Which degree is the best return on investment

an ivy league or equivalent degree

Up to a few years ago bulge bracket IB's in Singapore did not even take in local grads... but since the government started a move to 'localise' the workforce because of complaints from the masses of the hoi-polloi they are now required to hire local grads into their IB teams

So you might have a chance to interview for an investment banking job... if you are doing a double degree with close to perfect GPA and multiple finance internships + case study wins.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

So you might have a chance to interview for an investment banking job... if you are doing a double degree with close to perfect GPA and multiple finance internships + case study wins.

I am pretty sure you're not working in IB!

I am in the industry and have many friends inside. Here is my two cents. Forget all the nonsense about the impossibility of getting in. It is really not that difficult to get in. Of all my friends who REALLY wanted the job, 90% got it.

And these are regular people with just Biz ad second upper honors finance graduates. Really nothing special. I can even list names if we want to get there but take it from someone who is actually in the industry... it's not that difficult.

The cutoff is second upper but from there, the hardest part is breaking and getting your first real finance related internship. Don't dream about making the cut for Goldman Sachs IBD internship as a 1st/2nd year. Instead, target a decently attractive firm (does not not have to BB), get in and learn the trade and manage the hours. From there, it's all about networking and more networking. I interned at Lazard and then proceeded to intern at a BB the next year.

I won't say it's ridiculously easy but very possible if you want it hard enough. Don't listen to the craptalkers here about how you need 20As or multiple case competitions nonsense. Actually, a pretty face is more important

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am pretty sure you're not working in IB!

I am in the industry and have many friends inside. Here is my two cents. Forget all the nonsense about the impossibility of getting in. It is really not that difficult to get in. Of all my friends who REALLY wanted the job, 90% got it.

And these are regular people with just Biz ad second upper honors finance graduates. Really nothing special. I can even list names if we want to get there but take it from someone who is actually in the industry... it's not that difficult.

The cutoff is second upper but from there, the hardest part is breaking and getting your first real finance related internship. Don't dream about making the cut for Goldman Sachs IBD internship as a 1st/2nd year. Instead, target a decently attractive firm (does not not have to BB), get in and learn the trade and manage the hours. From there, it's all about networking and more networking. I interned at Lazard and then proceeded to intern at a BB the next year.

I won't say it's ridiculously easy but very possible if you want it hard enough. Don't listen to the craptalkers here about how you need 20As or multiple case competitions nonsense. Actually, a pretty face is more important

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. May I know how many years of experience do you have now and what is your remuneration package?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am pretty sure you're not working in IB!

I am in the industry and have many friends inside. Here is my two cents. Forget all the nonsense about the impossibility of getting in. It is really not that difficult to get in. Of all my friends who REALLY wanted the job, 90% got it.

And these are regular people with just Biz ad second upper honors finance graduates. Really nothing special. I can even list names if we want to get there but take it from someone who is actually in the industry... it's not that difficult.

The cutoff is second upper but from there, the hardest part is breaking and getting your first real finance related internship. Don't dream about making the cut for Goldman Sachs IBD internship as a 1st/2nd year. Instead, target a decently attractive firm (does not not have to BB), get in and learn the trade and manage the hours. From there, it's all about networking and more networking. I interned at Lazard and then proceeded to intern at a BB the next year.

I won't say it's ridiculously easy but very possible if you want it hard enough. Don't listen to the craptalkers here about how you need 20As or multiple case competitions nonsense. Actually, a pretty face is more important

Good luck!

I'm in BB IBD in Singapore and I think I know who you are from the way you write...

What I don't understand is why people make it sound like breaking into IB is that difficult?

Actually, it is far harder getting an offer from MBB than a BB offer. I suspect that many of the commenters are not in the industry.

For the record, having an ivy league degree doesn't necessarily bolster your chances of a return offer. My nus friend beat out two wharton / LSE kids to get the return offer.

My personal experiences working with ivy league / top uk schools also confirm the same thing: if you're good enough to be selected, you're good enough to be there. The truth is that a lot of the kids who made it to ivies or top uk schools were only able to do so because of papa mama scholarship.

Aside from HYPSM, the top students at local schools are on par. I even have friends who got into Tier 2 ivies like Brown but turned them down due to cost. Not being sour grapes here because I fundamentally do agree that US/Uk schools provide a better experience/platform but you don't have to beat yourself down if you're from a local uni and think that you have NO shot at a BB IBD. Lol.

Btw, just to answer the OP's question since I think that has been neglected, there is no degree that offers a better ROI than Finance.

My rationale being that you don't have to study as hard as your medicine/law/dentistry/engineering folks and yet have the (potential) and very real possibility of getting a FO job or an MAP.

Your starting pay at the 80th percentile is roughly 5k as a fresh graduate. Easily. Top 20% of cohort is achievable.

Medicine is insanely hard and you will burn out unless you're dedicated and love the job. Law has now become lawl. You're paid peanuts, literally chump change from the fees of any M&A deal and you still work like a dog. I suspect mortgage specialists earn more. Accountancy i.e. big 4 is the most overhyped crap ever. Never do big 4 if you wanna earn big bucks, never. Engineering might actually be ok if you love it. The starting salaries of some of my friends at places like Grab or other niche software places is 5-6k. But that's software related... so I wager that's ok. Just make sure to stay steer of the funny, funny mechanical/bioscience blah blah nonsense.

That's about it for all.

Originally Posted by swagdaddypimpin

I am planning to apply for a local U next year. Due to personal reasons, I will be paying for my own education either through a study loan or hopefully picking up a scholarship.

I have excellent results and can get a place in almost any degree course. Barring subject interest as I have no particular course preference, what degree will offer me the best ROI upon graduation and in the long-term. Money is a priority to me and I want to provide my family with a good life in the future.

From my knowledge, I've heard high finance (IB, trading) pays the most but the hours are one of the worst. The law market isn't doing very well and compsci grads are being replaced with foreign grads. Accountancy and engineering are pretty stable but the starting pay is relatively low. My parents have also advised me against going into arts although I wouldn't mind doing it provided it pays well.

Assuming I wish to get a job in investment banking, will a finance degree (biz) from a local U suffice? I have also heard stories of many finance grads going into property/insurance due to oversupply. The job market seems pretty depressing and I really hope to secure a good job in the future.

Psc oms, ideally qualify for PS too.
For Singapore context, it offers you the best chance of becoming govt linked organisation ceo. Which actually have very decent renumeration , at least 1 mil per year. Once becoming ceo, your performance can be pretty average, but pay is still good. Hence high roi.

The scholars farmer side is still true.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am pretty sure you're not working in IB!

I am in the industry and have many friends inside. Here is my two cents. Forget all the nonsense about the impossibility of getting in. It is really not that difficult to get in. Of all my friends who REALLY wanted the job, 90% got it.

And these are regular people with just Biz ad second upper honors finance graduates. Really nothing special. I can even list names if we want to get there but take it from someone who is actually in the industry... it's not that difficult.

The cutoff is second upper but from there, the hardest part is breaking and getting your first real finance related internship. Don't dream about making the cut for Goldman Sachs IBD internship as a 1st/2nd year. Instead, target a decently attractive firm (does not not have to BB), get in and learn the trade and manage the hours. From there, it's all about networking and more networking. I interned at Lazard and then proceeded to intern at a BB the next year.

I won't say it's ridiculously easy but very possible if you want it hard enough. Don't listen to the craptalkers here about how you need 20As or multiple case competitions nonsense. Actually, a pretty face is more important

Good luck!

Good answer!

Degree will open the door to any role you wish to venture into. A good starting base pay will help in the long run. At the end of the day, who you know will trump what you know.