u/bonobosareawesome

*WSH: Workplace Safety and Health

Do I need to do a Masters at NUS/NTU?

How saturated is this industry at the entry level, and what is pay like?

And is there anything I should do know about this
industry?

It seems like an interesting industry that has direct applications of a science degree, but most people in the industry have Engineering backgrounds.
Will I be at a significant disadvantage with a chemistry degree instead of an engineering degree?

Oh, and how is salary progression like in this industry?
Will my degree even be beneficial or will I get the same pay tag as poly grads?

And do you have any tips on getting internships/getting into this industry?

Tysm!

i’m studying in toronto but i have singaporean citizenship so i can work there too.

i’m interested in geoscience as a subject, and am thinking of majoring in either geology or environmental geoscience (with PGO courses)

however, i’m not too sure how i feel about the frequent travel and relocation that comes with the career in geology.

would it be a good idea for me to major in geoscience, but build my portfolio to break into the insurance underwriting industry?
and if so, how do i do that?

or is it better that i i just major in something else instead?

would anyone with experience in this industry care to share ur experience? i wonder why it’s not a more common path geoscientists take if relocation/frequent travel is difficult.

tysm!

i’m studying in toronto but i have singaporean citizenship so i can work there too.

i’m interested in geoscience as a subject, and am thinking of majoring in either geology or environmental geoscience (with PGO courses)

however, i’m not too sure how i feel about the frequent travel and relocation that comes with the career in geology.

would it be a good idea for me to major in geoscience, but build my portfolio to break into the insurance underwriting industry?
and if so, how do i do that?

or is it better that i i just major in something else instead?

would anyone with experience in this industry care to share ur experience? i wonder why it’s not a more common path geoscientists take if relocation/frequent travel is difficult.

tysm!

i’m an international student who has lived in ontario for a few years.

i’ve been to toronto for a few times and really loved it, but i’ve never been to vancouver.

i’m also in my early 20s so i’m a little older than most UG students - which also means if i can avoid doing grad studies that’ll be better

UofT BA pros:
- location (in my bucket list, i aim to live in a big city like toronto before i turn age 35)

- networking opps for toronto jobs

- econs is not a bad degree - it’s versatile and decently regarded in my home country and i don’t need grad studies

- i can minor in GIS which i’m interested in (i guess this can open some doors?)

- i like ontario culture more than bc culture? i also love how diverse and accepting toronto is

UofT BA cons:
- too broad of a degree, i worry about job prospects

- my math foundation isn’t the best, so i have heaps to catch up on

- if things don’t go well in toronto (eg bad grades, can’t make friends etc), i worry i may be upset at myself for choosing a less employable degree.

- at the back of my head im still gonna try to transfer to rotman, although chances are low so i need to be okay w econs

- i hope to work in toronto eventually so i may need to do grad studies

ps im open to other BA or Bsc recs at UofT. i chose econs mainly for its employability.

UBC Sauder Commerce pros:
- recruitment pipeline (although it’s mainly to vancouver and i don’t really wanna live in vancouver after i graduate). but a job’s a job and maybe i’ll learn to like vancouver more

- possibility of doing an accredited professional programme (accounting) —> i’m not sure if i’ll like accounting, but at least i’ll give it a shot!

- less chance of needing graduate studies if i want to work in canada

- commerce is not a bad degree, i would say it’s equal to uoft’s econ degree in my home country.

- it’s so much harder to get into than UofT BA.

UBC Sauder Commerce cons:
- i don’t think i will like vancouver. i hate the rain. i hate skiing as its so expensive and i suck at it. i’m not super outdoorsy (although i’m down to pick up new hobbies like hiking)

- i worry it’ll be harder to make friends in UBC (apparently BC bail and Vancouver Freeze is a thing?)
i’m staying off campus (altho it’s near to campus). i’ll deffo join clubs but i heard they are cliquish?

ik i should have applied for other ontario commerce schools, but i was an idiot who only applied to uoft and ubc. and i’m really not keen on a gap year.

would really appreciate some insights! TYSM!

am halfway way through my degree in Geology/Environmental Geoscience at UofT.
I’m on track in taking the required courses for an AGPO degree.

It’s a little far in for me to transfer schools and programmes to Land Surveying or Engineering, so I’m hoping to finish my Geoscience degree first.

However, I realise that I want to live in the city, and don’t want to do FIFO work.

