Experiencing SMU: A Student's Perspective on What They Dislike
As a second-year student at Singapore Management University (SMU), I find both positivity and negativity in my university experience. The positive aspects tend to be the location and the flexible timetable. However, there are several drawbacks that make it challenging to thrive. This article delves into the reasons why, based on my personal experience and feedback, certain aspects of SMU can be frustrating.
The SMU Culture
The SMU culture is a mixed bag, with some students feeling that the environment can be quite boisterous and loud. Personally, I find it difficult to fit in as I am more introverted and reserved. This can make it challenging to make friends, as the social dynamics tend to revolve around gatherings and groups. In my experience, students tend to bid for classes in groups or cliques, making it harder for individuals to join and form genuine relationships.
Making Friends
A prominent aspect of the SMU culture is its cliquish nature, which can be a significant barrier to building meaningful friendships. While some students have groups of friends, others find themselves bidding alone for classes. This process can be isolating and leads to exclusion. Additionally, the competition for good grades often stems from belonging to these cliques. For instance, students who are part of these groups may feel pressured to perform well to maintain their social standing.
Project Work and Presentations
Another major source of frustration is the extensive project work and presentations that are a staple in most modules. These assignments can be particularly tiresome when they feel irrelevant or redundant. For example, in an accounting module, a group presentation on internal financial analysis may seem unnecessary if the content can be easily understood by the individual. There's a feeling that the extra work doesn't bring added value to the learning process. Furthermore, the time-consuming nature of these projects can be overwhelming, especially when they are not critical to the overall course objectives.
Biased Professors
The perceived bias among professors at SMU is another issue that can impact a student's academic experience. It's not uncommon for some professors to favor certain students, particularly during class participation and project grading. This bias can manifest in the form of unequal treatment, where students with the professor's favor are given the opportunity to speak first or participate in group projects more often. This bias can also affect the final grades, as it is based largely on the professor's subjective opinions.
Staying Overnight in School
A unique aspect of SMU's culture is the trend of students staying overnight in school to complete projects. While some argue that the university's cozy environment (such as the SMU Labs) encourages this behavior, it is often unnecessary and excessive. Completing projects late or staying overnight to finish them can create an unproductive and stressful atmosphere. This “trend” can also become an obligation for other members of a group, leading to peer pressure and bad scores if they fail to comply.
The Competitive Grading System
Schools are often benchmarked by their grading systems, and SMU is no exception. The strict grading criteria can be a significant source of stress, with a GPA difference of 0.3 being the norm. Various factors contribute to this strictness, with class participation and project work being entirely subjective and based on the professor's opinion. Quiz and final exam performances also play a crucial role in determining the final grade. The pressure to perform well in non-essential activities can be overwhelming and may lead to decreased morale and motivation for students.
Conclusion
While Singapore Management University (SMU) offers a wide range of academic and career opportunities, the experiences shared here highlight the challenges faced by students. From the culture and friend-making process to project work and biased grading, these issues can make the university experience stressful and less enjoyable. Despite these drawbacks, it's important to recognize that university is but a phase in one's life, and these experiences can also contribute to personal growth and resilience. As a second-year student with just two years to go, I am eagerly anticipating graduation and the potential post-university life beyond SMU.