Tan Xue Wen, Rayner

Why did you choose to come to SMU?

In the past, I considered the Computer Science programmes from the other Universities in Singapore (NUS, NTU, SUTD, etc.) And I even had a placement and scholarship in NUS Computer Science. But ultimately, I decided to turn down that offer in favour of SMU. Asking my peers who have already gone ahead from my cohort, I found out that SMU’s pedagogy of small class sizes and a more pragmatic and updated approach fits me much better. As an independent learner, it is nice to have more freedom over my education and to have a school that emphasises a holistic development.

How has SMU’s city location enriched your university experience?

Having had to travel across the country in my secondary school days, I really appreciate the city location of SMU. The location also makes it a great place to meet up with friends after classes. It is also much more possible to attend industry events as travel time is shortened by a significant factor.

Please share a key highlight of your academic experience in SMU thus far.

One thing that may not be as popular that I really enjoyed was the Big Questions module. I had one of the best professors in Prof Orlando Woods. He really challenged our thinking and had very frank and open conversations about the topics. He challenged us to write on topics that are not the “safe” way to get the grades but those that would really be an exploration of ideas and concepts, pushing the boundaries of how and what we think. He really valued unique and unexplored viewpoints!

Could you share your perspective as an adult learner?

Overall, I think SMU is a lot more adult learner friendly compared to other offerings. Previously, I was invited for focus group discussions specifically targeting us adult learners. I never thought I would be asked to join such a session as I honestly do not think that any educational institution in Singapore cares about us. We are definitely not the ’model student’ that an education institution wants to feature, so it feels really nice to feel heard and valued here in SMU.

What advice would you give to prospective students who are thinking of applying to SMU?

Don’t just go for the name of the school in terms of its branding, or whether it’s an ‘elite’ school or not. Think also about what you can stand to learn here. What really matters in the long run is the quality of your education and that’s highly dependent on you. My advice is to choose a programme that gives you the freedom to craft out your learning journey, to explore many things other than your field of study. Pick a place that would nurture your ability to learn as that’s what you’ll be doing through your whole career.