Lost in direction..

[marsbarsz]

Hi all,

I am really lost as to where I should go now, I hope by posting here I am able to receive some advice to guide me along. Here's my story..

After graduating from poly, I found that my interests lies with finance and business so I have been trying to apply Business in the big threes (NUS, SMU, NTU) for the past 2 years but have been rejected both times. I appealed with all three but got rejected again. I regretted not studying harder if I knew how competitive it will be to get into business courses locally.

This year will be the final year before i ORD. As my grades are sub par I decided to try taking the SAT as a supporting document but unfortunately my SAT scores aren't that great either. I will be applying again this year (and appealing if rejected) do you think I may still stand a chance for the business degree?
I am also planning to take the SAT in MAY again as SMU application accepts results from the May sitting, and probably I can use the May grades for overseas universities. (But is it even worth it?)

Currently, I am thinking of some contingency plans as well, I roughly have some ideas from speaking with my friends but would like to hear more opinions here as well! Below is my thought process arranged in terms of importance.

A) Should I go overseas?
- Which country?
- Fees?
- Which university is recognised internationally and able to accept my current grades?
- Where can I go for credible information with regards to the above questions? (HWZ forums!)

B) If locally, what should be my course of action? Uni?
The only universities I heard of are
- Kaplan / Murdoch
- SIM (UOL/ RMIT / GE)
- PSB Academy
- SIT (Accountancy degree, local uni but graduating in a technology school?)

C) Should I choose an engineering degree to get into the big threes? I have a friend who advised me to try the engineering path as it is versatile, once out into the working world, I am able to get back into the business industry.

Thanks for reading such a long post! Please post as much comments here as possible, I am willing to take any advice!

Click for my scores:

Spoiler

L1R4: 16, 18 [RAW]
L1R5: 18, 20 [RAW]

Diploma in Business Management
GPA: 3.30

SAT Score: 1880

 

[agent_719]

I don't think you can cross over to engineering from business diploma unless you grad with diploma with merit. You can consider SIT accountancy programme too (SIT is also considered a local uni)

on a side note, dun study something you are not interested in just to get into the 3 local uni.

Good luck & all the best.

 

[Havok_ex]

The engineering path is pretty versatile. not to mention you can still minor and even take a 2nd major in biz if you are in engineering. IMO, with that GPA, I doubt you can get into any of the big 3 biz/acct programs. I think its close to impossible IMO. I've seen a guy get into SMU through SATs before, but his score was above 2100. You can try for both SIT and Unisim full-time courses instead. They are easier to enter and are government backed.

 

[Onelastwish]

without a diploma in engineering, you won't make it to any engineering degree course. You don't have the foundation.

I suggest you try SIT or UniSIM full time programmes.

The reason why these 2 universities are created is to cater for poly students who can't make it to the TOP 3.

I am pretty sure you can get into SIT or Unisim with your 3.30. Unisim Full time programme has a finance programme, you might wanna take a look.

 

[intime]

Hi all,

I am really lost as to where I should go now, I hope by posting here I am able to receive some advice to guide me along. Here's my story..

After graduating from poly, I found that my interests lies with finance and business so I have been trying to apply Business in the big threes (NUS, SMU, NTU) for the past 2 years but have been rejected both times. I appealed with all three but got rejected again. I regretted not studying harder if I knew how competitive it will be to get into business courses locally.

This year will be the final year before i ORD. As my grades are sub par I decided to try taking the SAT as a supporting document but unfortunately my SAT scores aren't that great either. I will be applying again this year (and appealing if rejected) do you think I may still stand a chance for the business degree?
I am also planning to take the SAT in MAY again as SMU application accepts results from the May sitting, and probably I can use the May grades for overseas universities. (But is it even worth it?)

Currently, I am thinking of some contingency plans as well, I roughly have some ideas from speaking with my friends but would like to hear more opinions here as well! Below is my thought process arranged in terms of importance.

A) Should I go overseas?
- Which country?
- Fees?
- Which university is recognised internationally and able to accept my current grades?
- Where can I go for credible information with regards to the above questions? (HWZ forums!)

B) If locally, should be my course of action? Uni?
The only universities I heard of are
- Kaplan / Murdoch
- SIM (UOL/ RMIT / GE)
- PSB Academy
- SIT (Accountancy degree)

C) Should I choose an engineering degree to get into the big threes? I have a friend who advised me to try the engineering path as it is versatile, once out into the working world, I am able to get back into the business industry.

Thanks for reading such a long post! Please post as much comments here as possible, I am willing to take any advice!

Click for my scores:

Spoiler

L1R4: 16, 18 [RAW]
L1R5: 18, 20 [RAW]

Diploma in Business Management
GPA: 3.30

SAT Score: 1880

Your SAT score in SMU eyes is really not a good news, according to them your score is not competitive. At least need 1900.
- POLYTECHNIC DIPLOMA FROM SINGAPORE | SMU Undergraduate Admissions 2014

Your chance for any of the older universities are not good at all.
You might want to consider other subjects or the newer universities, SUTD, SIT and UniSIM.
- http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/d...le-nus-sit-unisim-2015-16-intake-4916620.html
- SIT have accountancy and hospitality business. UniSIM full-time have accountancy, marketing, finance and hr. UniSIM part-time have many others.

