Two years ago, after countless research and discussions with friends from the industry, I concluded that SMU would be most suitable for me. I have just ended my first semester at SMU’s School of Information Sytems (SIS) and here are my thoughts about it.
Freshmen Orientation Camp
The freshmen orientation camp is a must attend for all incoming students. In SMU, you’ll meet people from all walks of life. You’ll learn more about the school and its culture during this camp, and more importantly, how to get from one place to another in the quickest possible time. You’ll also meet some of the people who will perhaps stick with you throughout your university education.
Faculty Camp
In SIS, you’ll spend most of your time with friends from the same faculty. Therefore, it is imperative that you attend the faculty camp. You’ll soon realise that in SIS, everyone is closely knitted and the seniors are very helpful. They’ll share their experiences and guide you through your first semester.
Freshmen Bash 2016
Perhaps the most unforgettable experience that I’ve been through thus far. From the interview to the late night dance practices, everyone was very enthusiastic to put on a good show to end the summer break and to commence the start of school. It was something different and made me feel alive again after serving two years of national service. I got to know fellow students and seniors from different faculties who, again, were very helpful in preparing us freshmen for school.
The School of Information Systems
I’ve just ended my first semester and am writing this article over my winter break. A few of my friends are overseas for their community service project while I’m taking the time to rest and reflect on the past semester. Life in SMU SIS isn’t easy—even more so for a former ITE/Poly student. The guys would also find it harder to get back on track after spending two years serving the nation.
But fret not, as we’re only doing foundation courses in the first year. In the first semester, all SIS students will be taking up two Information Sytems foundation courses, one of which doesn’t require you to code at all. My advice is, start preparing for school before the term starts. Some of the SMU broad based courses that you can prepare ahead are Calculus, Introduction to Economics, and Introduction to Statistics. If you’re not exempted from these courses, you might as well start studying for them during your holidays so you can spend more time on the heavier courses—such as the ones that involve coding.
That being said, I find that the best way to have a balanced lifestyle between school and play is to prepare well. Set a timetable for yourself, spend a few hours outside class to recap and prepare for the next class.
If you’re really keen to find out more and would like to speak to me personally, feel free to contact me at derrick.lee.2016@sis.smu.edu.sg.
