Take a cue from online shopping when picking your next school

“I ended up going to a good JC but now I wake up every day asking myself why I didn’t choose Poly…”

So wrote a Singapore student on Reddit in r/SGExams.

The student grumbled that the decision is “taking a toll on me because I don’t know if I made the right choice for my future”.

This is not uncommon. The truth is that many students are plagued by self-doubt when they have to decide on the path they must pursue after secondary school. The stress is worse for today’s youth who have already been dubbed “The Anxious Generation” by academic Jonathan Haidt. In his bestseller of that name, he argues that this cohort is among the most anxious ever measured in human history.

Prof Haidt, a professor at New York University’s Stern Business School, found that the rise in anxiety among adolescents was partially due to how smartphones had replaced much of the in-person play and socialisation that should have taken place during childhood years.

It doesn’t help that this cohort of youth also spent the formative years of their childhood growing up and being educated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the rise of AI, Prof Haidt believes that anxiety levels are going to continue to shoot up. And nothing makes this generation more anxious than the prospect of making a wrong choice after secondary school.

Can parents of youth who are receiving their O-level results allay this anxiety? This is some advice I would propose to them. When it comes to deciding what to do next, take your cue from how shopping is done in a world where e-commerce and the physical world are blending.

# Window-shop online

Think about it. No one buys a phone, laptop or a pair of shoes without researching online first. Why should choosing a JC or polytechnic be any different?

Today, “window-shopping” for schools happens on websites, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit. These platforms offer students a first pass at understanding school culture, teaching style, workload and student life – all before setting foot on campus.

One trick to cut through possibly endless scrolling is to focus on intentional hashtags on posts that you resonate with, which tell real stories.

For example, Republic Polytechnic uses #GreaterMe to journal student life, like that of a Year 3 mass communications student interning at the Istana and managing social media content for President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. These glimpses matter because they bring to life the possibilities beyond the classroom.

Parents often bristle when their children say they’re drawn to a school because of social media. Rather than dismissing the reasoning outright, why not lean in? Ask about their aspirations in life, are they looking to optimise their career or personal goals, which subjects allow them to tackle the real-world problems they are looking to solve.

When youth start engaging with the school community they are drawn to, even virtually, they’re in fact taking ownership of their choices and future.

# In-store experience

Of course, online research is only the first step. Just as shoppers eventually visit a store to examine a product, parents can encourage their children to attend open houses. These “in-store experiences” can be invaluable.

Several JCs host open houses in January, while all five of the polytechnics hosted their open houses from Jan 8 to 10.

During these open houses, visitors can tour labs, explore courses, and speak with current students about their school journey. It’s a chance to “try before you buy”.

The purpose of education is to help prepare students for their professional careers.

Instead of asking “What do you want to do with your life?”, ask “What are you curious about right now?”. Then, encourage your child to connect with lecturers and students who have already walked the path before to share their real-world insights.

The Government provides secondary school students with free access to the RIASEC (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional) Profiling Tool through MySkillsFuture Secondary. This online tool helps students discover their career interest profile.

For example, if the results indicate an “Artistic” inclination, exploring design-related courses during the open houses could be a great next step.

Coming in with some direction allows prospective students to have more meaningful conversations with the lecturers and current students, to better understand how different courses align with overall aspirations.

It’s not just about glossy brochures. Real learning comes alive in hands-on activities. At Republic Polytechnic’s open house, for example, visitors could play an interactive game using AI to create a fake image and test it against a deepfake detection system built by final year students.

They could also try sharpening interview skills by interacting with AI-powered avatar interviewers. These practical tools have allowed students to practise for job interviews in a fun, low-pressure, gamified environment. Ultimately, this is part of the overall preparation for the norm of AI-hiring, which has become prevalent in Singapore’s job market.

Visiting an open house is a tangible way to evaluate how classroom knowledge translates into practical skills in a period of rapid change and disruption.

# Personalise

Everyone is different. Every school is different.

In the same way that online shopping is increasingly allowing us to personalise what we buy, your child’s education pathway can also be personalised to his or her learning style, interests, and plans for the future.

As I often tell my sons, choose the path which allows you to develop your interest and pursue your passion.

Combine academics, interests, and industry exposure. The question is not which pathway is “better”, but which one aligns with how your child learns, thinks, and stays motivated.

For those still unsure of their dream course of study, all polytechnics offer a Common Entry Programme. This allows students to explore broad fields like applied sciences or engineering before committing to a diploma.

To stay ahead in an increasingly competitive job market, academically inclined students can further boost their employability by pursuing industry-recognised certifications, specialist diplomas, and extended internships.

Purpose isn’t just found in internships, it’s discovered through hobbies, volunteering, creative pursuits and community work. Sometimes, what begins as a side passion grows into a future profession.

At Republic Polytechnic, “white space” is intentionally built into the curriculum for all students – one day each week and an additional two weeks each semester. This dedicated time encourages students to make a meaningful difference in the community through a minimum of 15 hours of community engagement, and to go on to lead independent projects that foster personal growth while creating positive community impact.

By exploring different community activities and seeing what truly sparks their interest, the young can discover their strengths organically, without the pressure of forcing a passion they don’t feel or identify with.

It’s true that the choice of where you go after your secondary school education is an important one. Choose the option that allows you to be the best version of yourself.

There’s no need to be anxious. The best choice is not the one others applaud, but the one that allows you to grow with confidence in an uncertain world.

• Abel Ang is the chairperson of Republic Polytechnic and an adjunct professor at Nanyang Business School.

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Source: The Straits Times