Advice / Opinions needed

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Why don't let the sim grads feel good about their degrees whichever is the awarding university. If they think their recognition is as good as lse just let it be. My point is if they want opinion about their chances of getting into ma or grad employment program, just encourage them to keep trying since there are others who do not like realistic feedback no matter how truthful it is!

I rather a harsh reality as compared to sugar coating advise (I agree with one of the comment here). In this era, sugar coating might not be good because if we keep encouraging the grads here (not just sim, ntu, nus, sit and smu as well), they might be delusion that they might get MA (for this case) and might missed out other opportunity in getting other good jobs.

our youth is limited, if we keep encouraging them to go for a certain path, it might do bad for them. Also we must be open to accept opinions from the others as well, because based on their experience, we will know more information about the probability of Ts getting into MA.

Certainly, private sector dont really care about where you come from, but if you are competing with those atas university (ivy league) that will be a different story.

Although some of them might be harsh, but reality is harsh. I have been through this before and I can tell you that listen to harsh comment is always better than sugar coating comment. Cause this makes me more awake in the choice that I am going for.

If you send in your CV to multiple companies and get only rejections, what does it tell you?

The market has spoken.

May I ask what relevant internships have you got? I have friends in MA programs with internships ranging from Goldman to Citi Sales. What do you bring to the table aside from academics?

Reading all the comments here I can see why people keep complaining about Sg grads don’t dare to take risk, only know how to follow orders etc. When you are young the sky is limit, who says must come from good uni then can get MAP or ask for more pay? Some of you are so defeatist and cannot think outside the box, hear ivy league only scared, hear local uni only scared, if you are good companies will hire you no matter what even if you come from sim or so call “buy” a degree. Companies only care how much money you can make for them, not what fancy degree you have. Most of the comments here are so close minded they think everyone think like civil service only care about exams. Anyone got the guts to be ambitious you all gang up and whack because you peeps cannot make it into banks yourself. No wonder TS call you guys myopic.

You must be another sim clown.

There is nothing wrong with being ambitious but not knowing your limitations or how the market will react makes you a fool.

I dare to say it ... Sim grads won't make it to reputable MAP programs. Maybe an exceptional one in a rare blue moon scenario but definitely don't hope for it. It's like saying a poly kid is going to get the president scholarship. That *still* has higher odds than an sim kid making it but no one is going to put good money on it.

Believe whatever you want. In the end, the rejection letters will be proof.

Why die die must MAP? Aiming for VP/AVP is much more doable and realistic. Even for BO, the pay isn't too bad, 5 figures is within reach.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

some of the people here are so backward, even gov is recognizing sim as a proper deg now. pte sector dont even care what is the diff from sim and nus as long as you are good. i dont understand why people here always bash sim grads, what is wrong with a sim grad asking for 4k starting pay or joining map if he has good results. what happen to meritocracy? just because someone come from local uni is auto better than sim?

This is meritocracy. If u r in SIM, u did not earn enough merit.
U wan to prove ur worth then u better be exceptional in other areas. Dont dismiss the world for using academic result as one of the judging certeria jus bcos u dont make the cut academically.

Ok, lets leave aside SIM for now.

Ppl in MA programs have done multiple internships in various non-operational roles while you are still grinding in urs.

Ppl in MA programs, most of them have already passed CFA level 1 when applying. Have you?

What have you got that is superior other than ur SIM 2nd Upper from UOM.

What is UOM anyway?

s://.smu.edu.sg/sites/default/files/smu/news_room/smu_in_the_news/2015/july/jul7/eFinancialCareers_20150706_1.pdf

Compare urself to them

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Why die die must MAP? Aiming for VP/AVP is much more doable and realistic. Even for BO, the pay isn't too bad, 5 figures is within reach.

Sure it's within reach, but the question is when? If you are a normal deg grad with average performer maybe only early to mid 40s can reach 5 figure realistically. But many of these freshies like TS are not looking at this kind of time horizon, they just want to make big money fast within a few years.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sure it's within reach, but the question is when? If you are a normal deg grad with average performer maybe only early to mid 40s can reach 5 figure realistically. But many of these freshies like TS are not looking at this kind of time horizon, they just want to make big money fast within a few years.

And that's the problem with youngsters these days. They say "sky's the limit", "you are what you limit yourself to be" and the likes, and fantasize about quick success. No doubt there will be successful stories, but most probably in the range of one in million. And can you be that one?

We are not trying to demean people from SIM, or that we are defeatist (in fearing people from Ivy Leagues). We are just setting expectations, that more often than not, we see people from Ivy Leagues getting those better jobs. Ask any HR folks and let them compare, and see who they will short-list. It's the harsh reality.

Singapore pride itself on meritocracy. Those who graduated from Ivy Leagues put in efforts to enter them, and therefore received a prestigous "brand". If for some reason or not you are unable to get that, the society won't go easy on you and let you have equal opportunities as these branded graduates would have. Unless of course you're well connected, or that you have outstanding CCAs/Internships. But if you're the average Joe from local Uni or SIM, even with outstanding academic credentials but nothing else, don't get your hopes high too up. Though you have higher chances than those with mediocre results.

In short, there is a hierarchy of graduates in the market, whether you choose to believe it or not. Afterall, it is the employers game, especially with everything now being "international". How are you to distinguish yourself from the rest, especially if you know your competitors are tough, and that you have nothing outstanding to boot? Youngsters these days really need a whack on their head to wake them up from their fairy tales.