Work+PT degree or full time study? Advice plz

[yeye123123]

Greetings guys,

I am currently 24 yrs old, currently serving NS and by the time I ORD, I'm @ 25.

I have a place in NTU Computer Science which will probably takes me 3.5 years to complete and by then I am 29.

I have two choices in my mind and i hope to get some advice from you guys

1) Start work immediately after I ORD and take part-time degree along the way as well as gain some experience.

• Would be very tough and stressful as required to manage time well between work, study and family.

2) Enroll in NTU full-time study

• Which I am not very confident of as I know myself, I'm an average performer who made it to NTU through sheer hard-work. Probably might be able to achieve a third class or MAYBE 2nd lower. A waste of time if I only managed to achieve a pass?

• Another concern would be my age. Looking for a job @ 29 yrs old with nil working experience. Would my age put me at a very disadvantage position? This is my biggest worry.

I appreciate all sincere advice as I have less than a month to make a decision.

 

[intime]

Greetings guys,

I am currently 24 yrs old, currently serving NS and by the time I ORD, I'm @ 25.

I have a place in NTU Computer Science which will probably takes me 3.5 years to complete and by then I am 29.

I have two choices in my mind and i hope to get some advice from you guys

1) Start work immediately after I ORD and take part-time degree along the way as well as gain some experience.

• Would be very tough and stressful as required to manage time well between work, study and family.

2) Enroll in NTU full-time study

• Which I am not very confident of as I know myself, I'm an average performer who made it to NTU through sheer hard-work. Probably might be able to achieve a third class or MAYBE 2nd lower. A waste of time if I only managed to achieve a pass?

• Another concern would be my age. Looking for a job @ 29 yrs old with nil working experience. Would my age put me at a very disadvantage position? This is my biggest worry.

I appreciate all sincere advice as I have less than a month to make a decision.

You worry too much about your age.
University is a different place, you will definitely find people who are in the same circumstances and ages as you.
One important question you need to honestly ask yourself is, are you still interested in computer science?

If you are no longer interested in computer science, then I suggest you apply for other courses this upcoming application period.
NTU/NUS/SMU 2015-2016 Intake
SUTD/Yale-NUS/SIT/UniSIM 2015-16 Intake

Else, I suggest you go with Full-Time NTU Computer Science.
And strive to score at least 2nd Upper Class.
How to survive NTU,
- Find your own clique / study group, it will help you in your studies.
- Don't get too engross with co-curricular activities, unless it is computer science related.
- Do not miss classes.
- Book appointment with your professors regularly to clarify questions. (Even if you don't have any questions, do so & make up some questions, good to have frequent contact to make them recognise you.)
- BE VERY CAUTIOUS, when you start to lose connection with your clique or start to miss classes.

If you are still worrying about your age and lack of experience,
- Within the first few weeks when you start school, look for your NTU's career services counsellor.
- Make use of the career services' connections and career advices to prepare for potential internships during summer vacation.
- Early preparation is crucial.
- I am sure you will have at least 3 internship experiences after you graduate.
Career Services
Career & Attachment Office

While you are in NS, you may wish to take a look at free computer science related online courses from Coursera, Edx or FutureLearn to spend your time and do some light preparation.
Coursera
Edx
FutureLearn

 

[yukari_san3]

i'll cut to the chase:

1) do Full time

No decent employee will want to hire some half **** student who has tutorials and other commitments

2) Do internship at well-known firms ONLY

3) Nobody looks at age. unless you're applying to some shitty firms like SMEs.

is that where u want to go?

 

[lolita_5]

just study full-time, nobody cares about age if u are really capable

 

[HurrDurr]

Parents rich, study full time. Parents peasant, work to help family la.

One more thing, you want to take money from them until how old?

 

[kokjj87]

If got diploma.. do part time lor..
when you graduate plus the working experince you have.. sure is well ahead of your peer one..

 

[culture_counter]

IT degree doesn't really have much value. Whatever you have learnt would become obsolete very fast...

 

[yeye123123]

Thank you so much for everyone's advice especially intime for providing such informative post. It really helps. And after consulting with lots of people, I roughly know where should I advance to now.

Thank you. Wishing everyone a happy new year and a good year ahead. cheers

 

[kokjj87]

whats your decision?

 

[anoynomous1875]

You worry too much about your age.
University is a different place, you will definitely find people who are in the same circumstances and ages as you.
One important question you need to honestly ask yourself is, are you still interested in computer science?

If you are no longer interested in computer science, then I suggest you apply for other courses this upcoming application period.
NTU/NUS/SMU 2015-2016 Intake
SUTD/Yale-NUS/SIT/UniSIM 2015-16 Intake

Else, I suggest you go with Full-Time NTU Computer Science.
And strive to score at least 2nd Upper Class.
How to survive NTU,
- Find your own clique / study group, it will help you in your studies.
- Don't get too engross with co-curricular activities, unless it is computer science related.
- Do not miss classes.
- Book appointment with your professors regularly to clarify questions. (Even if you don't have any questions, do so & make up some questions, good to have frequent contact to make them recognise you.)
- BE VERY CAUTIOUS, when you start to lose connection with your clique or start to miss classes.

If you are still worrying about your age and lack of experience,
- Within the first few weeks when you start school, look for your NTU's career services counsellor.
- Make use of the career services' connections and career advices to prepare for potential internships during summer vacation.
- Early preparation is crucial.
- I am sure you will have at least 3 internship experiences after you graduate.
Career Services
Career & Attachment Office

While you are in NS, you may wish to take a look at free computer science related online courses from Coursera, Edx or FutureLearn to spend your time and do some light preparation.
Coursera
Edx
FutureLearn

Just to add on, is cash and finance an issue for you? I know of students whom deliberately studied part-time because they have to bring home a salary every month - do take note of your decisions and your required expenses and financial situation at home as well when making the decision.