Q I am 27 years old and I am in my second year at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in the engineering faculty. Here is a brief account of my academic history.
After my O levels, I went to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and I enrolled in the polytechnic after two years of national service. Upon graduation, I enrolled in the National University of Singapore (NUS) but, due to my poor results, I was asked to leave after a year.
I was admitted into NTU in August last year after working for a year. So far, my results have been unsatisfactory.
I have lost much of my interest in engineering and instead find myself more keen on investing and business.
Should I continue with my engineering studies? Or, is there any better way to continue with my studies and at the same time grow my interest in investing?
A It is still not too late to reconsider your options and pursue a course that is in line with your career objective.
I believe that you have the potential to perform well academically, given that you were able to get into the polytechnic after your ITE course, and subsequently into NUS and now NTU.
The reason your academic results have not been satisfactory so far could be a lack of interest in your current course.
You should find out about degree courses available in your area of interest and check if you could switch courses or whether you can get exemptions or credits for any of the subjects you have taken so far.
On the other hand, an engineering degree is a highly regarded professional qualification. You could complete the course and still find a job in investments and business after graduation.
There are many engineering graduates who have carved out successful careers in the financial sector, given their strong mathematical background.
If you plan to complete your engineering course, then you should set your mind on achieving better results. In addition to how you perform at job interviews, a strong academic performance will give you a slight advantage when you apply for jobs after graduation, especially if you aspire to join any of the top investment banks.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 14, 2008.
