AY 16/17 Sem 2 NUS module review

UPDATED ON 22 JULY 2017 WITH RESULTS
Before entering university, I used to spend HOURS reading blogs of undergrads who reviewed the modules they took for the semester and I found it really useful, although the experience of each module for every person may be different (due to their own interests in the module / different lecturers or change in syllabus for different semesters). I did not have the time to do so last semester, but I'm going to do one this sem!!! WOOHOO. I think it's good to reflect on how much I've learnt from each mod after going through 13 weeks of learning that particular content, since university isn't really just grades to me. I always find myself questioning how I will be using this for my future career, just so that I don't fall into the trap of studying for the sake of it, because I believe that university is the place where I get to learn what I truly have interest in and couldn't do so during my past educational journey due to practical reasons. Anyways coming back to the topic of this post, the modules I took this sem were: GL2101 (core), GE2202 (core/2nd Major/UE), GE2229 (core/2nd Major/UE), GER1000 (ULR), LAK2201 (core) and UTC1411 (UTCP, JS). I'll introduce the module in a brief paragraph (what the mod is about and my experience) followed by what I liked and disliked about this module, assessment criteria and if I'll recommend it to others or not. Oh and also my expected grade and MAAAAYBE update with my final grade when I get back the results! Ok leggo.

1. GL2101: Origins of the Modern World 

Guess I'm starting off with my core module which was really felt like a burden this whole sem. If you've taken history before in JC / read up about European history before, it'll probably just be a recap for you. I only studied 2 years of history in secondary sch as en elective and I really disliked history in the past (until this mod happened) as it seemed to be just memorisation of facts and outcomes and regurgitating out during exams to me. The learning curve was really steep for me since I had literally 0 knowledge on European history or Asian history before I took this mod (unless you count JS1101E but japan was hardly mentioned during this module besides their participation in WW2). I got a C for my midterms (I still think I deserved at least a B- zz) and A- for the term paper so today's finals was really gonna determine how badly (or well) I do for this mod. I'm glad to say that after 14 hours of chionging my cheat sheet the day before the finals, I managed to do my paper well imo (but may not translate into good marks lmao). 4700 words on 1 side of an A4 paper is no freaking joke!!! Do start early if Prof Graf allows for the cheat sheet again next time. The cheat sheet really helped though, I was copying all the information that was relevant to the questions I attempted, which was about 1/4 of the cheat sheet (1100~ words) so the time spent doing the cheat sheet was really worth it. Don't be lazy and not do the cheat sheet (I saw some people with quite bare cheat sheets) unless your brain has 1TB of space and you can memorise 13 weeks worth of readings and pick out the right information under the stress and time constraint during finals.

This module covered 15th to 21st century focusing on the major powers and their statehood / ideologies and key events that happened throughout the time period that shaped the world to what it is today; hence the title Origins of the Modern World. I usually hate history but this mod covered really interesting topics if you make the connections between the different time periods and see the big picture. 4 major segments included Early Modern Globalisation (Colonialism by European and their colonial networks of production and exchange), Revolutions (American/French/Haitian and Industrial), European Imperialism (Ideologies, Practices and Asian/Colonial Responses) and 20th-21st century history (WW1,WW2 + Cold War & Third World).

What I liked about this mod: t's really ALOT of information to understand and cram in 4.5 months and it was really hard at the beginning as I couldn't make links between what I was learning and the modern world. But after going through the whole syllabus, I can say that all (only 2 lol) the global studies modules I've taken so far are extremely challenging BUT SATISFYING because I really learnt a lot from them and I think that's what I want out of my university education :) Even if the final grade isn't good / pulls down my CAP this sem, I think I'll be happy with what I've taken away from this module because I am really able to understand the world better now. 

What I disliked about this mod: The prof often mumbles to herself when she gets carried away in her train of thoughts and speaks quite softly (100% volume was barely sufficient to listen to her electure) so once you lose track and let your mind wander off during lectures, you'll have a hard time getting back into it and that's what happened to me for 2-3 lectures. There is no webcast / recording for this module so it was a MUST to attend lectures on Fridays 4pm-6pm. What I've learnt from this sem: 1. Do NOT take mods that have finals on the same day, even if you have to replan all your mods and timetable to take a different mod, DON'T EVER TAKE 2 FINALS ON THE SAME DAY LOL. So freaking shag now but I'm destressing through this haha just really glad that today is almost over and I can happily revise my GE2229 after I get some sleep. 2. DO NOT PLAN FRIDAY 4-6 LECTURES EVER AGAIN. Everyone will be TGIF-ing while you drag yourself to take D1 to arts for lecture. Not cool pong, don't ever do it again. I could have taken another core module to avoid these 2 problems but oh well. At least I'm done with 1 core module!!!

