Here we have a sharing from a SR, a recent graduate from SMU Business. Hope you'll find it useful! :)
Which course did you pursue?
Business (Majored in Marketing and Corporate Communications), SMU class of 2016.
Tell us a little bit of your character traits that you feel align you with your course of study?
I don't like rote learning and enjoy projects, I was also interested in the creativity and strategic thinking needed for marketing. These all contributed to my decision to take Business in SMU.
What subjects did you enjoy the most back in JC?
Wow, good question. As a business student, you'd expect me to enjoy Econs and Math, but those were my two worst and most dreaded subjects. On the other hand, I really enjoyed History and to a certain extent Literature.
What inspired you to study <Business/Marketing/Corp Comms> ?
I was interested in Business along the lines of Marketing since Secondary School when I took part in an entrepreneurship competition hosted by Singapore Poly. From there, I continued to grow my interest by taking up a short module on Entrepreneurial Marketing offered during my Junior College Days.
Before entering Uni, I was set on the idea of studying Marketing because it required a level of psychology that was also practical in the sense of day to day decisions that I saw as potential for a career. I guess it also seemed like a field that might send me overseas to work, and I really wanted that.
What are the challenges in pursuing a degree in <Business/Marketing/Corp Comms>?
The biggest challenge to me would be not so much the curriculum, but the rat race. So many people end up doing Business because they don't know what else to take, and then add on to the typical Singaporean mentality of exam smart but not learning for passion, it can get very disillusioning and tiring. People are also constantly seeking the most beneficial or profiting path, and sometimes it's easy to doubt yourself and your interests.
For Marketing specifically though, would be the outsider's mindset that it's all fluff and no stuff. It tends to be a field where people who don't take it feel like it doesn't take much to do.
For Marketing and Comms in general, it would be that Singapore is not a very creative country. This means not everyone will understand or support you if you try to think differently. Which is really sad for the subject matter and industry you're studying. The practical reflection of this comes down to assignments where you end up trying to bend to your Profs' interests rather than push yourself to learn.
Even though all these hurdles stand in your way, why did you choose to study it anyway?
I think most of the challenges are more on culture, and if I don't let that get to me and stay true to my own interests and passions, the learning experience in the lessons and the 4 years of interacting with others is worth it.
Also, for the record, I really don't think marketing is a fluff course because there's so much research and strategy that backs whatever nice-sounding fluff is in front, and the magic happens when both the "fluff" and "stuff" come together. I guess that's why I love Marketing.
What is a typical day in SMU Business like?
Lots of project meetings (more than class), getting irritated by irresponsible group mates and second-guessing yourself as you class part.
But also bonding over exciting events, studying with friends in school and finding time to chill in town.
What is the nature of module/course/work? Content-heavy? Practical skills? Group work? Self-reading?
Definitely group work heavy. Practical skills-wise, at the end of your 4 years you should be an expert at presentations and speaking in front of others. The compulsory internships also help prepare you for the working world and understand better what field you want to enter.
Depending on the modules, there will be readings to prepare beforehand. Some modules have no exams (yay!) but others have quite a bit of content to cover.
One thing I really appreciated in SMU classes were the external speakers. Quite a few Profs are well-connected to the industry and bring in many industry-relevant speakers over the course of the module. There have even been visits to relevant offices. All these really gave me a great insight into various companies and industries.
What are the career prospects with the degree?
I think most would know about the graduate employment survey that SMU publishes. It's relatively accurate.
Specific to Marketing/Communications or the Advertising/Marketing industry - the industry is always hiring, but the pay is terrible. Although the work can be fulfilling, hours are likely to be long. I think it's a largely passion-filled industry where you learn as much as you can in the first 2 years.
Unless of course you are driven and apply for Management Trainee Programmes with huge reputable companies (SMU is good that it trains you for interviews and Assessment Centres, the resources are all there for your picking).
What you should know before embarking on a degree in <Business/Marketing/Corp Comms>?
It's okay to not know your direction in general, because you have 4 years to figure out. The only thing is to know where your own interests lie and not sell yourself out to what others may be saying or advising
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