<p>I am a Singaporean student, about to enter university. I have travelled to quite a few places but regret not learning more about education overseas since it has never once crossed my mind to study anyone apart from Singapore. However,before I step into this new phase, I just want to know more about what life is like outside Singapore tertiary institutions from first-hand sources since I have always heard about how universities abroad “are much more holistic”, “of better quality” and “much much more rigorous”. Can anyone give me an honest opinion?</p>
<p>Truly, the only way to get at this would be to identify people who have studied in both locations. If your university offers an exchange program whereby students from your university spend a semester or a year as regular students at foreign institutions and/or students from foreign institutions are able to enroll at your university as regular students, the people who have participated in that program would be the ones who are best able to help you find answers to your question.</p>
<p>Even then, the issue of “different” vs. “better” remains. Different doesn’t always mean worse or better. Often it just means different.</p>
<p>I’m a Singaporean. Finished my O’s and went to the US for college. Did community college (in Arizona) before I transferred into a 4 year school (Arizona). How I felt was - O levels gave me good preparation to start college. The first year English, Math and Sciences in college had a lot of O level elements/topics in them. I took a lot of liberal arts classes. That meant being very vocal and critical on subject issues in class. If you are very close minded and always spoon fed, then it might be a challenge but nothing impossible to overcome.</p>
<p>The wide variety of subjects that you are able to learn in the first 2 years of college is very different from how Singapore Uni’s work. A lot of my classes were assignment based or mixed with a mid term and year end exams. But even so, year end exams take up 20%-30% of marks only. Singapore’s model would follow the UK based system of cramping everything into your head and sit for a final exam. I did an exchange in UK for 1 semester at Warwick. Was not really my cup of tea. </p>
<p>I think the rigor and holistic attributes of the US system is how each course is graded. It demands you to understand each weeks conceptual terms and getting tested for it, instead of taking 1 exam to understand it all. Passing marks were different as well. 60ish to get a C (which is the passing mark). 90-100 for an A.</p>
<p>With regards to better quality, it really depends on how you make of your education. A lot of public Universities here provide a really high standard of education (let’s you take on research, student support, campus programs, etc). You don’t need to enter an Ivy for that. I hang around with my hispanic friends since they were the closest I had to football kakis. </p>
<p>I graduated with a 3.75/4 GPA majoring in Political Science. I applied into graduate schools in US and got accepted into UCLA. I got rejected from NUS and NTU. I guess they really want ‘perfect’ students. </p>
<p>Some other points about college in US that Singapore Uni’s don’t really offer.
- Taking credit classes online instead of attending physical classes (I liked this one - cause I’m lazy to go to class even though I stay a street away)
- Transfer to other places (universities) if you want! (I had some classmates do that.)
- Change majors. (I understand once you pick a major in Singapore, you can’t move.)
- Mixture of international culture. It’s really interesting/eye opening when YOU are the minority.
- Summer breaks (I learned so much during summer when I followed my friends around the west coast.)
- Engaging with professors. (You don’t get much of that in Singapore since education there is linear and there’s always a ‘fix’ answer to everything) </p>
<p>Some bad episodes I encountered as a student while in College.
There were some racist remarks made towards me (and other Asians)
And some students have the impression that Asians are nerds. Not sure where they got that impression from!</p>
<p>For lifestyle, some things that I can remember.
- You must know how to drive (and understand your car!)
- Chinese food is not available everywhere.
- I lived in the desert, so yeah, be creative or you’re gonna be bored
- Don’t expect internet connections to be like Singapore (We have 1000 mbps, they have 100 mbps)
- Don’t expect things to be as efficient as Singapore. (No lie. Processing of forms through banks can take days)
- Need to clean up your own crap. (Well, almost every family in Singapore has a maid - thought I just say that)
- No 24 hours Mcdonalds / delivery (I was sad and hungry).
- Football starts in the morning/early afternoon. No more 3am matches if you’re a football fan.</p>
<p>Personal opinion - Education is how you want to make of it. if there’s chances to do semesters overseas from NUS and NTU as well. Go for it ! If you have the chance to go overseas to study - I’d recommend the US because of the system they employ and the lifestyle is an eye opener to a Singaporean. </p>
<p>P.S, I’m comparing based on how I went through University in the US as compared to my wife who went through NTU.</p>
<p>wow! that was absolutely delightful, nyvrem! a fine sociological document. I laughed frequently, about chinese food, banks, mcdonalds, football. thank you. I’d love to hear from more singaporean students in the US. </p>
<p>Thanks @nyvrem. It is as objective and detailed comparison of higher education between Singapore & the US I have seen in a while. </p>
<p>I haven’t found anywhere in the US to get good laksa. 
We need some Singaporean restaurants!</p>