The above is an "could-be" appeal written by a guy named Hilmi Harris (don't know him personally) if appeals were allowed to be longer than 1000 characters.
If you have read it, you would know that this guy has a GPA of 3.8, graduated with merit, got an "A" for his CCA, and has his own business. Also writes decently enough.
Overachiever, you think. Oh no, but it is not enough for NUS! Then what is?
I am angry - both at the institution and at myself for not getting better grades in poly. In my first semester, I scored a GPA of 3.167. I thought it was ok - UNTIL I LEARNT THAT THE SYSTEM WAS ACCUMULATIVE. This meant that every semester's grade contributed to the final GPA that you would graduate with.
I did not know what were the standards for local unis then, but it was obvious 3.167 wasn't going to cut it. I scored a 3.7 in the subsequent semester, pulling my GPA up to 3.4. Still not good enough.
The next semester saw a cumulative GPA of 3.5, and my grades has always hovered around this number ever since. It got harder and harder to pull up my GPA, and I honestly don't know if it's because of the project work or from the fact that I didn't give my all in some modules. I suspect it's a mix of both. I graduated with a GPA of 3.65, and I was accepted to NTU. However, I was rejected from NUS.
This is the part where anger at the institution comes in. Yes, there are many people with GPAs and achievements far better than mine, and if there is no space because of them, perhaps my anger would have been unreasonable. BUT:
1) As seen above, this Hilmi Harris guy did not get accepted, even when his achievements are far superior to mine (sad, I know).
2) I have heard of JC kids with shit grades that are accepted. When I say shit, I mean shit. Amanda told me about some girl who scored a CCCD and is studying psychology in FASS - the faculty that I applied for.
Some may argue that studying in a JC is not easy, which is why it is a "guaranteed route" to a local university. I agree. I agree that studying in a JC is not easy, but neither is studying in a polytechnic. Look at it this way: in JCs, it is 2 years worth of hard work and consistency. But in a poly, it is 3 years of hard work and EVEN MORE consistency, due to the cumulative system.
A polytechnic student's education is not based solely on understanding concepts and memorizing them. We are sent out to work in the relevant industries, which tests more of attitude and adaptability than mugging skills. Is this not what local unis want?
Yes - a poly student graduates with a diploma, which allows us to start working in the society - compared to a JC student, who has only A levels and no skills for any industry, so they must go to uni.
BUT WHY LET PEOPLE WITH SHIT GRADES IN?
Yes, if I wanted to go NUS so bad, I should have chosen to study in a JC then - more about this later. Conversely, if a student knows that he cannot do well in JC, shouldn't he have gone to poly to get a diploma, which allows him to work? (And even a chance to go to a local university, if he works insanely hard.)
3) Poly students who actually got in, but not to the faculty they want. So let's say so-and-so applied to the business school, but got rejected. They are then offered a place in FASS - which may or may not be their second choice. Even if it is their second choice, there is a possibility that it may have been a "back-up" option. But ok, you are good enough for FASS. I just don't understand: why offer the place to someone who only wants it for the cert, instead of giving it to another person who is genuinely interested in the courses?
Of course by "another person" I don't mean people with GPA of 2.0 and still want to go in la.
4) PRCs.
I am, of course, very grateful for a chance to study in NTU and I believe that I will enjoy the course I am enrolled in. Thank you, NTU.
But yes, despite of all this, I appealed to NUS anyway. Hypocritical, you say? No - I am angry at being rejected (sorry, sore loser syndrome), but just because you are angry with something doesn't mean you don't want it, isn't it?
Now, question time! I am speaking as if a lot of people are reading this. Joke.
1) Then why didn't you go JC leh?
My first 6 choices were all JC, some of them with a cut-off point I did not meet, but some I did. I was sent to my 7th choice.
2) But you got accepted to NTU what?
Yes, and as I said I am grateful for that. But NUS offers a degree in Philosophy, and NTU at the moment, does not (though I think you can study philo as a sub).
3) Shut up and go NTU la.
Aiya you read until here then ask me to shut up, jealous ah?
4) So after writing so much, means your GPA not high enough la?
If it were good enough I would be shoving my acceptance letter in your condescending face, would I? No, because I am not like you.
Ok bye bye!
