I'm not as depressed/bitter as I sound, really. :O

[xploded_tb]

From the last post, this particular one is meant to be made public because I don't care what other fellow countrymen are going to say, but this is how I feel. *shifty eyes*

Seriously, just WHAT do you have to do to get into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences?! I hate to think this, but I have a feeling they lump all students together, and

Comments

[anonymous]

I have to agree with you, it feels like Singapore only wants people who are good in science and mathematics. And the only language that they really care about is Englich. But this is my personal opinion so i mean no offense.

[xploded_tb]

:'D Thanks, I appreciate your input!

I would say they place extra emphasis on English because without this common platform, it would be difficult to communicate with people who speak a different tongue, so more emphasis on English is understandable.

However, in terms of other languages, it's much of a chore to actually try to find ways to excel in it. It seems difficult to do what you want to in an environment like this.

[crissema]

What i find even sadder is the fact that a degree is worth more than the actual knowledge you have :(
But a degree really is important in order to get a decent job and that's the sad truth. In my country language studies aren't really valued, so I got my degree and I'll probably take the JLPT in the future.

It's so weird that you have to compete with people from different subject areas...That's really unfair!

[xploded_tb]

a degree is worth more than the actual knowledge you have

omg so much this. So much truth in this statement. People are so superficial in judging other people based on the most practical things. What you have truly learned in the 3/4 years of study (and your younger years) far surpasses the degree itself. That thing is just a piece of paper, proof that you have indeed persevered for 3/4 years.

But so what? It doesn't prove the other things you will have learned/gained from within.

Not sure about the competition part, but my subject is grouped under "Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences". I actually am not given the option of specifying what exactly I want to study, whereas other subject areas like Business, Economics, and Law has its own faculty. This is very unlike UCAS, the UK application system where I used to apply to the UK, and I could directly apply right into the subject itself - this is true for all UK universities if they offer the subject you want.

[hoshiko_2000]

'What I find sadder is the fact that a degree is worth more than actual knowledge'

Agreed.

[a_songfor_xx]

I agree with you on so many things =\ and hating the part that you need a degree to get a decent life part =\ I mean, honestly, things aren't always about the paper qualifications, someone can have a PHD but still have to start somewhere because a lack of experience means jackshit honestly =\

This is why I don't even feel like studying for a degree rawr.

[xploded_tb]

Except we're all caught in this - it's either you have a degree, to lead a slightly classier life, or be looked down upon because you don't have one. I mean, there are people who also don't pursue degrees and can still achieve marvelous results, but because society is so damning towards them they don't get the recognition they deserve.

[amelia_seyroon]

:/

<3333

[xploded_tb]

<3

[renji_chan]

Yeah, they lump all the HSS people together and then look at their grades. Which major they end up taking after they get admitted is up to them. Basically, you need to get that foot in the door, they won't look at what major you want to take but which faculty you're applying to.

Language isn't important here - haven't you already gotten the point when they even considered devaluing the importance of Chinese language in PSLE/O levels etc? Science and engineering is what's important here.

Nothing in life is stable. Just make the most out of it.

[xploded_tb]

That seriously sucks. That's a horrible way of managing things. It's as if like, "Oh, I'm sorry whatever you do doesn't matter, unfortunately. We want the best out of the best of everything and we won't consider you for things you really want to pursue." In this case, I think we need to be looked at for people who might have an idea of what they want to do, or what are their potential subjects.

Exactly why they need to have a change, and develop that. They should have done that earlier, though, with the NUS-Yale option made available earlier. Or something like that done earlier. With this kind of arrangements, it's as good as telling the minority students to get the hell out of the country, or stay here without studying.

[renji_chan]

Yeah, well it's the same for the other faculties as well. It hasn't changed for years. I doubt they'll change it in the near future, but the more pressing problem with the system is how they'll cap how many people take that major.

I don't really get what you mean by 'minority students' but I'm pretty sure there's an alternative, even if you have to do something different. Cheer up.

[xploded_tb]

Same for other faculties? Then that's even worse. :\

'Minority' as in students who happen to want to do certain subjects that are slightly less popular, compared to popular courses like Econs/Psych etc, where competition is actually not as high as compared to the popular ones. I was wrong to see NUS as an option, even. :S