I am not sure where you derive your interest from. Have you tried out some of the free online business courses? Have a try to get a feel of university level business subjects then decide again whether business is still your interest.
- https://www.coursera.org/
- https://www.edx.org/
- https://www.futurelearn.com/

Regarding overseas universities, try to apply for a university that is within both global ranking charts,
- World University Rankings 2014-2015 - Times Higher Education
- QS World University Rankings® 2014/15 | Top Universities
If this is not too much it will be favourable for you to also factor in business schools ranking chart.
- Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com

If you have a LinkedIn account, you may also make use of their tools to find your fitting university,
- Higher Education Home - LinkedIn

Similarly for choosing foreign university programmes in private institutions like SIMGE, Kaplan, PSB, use the global ranking charts as reference.
It does not matter if the overseas university you end up with does not fullfill all the charts, just try your best.

 

[seianko]

am very lazy to input overseas universities as the scope is so damn wide.

this is pat33 speciality.

all in all, biz is wide, which aspect of finance u are interested in?
Overseas ain't cheap, unless u consider scholarship from overseas.
assuming ur family is affordable to spend 200k for u . then u can consider australia.
in fact studies in canada n usa is alot cheaper.

 

[marsbarsz]

Thanks for all your responses guys! It seems that my grades makes it almost impossible for me to get into the Big 3 universities so I should focus more on the contingency plans. From the plans I have desribed, are there any more better alternatives?

Your SAT score in SMU eyes is really not a good news, according to them your score is not competitive. At least need 1900.
- admissions.smu.edu.sg/apply/admissions-requirements/polytechnic-diploma

Your chance for any of the older universities are not good at all.
You might want to consider other subjects or the newer universities, SUTD, SIT and UniSIM.
- forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/degree-programs-courses-70/sutd-yale-nus-sit-unisim-2015-16-intake-4916620.html
- SIT have accountancy and hospitality business. UniSIM full-time have accountancy, marketing, finance and hr. UniSIM part-time have many others.

I am not sure where you derive your interest from. Have you tried out some of the free online business courses? Have a try to get a feel of university level business subjects then decide again whether business is still your interest.
- coursera.org
- edx.org
- futurelearn.com

Regarding overseas universities, try to apply for a university that is within both global ranking charts,
- timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking
- topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=
If this is not too much it will be favourable for you to also factor in business schools ranking chart.
- rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/rankings

If you have a LinkedIn account, you may also make use of their tools to find your fitting university,

Similarly for choosing foreign university programmes in private institutions like SIMGE, Kaplan, PSB, use the global ranking charts as reference.
It does not matter if the overseas university you end up with does not fullfill all the charts, just try your best.

Yes I agree. Considering my SAT scores, do you think I should sit for the May SAT and use it to apply in SMU again?

But wouldn't graduating with a degree in accountancy in a technology university be weird? Considering my grades, would overseas universities be a much viable option instead? Because I don't see SIT nor SIM in the top 200 world rankings you have listed for me. Thanks in advance!

 

[seianko]

ur input is pretty spot -on i have nth to add except that

Accounting is not for everyone. put it this way, u wanna be 2.5k salaryman or u wanna be 8k salary man based on today's monthly remuneration package for accountants.

Accounting also have alot of different fix paths.

namely - TAX, financial project costing, day to day financial accountant, Auditor, compliances to forensics , management accounting.

 

[seianko]

Thanks for all your responses guys! It seems that my grades makes it almost impossible for me to get into the Big 3 universities so I should focus more on the contingency plans. From the plans I have desribed, are there any more better alternatives?



Yes I agree. Considering my SAT scores, do you think I should sit for the May SAT and use it to apply in SMU again?

But wouldn't graduating with a degree in accountancy in a technology university be weird? Considering my grades, would overseas universities be a much viable option instead? Because I don't see SIT nor SIM in the top 200 world rankings you have listed for me. Thanks in advance!

RMIT full name is

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University

so is it weird?? am not trolling here in case u think i am.

if u have 200k to burn, then by all means go overseas. if u go overseas, u can choose anything, not just accountancy. Bach of Accountancy anywhere, ur classmates are 90% tiongeefied

Australia u can ask me
USA region - patryn33
UK - patryn33

 

[intime]

Thanks for all your responses guys! It seems that my grades makes it almost impossible for me to get into the Big 3 universities so I should focus more on the contingency plans. From the plans I have desribed, are there any more better alternatives?

Yes I agree. Considering my SAT scores, do you think I should sit for the May SAT and use it to apply in SMU again?

But wouldn't graduating with a degree in accountancy in a technology university be weird? Considering my grades, would overseas universities be a much viable option instead? Because I don't see SIT nor SIM in the top 200 world rankings you have listed for me. Thanks in advance!

Do sit for SAT again.
Take note that it is likely you will receive a rejection letter before you get to submit your SAT scores again, after that you may need to appeal.

