Cornell vs Cambridge vs SMU

Originally Posted by Unregistered

feels good to inflate that number a little bit to make you feel important eh? don't worry, i've been there, done that. my guess is you are probably offered 75k base with 10k sign on and 5k relocation (if you are lucky). And guaranteed bonus for generalist analyst? who are you kidding? Also, 6-12months because you work hard? kiddo, it is not how hard you work, it is how much rain you bring in, and go read frank-dodd.

I don't care what you believe. The guaranteed bonus wasn't a guaranteed bonus per se. It was an indicative amount of "minimum bonus" and wasn't very high. That's why most of us expect more after talking to our seniors. You are a rude ass.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Also, 6-12months because you work hard? kiddo, it is not how hard you work, it is how much rain you bring in, and go read frank-dodd.

IF you knew anything about IB you'd know that analysts rarely see clients, much less bring in rain. LOL. They are just powerpoint and excel grunts for gods sake

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In fact, some of my friends from the States have never heard about NUS before, much less NTU and the lesser known SMU.

In fact, many non-Singaporeans have not even heard of Singapore.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

All things equal, a brand name top university definitely helps 100%, so do good looks.

Life's unfair.

Haha this is true. The thing is when a top-potential individual, a top university and good looks are combined, you get something even more powerful.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Would you be able to elaborate more on the job you've landed and how it is so far? For someone who has similar educational background as you (engg, science grad from top US/UK uni), who has just completed the bond, would the companies like yours view them any less than a fresh grad? =( What are some of the minuses for these group of people?

Thanks and regards.

The detriment of taking up a long bond to pay for your studies basically hinges on how applicable your job experience is to your new employer, not on how much or how little experience you have. After I managed to secure my first internship after NS and before university, I realized that applicable job experience is crucial to your future employment success. This experience will give you a powerful edge over other applicants.

I suggest that you take advantage of your post while bonded, and use the job to network with individuals that you may not have the opportunity to meet otherwise.

Originally Posted by ipodderz

Thanks everyone who has given advice. It looks like i'm leaning towards cambridge then. I have applied for cambridge trusts scholarships and still waiting. So we will see what happens.

Cool. I'm going to cambridge in 2011 too. I'm reading economics. Cya there.


Food for thought:

Having done my stint in a private fund, I have quickly appreciated the importance of work experience and entrepreneurship: a spirit found in many places (like the US) but uncommon in Singapore. Yes, Singaporeans do not boasts MNCs and, considering the tiny market here, I do not see us supporting the growth of a large one anytime soon. However, stable job opportunities are abound here. You won't be buffett because you never took the risk, but you will live comfortably.

So where do degrees come into play? If you are a brilliant business man and have an idea that will revolutionize the world, then forget your degree and take the risk now. People are generally conservative; they only pursue a degree because they are not confident of achieving success themselves without it. It is risk-adverse behavior.

Since you have expectations to meet (your own, your parents), you have chosen to pursue a degree. This provides you with some safety net in case you fail. Furthermore, it gives you new perspectives, connections, ideas and experiences. Hence, go for the overseas degree if you can afford it. Personally, I felt that by staying local, I will have little change of developing new perspectives, for I continue to be sheltered by my parents and my citizenship. Hence, I chose to go to cambridge instead of NUS (I had NUS law & business + a bond-free scholarship).

All in all, remember that a degree is just a means to an end (which is making a lot of money). Thus, be it in SMU/Cambridge/Cornell, you must keep the end in mind, and work (network/ start a business whatever) towards your goal, rather then just study for the sake of the degree. Leverage on your school network to get better job information and opportunities. Otherwise, you would have wasted your time and money.

Hope this helps !

[financepil]

Dude no doubt go for cambridge or cornell !!!
Reputation counts & you might land up with a high paying job in Singapore

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With all due respect, the unis I'd consider to be on par with oxbridge are HYPWS and maybe LSE. Cornell is out of the question.
.

... LSE is definitely NOT on par with Oxbridge, or even Cornell, for that matter. It has practically been on a downhill slide since a few years ago... almost no big scholarships want their students to go LSE.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

... LSE is definitely NOT on par with Oxbridge, or even Cornell, for that matter. It has practically been on a downhill slide since a few years ago... almost no big scholarships want their students to go LSE.

at least LSE is where money talks, ******** walks which is much better SMU where money talks and ******** stays

Originally Posted by SFL

at least LSE is where money talks, ******** walks which is much better SMU where money talks and ******** stays

LMAO haha nice one...

Anyway with regards to scholarships to LSE, I am guessing our govt did not pick up the memo? After all, in the past few years many PSC scholars and even President scholars went to LSE.

[undiscern]

Cornell vs Cambridge vs SMU = Gold vs Gold vs Sand

Obvious enough?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

LMAO haha nice one...

Anyway with regards to scholarships to LSE, I am guessing our govt did not pick up the memo? After all, in the past few years many PSC scholars and even President scholars went to LSE.

Some of the so called 'PSC scholars' I have met are actually un-impressive in person. They are horribly boring to talk to (i.e. every conversation starts with studies/library/what do you study/grades/must get first class/singapore/pap). The other so called 'rejects' who cannot even get into local NUS/NTU and have no choice but to go to UK and eventually end up at top tier schools tend to be much rounded individuals.

Originally Posted by SFL

Some of the so called 'PSC scholars' I have met are actually un-impressive in person. They are horribly boring to talk to (i.e. every conversation starts with studies/library/what do you study/grades/must get first class/singapore/pap). The other so called 'rejects' who cannot even get into local NUS/NTU and have no choice but to go to UK and eventually end up at top tier schools tend to be much rounded individuals.

I see interesting observation