Which university can I apply to for a Masters program if I'm a foreigner with the following characteristics?

[Embers]

I just want to know what is the best school I am able to get into so I don't waste money applying because I am a "poor" person. Actually, it is due to circumstances that my mother is very uptight about money. We earn enough but recently one of my family members have cancer so that's where all the money is going and I can't waste any money. Please advise me based on my stats where I can apply to. I'm not very optimistic. Apparently, the GRE scores posted online is "fake", and NUS school ranking is also fake. It is still viewed as worse than China universities despite the supposed high rankings.

Stats:
Female, 22, 4 internship experiences in Writing, marketing, research and private equity. From Singapore, studied Business but I am interested in courses like astronomy, archeology, quirky things that only America has. Definitely not applying to MBA or medicine those too prestigious ones.
Point of a masters: hope to work in interesting companies like Disney, Mars.
GRE of 331+5
Clubs: not many prestigious clubs or leadership roles.
Recommendation letters: average, just say I'm a good and hardworking person.
GPA: terrible. 3.3/5, but only because 1. We have a strict bell curve system where only top 2.5% gets A+, top 2.5-7% gets A, top 7-15% gets A-, top 15-25% gets B+, top 25-50% gets B. B is average. 2. 35% of the marks come from class participation and I'm not even called out of 60 people raising hands. 3. I hated my course as it is really boring and difficult. Everybody just want to earn a lot of money and work in banks.
I was actually from the top high school last time, my IQ is not bad either, so I am not a retard.
Highlights: Language, music is my forte, if it counts.

Thank you very much.

[fuzzylogician]

It sounds like you're asking us what field to apply to. If you don't know that, we can't help you. You should only apply to grad school if you need to in order to pursue a career that requires this training. What are your career goals and what do you want to study in grad school? You need to at least have a field and sub-field in mind, and some idea of the kinds of questions you'd like to ask. You'd also need to demonstrate that you have the necessary background to study these questions (so, relevant past research experience, classes, etc.). Based just on the information you provide, it doesn't sound like you should be applying to grad school this year at all. 

[Embers]

Hi Fuzzy,

I already know what I want to apply to, unique niche fields like Astronomy and Archeology comes to mind. I want to study something interesting and fun, because MY PARENTS force me to study business for my bachelor's and now I'm finally getting a choice of my own.

I think the career goals can be quite diverse, from museum, all the way to even media.

I wouldn't know if I can do well in these fields since Singapore does not have any course on that AT ALL, but I went to all the museums in other countries whenever I am on holiday and I read articles on astronomy, if it counts.

[fuzzylogician]

I'm sorry, but it still sounds like you don't know what you want to study. Astronomy and Archeology are two very different fields, and it sounds like you have no experience in either one. You don't say if you are looking for a Masters or a PhD, but it seems very clear to me that you should not start a PhD. As far as MAs go, finding a funded program for someone with no experience or idea of what they want to do is not going to be easy. If you just want to study something fun, why not do a BA in something of your choosing, or take some enrichment courses at your local university?

If and when you identify a career you want to pursue and there is an advanced degree that can get you there, then you can research what is needed to study it. That could involve anything from straight up applying now to taking a few extra courses or getting some research experience to doing a BA in the subject. No one here can tell you what course of study you should choose. We probably won't be able to tell you what particular schools to apply to even if we knew what field you are in, because that depends on your research interests (PhD) or career goals (MA), and what you wrote is too all over the place for a serious answer. Identifying your long-term goals and the course of action that will take you there is a long process, and one that you have to go through yourself to know that you're making the right decision. You can't out-source it to random strangers on the internet. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but you say you don't want to waste money, and based on what you've written so far I'd say that any application would be just that, until you actually figure out what you want to do with your life. 

[gughok]

I'm just adding to agree with fuzzylogician here: you really need to be sure of and prepared for what you want to study if you're going into grad school, and you do not sound as though you are either.