ASSESSMENT: 

20% tutorial participation

25% midterm paper (due ~wk 6): C

25% term paper (due ~wk 12): A- example of a prompt: How do Marx and Engels discuss the connections between imperialism and industrial capitalism? Based on their text, do you think it is fair to say that the origins of capitalism are global in nature?

30% finals

Expected grade: B-/B/B+ i really dk because her marking is really weird.
Final grade: B-
I OFFICIALLY HATE THIS MODULE. Jk I hate how the bell curve is skewed towards those who already have a background in history and how the prof conducts her lectures. The readings were q intense too and looking back, I can only remember the stuff I wrote on my cheatsheet. Getting B- overall shows that having a cheatsheet doesn't make the finals any easier. Because everyone has their own cheatsheet too so how you answer the question will distinguish you from other students.

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? No. Hell no. Unless you are a global studies major or minor. This is a non-s/u-able mod that gave me so much stress over the past week if you still haven't felt it from what you've read BUT IF YOU'VE TAKEN H2 history before and you want to wreck the bellcurve for GL Majors, why not :) trust me you'll get karma. HAHAHAH kidding but really, unless you have legit interest in this mod / confident of doing well, don't take it. Even if you have interest in history, just take some history mod not this GL core!!! 

2. GE2202: Economy and Space [A disappointment and regret taking this mod now that I look back on it.]

This mod can be counted under the global economics and development theme for GL. Throughout this whole sem I thought I found my calling. The textbook for this module was "Economic Geography" and that's precisely what I like and wanted to do in uni. Until I sat for finals today. Maybe it's just because I wasn't well prepared for finals but I felt SO drained during this paper and questioned myself for taking this module LOL. Anyways, topics included Capitalism, Finance, State, Tech Change, TNC, Spaces of Consumption, Commodity chains, Clusters, Gendered and Ethnic communities, Labour Power.

What I liked about this mod: Quite a chill module, but the readings no chill!!! But the lecturer is pretty famous in this field + entertaining + damn friendly / fatherly + practical + GIVES EXAM TOPICS that I didn't prepare lmao = BEST LECTURER IN MY LIFE SO FAR HONESTLY. He is able to impart his knowledge to us in a coherent and interesting manner. It sounds so simple to accomplish but somehow it is v rare to find lecturers like him who can do both. Tutorials were okaaaaaay not compulsory but do go for the first tutorial to choose your group mates for the presentation. He seems pretty chill in marking too, my research paper on UNIQLO seemed more like a marketing paper (even I felt that same way but I was more concerned with my GL2101 term paper to focus so much on this) but I guess my research for it (went to the flagship store to take photos and interview a manager) convinced him to change my B+ to A-. 

What I didn't like about this mod: READINGS NO CHILL LA. 60 pages a week is insane. Even global studies ain't 60 pages. Ok that's my only complaint. HAHA. OH and 30% per essay for finals is a really high weightage, would have preferred more CA.

ASSESSMENT:

10% group presentation on a commodity chain/TNC's GPN: 6-7/10

30% research essay: A-

60% finals (2 essays, so each is 30%)

Expected grade: B/B+ (really screwed up 1 of the essays for finals today sigh I don't even want to find out what the answer should be, but thank god this is an S/U-able mod just in case I do really badly)
Final grade: B+ 
I actually wanted to get B for this and S/U it LOL but feels weird to be stuck with this average grade because I don't feel like I've learnt much from this module, maybe because it felt like a recap of A level globalisation. As much as I found the prof v entertaining, I was looking forward to new knowledge about the economy and space that I've not learnt before but it seems like I expected too much from this module. Really regret taking this module in this sem as I should have taken IEM2 and S/Ued it instead. 

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? If you really have interest in economic geography i.e. the topics I mentioned above + ready to read 60 pages per week :D but I'll say take it, the lecturer is really good :) no. 