I’ve read up about Land Surveying and it seems like something that would interest me. Am just unsure how I can branch into this field with a Geoscience degree.
i’m open to moving to other countries like australia if that opens up more opportunities.

TYSM!

how do i pivot from a geology degree to land surveying?

am halfway way through my degree in Geology/Environmental Geoscience at UofT.
I’m on track in taking the required courses for an AGPO degree.

It’s a little far in for me to transfer schools and programmes to Land Surveying or Engineering, so I’m hoping to finish my Geoscience degree first.

However, I realise that I want to live in the city, and don’t want to do FIFO work.

I’ve read up about Land Surveying and it seems like something that would interest me. Am just unsure how I can branch into this field with a Geoscience degree.
i’m open to moving to other countries like australia if that opens up more opportunities.

TYSM!

(based in singapore, but am studying in queensland, australia)

i’m autistic and hate loud noises. i can handle a career where im at constriction
sites once or twice a week, or just for a few hours. but if im there 80% off the time im kinda worried i wont be able to handle noise sensitivity?

i’m interested in civil engineering because im interested in the built environment. i did 1.5 years of school in urban geography + GIS.

i enjoyed my programme but felt i could be challenged more academically, and also wanted the job security of engineering. i’m willing to slog out my time in uni for a job security. ik that engineering will have a lot of math, and is v diff from geography. i believe if i put my mind to it i can do well in an engineering programme too.

besides construction and land development im also interested in transportation modelling or waste management.

but ofc with how bad the economy is i want to take whatever job i can, and if 80% of the jobs in the field im interested in has construction noise maybe i should just stick to geography??

ps is chemical engineering any better? that’s another option im considering, the semiconductor and manufacturing industries seem pretty interesting.

received an offer for CIVE from UQ. i discovered my interest for engineering pretty late after JC. because i didn’t do AMath, I don’t qualify for local Uni Engineering programmes.

UQ has some math bridging courses so i think i should be able to catch up with whatever i lack.

if im unable to get a job in australia, what’s the employment market like in singapore? what should i expect in this industry? will my australian degree be looked down upon by the govt or singaporean companies?

term breaks are dec to feb - i’m not sure how difficult it is to find internships during this period in SG.

p.s. i have interest in waste management or environmental work, but i am also open to other roles.

i have interest in this field, but im worried about the pay and WLB. assuming i cant cope in this field, are there other fields i can jump to w a CIVE degree?
Also, how difficult is it to move overseas with a CIVE degree? I’m open to working abroad too!

tysm! :)

(also: am posting this for my friend who doesn’t use reddit.)

is it really that hard to make friends? i’m a transfer student in a big faculty who is new to vancouver so im honestly pretty worried about the upcoming school year 😩😩😩

i’m reading stuff about vancouver social life online and i wonder how exaggerated it is?
as in people are friendly but they’ll agree to plans and cancel? (id rather people just say they’re not free than have u block time off and cancel last minute 😩)

im coming in as a transfer so ill be trying to make friends thru student clubs rather than through orientation or residence

i applied for a study permit to study accounting at UBC, but after deliberation i decided i may want to study science in UofT instead. (undergrad, Fall ‘26 intake.)

i have already received a Letter of Introduction for UBC.

if i apply for uoft’s study permit now, will my UBC Letter of Introduction be void?

i already have a PAL from both universities.

I’m planning to apply for UofT’s study permit now. If it comes on time, I’ll go to UofT. if it comes late, then i’ll go to UBC.

And if my study permit application for UofT gets approved while I’m in UBC, I’ll just ignore the letter of introduction.

It took 4 weeks for my first study permit to be processed? So if I lodge it for UofT I think I’ll be able to make it on time.

My main worry is that these are two very different fields? So I’m not sure if the officer will not be convinced I have a clear study plan and void my current UBC’s Letter of Introduction.

Like I’ll probably need to explain this properly when I exchange my letter of introduction for a study permit at the border.

ps. i don’t really know what i want to do with my life. i do know i want to get a degree, and i’ve explained very clearly in my study plan why i want to do either programme.

like i can see myself succeeding in either programme, i don’t want to take another gap year, but i do think i’ll be happier at UofT.

