NUS guide: surviving university! 🏫🎓💯

For seniors trying to enter a hall: • Hall Master’s List: Various halls have opened their Master’s List applications, which may close soon. Typically, the application form gets circulated among existing residents, rather than being put up on a public page. If you’re a senior hoping to enter a hall (despite not previously staying in one), your best shot may be through this Master’s List process. You may thus want to reach out to peers already in the hall for information on Master’s List. Most halls require a recommendation from an existing hall resident/ student leader. For seniors, an application purely on UHMS (i.e. the NUS portal) is usually unsuccessful, as senior spots are usually already fully given out via the hall’s internal points system (for those who previously stayed) + the master’s list (open to both former residents and those who never stayed in the hall before). Generally, the master’s list expects you to share any unique talents or experiences or how you can contribute to the hall; this typically involves filling a form and a later shortlist for interviews. [we will share more tips for incoming/prospective NUS students too soon! do subscribe to us in the meantime] If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

^ on that note, this AI promo that Circles.Life offers is ending soon and is something you can consider if you feel the free plans aren’t enough (and you also get a second phone number). @ThisCounted (a student deals channel run by students) actually shares a version of their offer that is at a lower rate than other deals channels (you’d notice it’s $5/month on ThisCounted’s channel but higher elsewhere) because it is a student-focused channel and they’ve managed to negotiate for better deals for students! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

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Using AI tools for last minute mugging Thought I'd give Google's NotebookLM a recommendation here, especially since most of you are familiar with the usual tools (ChatGPT etc.) but some of you still haven't tried out NotebookLM. It's basically meant to "analyze, summarize, and answer questions based solely on your uploaded documents", and every line of its response cites paragraphs from your uploaded sources (preventing hallucination). It’s most useful for courses with readings! You may thus upload e.g. a mix of notes, lecture materials, lecture recordings, textbooks, readings, and it would respond to questions solely based on your uploaded material, citing them. This could be helpful where reliability matters and you don't want external sources, or where you are writing e.g. an essay and want to intentionally be able to cite your course's assigned readings instead of overly random/weak sources (which ChatGPT sometimes does). For last-minute muggers or those who are a tad too lazy to read, a major use of it is its ability to turn readings into podcasts, where two AI hosts will discuss the uploaded reading in an engaging/interactive way. This might be useful to listen on-the-go (e.g. on the bus), and help you understand difficult readings. Some other aspects that are useful here are its ability to generate quizzes and flashcards purely based on your uploaded material, and the ability to generate a 'report'. I have used the generation of a 'report' to either generate full essays based on sources (just for reference, of course) or to generate summarised notes (that will be based on uploaded sources e.g. lecture material). I’d usually refine the generated report using ChatGPT (because NotebookLM does not allow you to make further prompts beyond the generated “reports”). Different AI platforms tend to be good at different tasks: ChatGPT/Claude and other tools may remain more useful for more technical tasks e.g. programming, or where there is back-and-forth modifying needed, than NotebookLM. You may also consider Perplexity and Gemini for research tasks (these may perform better than ChatGPT for research/finding sources). One way I have managed these is to use Perplexity to find sources for a research essay --> upload the sources to NotebookLM to generate summaries or an essay brief (so the essay is based on the variety of sources) --> use ChatGPT to refine this output If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

If you are an incoming freshman (or have juniors applying for NUS), do remind them that applications for Residential Colleges (RC) is rather early, even before NUS admissions outcomes. RC applications close on 6 April, at noon (12 p.m.). Applications for halls, houses and other residences occur at a much later date, though. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