3. GE2229: Water and Environment 

This mod can be counted under the global health and environment theme for GL. The only reason I took this mod was in case I wanted to do a 2nd major in geog because that means I need to overload for arnd 4/5 sems and better to start now than later. But overloading meant I needed a chiller mod, and this had damn slack assessment criteria. No class part + papers + presentations / projects is THE LIFE LA. Perhaps the most chill mod I'll ever take in NUS. Me likey :)

What I liked: CHILL. I expected an intense H2 geog recap of hydrology + more depth & breadth but it was only around 30% hydro + 20% ATMO for before midterms (no kidding for midterms both the open ended questions were on atmo; hurricanes and El Nino): Water elements, Rainfall, Groundwater, Hydrology of Water Basins, Fluvial elements of geomorphology and Hydro Hazards (more like ATMO HAZARDS) + new COOL stuff after midterms like Cryosphere, The Global Ocean, Aquatic continuum, Impact of humans on aquatic continuum, Potable water and waste water treatment and Water conservation and management. I have a Y3 senior in Env Studies who didn't go for a single lecture and just chionged the webcasts a few days before midterms and she got an A. Yup. So after midterms I didn't really attend lectures (partly because of Korean project / papers due) and watched webcasts last week. All you need is 20~ hours to watch all the webcasts and internalise the information and you are ready for finals :D Oh and tutorials were DAMN chill too. You can even go without preparing for the tutorial and smoke your way through and be there just in case he teaches impt stuff. We even played quizzes in groups during the last tutorial and my group got 1 mark added to our overall grade because we got first. I think there are enough examples to prove to you how chill this mod is ayeeee. 

What I disliked: It's the lecturer's first time teaching in NUS, so that's why it's probably so chill. BUT he really can't give lectures la idk how he got employed by nus but he was literally just reading off the slides and the only interesting parts of lectures were the Youtube videos he showed. He is a good tutor though, just can't teach in a big setting I guess. Hope it gets better next sem after the feedback he receives!!

ASSESSMENT:

40% midterms: A-

60% finals 

Expected grade: A- as of now before I start my final revision LOL shall update after the paper tmrw.
Final grade: B+ 
The bell curve was a wrecker. Didn't expect to do this badly considering how easy the content was + A- for mid terms but I guess everyone did well too. 

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? yes. duh. is it not chill enough? HAHA you will have to endure the boring lecturers but it's worth it.
Take it only if you need to clear the tropical change group and want a mod with light workload, but be prepared to get B+ unless you work really hard for A- and above.

4. GER1000: Quantitative Reasoning
Compulsory module. Topics include Design of Studies, Association, Sampling, Probability and Networks.

What I liked about this mod: uhhhhhh it was hard to like this mod at first but I found networks really interesting!!! Stuff like closeness centrality measure, degree centrality measure,  between centrality measure and Bacon number. Found it really relevant to real life after going through the mod so even though it seems like a burden (cuz no one CHOSE to do this, it's pre-allocated to us, you don't do you don't graduate hehe), eventually I was able to apply what I learnt after the mod ended so I guess it was good!! PLUS MY TUTOR WAS ONE OF THE BEST ONES OMO damn lucky. He was quirky yet funny and kept encouraging us. Best tutor I've met so far, rest of the tutors that aren't the prof are just MEH useless.
What I disliked about this mod: Electures are a BORE. I just read the script + summaries by my tutor.

ASSESSMENT:
5% IVLE quizzes: 4.2/5? Missed one quiz :x
10% Class part: Should be 8/9? DEPENDS ON YOUR TUTOR. There are 5 tutorials and 5 members in each group so my tutor made sure that everyone in the group answered questions for the tutorial once.
20% Midterm test: 12/16 (Average LOL bell curve was v steep for this sem as compared to last sem)
25% Group Project: 17%~ish? Had some good teammates so it wasn't a bad experience. Met up about once or twice a week fm wk 9-11 to finish it up.
40% Finals: I felt that it was ok but IDK LOL all depends on the bell curve :/

Expected Grade: B+
Final grade: B+

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? you don't have a choice XD

