Thursday 17 May 2012

Singapore High College Life

High college is certainly an exciting time for many as it signifies leaving the adolescent stage behind and gradually transitioning into adulthood. This brings about a new-found freedom, a growing sense of maturity and new experiences. However, little of these experiences shall be daunting mostly on the academic front. And it is with this combine of anticipation and apprehension that every Singapore student takes on being a young adult. The first cause for apprehension for any student should definitely the large leap in terms of expectations between secondary college and high school.



Students are expected take on a minimum of six subjects in good detail and master it in 18 months or fewer that is a distant cry from the leisurely 4 years in secondary school. Additionally, the depth of instruction in high college requires students to re-learn sure facts acquired in secondary school; knowledge that they have learnt for the past 4 to 5 years. To top it off, the 3 years of high college means that students should dig their heels in and hold up with the system from the moment they enter as they not ever have many time to adjust. In order to cater to the country's changing needs, the high college learning in Singapore requires students to take subjects at Higher two or Higher 3 position in humanities History, Economics, Geography, Literature, Theatre Studies or sciences Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology based on their interests, aptitude, and future ambitions. Furthermore, out of all the subjects, students are compulsory to take one that is of a contrasting discipline within the hopes of grooming them to be all-rounded academically.



As such, it is common for students to leave for tuition in subjects for example H2 Mathematics and H2 Physics that is an more commitment aside from their heavy workloads. Aside from academic requirements, the competitive soul regarding the regional students has grow to an added burden unto itself. This is evident within the increasingly stricter entry requirements into the first regional universities for example Local University of Singapore NUS, Nanyang Technological University NTU and Singapore Management University SMU. The competition is taken up by a notch with the influx of foreign scholars who, attracted by Singapore's reputation as an learning hub, join regional schools even at the high college level. Possessing met the regional entry requirements, these students are certainly worth their pepper as they too, interestingly enough, have immersed themselves into the regional competitive religion and do what they can to secure a location in university by going for mathematics and physics tuition.



In conjunction with all the difficulties mentioned earlier, Singapore's decision to invest in a knowledge based economy translates to a shrinking arena for manual labour and other forms of craftsmanship. By extension, the track that this rat race is held has one lane with very little alternatives for vocational training. This conclusions in a make-or-break situation that is the highest many daunting consequence of all. To make matters worse, going for mathematics and physics tuition sequential to obtain sterling conclusions is no detailed the sole factor for consideration. This is due to the fact that universities and future employers are now seeing into other aspects of one's portfolio for example co-curricular activities, leadership and community work experience.



While engaging in other activities is meaningful as it helps one to have fun, meet new people and bond with them, the very fact that good achievements in that region is an entry requirement has created the respite from a heavy workload fewer enjoyable in a sure sense. While high college life is undeniably daunting, it is important to clarify that the regional schools do make an effort to counter-balance the academic stress with different college activities for example carnivals and overseas trips. With all that is spoke about and done, high college life in Singapore is indeed exciting and daunting. It is in this period that one is on the thresholds of maturity and the rigour of academic requirements is first test. And those that overcome it shall be set on the path to success.

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