In regard to the recent hoo ha of the seemingly overly protective father of this tragic little girl who could not get a place in local university even though she had performed relatively ok (in her father's words), I would say, further education does not ends at local universities. In any case, the minimum bar for local harvards is 3 A level passes. Having A, B and E effectively meant that she has only 2 A level passes. It wasn't surprising if she was rejected by all 3, and more so if the courses she applied for were competitive ones.
There are so many other options. Get into SIM, work for a few years, retake your A levels (so what if the syllabus has changed? That should not stop anybody), apply again, save up for overseas etc. There are a thousand and one routes to a degree.
Despise SIM/MDIS/Other private education providers? Come on, this perception is so outdated. I am saying it not because it's politically correct to say so, but I have seen the course materials from these schools. It's not exactly easy stuff. It's not as if NTU/NUS/SMU is all glamorous and elitist. But I do agree that the local harvards do provide more opportunities and a more 'holistic' education (the term 'holistic' is over-used, seriously.....).
Unless you are gunning for some top posts or further education in some lvy leagues or scholarship, a distance learning degree (this term itself serve a discriminatory purpose) will do just fine. Many companies don't really differentiate, especially so for junior positions. Take it from someone who had worked in the industry. When I left my last job, I have someone who took a private diploma (from a private institution, not the local 5 polys) taking over my job.
Truth is, degrees will only show you the doors to the interviews. Whether or not you get the job is another matter altogether. Despite the nice pictures painted by all 3 universities on how well their graduates have been doing, truth is, only those with extraordinary academic/non-academic records and those with strings to pull around are awarded those few gems that propels them into the top 20% earners aka semi-elitist group of the society. The other 60-70% are left out in the cold scraping on the left-overs.
Now, I am staunch advocate of the conspiracy theory where the fittest survive with the assumption that everyone is selfish, which would equates to man in power are always corrupted, no matter how righteous they would want you to believe. If you can't beat them, join'em!
There are so many other options. Get into SIM, work for a few years, retake your A levels (so what if the syllabus has changed? That should not stop anybody), apply again, save up for overseas etc. There are a thousand and one routes to a degree.
Despise SIM/MDIS/Other private education providers? Come on, this perception is so outdated. I am saying it not because it's politically correct to say so, but I have seen the course materials from these schools. It's not exactly easy stuff. It's not as if NTU/NUS/SMU is all glamorous and elitist. But I do agree that the local harvards do provide more opportunities and a more 'holistic' education (the term 'holistic' is over-used, seriously.....).
Unless you are gunning for some top posts or further education in some lvy leagues or scholarship, a distance learning degree (this term itself serve a discriminatory purpose) will do just fine. Many companies don't really differentiate, especially so for junior positions. Take it from someone who had worked in the industry. When I left my last job, I have someone who took a private diploma (from a private institution, not the local 5 polys) taking over my job.
Truth is, degrees will only show you the doors to the interviews. Whether or not you get the job is another matter altogether. Despite the nice pictures painted by all 3 universities on how well their graduates have been doing, truth is, only those with extraordinary academic/non-academic records and those with strings to pull around are awarded those few gems that propels them into the top 20% earners aka semi-elitist group of the society. The other 60-70% are left out in the cold scraping on the left-overs.
Now, I am staunch advocate of the conspiracy theory where the fittest survive with the assumption that everyone is selfish, which would equates to man in power are always corrupted, no matter how righteous they would want you to believe. If you can't beat them, join'em!
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