5. LAK2201: Korean Level 2
Hmmmmm because I declared that I had background knowledge when I NEVER HAD FORMAL KOREAN LESSONS BEFORE ugh stupid pong just because I declared I watched kdramas for arnd 7 years I was not allowed to take level 1 and my appeal failed so I sucked it up and studied for around 1 week before the placement test, and got into level 2. The difficulty level was okaaaaaay since it's the beginner course but rlly glad that I got Han Ji Won as my lecturer!! Lectures/tutorials are q fun :) Always looked forward to it although it was 2 times a week @10am but it never felt like a legit lesson, I really enjoyed myself!  We learnt writing, speaking, listening and reading. Before I started level 2, I always thought that speaking was easiest to learn since I picked it up by watching shows BUT NOOOOOO oral is damn hard wth. Much more fluent in reading + listening > writing & speaking now sigh. Looking forward to level 3 but kind of afraid to go all the way to level 5 :( really hope this doesn't kill my passion for korean.
What I liked: Fun fun fun lessons. Fun and cute teacher. We sang "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" in Korean for the last lesson to round up what we learnt SECUTES. And fun and open classmates too!
What I disliked: Little guidance, the teacher just covered what was in the lecture notes. CA is only 40% but SO MANY ASSIGNMENTS D: I was the most on the ball for this mod because of all the CA LOL. 2 written assignments, 2 oral (individual + pair) + 2 exams = every alternate week there is something due for this mod.
ASSESSMENT:
25% Performance (participation, oral performance)
60% Mid -term test (76/100), Final- term test
15% Assignments: 10.5/15

Expected grade: Really unsure for this mod but still chill this sem since I can s/u if I don't get B+ hmm. B/B+
Final grade: B+
Moving onto Level 3 next sem and the class size is getting real small, hoping that the bell curve doesn't screw me up though.
And really hoping that I get Han Ji Won as my lecturer/tutor again I love her teaching style :)

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? If you have real interest. 'Nuff said.

6. UTC1411: Systems, Systems, Everywhere
I FOUND ZERO reviews on Junior Seminars for UTCP and honestly it frustrated me but I guess most people just ask seniors for reviews personally.
What I liked: Chill, 3 hour per week session to fulfil my UTCP requirement lol the most chill mod out of all utcp mods since it's auto s/u. SUPER EYE-OPENING FIELDTRIPS to see how different systems worked:
1. 1925 Micro-brewery (still miss all that craft beer we got to drink hehe)
2. Jurong Port Fishery: Hai Sia
3. Direct Funeral Services

What I disliked: Prof was too chill. and damn inflexible. I handed up both reflections a few days late because they were due @ same time as my global studies papers + I was sick during both periods LOL but he halved all my scores for the 32% omg. So this sem I experienced 2 weeks of UTC1411 reflection + GL2101 25% paper deadlines while being sick. Even though its an auto s/u mod I still wanted to get a good grade but oh well whatever as long as I passed and learnt something from this module I guess.
ASSESSMENT:
30% quizzes
38% presentation
32% Reflections

SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? no. there are more meaningful js out there. but if you are overloading and need a chill mod then take it :)

Alright I guess that's it for this sem! Really enjoyed all the modules this sem, it has been a really fulfilling semester and perhaps the most I've grown as a person in such a short period of time. Looking forward to summer!!!
1. CAPTSLAM Exco
2. CAPT FOC councillor
3. Arts camp councillor
4. CE Day Project Leader
5. MOVING HOUSE IN JUNE
yaaaaaaaaas summer here I come in 20 hours :)))

