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S’porean Woman Recalls Date Saying He Would Only Date Someone From “NUS, NTU or SMU,” Sparks Debate Online
Some feel he's entitled to his preferences, while others judged him for the very specific criteria.
It’s perfectly normal to have dating preferences — but how common is it to size someone up based on the university they attended?
Singaporean TikToker Neha (@tbh.neha) recently sparked discussion after sharing a video about a date where the man revealed his rather… specific criteria when it came to a potential partner’s educational background.
“You know how there’s certain things you think in your head but never say out loud because you’re socially aware enough to know you shouldn’t say them?” Neha said.
She explained that while discussing what they look for in a partner, her date shared that he profiles women based on where they graduated from.
Neha recalled: “He was like ‘oh I want someone who is educated and has a university degree’. Fair enough, I understand why that would be a want. But he continued ‘I would prefer if they were from NUS, NTU, or SMU. If [they’re from] SUSS, I would be like hmm’.”
The comment caught Neha off guard. While she herself is an NTU graduate, the bluntness of his remark made him come across as elitist.
She added that she “couldn’t believe he said that,” quipping: “As if I wanted to be picked, bro.”
To test his stance, Neha posed a hypothetical: what if he met his dream girl — someone who ticked every box, was highly successful in her career, but only held a diploma and never attended university?
According to Neha, he said he wouldn’t “continue” seeing her.
“To each their own, but I don’t know if that’s the kind of thing you say out loud,” Neha remarked.
Netizens were sharply divided over the date’s controversial take.
Some defended his honesty, arguing that being upfront about preferences prevents resentment later on.
“I actually prefer if men are honest like this. Stop shaming them. Some men will get into a relationship with a girl that doesn’t meet 100 per cent of his [criteria] and then grow to resent her for things she cannot change easily. We should all be honest in the dating market,” one commenter wrote.
Another echoed a similar view: “Women date upwards. There’s nothing wrong. At the same time, I don’t see anything wrong with his preference. If he is from any prestigious university, he has every right to expect the same of his partner.”
Others, however, sided with Neha.
Many described the man as “immature” and “shallow”, saying he had yet to “see enough of the world”.
Another netizen pointed out that while it’s reasonable to value education, judging someone’s worth solely by their school or grades misses the bigger picture.
“Education alone doesn’t define a person’s intelligence, values, or personality — there’s so much more to who someone is,” they wrote.
So what do you think — was he justified in being so vocal about his preferences, or should some thoughts stay unspoken on a first date?
