GET A HEAD START IN YOUR POLY EDUCATION AT NYP

DIRECT POLYTECHNIC ADMISSION (DPA) GIVES STUDENTS THE ADVANTAGE TO START THEIR POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION EARLIER. WE SPOKE TO GLENICE TAN YU XIN, DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION SECURITY STUDENT, ON HER DPA EXPERIENCE AT NYP.

While most students are deciding on which course to enrol for during the Joint Admission Exercise (JAE), Glenice has already started her polytechnic education. �I chose DPA because I was sure of the course I wanted,� says Glenice. �I decided to make good use of the three-month break and start poly life earlier.� Through the DPA exercise, Glenice was able to secure a spot in NYP before she even took her �O� levels � but instead of skiving off, she felt more motivated to study for her �O� levels.

As part of DPA, students undergo an eight-week Polytechnic Preparatory Programme (PPP) where they would attend classes to help build a strong foundation in their polytechnic studies; and a two-day camp which focuses on leadership and team-building skills. Students may also be exempted from related modules in their first year, freeing up time for them to explore their strengths in enrichment programmes or CCAs. Through PPP, Glenice met friends from other NYP schools, �Even up till now, close to three years after PPP, we still meet up to catch up� shares Glenice.

As a student studying information security, Glenice learnt not to fear setbacks. She faces regular coding errors when it comes to programming. �Initially, I only wanted to code things that I know will work; I was afraid of coding programmes outside my comfort zone,� she reveals. �However, this also means that I would never progress and the most important part of learning is to improve, learn new things and put that knowledge to good use. I felt that learning to face failures or errors is an important lesson in life and once we master that, we can face challenges in life without fear.�

When asked to give advice for those who are at the junction of deciding between DPA and JAE, she shares that her sister, who is also a senior in the same course, helped with her decision making process too. Her sister gave her some insights into the campus life, independent learning style and how she can expand her own potential with the guidance of the lecturers. Her advice for those interested in enrolling through the DPA exercise is to �go speak to someone who is in the course you�re interested in. If you have done your research and are sure that the course is for you, go for DPA!�

NYP DPA Centre
Visit NYP DPA Centre and find out more about the 46 exciting courses offered! There are also talks offered daily, where you can get tips on how to write your 600-character summary, or learn more about the various scholarships available. No registration required, so come on down!

Venue: Nanyang Polytechnic, NYP Lounge, Blk A, Level 3
Dates and time: 26, 29, 30 Jun 2015, 2pm � 5pm
1 Jul 2015, 2pm � 4pm

Published in the July 2015 Issue of Teenage Magazine. Reproduced with Permission.