Continue reading AY 16/17 Sem 2 NUS module review

mini round-up of 1st Year in NUS/CAPT

honestly, CAPT feels like everything to me in university that studies plays such a small role so this post is going to be mainly about CAPT :)
Thank you for the experiences I never knew I'll go through, for the countless opportunities where I was able to step out of my own comfort zone and get to know myself so much better, pushing to me be the best version of myself and striving to continuously grow and learn everyday, taking small steps at a time but giving me a goal in sight to work towards.
It has truly been an amazing year in CAPT, with all kinds of overwhelming emotions that I'm still learning to cope with, but I really cannot imagine living somewhere else or even not living on campus at all. University life would have been so, so much different if I did not make that last minute impulse decision to follow my gut feeling and apply for UTCP/CAPT, and talking to the seniors that I did to correctly choose the room/floor I'm staying in now. I guess that's just life, and that's just fate. It hasn't been an easy journey, rather it has been filled with ups and downs but I'm still v grateful for everything that has happened, be it the good or the bad. Even as I'm typing now, I hear people screaming from the lounge LOL perks of living on the mixed floor but there's nowhere else I rather be.
I promised myself that this will be a short post just to write out all the thoughts and feelings that I have now, as 2 farewell parties/dinner just ended this week. Plus my phone TOTALLY CRASHED and hanged at the apple logo / "white screen of death" during formal dinner till the next day so I was pretty deprived of social media / any forms of communication for 24 hours, which made me reflect quite a bit too. Really regret not saving / backing up my photos from May 2016 or even submitting the warranty form online. Not really worried about the photos in CAPT that I lost since I know I can easily get it back / it was good to get rid of all the clutter that I couldn't bear to delete myself. Just kind of sad that I will never get back photos with you since we aren't on talking terms anymore, if there is that small chance that you are reading this, I'll really appreciate it that you send them to me :') But since the possibility of that is close to none, I guess some photos will remain etched in my heart and I can remember them without the soft copies. I hope that you are still smiling as brightly, or living an even happier life than you had when you were with me, because you deserve it. I hope that you can find someone who will be there for you when you need and loves all of you for who you are. On some nights I still find myself missing your presence but I guess you've moved on and having me back in your life won't do you any good since all I did was to bring you down. So please be happy and work towards your dreams :) You may have been in my life for a short period of time but I don't regret any of it, and I'll always remember you. I find myself hoping to find traces of you when I cross the road for meals or when I go to places we went together before, but I just smile to myself knowing that I'm blessed that we happened before and hope that now you are in some place better, with someone who deserves you more than me. Now I'm back to being the "strong and independent" girl that I was before I met you, although I don't know if it is just a facade, but so many people tell me that they see me that way. Part of me wants it to be true, but another part of me just wants someone whom I can rely on emotionally and physically. Quoting what one of my closest friends in CAPT once said, "I'm coping better now, but it still gets lonely at times when you recall what you once had but things can never go back to the way it was before." But I guess that's just life, and I hate telling myself to just suck it up and hang in there even though there isn't much of a choice aye. Ok moving onto the proper round-up.
1. 6 mods: The past few weeks ever since recess week have been crazy and a constant struggle to balance studies, socialising, house-head campaigning, SAC events, CAPT events, new room and new house stuff on top of emotions that I want to stop feeling and the flu bug that just won't go away :'(
It still feels very ambiguous about how my results for this semester would turn out. I thought that all hope was lost after getting 76/100 for Korean midterms (the 75/23 percentile and avg/median marks were only out in around week 11..? AFTER I SCREWED UP MY ORAL TEST) and my first ever (depressing) C for GL2101 midterms. Taking 2 geog mods this sem, one of which I got an A- for my 40% midterms, on top of the C for global studies just swayed me towards officially changing my major to geography next sem. So for the past few weeks I was already kind of decided on geog as my first major (I just found out I cannot do double degree in FASS as geog and global studies are both in FASS SIGH it doesn't make sense when one is a social science degree while the other is an arts degree though FASS PLS RECONSIDER THIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE BEFORE I GRAD!!! HEHE) and global studies as my second major/minor (since taking global studies as a second major isn't really allowed as the language commitment is damn high for a second major). BUT I JUST GOT BACK MY TERM ESSAY FOR GLOBAL STUDIES AND IT'S A FREAKING A-??? *does happy dance* My first ever A- for a global studies module (I got B and B+ for last sem's GL1101E)...and now I'm really conflicted LOL, but it's not time to decide yet so I shan't think about it yet. Still gonna take GE1101E and GE2101 next sem because I'll still do a second major in geog if I stick to global studies heh. (I'll be 4 or 5/12 mods done with it by next sem yaaaaaaay!!)
Got back JS results which was pretty bad because of my two late submissions for reflections that are 32 marks in total LOL shit but as long as its a pass its fine la hahaha thanks for being such a chill module this semester with fun-filled fieldtrips!!!!
Really hope that I do well this semester as I'll probably apply for scholarships next sem :> JIAYOU PONG ANOTHER 3 WEEKS HANG IN THEREEEE!

2. SAC: Our journey together is gonna be over real soon, but thank you guys for everything. I've learnt so much and had so much fun with y'all. Still remember when I first got in and Xuan told me "Goodbye, you sold your soul and time to SAC". All our planning, pre-preparation and execution of the past 5 events and welfare packs has really taken up alot of my time, but I'm glad to say that I never found it a chore and was really excited to go through it with yall :') To the director whom I was frustrated with at the start, thank you for accepting me into the wonderful comm, allowing me to learn and grow so much in a short period of time. I may not agree with your leadership style (esp how you tank everything by yourself sometimes) but thanks for opening my eyes to so many views/ ways of doing stuff. Invaluable takeaways and memories from SAC that I'll always treasure.