@NUSguide will be sharing tips from various individuals with unique/exceptional experiences. In particular, we will be approaching various faculty valedictorians (or you can message our channel if you're keen to contribute!) [Previous post here: https://t.me/NUSguide/233] Today, we interview Wan Ling, Valedictorian for the Bachelor of Business Administration (Accountancy), Class of 2025. Some of the following advice would be applicable even if you are not an accountancy student. NUSGUIDE: What do you think helped you to excel academically? Wan Ling: Plan your modules ahead of time, consult your seniors on what kind of module combination to take on to avoid taking on too many difficult modules at one go. Make sure to cop those easier marks (eg: class participation, forum, small quizzes etc). For exams that allows cheatsheet, try to make your own cheatsheet so that you are familiar with where to find the information, and take it as a form of revision itself. For me personally, I like to refer to notes and take reference from cheatsheets made by different seniors while making my own cheatsheet. I will try to combine what they have written so that I dont miss out any pointers while making sure that the content on the cheatsheet is tailored to my own strengths and weaknesses (eg: more emphasis on parts that I didnt understand well) regarding the particular module. NUSGUIDE: Do you have any other advice you’d share with juniors? Wan Ling: It’s good to figure out what kind of career path you would like to take on through internships and project experience so I would encourage you to try and take on those internship positions that interest you. It doesnt hurt to go on and try out different types of internships/ join CCAs and work on real-life projects to figure out what you truly enjoy. Its also encouraged to seek professional advice from Bizcareer advisors on your resume, qualifications, and how to improve yourself to be closer to the path u want to take on. Anyway, remember to enjoy the process and try not to compare yourself with your peers who seem to have everything figured out. Have some fun amid those hustles, uni is one of the precious moments in life where you can have the flexibility to explore, learn and enjoy yourself~ If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

This is back again for those who need these for mid-term assignments! P.S. aside from the AI tools, a second phone number can also be helpful for snapping up extra free trials from different products/services that provide free trials based on phone number (but be mindful of various terms of service). Also, we will be back to sharing senior tips shortly! In light of the uni admission season, we will also be posting admission-related advice -- do get your juniors to join our channel too! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

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Bots for matching 💘: If you’re feeling bored this Valentine’s season, you may check out these telegram bots for matching anonymously with other users! These were first started way back in 2021 across different universities during the Covid-19 pandemic and was viral on TikTok for a time ( https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolettecalliewe/video/6973191836521237762 , https://www.tiktok.com/@ninjabread_/video/6971050102278360321 ), gaining over 50k users! NUSSU-supported bot @nusmatchbot : opt to match only with verified NUS students, match by faculty/batch/gender, and goals! This may be used for making friends or getting helpful senior advice too. 🎓 @cupidsgbot : this bot is geared more towards dating, and you can match by MBTI and specific dating goals! 💘 @simplymeetbot : match by location; chats reset at 10 am daily, and you can opt to meet with verified students who are already near you. This is meant for meet-ups for lunch/dinner/activities etc. (you can set various goals) on the day itself. This is meant for wholesome meet-ups, and there isn’t gender selection by default. 🤝 Nonetheless, stay safe and limit the personal info you share when chatting! If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

Transfer applications end on 15 February • If you are planning to transfer from one degree to another, the application closes tomorrow! • Notably, this is the window to apply if you want to transfer to Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Nursing (CCP-RN Degree) and Pharmacy — this is because you cannot apply in the other transfer window for these courses (as you can only join these at the start of each AY). • Notably, it is possible to transfer to Law without delaying graduation under a rather recent policy change which allows up to 40 units to be transferred. For other courses, this might be possible to some extent if you overload or are able to count most towards electives. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

