the S'pore Management University (SMU) prides itself on being different; different admission criteria, different pedagogy, and different students. there's no doubt it's a whole different culture here. and that's about all there is in the applicant's mind, though he might not know how different SMU is.

the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) carries a bad name, literally. Nanyang is just too Chinese to English speaking people, even those who act English. and Technological sounds (almost) like a taboo. the bad name translates into a conservative image of an old-school institution that does not evolve with time.

and a toast to the SMU brand promotion campaigns. SMU is known to be different. well "different" sounds good, especially to those who are not different. the numbers look great on the SMU factsheet: in 2006, 80% of graduating students received job offers before graduation day, and 100% were employed within 6 months of graduation.

the question is, is being different also being better? also in 2006, 9 in 10 NTU graduates were offered jobs either before graduation or within a month of graduation. and 98% found jobs within 4 months. and average salary figures for the business graduates stand at S$2939 for the conservatives and $2850 for the liberals.

i hate to look at education through such corporate lenses. but it does reveal that being different does not necessarily mean being better. the SMU philosophy of seminar classes does encourage active class participation. but the lecture and tutorial class system might work better for some people, like me.

and i'm certain that SMU students are not that different after all. they might be more outspoken and better groomed. but the substance might be severely wanting. and many in SMU speak bad English the way plenty of NTU people do. thing is, people won't become different just by entering a "different" school.

Disclaimer: i'm not saying that NTU's better than SMU. NTU might be contemplating a name change (don't underestimate the significance of a brand). but the Nanyang elder still has a lot to work on, especially its Chinese culture. SMU has its edge; nothing comes close to its urban campus, which not only learns, but also lives.

and the moral of the tale: the best might not be the best for you. walk the path that's best to you, not to people. and whatever you are, be a good one!