How did you shortlist your courses and universities?

I shortlisted my courses based on my interests and passion. I felt strongly about pursuing a career in Singapore’s healthcare sector as I wish to have a meaningful occupation that allows me to give back to society. Naturally, my first few choices were healthcare degrees, with Medicine being ranked first, Physiotherapy and Nursing. I did not find the prospect of venturing overseas to study appealing as I valued family bonding and wish to build my career in Singapore. Hence, I decided to study at local universities.

What did you do to find out more if these choices were right for you?

I believe that many students would have done their research using resources on the Internet to get a better understanding of their courses. However, I felt that what truly helped me to make a more informed decision was my interaction with people who were already in the healthcare sector. During my National Service, I was able to take on the role of a medic which exposed me to many experienced doctors and nurses. They shared with me their working experiences and this allowed me to gain further insights into the lives of those in this field. Moreover, I also took on an internship at the National Youth Sports Institute, where I worked with sports physiotherapists and witnessed the different approaches they utilised for athletes with different sports injuries. These interactions helped to enhance my understanding of the courses I was interested in and reaffirmed my decision to choose these courses.

How did you prepare yourself while preparing for the A levels/being in NS?

For A levels, I made my notes for each subject as I felt that my personalised notes could help me study more efficiently and allow me to retain the information and concepts more easily. I sieved out keywords and concepts from the textbooks and also added on any important details my teachers emphasised during classes, which I felt was important as it helped to add value to my learning. I also approached my teachers frequently for consultations to clarify my doubts. Although memorising content is important, it is more important to know how to apply the content and concepts to questions. This would definitely help to accelerate learning of the subject. For the guys who will be going to National Service, do be mentally prepared for the challenges ahead as it will be a completely different environment compared to the safe and protective environment you have always been in. Spend these 2 years wisely to thoroughly understand your interests as well as your strengths and weaknesses so that you can make a more informed decision about your future course.

What would you give as advice to students going through the application journey now?

I feel that what's most important is knowing your interests and the course you would like to pursue. You can then proceed to research the universities that offer your course and select a few universities whose curriculum best suits you. There are many opportunities out there for you to discover so do not just limit your application to one university! In terms of the application process, I would first advise students to understand what are the admission requirements for their course as the requirements will vary differently across courses. Do also be aware of the relevant documents required for your application and prepare them in advance. Some courses may also require you to write a personal statement and it will definitely be helpful if you give yourself ample time to work on it so that you can think clearly about what you wish to convey. The application process may seem daunting and complicated at first, but do not stress over it! As long as you understand what are the things you need to prepare and also remember to meet the deadlines, you will be fine!

If you have a mantra/motto for yourself, what would it be?

Never lose faith and stay true to yourself!