.


For example, certain courses are very mathematical/qualitative based so a good number of students don’t do well. However, that could be an advantage for another group of students.

As for university courses, it is practically very difficult if you are considering NUS/NTU/SMU. SIT is a different story since it focuses mainly on poly graduates and its new (nowhere in the top 100 world uni yet). Engineering seems easier to get into uni mainly because the engineering faculty is much bigger than that of IT and any other faculty (e.g. business/law/arts etc) and engineering is much less a popular choice as compared to the other courses as well. Therefore, the "cut-off" for engineering is also much lower. This itself has little to do with the capability of the students mastering the contents of the course in poly.

Students often ask if they should follow their strengths, interest or "something easy". I would advise them to do something you are good in, followed by interest before even considering anything that others tell you is "easy" or "lucrative".

Many a times what people say may not be accurate/true. It could be based on hearsay or misunderstanding. It could also be due to difference in learning/understanding the subject matter.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/935973https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/935973Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:56:18 GMT