Feeling apprehensive or even uncertain about University? Well, you are not alone. It has been proven by clinical psychologist R.N. Carleton (2016) that we fear the unknown because we generally like to have the ability to anticipate consequences by possessing knowledge. In this article, Digital Senior shares some useful information to help empower you with the knowledge that would hopefully allay some of common fears and concerns that pre-tertiary students might have with regards to University.

My grades don’t appear to be in the percentile range reflected in the Indicative Grade Profile, would it affect my chances of getting my ideal course?

“You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, 

but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it.”

Results are not everything. Admission officers take into account both aptitude and attitude. There’s interviews, selection tests… So chances are, there is still hope that you can get into the course you want by checking out these 9 steps.

One of my course mates had a really bad overall A’Level score, at the 10^th percentile range of the IGP, which meant that she was at risk of being unable to get into her first choice of course, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies. But she really wanted to get into my course and thankfully was able to persuade the Admission Officer of her genuine interest and passion for Linguistics, by showing that she took up the H2 English Language and Linguistics (ELL) subject for the A level’s and had self-learnt some basic Japanese through the admission interview. Similar to my friend, you too can appeal to the Admission Officer by reading this article.

So, take the IGP with a pinch of salt. It’s indicative not determinative and besides, the IGP is based on last year’s results. Perhaps everyone had burned their textbooks and drank them last year. Hmmm is that why the haze is so bad last year?

My grades in JC/polytechnic are not fantastic. I think that I will be the one tanking the ‘bell-curve’ for the others.

Keep calm, getting a bad grade isn’t the end of the world. Your grades should not be and should never be taken as value statements of your self-worth.

You can’t climb uphill by thinking downhill thoughts. So why not change your perspective? To be able to reach so far into the education system means that you have the resilience and ability to go even further. Not only that, there must be some capability or potential that the admissions tutors see in you in order to give you a place in the university.

“Use the self-fulfilling prophecy to your advantage and fake it till you make it.”

—Carolyn Kaufman

In my busiest semester, where I had continuous assignments and hall production rehearsals daily, I was stressed and scared. But I told myself that “I can do it! This too shall pass”. I fought, I persevered and I scored way better than I had expected with one of the best results in my University life.

So, be confident. Enter University with the mentality that ‘I can do it!’. This will motivate you and actually push you to achieve greater heights. As a result, you will be pretty surprised with what you can achieve.

I’m in NS currently and am thinking changing my course. Is it advisable???

“If Plan A didn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters. Stay cool.”

Firstly, answer the following 2 questions.

Have you matriculated yet? Have you accepted the reserved course yet?

If your answer is that you have not yet matriculated and has accepted the reserved course…

Congrats! You are free to apply for a change in course.

However, there are several things to take in mind:

Firstly, the reserved place in the original course you’ve applied for will remain unchanged up till the moment when your new application is successful.

Secondly, there is no penalisation for changing and every time you apply, it’s considered a fresh application, which means a new batch of applicants. This could mean an opportunity to get into the course that you previously could not get into!

Unfortunately, if you have matriculated already, you will have to go through an administrative process in order to do change course.

I am applying for a different field and is rather concerned about the challenges ahead. Is there any advice you can give me?

“How do you know that the side you used to is better than the one to come?”  — Rumi

Change is terrifying. Change is hard. You don’t know what to expect and as such it takes a lot of guts to do so.

But kudos to you for taking the first step to change. Coming from a different background means that you are able to bring a different perspective to the table. Which allows fresh insights where previously unavailable.

Change means more hard work. Tha pain of change is like the pain of exercise. You have to constantly push yourself in order to gain the toned body that you are aiming for. So build up the momentum and continue to move on!

Pain produces gain. The gain of resilience, confidence and the knowledge that you can overcome anything after this.

 “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” — Robin Sharma

I have succeeded in getting into University but I feel that I am not as capable as compared to the JC kids.

Truth to be told, JC kids also feel insecure around Polytechnic students! Even though JC kids might be stronger in the fundamentals, JC kids are really weak in the technical areas. As Polytechnic students, you guys have the advantage in having prior practise. Not only that, not all JC kids have a strong command in English as what most people commonly believe. Most JC kids struggle the most in scoring for the General Paper module.

Also, unlike the JC students, Polytechnic students are used to the structure of University and as such have the initial advantage in not having to adapt. The regular projects, GPA system, the lack of a fixed schedule…

“Nobody is superior, nobody is inferior, but nobody is equal either.

People are simply unique, incomparable. You are you, I am I.” — Osho

Everyone is unique and have their own struggles. So don’t compare and don’t doubt your capabilities! You are accepted into University because of your merits and not because where you come from.

So equip yourselves with these useful information and share with your friends before fearlessly delving into the unknown by clicking on the button below!