So is it worth it for me to even try for UofT at this point? I don’t mind wasting the $150 application fee. I just don’t want to mess up my current letter of introduction from UBC, or mess up my future chances for PGWP.

i applied for a study permit to study accounting at UBC, but after deliberation i decided i may want to study science in UofT instead. (undergrad)

i have already received a Letter of Introduction for UBC.

if i apply for uoft’s study permit now, will my UBC Letter of Introduction be void?

i already have a PAL from both universities.

I’m planning to apply for UofT’s study permit now. If it comes on time, I’ll go to UofT. if it comes late, then i’ll go to UBC.

And if my study permit application for UofT gets approved while I’m in UBC, I’ll just ignore the letter of introduction.

It took 4 weeks for my first study permit to be processed? So if I lodge it for UofT I think I’ll be able to make it on time.

My main worry is that these are two very different fields? So I’m not sure if the officer will not be convinced I have a clear study plan and void my current UBC’s Letter of Introduction.

Like I’ll probably need to explain this properly when I exchange my letter of introduction for a study permit at the border.

ps. i don’t really know what i want to do with my life. i do know i want to get a degree, and i’ve explained very clearly in my study plan why i want to do either programme.

like i can see myself succeeding in either programme, i don’t want to take another gap year, but i do think i’ll be happier at UofT.

So is it worth it for me to even try for UofT at this point? I don’t mind wasting the $150 application fee. I just don’t want to mess up my current letter of introduction from UBC, or mess up my future chances for PGWP.

i applied for UBC’s study permit a few weeks ago. I accepted a late offer from UofT, and have a PAL for UofT.

right now i’m thinking if i want to withdraw from UBC, and immediately apply for a study permit for UofT.
or do I need to wait until the withdrawal is processed before I apply for UofT’s study permit?

My other option is just to make do with UBC if I want to make it for the Fall’26 intake?

PS I’m gunning for the Fall 2026 intake. i do not want to defer my intake another year. (my schools don’t allow deferrals to sem 2 because of course sequencing).

The timeline is pretty tight for UofT, but
my country’s visa office takes around 5-6 weeks to process applications. so it’s still possible??? i’ve already been to canada before so i’ve given my biometrics and everything so it shouldn’t take that long. i also did an upfront medical.

Tysm!

p.s. i’m doing a bachelors if it matters

i applied for UBC’s study permit a few weeks ago. I accepted a late offer from UofT, and have a PAL for UofT.

right now i’m thinking if i want to withdraw from UBC, and immediately apply for a study permit for UofT.
or do I need to wait until the withdrawal is processed before I apply for UofT’s study permit?

My other option is just to make do with UBC if I want to make it for the Fall’26 intake?

PS I’m gunning for the Fall 2026 intake. i do not want to defer my intake another year. (my schools don’t allow deferrals to sem 2 because of course sequencing).

The timeline is pretty tight for UofT, but
my country’s visa office takes around 5-6 weeks to process applications. so it’s still possible??? i’ve already been to canada before so i’ve given my biometrics and everything so it shouldn’t take that long. i also did an upfront medical.

Tysm!

p.s.: i’m doing a bachelors

incoming engineering student here for the feb ‘27 intake. i applied to and was accepted into chemical engineering, but im not fully sure if id like to stick to chemical engineering or change to civil engineering.

is the flexible first year something u need to apply for? or can i opt in in my first year?

i have the international high achievers scholarship which wont be valid if i change programmes.

so i need to make sure i get things right now before i enrol - will i have any issues switching between the engineerings?

also, on that note, if anyone is in either programme and is willing to share ur experience, please do!

tysm! :)

any clubs that accept anyone who is interested?

i’m interested in board games/d&d/helping the homeless.

i’m also interested in picking up dragon boating or fencing although i’m v much a beginner

are these clubs difficult to get into?

it’s my first time in vancouver and i’m coming in as an upper year transfer student so i’m kinda worried about the opportunities i’ll have to meet people.

i saw a post on how even the pottery club doesn’t accept everyone and im kinda panicking now

(on that note if any incoming transfer students or anyone who has common interests, want to be friends, my dms are open!!)

i’ve seen them for around 2 months if it matters, and i really like working with them.
i’ve tried a bunch of other therapists before and no one else understands me as much as this therapist (i’m neurodivergent in a conservative country). so i really don’t want to change therapists unless i really have to.

however, i do worry about this boundary:
they are leaving the practice they are at, and told me i can keep seeing them privately.
however, because they cannot poach clients from the current company, i am not supposed to let the company know that i am seeing them directly.
i get a discount seeing them directly too so thats good i guess?

