Hey there! Are you thinking about studying in Singapore? Have you ever heard of UOL or SIM? Find out more here ~
If u asked me, why UOL or maybe why Singapore? Well, I have
no answer back then. I just want out, and Singapore is like the only country
possible, so be it.
My long story short is that I register around first month of
2018, and since then it was just waiting and waiting. It really did test your
patience. I had to wait to my SKHUN and sent it to them, that’s around July. I
finally got my student contract on 26 July, and I went to Singapore 3rd
of September. Classes will actually start on mid Sept, but for newbies, we need
to arrange meeting with ICA to get our student pass, and so much to handle.
For Indonesian, if you’re with an agent, you’ll have this
meeting and there are people that will give you information about what you
should do. It will all be listed there. No need to worry.
People said that UOL is quite scary. Since it is one year
exam, go big or go home right? Here is several things I need you to know about
Singapore, and UOL.
Singapore is a small country. It is amazing and beautiful as
it is. It has the best airport, all of those tourist thing. The only way you
can travel is by bus or by MRT. Well, you can use taxi or grab, but that’s
hella expensive.
1.
Transportation
For me, Google Map is confusing and sometimes not accurate. So ever since I went to Singapore, I use this app called City Mapper and it has been making my life a lot easier.
We use public transportation A LOT so the first thing you will need to do when you arrive at the Changi Airport is to buy a MRT card.
New MRT card will cost you SGD12. SGD 5 or 7 for the card and the rest of the money will be added
automatically to the card.
Make sure you top it up before the balance is 0 when
you’re travelling.
2.
Rent
SIM located in 461 Clementi
Road, that is in the west of Singapore. It is around 8 bus stops from Clementi
Station, 6 stops from Opposite Beauty World Station, and 5 stops from King
Albert Park Station.
So if you’re looking for a place to
stay, you maybe want to ask your agent and have your preferred distance as a criteria.
But, if you want to search by yourself and
look for something that is within your budget, you can always search in
google ‘property guru.’
My suggestion is for you to stay around Clementi, Beauty World, or King Albert if the distance is important. Those are the nearest. But some places
like Bukit Batok, Jurong, etc seems okay.
3.
SIM Sites & Campus
When you first get the letter of
acceptance, you’ll immediately receive an email that give you access to mymail
and also SIMCONNECT. Those are sites and email for you to access all of your classes and new information happening in your school. Read the welcoming pack in SIMCONNECT and familiarize yourself with the website.
Anyway, you can go to ‘my apps,’ tap on
‘mobile calendar,’ click on ‘calendar configuration’ and there are some
instructions you can follow. THe objective is for you to be able to easily access your schedule through your outlook calendar without having to log in to SIMCONNECT every single time.
SIM have 4 blocks, A, B, C and D. You’ll
find your class location will be like this: B.4.15. It means that the class is
at the block B, level 4 and room number 15. Easy right?
The campus have 2 canteen at block A called Food Clique and Kampung and the other one at block B. There're also Subway and
Starbucks.
You can also find sports field and gym.
4.
UOL
Classes for UOL are 3 hours long for 4
days in a week. For international student, since we have the requirements to have lectures for 5 days a week, you'll get to enjoy what we called an independent study in day 5 (not always on Friday :)). Independent study means we just need to tap our attendance but there'll be no lecture.
We have 4 lecture times
such as 08:30-11:30, 12:00-15:00, 15:30-18:30, and 19:00-22:00. Night class
usually for part-timer.
Before your class start, that should be
around August to September, you’ll either receive an email that you can choose
your own schedule or you just get what is chosen for you. I didn’t know why.
Mine is chosen. But that’s fine actually.
Since I choose Banking and Finance, I
got Principles of Accounting, Principles of Banking and Finance, Introductions
to Economics, Mathematics 1 and Statistics 1. Math and Stats are half modules, so
you’ll get half a year for math and half for stats, but if you can choose your
schedule, then you can choose to do math and stats at the same time, so
basically for next half of the year, you can enjoy 2 independent study.
5.
Classes and Tips
Few difficult subjects for me were Economics and Accounting. I’ll share some of my study tips okay?
-
Accounting
My teacher is Ms. Chu. I like the way she
taught us because after looking at my friends' note (from other teacher), mine is clearer. Her lesson will include homework and there will be 4 assignments throughout the year
but it won’t affect your final score, so actually it's up to you whether you want to submit or not.
However please note that submission and doing homework will help you be better in accounting.
The key thing in accounting is to practice. Do it frequently or at
least make sure that you understand really really well what the teacher is
saying.
-
Economics
My actual teacher is Sovan. He’s
actually good, he speaks fast and uses a lot of maths, however if you miss his
class, just 1 time or even 10 minutes, you’ll blank out. So when I realized
that I couldn’t catch up with him, I searched for another way I could learn,
and there’s this teacher called Chen Ai Di. She’s super good. Her explanation
can make you understand easily.
But economics is a lot harder than you
think if you do not really understand it. So I think the best way is to pay attention, read
the BVFD (textbook) if necessary, keep practicing and try to see and understand
in a different perspective that is easy for you.
-
Banking and Finance
There are 8 chapters, materials to be
memorized, and also calculations.
This subject requires your understanding. When I first
came to Singapore to learn this stuff, this is the subject that I like the
most (ps: I was a science student). I love to learn it, so I remember I spent my time reading my notes again and again while
standing on MRT.
That’s surely making my life easier when it comes to the
months near the exam. It made me feel that I am prepared.
-
Maths and Stats
This is basically what you do not really
need to worry. It’s basic, but you still need to pay attention, just try the
past paper, and you’ll get the pattern. Learn from it, but better watch out for
your timing.
6.
The Exam
This is the scariest part for all students. But it actually not. You’ll just have to prepare it well.
Exams will be conducted at Expo.
Around
November or December, you’ll get an email where you’ll need to pay for the
exam, after that, they’ll send you your RELC number and password with
information about the website etc. You will need the RELC number
and password to check your exam seat number later (about H-1 exam).
Exam hall is quite cold, so I think you
will need a sweater. I even bought a sweater just for the exam hahaha. Pencil
HB is needed for paper that has multiple question and calculator that can be
used is an only basic calculator.
Anyway from September until the second
week of February, classes will be as usual, but then you will have what they
called ‘Prelims’ at the end of February. Prelims are mock exams, they’ll give
you some vision about how the exam works, the questions and all. Marks won’t be
included on your final score, but I think you should do it to know how well you’ve
prepared.
After Prelims, in March, there will be
several classes, and revision classes, but after that you’ll be left to study
by yourself. Make it count and prepare well. Do not underestimate!
Hacks :
1.
If you need to print
stuff, you can print it at school where it’ll cost you SGD0.05 for each page,
but if you need something cheaper when printing in more than 100 paper for
SGD0.035, try to go to : Bukit Timah Shopping Centre #03-12. You’ll find ‘ExcelPrint.’
I use to go there, just prepare your documents on a USB and bring it there.
2.
If you want a
cheaper meal with other types of food, SIM is located beside Ngee Ann Poly, you
can go there. I usually go to Makan Place, quite nice. Ngee Ann also got Old
Chang Kee haha.
I hope you get all the information that you need and I wish you all goodluck<3.
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