The Poly Life.

This entry would be for anyone who have the thoughts of coming to a polytechnic, and wondering if you are suitable for a polytechnic environment. Hopefully, it would be useful for you.

Firstly, I would like to say that this is from my point of view, and also after experiencing about 2.5 years in Singapore Polytechnic. Technically,  I won't be spending my entire last 0.5 years in campus due to Internship.

1. You need to be an INDEPENDENT learner

Your lecturers will be there to provide you with the basic theoretical knowledge, and also depending on how kind and loving your lecturer is, the amount of help given varies. So be prepared to even self-study topics, because sometimes, it as good as you did not attend the lecture (even if you were present). I would say about 60% of the assignments are individual and the remaining 40% is group work (as of my course of study), this varies among all the Diplomas. Furthermore, in polytechnic, your lecturer will not be always there to ask for your work to be submitted. In poly, it's simple: You hand in on time = You get your marks / You hand in late = Penalty, marks deducted / Way overdue or did not hand in = ZERO.

2. You need to be CONSISTENT

In poly, we go by the GEE-PEE-AYY (GPA) System, which I believe stands for grade point average or something along this line. In simple terms, it means that for each semester (every 4-5 mths), your grades for your semester will be accumulated all the way till your graduate. & in even simpler terms: DON'T F*** ANY OF YOUR SEMESTERS. Else, it is actually as good as dropping out (if yours can't be saved anymore). It is actually very difficult to get into universities (even with GPA 3.5), you might meet with a lot of competition.

& also, TRY to study consistently (please do so when you are in year 1, when you have more time), in year 2 and year 3 I'm ashamed that I did almost last minute studying, which obviously I did regret a little as my grades weren't that good (but still rather average or just above average).

Be consistent with your attendance too~

3. You need to spend money once in awhile

"What should I wear today/tomorrow/for presentation?" all these thoughts will creep you. So, being in a polytechnic, you would subconsciously want to get new clothes (not the extreme shopaholic),  somehow or rather you might start thinking "hmm, did they notice that I keep wearing this outfit, shirt, dress etc?" & also, for your presentations, you wouldn't want to have just 1 standard outfit. This includes BAGs, like normal school days use backpack, shorter days you might consider tote or handbag (girls) and for presentations, something that goes well with your outfit.

Also, FOOD is the cause of it. FOOD is everywhere in SP. We have small tuckshops and vending machines almost everywhere. So BEWARE!

4. You need to brace yourself for ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE

This is especially so if you are the one who really want to make full use of your time in poly and not waste your effort after deciding to endure 1 year more than JC kids. In poly, you get ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE, from the super hardworking ones to the SIBEH LEPAK PONTANG KIAs. I'm not exaggerating, I have ALL THESE PEOPLE throughout my 2.5 years in polytechnic. So brace yourself. 

But if you are really looking to graduate w/ Diploma with Merit, just try your best not to get grouped with the super lazy ones (you will eventually find out when your friends or classmates complain to you). But if you really damn SUAY or maybe "LUCKY" (tio 4D also not so easy), try your best to do your part, if there's any leecher or damn useless people (those who don't give ANY INPUT), you can always bring it up to the module lecturer. If no use, then go higher up, level coordinator, if still cannot, get the course manager. This is NOT SABO, this is called getting justice done. Because it doesn't make sense that if you did most or all of the work, that leecher should get the same marks when he/she didn't put in effort (but just because he/she is in the same group as you). Why short change yourself?

5. Try to get a CCA

This can really help widen up your social circle. Usually it does, unless your CCA has a lot of super stucked up, hard to please people. For me, I enjoyed myself, people around crack jokes, show concern when you look unhappy or stressed. & of course, having a CCA definitely gonna reflect well in your transcript when you graduate. Try getting a "cheaper" CCA if you are financially strapped. For me, I spent quite a lot since I was new to the sport.

6. Get yourself a good laptop

Don't get those from school. Cause they are bloody problematic (as according to my coursemates, like what motherboard spoil, etc). Get a laptop with long battery life, reasonable weight (mine is about 1.8kg with battery, 1.6kg w/o battery) from IT FAIR or Retail Shops (NOT SIM LIM). Then bring it to school for configuration. But please be prepared that your laptop will be lagger than before, cause the school configuration ultimate motive is to make your laptop LAG (just kidding, it's cause a lot of useless stuff). Get one that would last for 3 years, as I'm pretty sure you need to type a lot for projects and assignments.

7. Try to be nice to lecturers

I mean some of the lecturers who treat you well, you should treat them well also, by attending their lessons on time, submit work given by them on time, be courteous. All these will help eventually~ But of course, those who give you hell, you just try to accept it, but don't do HELL back at them. But just don't treat them too well (cause obviously they don't deserved your kindness).

Photo credits: GOOGLE.

I hope you kind of get the idea of polytechnic, definitely not somewhere to slack or lepak if you want to have a good job in future (which means you need a minimum of a DEGREE).

Any other questions, you can comment on this post or ask them on ask.fm/mikoyeo