Eu Got This! Alumni's Guide to Beyond JC

Written by: Anushka Ankush (25-E2), Liyana Pattiyil (25-I3), Victoria Lim (25-O1), Lynette Cheong (25-U1)

Designed by: Anushka Ankush (25-E2)

After you leave school, what do you do? Luxuriate in your free time? Miss the school atmosphere? Spend the time bedrotting? Those are all valid reactions to spending a holiday after leaving the torturous mugging we all experience in JC. Today, we are here to interview our alumni and find out exactly how they spent their time after leaving EJC, from Uni applications, to finding their path in life. 

This article features insights from various EJ alumni, Jesselyn Chenice, Lan Sin Yu and Karenin Lee. 

Jesselyn Chenice was from EJ’s class of 2024, taking a hybrid subject combination of H2 Math, H2 Biology, H2 Economics, H2 Japanese and H3 Biology. If she were to sum up her time in EJ, she would say it was really a time of much learning and growth. “I truly enjoyed the experiences I’ve gained and the friends I made in EJ. I really encourage all of y'all to seize all the opportunities you come across (as long as you can manage them), and really make the most of your time in your two years here! :) — carpe diem, seize the day!"

Next, Sin Yu from EJ’s class of 2024. Her subject combination was H2 Chemistry, H2 Math, H2 Economics and H2 History, and she was part of the student ambassadors in EJ. She is keen on studying either economics or business in university and is also considering taking a double major in social sciences or computing. 

Finally, Karenin Lee was from EJ’s class of 2021 and was from Press. In EJ, her subject combination was H2 Translation in Chinese, H2 China Studies in Chinese, H2 Economic and H1 Mathematics. She is now majoring in Philosophy in NUS, but initially applied for Chinese Studies. 

Your EUltimate Guide to University and Scholarship Applications 

It's the season of applications - from university admission applications to scholarship applications - the sheer amount of time and effort spent applying may be overwhelming, but fret not, our alumni have some tips for you!

With so many courses available, how does one choose which to take? 

Feeling overwhelmed by the numerous options and courses available when deciding which university and course to apply for is completely normal! Here are some tips and tricks from our alumni:

• Read through the universities’ websites and course information to get a grasp on its difficulty.

• Use the MOE CourseFinder tool to guide you in your decision. (https://www.moe.gov.sg/coursefinder) 

• Visit university open houses to check if the courses align with your interests and skills.

• Have a conversation with your parents and the ECG counsellor.

• DDD3 holds a CSH fair annually, so visit the different booths there to get a better understanding of what they do.

Deciding your university and course is a major decision for many, and everyone’s decision-making process is different. For Jesselyn, the courses she applied for are closely related to the career she wants to pursue in the future. Her aspirations and career goals are a mixture of interest, skills and profitability. Meanwhile, Sin Yu’s interests are rather diverse and hence she applied for various courses she was interested in based on what she found to be the most appealing from each school. For Karenin, she changed her decision on which course to take during the application process, as she discovered that through Philosophy, she would be able to fulfill her passion of sharing knowledge. 

Regarding this topic, the interviewed alumni encourage students to take what each school is known for into consideration and consider what job prospects there are. You can try envisioning yourself working in that field in future as well as the salary from the job.

Additionally, your interests and the hard and soft skills you can hone should also be factored into your decision making. Some jobs will require more technical skills such as coding and business knowledge but soft skills are also important as well. Lastly, if you aren’t sure of what you want to do yet, you can start by narrowing down based on what you know you really do not want to do!

Getting into the application process

For university applications, one approach you can consider is first brainstorming ideas to the questions by writing your answers down in point form. The questions asked can be found on the school websites where there is a sample application page which includes the essays that you will need to write. 

Do take note that every school’s application is different! For NUS, there is a first choice bonus of up to 2.5RP for the course you indicate as your first choice but it must be a non-interview course. There is also a MTL bonus point for NUS while NTU has their implied choice scheme etc. All of these can help guide your decision making in ranking different courses and whether to take certain risks. Do be aware of the requirements of the university before you decide to apply for them. Also, you don’t necessarily need to apply to every single school - figure out which universities and courses appeal to you and whether you can realistically secure a spot there!

One tip our alumni have for students applying is to take note of the deadlines very carefully and to set aside sufficient time to focus on writing your personal statements or crafting responses to the questions given in the portal. If you need any clarification on the procedure, seek advice from your seniors! Another thing to note is that the scholarship application portal is usually separate from the admissions portal, so don’t forget to fill that up!

Common challenges faced during applications

A rather common challenge is that many students are uncertain about which course they should go for as they are not sure about the careers they wish to pursue in the future. It is alright to not exactly have a clear pathway because university is a 3-4 year journey. A lot can happen during this time which may lead to changes in your interests as well. 

Confusion regarding the university courses and not setting aside enough time to complete applications are another two key issues students face. The rule of thumb would be to avoid applying for something too niche unless you are certain about what you want to do in the future. This is because if you were to change your mind, you likely won't have many career options as it would be more difficult to pivot to something else. When choosing your course, you should also consider multiple career options and ensure that there are several career paths that interest you instead of settling on one specific career path, just in case things don’t work out.

Alumni’s advice! 

"All the best! It's going to take some time to do your research, so start planning early and manage your time well. Find ways to balance your other external commitments and apply for courses. Do also have multiple backup plans in case of unexpected situations because it is hard to think rationally when your decision-making is clouded by negative emotions, like anxiety and pressure. Although some adults may tell you to sleep on it and it’ll be much clearer the next day, some people might need more time, so it's definitely good to be prepared!

Trust the process! Although it’s cliche, there is a lot of waiting involved. You will inevitably want to compare yourself with your friends and may get stressed knowing about others who have already received their offers. But bear in mind that universities stagger the results, and no news is good news. Have patience, trust in yourself, and know that things will work out in the end!

Keep an open mind, especially for those whose ‘plan A’ is foiled. There is a chance that you might not get into your desired school or course but do keep an open mind - it will all work out eventually! Just give whichever school or course you are posted to a chance - after all every university has its own pros and cons.

Lastly, for those still in JC, do focus on your studies! If you get the privilege, explore various opportunities, such as work attachments, internships and volunteering, as these experiences will give you insights on how the real world works. When selecting which opportunities to go for, choose those that align with both your interests and your strengths. Seize the opportunities that come your way so long as you can manage them, and learn as much as you can! JC is a time of growth and learning, so make the most out of it. By focusing on these areas, you will not only build your portfolio, but also grow to become the person you’re meant to be. Finally, do not be afraid of failure and rejection, as when one door closes, several more will open. So, stay strong, all the best, trust the process. You've got this!"

As Jesselyn perfectly put it, “Eventually, I came to learn that rejection is redirection - sometimes rejection is not about you, but rather your compatibility with the role. A closed door simply opens many other doors for you to go through, until you find the one that's just right for you. So if any of you are facing disappointment from rejection, take heart and have faith that a better opportunity will soon come your way, and remember that you can always forge your own path.”

Well, there you have it! We hope that this can better prepare you for life after graduation and we wish you the best of luck in your studies. For the J1s who have just come into EJ, remember to balance fun with work, as all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy indeed.