What's original about smu?
I've been seeing a lot of marketing and advertising for smu, especially from their paid shills on reddit and their ads on tv and youtube, and I'm genuinely curious what unique or special aspects this uni can offer that others don't already do so, because from what I've seen, most of their original or unique characteristics that are meant to draw students in are already being executed by other local unis. So why even bother marketing it like some kinda propaganda that only their uni does?
- Firstly, I can concede that their location is most advantageous out of the big 3, but I don't think that's going to make it easier to find internships, it's just more convenient for people who don't want to stay in dorm.
- Their guaranteed second major is intriguing, but it doesn't really sound that impressive since ntu also allows double major with minimal requirements and nus doesn't have that high of a requirement either, so why bother advertising it? The students inclined to take a double major and able to cope with one will probably have the academic capability to be able to meet the minimum requirements to take one. And smu doesn't even have that wide of a selection to choose from, so it's really not impressive and I don't understand why it's stated as a selling point.
- Their global exposure program is unique sure, but they don't have prestigious unis that they're partnered with, unlike nus and ntu, so students might as well just go nus and ntu instead and work harder if they want the global exposure, instead of going to some low tier overseas uni.
- I've heard that their law sch has improved and excelled a lot as seen from the shift of nus law profs migrating to smu to teach, but isn't that just because smu's school fees for students are higher and hence they're probably earning a higher salary in smu. Doesn't sound that impressive.
- They're supposed to be more 'holistic' in their admissions by looking much more beyond grades, unlike nus and ntu who only do it to an extent, but what good does that do for them? It's not like their uni has improved that much in the recent years because of this process and the intellectual prowess of students in this uni will unfortunately just keep dwindling yearly as their requirements get more lax for jc students.
- Their seminar style pedagogy is something they heavily market and advertise as being unique to their brand, but nus and ntu have been doing the same and they even have smaller tutorial classes also, so why lie and say it's still unique to them. Straight propaganda
Now there are some other unique aspects I've heard of that seem more probable.
Their grading system is tougher with a lack of an effective S/U system. This means that it's harder for them to score and the same effort put into studying in smu as compared to in nus/ntu will net less results. It certainly is an unique aspect but not a very positive one.
They train their students in soft skills, unlike nus and ntu, but again this doesn't really sound positive since they're foresaking technical knowledge and actual skills related to their work. It sounds like nus and ntu students are still more competent in their majors and related fields and that you'd be doing yourself a disservice by studying in smu.
They lack any dorms and campus life, unlike nus and ntu, and students there won't be able to develop skills and experiences related to dorm life. And ironically enough, even smaller unis like sutd have dorm. Again, a unique aspect of smu but not necessarily one I'd consider positive.
If any of the paid smu shills or students can let me know if there's really anything truly unique about this inferior uni I'd greatly appreciate it as im discombobulated when people talk about their unique driving points. Also from what other redditors are saying, it seems like less of their biz students are making it into high finance roles now compared to nus.