The "True" Cost of Everything...

Total investment of overseas studies = around $100k.

Total return from overseas studies = unknown.

I would like to rationalise with people who might find it crazy to fork out that kinda $$ for 1 year of overseas education, especially for a MSc degree that doesn't seem to be valued much by employers. Initially I thought so too.

$100k could do so many things, not forgetting the opportunity cost of me not starting work and earning $$ makes the costs even higher. I am not young anymore (25 this year). Compared to my female peers my age, some of them will have already worked for 3 years by the time I graduate. That's a lot of headstart which I have to make up! Also considering the state of the finance industry now, it's difficult to secure a job I want. My options after graduation seems pretty bleak at the moment, but I am not worrying so much about it now. My priority is to do well and hopefully graduate with distinction so as not to let my parent's money go to waste.

Nonetheless, I believed I have grown as a person and gained some new perspectives in life with my decision. While i totally agree the education is not worth the obscene amount of money LSE charges, but there are some positives to come out of it. Some intangibles that are difficult to quantify in monetary terms. For example, I learn to be more independent aka doing housework and cooking. Indeed, I find shopping for groceries quite thereupatic and cooking quite a nice departure from the monotony of school life. I also become more aware of things I am previously impervious to. Before coming to London, I admit to being politically and religiously insensitive. Looking back, I attiribute it to exposure. For example in Singapore, I do not follow the political elections because I take it for granted that PAP will always win. As such, there is not much say one can bring and therefore I do not have an opinion. In London, I started coming into contact with politics through newspapers, television and conversations so much so that I have been catching up with the US presidential elections with much interest. Indeed I recommend anyone who is free to go check it out. It's really quite interesting, especially the parliamentary debates.

So to answer the question whether it is worth the $$ and time, I seriously cannot answer. Perhaps only time will tell...