AY25/26 Sem 2 GC UPDATES (view most updated list @nuschs ) Main CHS group: @nuschs ⭐️CHS 1k HS_ courses + FAS1101 will use “topics” within @nuschs; you may mute those that you are not taking, while unmuting those that you do take. GEA1000: https://t.me/+U4WsB-FLqnY1NDg9 DTK1234: https://t.me/+YvXHhqZmX4s2ZGY1 (reuse) ⭐️ for social sciences/humanities sem 2 courses Econs : https://t.me/+yaRCmqLTcQRjODhl (reuse) PolSci: https://t.me/+LBhjvpwgrP8yMDY1 (reuse) Psych: https://t.me/+OpStBtGuRbZhYzY9 (reuse) History: https://t.me/+UlbypYTj9tJiMzY1 (reuse) Sociology: https://t.me/+S-NNiEJ2uqphODY1 (reuse) Global studies: https://t.me/+xuLk6CE5RHk1Yjll (new) ⭐️ Math / Stats TBC ⭐️ CS1010S: https://t.me/+afBfOiiKXDw2MGE1 ⭐️Physics PC1201: https://t.me/+Zh0MMgKKdL0wYmE1 ⭐️DSA: https://t.me/+p90zamuADHQ5NmY1 (reuse) ⭐️ FRESHIE/student tips: @NUSguide ⭐️ Bots for random anon chatting: @nuschatbot / @nusmatchbot (safer version w student verification) | @simplymeetbot / @cupidsgbot ⭐️ Student discounts: @ThisCounted P.S. don’t mute the announcements channel—only impt info/academic info/compilations will be sent here!

Group chats may be helpful for tutorial slot swaps! Note that the add/swap period ends at 5 p.m. https://t.me/NUSguide/156

Round 2 of tutorial registration has opened and closes at 5 p.m. (Outcome of Round 1 is already out) If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

🚨 Tutorial Registration Round 1 has opened and closes today at 5 p.m. —- Re-sharing this: Below is a message on the balloting process which isn’t by us, but has been passed down by various NUS seniors! Note that “courses” used to be referred to as “mods”: “Balloting process How to ballot like a senior (by sam chan) First, here is how the balloting works: - you rank up to 20 tutorial slots according to your preference, with the slots you want more ranked higher - you do not have to use all 20, and in fact you can just put one tutorial slot per mod - the system looks at your first choice, checks the tutorial class, and if there are vacancies, you're in! - the process then repeats for your second, third choice etc. until you have tutorials for all your mods, or you have no viable options left (i.e. all your preferred tutorials are full) - it's quite by luck in the sense that if you're the 26th person the system sees for a 25-person class, you don't get it, even if you put it as first choice. hence the term balloting. IT IS NOT FIRST COME FIRST SERVE! Now that you know how balloting roughly works, here are some pointers! 1. Plan for multiple timetables - needless to say we all have that one tutorial slot we want (for free day, with friends, both, etc.), however it would be terribly unwise to not have any backup plans/tutorial slots. having three choices per mod is a safe number, although you can go up to 4 per mod (equal distribution among 5 mods) or any number really (unequal distribution) 2. Know your preferences - even among your first choice tutorial slots for your modules, it's good to know which are the ones you want the most - generally you get your first three choices, while anything after that is more risky, so you need to priorities which are the ones you diedie must get, and hence rank first 3. Know that certain tutorial slots are more popular - generally tutorial slots from 10-4 are the more popular ones - likewise for those on the same day as the lecture for that mod - you might want to rank these slots higher - this is more for your knowledge, but if you plan to take this tutorial with say >5 friends, some of you might not get it Keeping these pointers in mind, you ballot! And here's now: (note: you don't have to follow this method but I find it really helpful. also, it's based on the assumption that one has 5 mods to ballot for) 1) Note down the tutorial slots you want on a piece of paper (virtual or otherwise) according to your modules, while ranking them at the same time. - you should have 5 columns of 4 tutorial slots each (assuming equal distribution), already in order of preference 2) Double check the timings and the tutorial number (eg. D3, E5, etc.) 3) Rank all your tutorial slots in a flop-table style (MOST IMPORTANT STEP). This might require some explanation, so bear with me. Let's say your 5 mods are called 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and it's according to the mod which first-choice tutorial slot you want the most Each mod has 4 tutorial slots, called A, B, C, and D according to your preference. Here's how your ranking would look like then: 1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 5B 4B 3B 2B 1B 1C 2C 3C 4C 5C 5D 4D 3D 2D 1D Basically you "reflect" your mods. Since you're quite likely to get your choices for 1, 2, and 3, but less so for 4, and 5, your sixth and seventh choices should be the second-choice for mods 4 and 5 to increase your chances of getting what you want. 4) Finally, don't panic if you don't have any tutorial slots! There is always add/drop and online swaps, and worst case manual registration. It's all part of student life! But if you follow the above, it's less likely to happen (: “ —- If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