Your interests are extremely spread out and you seem ambivalent with respect to most - this is not good if you're planning on spending maybe five years of your life or even more studying one thing intensively. That is absolutely exhausting to even those extremely passionate in their fields, so if at best you're "interested" then you don't seem ready to commit to graduate study. I will offer my story, though I know the plural of anecdote is not anecdata: I entered my undergraduate studies absolutely dead set on becoming a cosmologist. Unfortunately the physics classes turned out much more boring than I expected. Now I'm aiming for graduate school in philosophy. I was certain of one direction and ended up heading somewhere quite different. How can you be sure the topics you find "interesting and fun" will remain so when you reach a deeper study of them? Astronomy, talking about planets and stuff, is cool, but have you ever derived Jean's mass for the collapse of a gaseous cloud, or the density profile for a hydrostatic equilibrium in a star, or used special relativity and Hubble's constant to determine the distance of a receding galaxy? You say you're interested in astronomy - have you ever done astronomy? Likewise for archeology: it's fascinating to discuss how the cuneiform tablets of Sumer are mostly preserved through accidental fires, or how decyphering Linear A could prove massively fruitful to ancient anthropology, or how one might trace Dineh material and linguistic history to the older Athabaskans, but have you ever studied any of these things at an advanced, near-research level? If not, how can you know whether you would like doing so for five years? I understand astronomy and archaeology were just examples - but you need to ask yourself the same question for any interest you express.

And this is not to mention that many (most?) programs don't accept students with insufficient background into their graduate programs. If you want to do astronomy in grad school, you should know and understand the linear algebra behind Einstein's field equations for general relativity, the statistics and algebra behind elementary quantum mechanics, and have a mastery of Newtonian mechanics. I don't know how the situation is for archaeology, but I would be very surprised to hear that they simply accept students who express interest. The point is that you don't go to grad school to start learning about something - you go to deepen your existing knowledge to incredible detail, and you can't deepen knowledge you don't have.

So indeed, I agree with fuzzylogician that I don't know what to tell you, other than that it seems you need to figure out what you actually really really want to do (and acquire the necessary foundation in that subject) before you can even start thinking about graduate school.

[Embers]

Hi gughok,

Thank you for your very long reply, I can see you really want to help me so I feel very grateful.

I thought in America things are different, you can study a masters in a different field from bachelor's. Lots of people I know studied engineering bachelor's then MBA. Then you are telling me that I am stuck at Business forever? I can never apply to other programs? I would rather kill myself then touch another subject in Business. Isn't there a subject that don't require too in-depth knowledge from the start that a fast-learner can study? I didn't know that all Masters must be so technical--isn't astronomy more art (talking about formation theories) than science (calculating gravity and distance)? 

I thought a masters degree is just 2 years anyway, so if their requirements are so high, why would they accept liberal arts people and not me?

How do I find the thing that I like/know I will do best? In Singapore, we don't get exposure to such things. We don't even have arts schools. We were just brainwashed to follow the norm and be a doctor or lawyer. I have NO IDEA if astronomy/archeology is what I really really want to do because how can I tell? All I know is it seems interesting, I won't regret studying it.

[Embers]

Hi Fuzzy,

Your words are harsh but I know what you mean.

Why I want to go to America... well, Singapore doesn't have any courses on Astronomy, film (like Hollywood), anything interesting really. The country is too small and there is no demand for such things. What if I told you that I "think" I have a flair for directing as my videos always get the highest marks in class and my youtube videos actually gets shown among schools? My friends told me their teachers even showed some of my videos. Does that mean that I should study film? Or I like to write. I don't ever get writer's block. Should I study literature? I know I am good at these things, but until I actually try out Astronomy/Archaeology, I wouldn't know what I want to do. Making videos and writing is just a part of me but these are quite subjective too, I might not think I'm good but others think I'm good, or I could think I'm brilliant when the consensus is I suck.

That is why although I know what my hobbies are, I still choose something "mysterious" like astronomy that I would want to study.

Maybe the only way is to actually "cold-email" astronomy students in America and find out how it's taught in America. Then ask for their study materials and see if I'm good at it.

[gughok]

7 hours ago, Embers said:

Hi gughok,

Thank you for your very long reply, I can see you really want to help me so I feel very grateful.

I thought in America things are different, you can study a masters in a different field from bachelor's. Lots of people I know studied engineering bachelor's then MBA. Then you are telling me that I am stuck at Business forever? I can never apply to other programs? I would rather kill myself then touch another subject in Business. Isn't there a subject that don't require too in-depth knowledge from the start that a fast-learner can study? I didn't know that all Masters must be so technical--isn't astronomy more art (talking about formation theories) than science (calculating gravity and distance)? 

I thought a masters degree is just 2 years anyway, so if their requirements are so high, why would they accept liberal arts people and not me?

