Any success story of a private degree holder? As a fresh graduate from a local polytechnic, I am contemplating between the choice of going to private or local and would like to hear your perspectives.

My undergrad is from private degree (SIM UOL) to be specific.

Everyone have their reasons why they take private U vs Local U.

For me, I don't really like to study and coming from Polytechnic i did group projects with disappointing team members where I have to "carry" them.

Decided to do University of London degree, first is there are no group project, secondly is there is 1 exam per year and nobody could really pull you down. The second thought is , there are some thoughts of going to the UK or Europe to work , thus having a UK degree would be easier to find jobs there.

I got second upper class without too much of an effort, did Internship and extended Internship and traveled to a few countries for work while schooling.

That was my perspective when I decided Private U is for me, pretty much more relax, not much stress, and just secure a second upper class is easy, which is a reality as I plan from day 1 I don't want to get First Class as i would requires alot of effort and time to maintain the grades.

Fast forward to today, I took a post-grad at SMU (Local U) and also worked for many years. I had seen many Local U grads at the same year as me not doing well, (The ratio of better ones are way more tho), I also seen amazing Private U grad doing very very well, some are Bankers that earned enough to secure Condo and Cars their own, some are MNC country manager, and many success stories.

My point is be it Private U or Local U , to ensure you put your heart to learn what you need know (You may skip classes and such, its okay) but end of the day you are paying for education, make sure you make full use of it and this is just a stepping stone to your first job. Whatever happens after first job is really depending on your attiude and capability. Degree paper could only bring you this far (Unless you are First Class at a good course in Local U, then the context would be slightly different). Otherwise majority would be 2nd Class Upper and below.

Not a very big famous success story but just sharing something I find personally very motivating.

My Mum (Currently 47) only had O levels as her highest education. During my secondary school days, my Mum often struggled with monthly expenses as her job as a Preschool teacher pays peanuts ($1.5K) while my Dad despite being a high earner ($5-6K) he barely contributed to the family and instead would feed it on his substance addiction habits which at times would fight and use half of Mother's pay to spend on as well. There were days where we barely had food on the table and days where we didn't have sufficient transport money to get to school, but despite the long hours and struggles of work and family, she knew she didn't want her children to continue living the unfair terrible lives we were brought into unwillingly. Despite then being 40, she picked herself up and enrolled in a private Diploma related to ECU (Early Childhood Education). She strived hard and eventually aced class despite juggling work and family at the same time. Shortly after she went job hunting and scored a slightly higher paying job. She then tightens expenses and was more determined to provide a better living for the family, she filed for divorce to cut out the freeloader and continued to study, over the year at her new job as a Senior Teacher she landed on a scholarship that would pay for her a degree in exchange for a bond. Today, she's a great mother that did everything she could to provide a great and luxurious living for her 2 kids and just graduated with her 2nd Bachelor's Degree last year and currently drawing a pay well enough to provide the kids a great 5RM HDB and with more than just basic necessities. Though young I was skeptical on the private path but my Mother was the first-ever case I've seen to had emerged and come out well, even sharing she's earning higher than her peers with government Degrees mainly of her experiences.

My takeaway? Education will play a part and set a benchmark. But experiences and performances are what's important. Don't think a private degree will give you similar or higher pay than what your friends who came from local Unis may be getting, but with good working ethics and experiences, I'm sure each person will be rewarded accordingly and fairly.