3. House-Head elections: As expected, I didn't get the job. But not so expected was how close I was to almost getting it. Thank you ROC for having so much faith in me, I'm really touched by everyone who voted for me despite me not being in house comm and I'm sure yall know about the profanities (such a nice word for not so nice words HAHAHAH) I say at times, thank you for being so accepting of me and thanks to those who told me not to give up on my dreams and pushed me along the way. To Lenard and Tammy, I always thought that both of you will get it when we had those late-night convos about what we wanted to change in ROC / what we felt the house comm should do. Thank you for sharing your honest opinions and having faith in me as the person you wanted to work with. To Tammy, thank you for trusting us and showing us your vulnerable side and know that we are always here to support you through it all next year, you are never alone in this!! To Lenard, when I first dumped the idea of running for it on you, I never expected that you'll choose me as who you wanted to work with but thank you so much for believing that I had the potential to do it with you. And lastly to Nova, till now it's still mixed feelings because I know the chances of me getting it would be v high if I didn't trigger you to run for it, but I'm really happy that you got it too as I know that the house will be in safe hands, and you are strong enough to handle criticisms and keeping Tammy on the right track. I'll always be here for you and you are not alone too bro <3 May ROC be great again under the wings of you two!!

4. Honestly idk what subheading to give to this section and I need to leave for home soon, but I guess I'll just call it the closure. It has been a tiring sem for me, with emotions that I don't really want to deal with but I know I must. Kind of got myself into shit if not for that night. If I didn't take my things from the lounge to go study with you. If I didn't tell you the truth about what I felt last semester for someone, which prompted you to trust your secrets with me, that I'm sorry to say I'm not going to be the only one bringing it to my grave as I had to share this burden with others because of my feelings that they wouldn't be able to understand if I didn't tell your part of the story. But I know it has to end now, before I fall any deeper or get even more confused about what this is. Just know that I'll always be here for you, to listen to your woes and empathising with you because I know how it feels. Just sad that this kind of feels like what happened 3/4 years ago, with me having to deal with my feelings myself and not being able to tell the other party in fear of ruining the friendship. But yes, I realised till today it's still friendship > relationship for me so I'm going to be thankful for what we already have and know where to draw the boundaries for myself to feel for you..hopefully. Like what you said, it's tiring to feel so much for someone but not being able to tell the person or just going for it based on your feelings. I guess it's even more tiring for me to hear all these from the person I kind of like, but knowing that we cannot happen because of what you are feeling for someone else. Part of me wishes that you never mentioned that we could happen if not for the circumstances you are in now, which gave me a glimmer of hope to wait for you. But I guess one semester of waiting is enough for me, since it looks like you are still going to be in this situation for some time to come and we both know it's unfair to just date without considering what you are going through. Another almost-relationship, but its time for me to move on. I just hope that these 3 months won't be painful without you, and that you will not be in too much pain too. We are still so young, with so much future ahead of us, let's not let this affect our personality / give up hope on love. There is so much love in this world, to give and to receive, and love is what keeps the world going. I will still love you, but as a friend like I've always felt and not hope for more anymore.

OKAY TIME TO GO HOME AND RECUPERATE. FLU BUG PLEASE LEAVE ME BEFORE INTENSE READING WEEK!!!!!! Really worn out from the constant studying/ rushing of assignments that seemed never-ending over the past 3 weeks which included 2 30% essays, 3 presentations and a 40% finals. Glad that week 13 was much chiller but emotionally heavier because of the 2 farewells. bye week 13, you've been a great one :')
Here's just some photos in case my phone decides to wipe out all my photos again :<

Continue reading mini round-up of 1st Year in NUS/CAPT

Academic | SMU Discovery Day

I can still vividly remember the mugger life I had just a few months ago while studying for A levels - the lectures/tutorials, the endless tests and mock exams, staying in school to study till 930/10pm, weekly consultations with HODs for econs/geog/maths, and near the end when I only had to go back to NYJC for 1/2 days a week, the 11-10 mugging sessions at Civic Center Starbucks or 10-9 sessions at Woodlands Regional Library. I was just an average mugger and another student thrown in the rat race against time (or actually, against A levels), and looking back now, I know I could have studied much harder and started mugging earlier. While I have my regrets, let's just say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and that's another story for another day.