How do I find the thing that I like/know I will do best? In Singapore, we don't get exposure to such things. We don't even have arts schools. We were just brainwashed to follow the norm and be a doctor or lawyer. I have NO IDEA if astronomy/archeology is what I really really want to do because how can I tell? All I know is it seems interesting, I won't regret studying it.

Masters' admissions tends to be more forgiving than PhD programs, to my understanding, and the degree of expertise assumed varies by program, but now I'm getting into things I don't really know that much about so I'll refrain from opining too much.

In any case I did not, by any means, intend to insinuate that you didn't have a chance at getting into grad programs! You are not stuck in business forever, far from it: my message was rather that if you apply spontaneously to a bunch of graduate programs for which you have no preparation at all, that might not be the best idea. You can get out of business, but as fuzzylogician ("That could involve anything from straight up applying now to taking a few extra courses or getting some research experience to doing a BA in the subject") says, it's probably not going to be as simple as applying to grad school straight out of a business BA when you've no familiarity with the subjects to which you're applying. That's all I meant to say =)

You ask how to find what you like best, given your education hasn't exposed you to it - really the best way to get an idea of what a field, at least in STEM, is like, is to read textbooks. If you want to know whether you'll like astronomy, I'd advise reading through some books on it (I don't have my actual cosmology textbook with me, but as far as the underlying physics goes, look through introductory mechanics textbooks e.g. Kleppner & Kolenkow, some introductory electromagnetism e.g. Purcell & Morin, look through Lang's assorted mathematics books, expand from there).

[Embers]

Hi gughok,

As long as I can move away from business, all is fine (: 
You guys are so lucky in America. Most things Singaporeans have never even heard of. Even wacky courses like "Viking studies".
So you mean I can self-study astronomy, and write it in my personal statement, and the admissions team will consider it?
Also, I understand that certain courses like Asian Studies mighhhht be easier (given my background), except that I am not interested in it, because that's the whole point. Why study something in America that can be found in Singapore?

Thank you for your encouraging reply. Lastly, do you mean that I should find a job (even if it's a finance job), study Astronomy on the side, then few years later I can apply? It's not like these courses have certifications like music or languages.

21 minutes ago, gughok said:

Masters' admissions tends to be more forgiving than PhD programs, to my understanding, and the degree of expertise assumed varies by program, but now I'm getting into things I don't really know that much about so I'll refrain from opining too much.

In any case I did not, by any means, intend to insinuate that you didn't have a chance at getting into grad programs! You are not stuck in business forever, far from it: my message was rather that if you apply spontaneously to a bunch of graduate programs for which you have no preparation at all, that might not be the best idea. You can get out of business, but as fuzzylogician ("That could involve anything from straight up applying now to taking a few extra courses or getting some research experience to doing a BA in the subject") says, it's probably not going to be as simple as applying to grad school straight out of a business BA when you've no familiarity with the subjects to which you're applying. That's all I meant to say =)

You ask how to find what you like best, given your education hasn't exposed you to it - really the best way to get an idea of what a field, at least in STEM, is like, is to read textbooks. If you want to know whether you'll like astronomy, I'd advise reading through some books on it (I don't have my actual cosmology textbook with me, but as far as the underlying physics goes, look through introductory mechanics textbooks e.g. Kleppner & Kolenkow, some introductory electromagnetism e.g. Purcell & Morin, look through Lang's assorted mathematics books, expand from there).

 

[fuzzylogician]

I was curious, since I know people who teach in Singapore things other than how to be a doctor or lawyer, so I searched a bit. Found this: 

http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/sea/research/archaeologyLab.html

http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/research/res_areas.html

http://www.spms.ntu.edu.sg/pap/

So NUS has at least some archeology. It's not clear to me that you can do a full degree, but you could gain some exposure. Similarly with astronomy, NUS and nanyang have physics but maybe not a whole degree in exactly what you want, the relevant background and intro courses probably exist. So I'd be careful when you say that there is nothing relevant in Singapore. The fact that you didn't have exposure didn't mean you couldn't have.