but it makes me a bit uncomfortable that i need to hide this info from the clinic?
it’s not so much the hiding that bugs me, but rather that my therapist is making me hide something.

also, if it matters, i have their phone number, and sometimes they check in on me after sessions. i’m not super used to that as my past experience is to have no contact w my therapist outside of the hour i see them (because of boundaries).

anyone can give insights whether i need to worry about this arrangement?

what should i do?

tysm!

i’ve seen them for around 2 months if it matters, and i really like working with them.
i’ve tried a bunch of other therapists before and no one else understands me as much as this therapist (i’m neurodivergent in a conservative country). so i really don’t want to change therapists unless i really have to.

however, i do worry about this boundary:
they are leaving the practice they are at, and told me i can keep seeing them privately.
however, because they cannot poach clients from the current company, i am not supposed to let the company know that i am seeing them directly.
i get a discount seeing them directly too so thats good i guess?

but it makes me a bit uncomfortable that i need to hide this info from the clinic?
it’s not so much the hiding that bugs me, but rather that my therapist is making me hide something.

also, if it matters, i have their phone number, and sometimes they check in on me after sessions. i’m not super used to that as my past experience is to have no contact w my therapist outside of the hour i see them (because of boundaries).

anyone can give insights whether i need to worry about this arrangement?

tysm!

i’m a singaporean studying in canada now. my ultimate goal is to stay on in canada, but with canada tightening its immigration regulations, i need to be prepared for potentially returning to singapore.

my current plan is to graduate with my accounting degree, then get my CPA in Canada.

I’ll work in Canada for 3 years with my graduate visa, but if I can’t get PR after that, I’ll need to come back to SG.

The Canadian CPA is not accredited in Singapore, and there are no conversions between the Canadian CPA and Singaporean CA.

So if I come back to Singapore, I can become an Associate, but I cannot become a CA.
Associates are a member of ISCA, but have no signing power. Will my career progression be impeded by this?

I know for sure I don’t want to redo the CA exams in Singapore, so are there other industries or roles I can look at branching into with my Canadian experience?

Like I really don’t want to have to go through the Fresh Grad grind again after taking my CPA exams in Canada.

Will my work in Canada be even counted as anything when I come back to Singapore?
I am happy to work in Payments/Finance/Data roles as well, as long as I don’t need to only target entry roles again.

Like I really don’t want to end up grinding the CPA and end up unemployed still…

TYSM!

i’m a singaporean studying in canada now. my ultimate goal is to stay on in canada, but with canada tightening its immigration regulations, i need to be prepared for potentially returning to singapore.

my current plan is to graduate with my accounting degree, then get my CPA in Canada.

I’ll work in Canada for 3 years with my graduate visa, but if I can’t get PR after that, I’ll need to come back to SG.

The Canadian CPA is not accredited in Singapore, and there are no conversions between the Canadian CPA and Singaporean CA.

So if I come back to Singapore, I can become an Associate, but I cannot become a CA.
Associates are a member of ISCA, but have no signing power. Will my career progression be impeded by this?

I know for sure I don’t want to redo the CA exams in Singapore, so are there other industries or roles I can look at branching into with my Canadian experience?

Like I really don’t want to have to go through the Fresh Grad grind again after taking my CPA exams in Canada.

Will my work in Canada be even counted as anything when I come back to Singapore?
I am happy to work in Payments/Finance/Data roles as well, as long as I don’t need to only target entry roles again.

Like I really don’t want to end up grinding the CPA and end up unemployed still…

TYSM!

i’ve lived in ontario for a while, and im considering a move to vancouver.

however, my main worry is the social aspect of things.

i hear that people in vancouver keep cancelling on you, and that some people can live there for years and still not have a single close friend.

i’ve always had issues making friends wherever i go, because i have social anxiety. im working on it, but it ain’t perfect.
i just worry that it may be even worse for me in vancouver.

if i keep an open mind, and am open to befriending internationals and other transplants is the social life in vancouver as bad as people say it is?

also, how skilled do you need to be at outdoor sports to take part in them? i’m not a fan of skiing (too expensive), but i’m down to try out hiking and camping even though i’ve never done it before. is it difficult to find groups for these activities that are patient with absolute beginners?

thank you!

edit: i have a slightly better opportunity in vancouver compared to toronto, but im tryna decide if the opportunity is worth the potential social issues + terrible rental market