Please advise me (Year 1 retainee) on how to move on.

• DTL90083

  9 Jan 14, 17:49

  I am a student of Millennia Institute. I joined the school last year but was retained last year. This year, I am a Year 1 retainee, waiting to start studying again in mid-February (Year 1 orientation ends by 15 February this year).

  Yesterday, I went back to Millennia Institute for the first time, as instructed by the school, to attend the “HOPE programme” - conducted by the school for retainees, which started yesterday.

  During yesterday’s session, there was a segment called the “My goals & Millennia Institute – is MI the place for me (exploring alternatives)” where I was given this set of booklet titled “Courses for ‘O’ level holders*/Courses in Private Institutions (Updated October 2013)” which listed a few institutions. At the back of the booklet, there is a section titled “Additional Resources for Target Setting By Student. 2011 Indicative Grade Profile (Uniscore in Descending Order)”.

  • Among the Academic Courses listed in the booklet, I am attracted to this institution by the name “Management Development Institute of Singapore”.
  • According to the teacher who conducted the session, she said that at that institution, students study A level for 1 year then proceed to pursue their university course at their institution, although the school fees is very much more expensive there. 
  • She said that considering the fact that at Millennia Institute, only around 30% of students go to local universities, I (she was speaking to the audience of retainees who were present at the segment and I was one of them) should consider applying into the “Management Development Institute of Singapore”.
  • She told us to think about it (applying to other intuitions) now as soon, the next round of JAE will start and it would be the window-period for intuitions to enroll students.

  I have not gone on to explore the Management Development Institute of Singapore yet but I remember I have heard of this institution before.

  • Back then, in 2012, during my O level year, my secondary school invited their ex-student to come back and give us sec 4 students a talk on tertiary education. 
  • This ex-student introduced himself as someone who went to Junior College but failed terribly in his A level. 
  • He said he eventually went on to a private school and was then pursuing his university degree. 
  • I could not remember what the name of the private school he mentioned is but I believe it is either the Management Development Institute of Singapore or a similar school.

  Right now, even before I start to explore other alternatives, I already know of 2 Cons. of applying into the private schools:

  • Firstly, I am a boy and I have already deferred National Service for the A level course I am currently at in Millennia Institute. If I change school (even to Polytechnic), it would mean that I have to join the army and serve NS this year, since I am 18 this year.
  • Secondly, I heard that private schools charge high school fees. According to the “Courses for ‘O’ level holders*/Courses in Private Institutions (Updated October 2013)” booklet that I was given, it states that the Preparatory course at Management Development Institute of Singapore is S$6200 for 5 subjects, which is 3 times more than Polytechnic school fees and around half the amount my parents spend on me in one year. With regards to the high school fees, I am thinking of going to NS and earn the monthly salaries at NS, to subside the costs.

  Well, I am only after the Certification (is that not the reason why people study tertiary education?). I do not care about whether or not there is prescribed uniform, whether or not it is a college environment or a workplace environment, whether or not can have flexible study time or whether or not need to waste 1 or 2 years.

  I could stay on in Millennia Institute but it seems to me that there is bad academic perspective here, since only 30% of the cohort can go to local university. I am not sure if it is worthwhile to spend another 3 years at Millennia Institute, which may be extended to 4 years if I repeat again in Year 2.

  I have not told my parents about this yet, as I know this is a rather sensitive topic and they may not be accepting to this topic, especially since the school fees at private school is very expensive.

  Please advise me on how I should move on from here. Should I stay on at Millennia Institute, apply to private school or apply to Polytechnic?

• chenghoo69

  9 Jan 14, 20:04

  I graduated from Jurong Institute, which was then renamed Millennia Institute..

  Getting a degree is the goal of many young learners, or their parents'.

  Having been through life for quite awhile, there are things that you find yourself happier/better doing. Unless you are absolutely sure a 3 years' A-Level course is paramount to achieve something that you are passionate about, skill-based certifications from Polytechnics and/or ITEs can be equally good preparing one for the challenges ahead.

  O-Level is the most important certificate as it opens doors to further your academic pursue later on, if you so wish.

  Move in the direction where your strength lies, it is easier to excel on that ground. And if you like to be double-sure, doing a few career profiling tests may enlighten you further.

  All the best ^^o