Also: 

https://www.coursera.org/courses/?query=archaeology&languages=en#

https://www.coursera.org/courses/?query=astronomy&languages=en

https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=archaeology

https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=astronomy

If you are serious about doing an advanced degree in a certain field, a good start is to get some relevant background. US grad schools will understand that you may not have had access to a full degree, but it looks very different if you say "I think I like X," and "I want to study X. My university didn't have a degree in X, but I took the relevant intro courses through department Y and studied further on my own through book Z/online course W/an independent study with V." One demonstrates actual steps toward preparing yourself to study X and could convince an adcom that you have at least some idea of what one actually studies in X, the other doesn't. 

I think at the moment you need to stop thinking about applying to grad school to start next year (you're probably already late even if you knew exactly what you wanted to do), and instead think about getting a job, learning to live as an adult and growing up a bit, and exploring more seriously options for what you might want to study next. Free online courses might be a very good way to do that while having a job. 

[Embers]

Hi Fuzzy,

I was probably more interested in Archaeo like dinosaurs or paleozoology. Yes, I am aware that there is Physics department in NUS. However, how our system works is that students cannot take cross-faculty modules. I am preallocated 4 business modules every semester, and there are other compulsory boring modules like "Singapore Studies". There might be some lower-level physics modules I can apply, but limited to "bid points", which are virtual currencies. Every semester you can get a 300, so freshmen are poorer as seniors can accumulate more points. The modules subjected to demand and supply. Thus, the one and only astronomy module GEK1520 which is only available once a year has a high bid point (http://www.cors.nus.edu.sg/Archive/201213_Sem1/avgbidinfo__1915_20122013s1.html). I was unable to take it as my points are used for those "compulsory" modules. That's another thing I am deeply frustrated about. We are unable to study anything we like, our curriculum is planned and rigid.

I will think and use those online sites. I want to apply to grad school next year because I'm worried that once I start working I'm worried that I won't have any time to study anyway. It's true as during my internships, I was so tired that I just want to SLEEP everytime I get home. Singapore is renowned for our longest working hours. http://statestimesreview.com/2015/06/16/singapore-maintains-its-no-1-ranking-in-longest-working-hours-in-the-world/.

I want to grow as a wholistic individual like well, American students. Who have hobbies, go to church, have extracurriculars. Now it seems I will either falling asleep due to exhaustion or working.

[fuzzylogician]

Listen, you're an adult. You made a choice to study a certain field for your BA. Maybe you were pressured into it, but you are an adult and you made a choice, and you have to live with the consequences. I am not American and didn't do my BA in the US. My degree also allowed for no classes outside the department, so I understand; the situation you are describing is not nearly as unusual as you seem to think it is. So I really wish you would stop blaming outside circumstances for your choices, because it's just not helping. You are at a certain place in life as a result of a set of circumstances, some of which you had a choice over (which degree to study) and some of which you might not have (the structure of the degree at your university). So is everyone else out there. Now what are you going to do about it? Stop complaining, and start doing something.

You want to make a different choice than you made before -- great! But you also have to be smart about it. I think this conversation is now reaching the end of where it's going to be productive. I have said twice already that in my opinion you are not ready for graduate school, you are unlikely to get in, and if you do get in, I think it's unlikely that it'll make you happy. You can't choose a future life based on a vague "I was probably more interested in Archaeo like dinosaurs or paleozoology," you have to do the legwork to know at the very least what field you want to be in, and probably also more than that (subfield, particular specialization, future career plans), and you have to convince a serious grad school that can prep you for that career that you can actually do it. So I think you need to first do the legwork, and only then figure out how to pursue whatever you converge on. I think that otherwise you will be wasting your time and your money. But if you are set on applying, then good luck to you. I hope you are lucky enough to stumble into something you will love, because I don't think you are able to make an informed decision about it at the moment. But I still wish you all the best. 

[Embers]

Hi Fuzzy,

I am probably one of those people who can't stop feeling regret about the past. My parents gave me money, so I just listen to whatever they say. I thought they always know better than me. I still don't think I'm an adult although my age is.

So now I am going to work after I graduate. And study lots of things I think I will be interested in and see if I am good in that. But really, I don't care about my career. I won't die with regrets if I manage to study masters. #There'salwaysmacdonalds. Money is only a problem now because I need to pay back student loan and cancer treatment, but after that? I don't care if I don't ever owe a house or car, since I'm not getting married. Think of it as rebellion. I just want do get something in this life so it won't be a waste. Yeah that sounds screwed up.

I am confident I can get ready for grad school, as I am sure I will be able to find a field I am good at and do the legwork.

Thank you.