Where do you intend to practice accountancy? Singapore?
If Singapore, then it doesn't matter what SIT name is, at the end of the day you still need to be accredited by SQP.
With a singapore-branded accountancy degree, you will be able to gain direct entry to SQP professional programme. Overseas degree will be on case by case basis.

 

[marsbarsz]

RMIT full name is

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University

so is it weird?? am not trolling here in case u think i am.

if u have 200k to burn, then by all means go overseas. if u go overseas, u can choose anything, not just accountancy. Bach of Accountancy anywhere, ur classmates are 90% tiongeefied

Australia u can ask me
USA region - patryn33
UK - patryn33

Haha that's true. But my friends told me RMIT is lower ranked as compared to UOL (in SIM).

Okay let's say I have 200k to burn, with my scores, which Australia universities are recommended for me? Do you use the university ranking that intime posted above to determine the recommendations?

And I agree accountancy is not for everyone, but SIT-Accountancy is the closest degree I can come to that fits the criteria of being a business-related module AND "singapore-branded" as what intime had said.

Do sit for SAT again.
Take note that it is likely you will receive a rejection letter before you get to submit your SAT scores again, after that you may need to appeal.

Where do you intend to practice accountancy? Singapore?
If Singapore, then it doesn't matter what SIT name is, at the end of the day you still need to be accredited by SQP.
With a singapore-branded accountancy degree, you will be able to gain direct entry to SQP professional programme. Overseas degree will be on case by case basis.

Actually if im taking the IT accountancy, I'm thinking of using the accountancy module to enter the finance industry instead. I'm not thinking of going to the accountancy pathway, but more towards using the degree to better understand how financials work in a company I might also use it to take the ACCA as well.

 

[intime]

Haha that's true. But my friends told me RMIT is lower ranked as compared to UOL (in SIM).

Okay let's say I have 200k to burn, with my scores, which Australia universities are recommended for me? Do you use the university ranking that intime posted above to determine the recommendations?

And I agree accountancy is not for everyone, but SIT-Accountancy is the closest degree I can come to that fits the criteria of being a business-related module AND "singapore-branded" as what intime had said.

Actually if im taking the IT accountancy, I'm thinking of using the accountancy module to enter the finance industry instead. I'm not thinking of going to the accountancy pathway, but more towards using the degree to better understand how financials work in a company I might also use it to take the ACCA as well.

I think RMIT is ranked 304 on QS, but not on THE. RMIT is always on and off the THE chart.
UOL international programme is not ranked for a number of reasons, only UOL's various colleges are ranked. So in terms of reputation, direct students of the ranked colleges have the advantage, example LSE, Queen Mary, KCL, UCL etc.

For Australian universities, best to find a university that is within both ranking charts THE and QS to ensure that you will not be at a disadvantage position when your competition becomes strong.
- If possible, get an Australian university that is within Group of Eight (Go8) and globally ranked on THE/QS. Go8's reputation and their strong publicity will definitely help get your degree recognisable at face value.

You may also consider UniSIM Full-time Finance. UniSIM have a diverse industry connection to establish their finance programme.
- SIM University
- UniSIM Finance Industry Connection
You can also refer to their already established part-time programme's career prospects,
- BSc Finance

Since you are aiming for ACCA, you can also make use of their exemption tool as one of your deciding factor on which university to enroll,
- https://portal.accaglobal.com/accrw...ations/enquiry/main/EnqInstitutionsTable.jspx
- Find out how many exemptions you will get for respective university programmes.

 

[Jun.Hao19]

Just a note that for accredited universities to SQP, only NUS/NTU/SMU/UNISIM are accredited.

 

[seianko]

Never understood the need for Acca when u hv a degree and if u r gg for chartered such as CPA n ca.

 

[marsbarsz]

Just a note that for accredited universities to SQP, only NUS/NTU/SMU/UNISIM are accredited.

Oh so are you saying a degree in SIT accounting is harder to get into the SQP or impossible?

Never understood the need for Acca when u hv a degree and if u r gg for chartered such as CPA n ca.

Sorry I'm not really sure what's the difference between ACCA and chartered (CPA and CA). Could you elaborate?

 

[nady2015]

But wouldn't graduating with a degree in accountancy in a technology university be weird?

Anyone thinks going NTU to study accounting is weird?

 

[agent_719]

Anyone thinks going NTU to study accounting is weird?

Hahaha I wanted to reply the same too. In fact so many people are dying to get into nanyang technological university accountancy programme.

 

[marsbarsz]

Anyone thinks going NTU to study accounting is weird?

Hahaha I wanted to reply the same too. In fact so many people are dying to get into nanyang technological university accountancy programme.

Haha my bad.. Apart from the name, maybe you guys could enlighten me on what are the factors I could look out for in differentiating SIT accountancy degree than compared to NTU or the ones offered in other private unis (UOL, etc)?

 

[patryn33]

Anyone thinks going NTU to study accounting is weird?

Anyone is is is is you?

 

[Hyruga]

Anyone thinks going NTU to study accounting is weird?

NTU accountancy easy to pass....You can get C, C+, D but you still pass and get by until you get your degree.

If you do accountancy course outside, you die die have to pass every single module and the passing mark is like B.