CourseReg Round 3 has opened and closes at 12 p.m. on 9 Jan (ie tmr). At this point, some may consider overloading. Why some people overload: It may sometimes be strategic to overload extra courses you are unsure of, then narrowing down to which courses you really want to take after trying them out. This is because if you drop a course by week 3, it won't show up in your transcript / or if you drop a module before recess week, it would only show up as a 'W' grade with no effect on GPA. This way, you may be able to opt to keep only the courses you expect to do well (which you may have a better sense of by that point in time) and be more likely to get stronger GPA. (that said, it may also be unstrategic to do this if it means you can't cope in the first few weeks) Of course, a more common reason to overload is because you may want to have an easier workload in your final years in uni! In fact, if you are able to overload enough across multiple semesters, you would be able to finish your degree earlier, i.e. graduate earlier. This can mean major savings in school fees and time, e.g. paying a semester less of school fees. However, overloading is not always recommended and is ultimately a personal decision that requires you to balance various pros and cons and what you’re personally able to have on your plate in a semester. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

CourseReg Round 2 has opened and closes at 12 p.m. on 6 Jan (ie the next day). Results for Round 1 are also out. Unlike Round 1, this is an open round which allows you to bid for courses you may not have been able to previously. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

You may check the current vacancy:demand ratio to see if it has substantially changed before the end time. This may help you consider whether to change your ranking of courses depending on how badly you want a particular course, or if the demand is too much higher than vacancy such that it’d be a waste of your “Rank 1” points to still pick the course. The ranking of options matters. Refer to the image for how this works: Priority Score = A (first table “points”) x B (second table “points”) x C (third table “points” where Rank 1 course gives the most points) Our academic plan declaration advice would have helped you for A (first table). You might now want to be strategic with C as that affects each course bid’s total priority score. Get your friends/juniors to follow @NUSguide for more tips/reminders, as we continue to walk you through course registration, tutorial registration, and more! 🙌🏻

Dropping Pre-Allocated Courses If you have pre-allocated courses, you should be able to view them on edurec. In many cases, it is possible (but not necessarily recommended) to manually drop a pre-allocated course during CourseReg and take other courses in its place (you may then be pre-allocated it again in a subsequent semester or have to manually add it in — of course, note that there is some risk as this means deviating from the intended timeline for you to clear your graduation/required courses). This is typically done by students who want to take another course that clashes with the pre-allocated course that semester. If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻

CourseReg Round 1 opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 12 p.m. on 3 Jan (ie the next day). Round 1 is a protected round. Students will be able to select courses (subject to meeting course pre-requisite, co-requisite and preclusion rules) in this round if the courses can be used towards: (i) Programme (Faculty, Major, Specialisation) requirements (ii) Second Major requirements (iii) Direct admission/restricted Minor requirements (iv) Prescribed English requirements (i.e. courses offered by CELC) Students will vie for a spot in the course within the available places allotted to their student category (e.g. separate numbers for UG and GD). Note: if you had done what we suggested previously, you may have declared the major associated with e.g. UEs you want to clear as a “second major”. This would then already allow you to bid for them in Round 1. In this round and future rounds, having declared it as such would also give priority (as part of the priority scoring rubrics) against someone else who did not do so. Ranking of courses does matter (a better rank gives more points for bidding). You can find past year demand/allocation info at https://courserekt.vercel.app/ which may be helpful when you want to strategise your course preferences! (typically, courses which often have excess vacancies don’t have to be as heavily prioritised during bidding—one may be able to afford to rank this lower). P.S. happy new year! 🎉 If you found these useful, do share our channel @NUSguide with your friends/juniors — we share uni tips/hacks throughout the year! 🙌🏻