Now all that is done and over, and I got back my results about a month ago. I believe that everyone has a set of expectations for themselves and we should not judge when someone who got perhaps 85 rank points say that they are not pleased with their score, even when in the eyes of others the results are already very good and more than capable of securing a place in most university courses. The amount of hard work and effort everyone put in is different, and hence the difference in results. They themselves know how hard they worked for A levels, and I'm sure they are many who feel like their results do not reflect their effort. 

As for myself, I was not entirely happy with my results. B for H1 chem when I put in so much effort even after downgrading from H2 chem, makes me feel like I wasted my time on it when I could have spent that time on my H2 subjects instead. On the other hand, B for H2 maths was a complete relief and felt like a present for me, so much that it made me cry after seeing my results. I've been to the pits of hell and I made it back alive. I'm not exaggerating when I say pits of hell haha. I can't find a better phrase than that for 0.3 percentile. Hall of shame maybe? LOL. I can say that I'm not the happiest person with my results, but I can't be more grateful for some grades. 

Most typical kiasu people will apply for all the 3 universities in Singapore, get accepted in all 3 and then choose 1 by 1 June. Until then, many places will be hogged and some will only get a place after 1 June. But then again, they have every right to "chope" the places since they worked hard for their results to secure a place, right? 

What schools did I apply for? 

I was not THAT kiasu and only applied for NUS at first. I was torn between Environmental Studies (my passion, but 70% employment rate plus so limited job scope in SG), Business (stereotyped as the course that if you have good grades just go there for a good paying job in the future) and FASS (econs/geog/global studies/political science/sociology), but eventually I put FASS as my first choice and I got accepted 2 days later. At that point I was contemplating applying for SMU because hey, already got place at NUS right? What for apply for SMU and have to reject NUS/SMU later on and waste $10/$15 respectively? Everyone tells me that the fee is peanuts and nothing compared to what it entitles. But I applied for SMU not because I want to hog 2 places or go around boasting that I got into smu and nus, but because I really couldn't choose between SMU and NUS. I knew from the start that I could not decide yet so I just applied for one, with the intention that maybe getting accepted into NUS will make me give up on SMU or vice versa. But 4 years (and my future) isn't something to play with so here I am writing this post because I got accepted into SMU too and I'M QUITE LOST ON WHICH TO CHOOSE NOW.
SMU Discovery Day 
My first thoughts are the same as anyone reading this, "Discover what?? Means you accept me anot??"
I only applied for SMU on the last day of application at 11.30pm and I did not get any news until around 7 days later. I was kind of panicking because I knew they wouldn't reject me as my results were way above the cut off. But hey they are about holistic education right? I thought that this year's pool of applicants were also full of achievements and I was pushed aside by them. But the call came and I was informed that my application was successful and I did not need to attend any interviews, instead I was to attend this SMU Discovery Day that lasted 3 hours. I was about to send in an email to say I wanted to change my first choice to biz but they called me to say I was accepted into School of Economics (SOE) just before I sent in the email. Talk about timing haha maybe its fate. I think that this is their first year of implementation and I found some information on their website at http://admissions.smu.edu.sg/content/smus-commitment-holistic-admissions-faqs !!
To sum up what they mean, interviews are still compulsory except for a select group of shortlisted applicants. 

Applicants are selected on the basis of their strong academic and co-curricular records as well as evidence of qualities such as critical thinking, communication skills and positive attitude.

They feel that after 15 years of interviewing students they have found the secret formula (HAHA just kidding) to finding applicants who do well at interviews and after admission, do very well in SMU, just by looking at their applications. It's written in your face on the website.

Thus, for this group of students, they will be shortlisted on the basis of the quality of their submission, and be invited to visit SMU on “SMU Discovery Day”. 

