my story
got into aviation while in the airforce, operated UAVs seacher system, after ORD went to states to do CPL and time building, came back 1300+ hrs, 1000 multi, on the verge of landing the pilot job for starhub airship then 911 happened.
then odd jobs for 2 years, got called back for airship job, started as a crew and endured for a year of kicking around finally got lighter than air rating, did airship pilot for 1 yr+ in states
then stop airship life, got 1600+ and ATPL, came back went for SIA cadet, no joy, becoz no degree, at the meantime SIA advertising for cadets in malaysia and india.
present age 39, too late liao
long story short, if not sponsored dun do it, singapore its one of the few countries in the world that does not take care of its own citizens.