Can you guess where a Poly student studies at just by his or her vibes? Somewhat.
It's the way they dress or the things they carry; every Poly student has a persona that belongs roughly to a stereotype—a persona that draws from a subculture within each Poly’s culture. Culture is powerful, it draws us towards it and can shape our personalities.
What is your Poly like?
We asked students from different schools about what their Poly culture is like using three words to describe it. These seniors share what stands out about their Poly and how to best embrace it.
Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
When we asked Durgaes, a student from Civil Engineering, about the culture in SP, he replied, “fun, interesting, and fast-paced”. He mentioned that he lives with only one regret, that he assumed Poly life would be boring, and would prefer to spend more time out of school.
“To truly enjoy Poly life, you must put yourself out there. Join CCAs, be open to meeting people and just explore,” he advised.
Sher Yuan, a student from Aeronautical Engineering, joined his course for its good future prospects, and especially the opportunities to explore the industry or working life and obtain relevant experience in the field. He exclaimed, however, that Poly culture is really all about “Food! Friends! Games!”
Read: Big Dreams, Small Steps: Reaching New Heights on how Sher Yuan was able to pursue his dreams through Poly.
Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
“Lepak, rewarding and exciting” were the words Matthias used to describe life in TP Cybersecurity.
Although being able to focus on a specific discipline instead of studying general theory was the main draw for him, he also appreciates that IT courses don’t have any school exams.
“While this is great for people that aren't a fan of exams, it means that a very large majority of your GPA will be coming from course work”, he added. “In terms of student culture, many of the people I have met are really welcoming and friendly, and everyone helps each other. The lecturers also take the time to explain concepts and have fun conversations with us so I think that's a big plus.”
Yong Shun from Information Technology also chimed in that the student leaders in my school were really helpful. He recalled the time when the student leaders extended a helping hand to the juniors who have no one to turn to for help.
Matthias assured, “There are lots of opportunities if you seek them out—don't be afraid to talk to your lecturers or send some cold emails!”
A tip that Yong Shun found helpful in Poly was to try to make friends with everyone. “Don't make enemies, be adaptable and explore the school,” he said.
Republic Polytechnic (RP)
Javirea has a Diploma in Media Design, and describes RP culture as “music, sports and carefree”.
RP has a pretty chill vibe because it is sectioned like a donut, with people dancing, singing, playing sports, or just chilling in each section. She noted that the main difference RP has with other Polys, is the reflection journal (RJ).
Though RJs are usually only helpful for understanding and applying theory, lecturers with more skill-based modules were generally more understanding in planning the RJs.
Oliver joked that his three words to describe RP Diploma in Health Management & Promotion culture were, “awoo, awoo, awoo”—the words used to end every cheer for his school’s orientation camp.
Both of them agreed that RP is defined by its fixed schedule with two breaks, though the lecturer might give a short third break in the afternoon.
Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
Emma’s experience with the culture in NYP Business Management is that it’s a hidden gem. Though school can be a bit boring, she appreciates that it’s definitely a good place to study and that it helped her focus.
Moreover, she is grateful that NYP has plenty of space that look cool or are good to take a break and some fresh air.
“There will be times where it is competitive,” she warns, but most of the time it is not and she is able to handle and excel in her work there.
Some wise words that she left behind were, “Be more open and embrace relationships.” She lamented how she took too long to open up to her current best friends.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
Being in Chinese Studies in NP, Dorcas described school as “fun, close-knit and competitive”.
Having a smaller intake than other courses, people tend to form closer relationships which made rushing for assignments together fun for them.
Yet according to her, there is always a tendency to compare and see how other classmates are more academically driven or have higher GPAs which can lead to fierce competition.
Jun Ci from Engineering Science calls her school culture “friendly, tiring and fun”.
Pursuing what she wanted is something that drives her to continue going without regrets.
Dorcas left us with final advice to always plan out your deadlines and don’t procrastinate! She said, “If you need help with assignments, don’t hesitate to consult people about it.”
Maybe at their core, all Poly culture have the same general elements about them. It seems that everyone has the same common advice: Be open, embrace people and try to make friends.
That is how you will be able to fully immerse yourself in a culture that will impact you for years to come!
Fascinated by these 8-bit avatars and replica of the five Polys? We built them just for you!
PolyTown is an exclusive space built on Gathertown for Poly Parcel followers where you can create your own avatar and move around to interact with other participants in the room like in real life!
Get a first look at the space and tell us what you think about it! You get to decide how the space will be designed and what will it be used for. Fill up this form to indicate your interest and we will arrange a date and time with you! We hope to see you there!
