internation student interested in liberal arts/philosophy ...

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am a singaporean just completed National Service! I had alot of headaches now because i my results are disappointing but interested in liberal arts/philosophy. So i need advices on my chances of getting into the lists of US uni. Tks.!</p>

<p><academic results="">
Diploma in computer engineering from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a GPA: 2.66/4.</academic></p>

<p>SAT I:
11/2009, SAT Test
480 Reading
520 Math
410 Writing</p>

<p>SAT II:
430 Literature
570 Mathematics Level 2
630 Physics</p>

<p><list of="" possible="" universities??!?="" need="" serious="" advice="" on="" selection="" in="" decent="" liberal="" arts="" philosophy="" majors.="">
1.North Eastern Illinois University
2.Northern Michigan University
3.University of Minnesota: Morris
4.Portland State University
5.Ohio State University
6.Long Island University: Brooklyn Campus</list></p>

<p>Will you require financial aid? Is there a limit to how much you can afford to pay?</p>

<p>i do not require financial aid as my parents and sisters will support me.</p>

<p>If you already have the equivalent of a US Bachelor’s degree, you could also consider applying to Master’s programs in philosophy. Graduate programs in the liberal arts accept students from unrelated undergraduate backgrounds all the time.</p>

<p>That being said, your undergraduate GPA might prevent you from gaining admission to a graduate program (many schools require a minimum GPA of 3.0) and you would need at least some (verifiable) exposure to philosophy.</p>

<p>b@r!um, my diploma is not equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree. Thus, i am applying as future undergraduate. But i am clueless if my results are sufficient for me to secure a US uni with decent philosophy modules.</p>

<p>To be clear - a polytechnic diploma in Singapore is not an undergraduate degree, but a post-secondary, pre-university qualification in a focused, specific field of study. A diploma holder is typically considered more qualified than the Singaporean equivalent of a high school graduate, but less qualified than a Bachelor’s degree holder. Some tippy-top diploma holders will be allowed to place out of up to a year’s work in college, but most will be required to start from the beginning and study for four years.</p>

<p>This page may help to provide some background: [Education</a> in Singapore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“Education in Singapore - Wikipedia”>Education in Singapore - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>Unfortunately I think most of the Singaporean CC posters are JC grads who don’t have a perspective on where a diploma holder would stand in admissions, and who can’t gauge where the universities you’re looking at stand in comparison to other US universities or to Singaporean unis. (Myself included.)</p>

<p>I think this is a case where you may get more help from the American applicants than from other international/Singaporean students, because what you need to know isn’t really “what are my chances of getting in”, but “what does my application look like to someone who doesn’t know what the GPA on a polytechnic diploma really means”?</p>

<p>One more thing - do you have any extracurricular activities that you could put on your application? Doesn’t have to be a school-based CCA or award-winning or anything - it can be anything you’re interested in or spend lots of time doing. Job experience? I’m sure you’ve had some, besides NS. All that would go on a university application.</p>

<p>I also see that your college list is not really firmed up - you may want to hop over to the College Search forum and ask for help there in choosing colleges to apply to.</p>

<p>I see. Thank you for explaining that to me!</p>

<p>i see i need to know exactly what is my Singapore Diploma GPA equivalent of US h.s GPA.</p>

<p>don’t waste your time with conversions and all that; the admissions office will do that for you. but that’s only provided the schools you listed actually do get alot of students from singapore. if they don’t, you’ll have to apply with your O level results, which restricts your choice of schools even further.</p>

<p>my suggestion ? do community college for 1/2 years and then transfer to a better school.</p>

<p>I agree with depr91. There will be no way to “convert” a poly GPA to a HS GPA so the schools will also just be guessing as to what a 2.66 means. </p>

<p>Community college and a transfer to a four-year school might be a better option.</p>

<p>i think the singaporean equivalent for high school diploma is the O levels right ? since the A levels give course credits for a year in college and there’s really nothing in between…</p>

<p>i dont understand all this GPA conversions and my O levels as high school diploma. I will continue to clarify this question. Thank you so much for your replies!!!</p>

<p>I think generally:</p>

<ul>
<li>O Levels = high school diploma/GED</li>
<li>A Levels = AP/IB/first-year college-level work</li>
</ul>

<p>and the American system hasn’t really got anything equivalent to a poly diploma.</p>

<p>It’s quite likely you will have to apply with your O Levels.</p>

<p>^ ah, i see.</p>

<p>@OP: anw, i would suggest making an appointment with the USEIC to discuss your available options. they’re pretty much the only people here who can help you right now.</p>

<p>Thank you all so much for the information.</p>