All I can say is that this just shows how important your application is and to treat it very seriously, don't think that grades are everything because grades are just one factor, in addition to many other factors (which I also believe are more important) like your CCA achievements, life experiences and attitude.
And don't try to fluff your application because I'm very sure that they are more than capable of seeing through what's real and what's not.
So what did we do?
ANYWAYYYYYS, it lasted from 130-430 and it started off with a short talk by the Dean of SOE. It was followed by a 45min mock lecture. The lecture was about auctions and it was pretty interesting. I even got the chance to participate in the lecture as he picked me to be a participant in mini game which was like mock english auction. I think the lecturer was Italian and I did not understand what he was saying at first because of the accent, and hence I was LOST about the first game lol and I over-bidded. When he asked me why I bidded $9.10 when I would lose money (I think I could only resell at $9, I still don't know HAHA) , my mind was literally blank so I said I just want to win the bid LOL. I hope the people there will not remember me as the girl who bids too much because when he gave out acceptance letters, the Dean told me not to overbid next time HAHAHA well now I understand why embarrassing moments can become good memories later on eh :) I understood the second bid better and put my hand down at the right time haha and I'm quite grateful for him picking me because it gave me an experience of how a real lecture would be and my "I just want to win the bid" brought laughter to the room so it wasn't so sian I guess HAHA
We then had a short break and a sharing session by 2 alumni and 2 current students, and it ended with a tea reception.
SMU or NUS?
Before I went for this Discovery Day thing I was actually more inclined to go NUS. Being someone who is easily swayed, SMU did a good job in swaying me...ALOT. (maybe that's what the Discovery Day is supposed to do lol)
The pros of NUS are the inverse of the cons of SMU. How I wish I can take their respective pros and cons and make a new school haha. You know, be Hannah Montana, and get the best of both worlds. Hahaha but I ain't no Hannah Montana and I can only choose one :( I feel that no matter which school I choose, I'll definitely have some regrets.
NUS
+ More globally recognised if I ever want to work overseas (which I really do...)
+ Easier to get honours (3.2/5 vs SMU 3.4/4)
+ Variety of majors to choose from if you still do not know what to major in 
+ Hall/College life 
+ Read modules outside your faculty (idk if this is a plus or minus point actually)
+ Grade-free 1st sem
+ Feels more homely/friendly? idk
+ Cheaper by arnd $10000 
+ Near to fries, can work there after school hehe
- The perceived dumping ground lol 
- Lecture-tutorial style is boring. I skipped lectures in JC that were taught by horrible lecturers , and I'm sure I will in university too. Even if I don't, I might be zoning out 50% of the time oops. 
- Increasing class participation. They may be trying to learn from SMU, but I've read lots of blogs where people complain that this makes others talk for the sake of talking and it wastes alot of time.
SMU
+ More opportunities for overseas exchanges/OCIP/internships
+Very interactive pedagogy that forces you to focus in class so you don't waste money skipping lectures unlike NUS (I experienced it first-hand HAHA)
+ 7 Modules = 2ND MAJOR in SMU vs MINOR in NUS (what even nus??)
+ Each lesson is 3hr long, and mostly only 5 lessons per week = 3/4 DAYS OF SCHOOL per week only (might be same in NUS if cram lecture/tutorials or skip lectures lol)
+ Become more confident and articulate because of endless presentations
+ Best career centre
+ Very accessible location in town
+ Interesting modules like grooming and CAT that NUS does not have and are pretty essential in the working world
- Too focused on career (but it's a management uni afterall, and it's realistic I guess)
- Cut-throat competitiveness (but everywhere is competitive right?)
- Social sciences not as strong as FASS but if I'm doing only 2nd major in sociology/political science I think it's ok?
- More ex by $10000 
SMU may be more ex but the extra $10000 will be balanced out if I stay in NUS hall/college, and I feel really blessed when my parents tell me not to worry about the school fees or let it be a factor to consider. Distance from my house to both NUS and SMU is about the same so that's out too. I guess it really boils down to what I want to gain from university life, which I am not really sure yet sigh. If I want to do econs, then I will just choose SMU and do it with something I like (pol sci/psych/socio). But the global studies in FASS is still calling out to me......haiz IDK. Guess I'll know by 1 June eh. Don't wanna hog my place until then but I really need some time to think. Another thing is I didn't manage to convince my mum about SMU :( She says is still more conservative and if she was me, NUS will be her choice. Which makes me really conflicted because she kind of chose my sec sch and supported my jc choice (actually she wanted me to go Anderson but I brought her to the open house and showed her the haunted house LOL so glad that I went to NYJC really), both which I have zero regrets. So either she is right about NUS this time and I should stick to the "safe" route (but dumping ground :( ) or I follow my instincts and choose SMU, and cross my fingers that I don't regret it.

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