“Small class sizes” is just a redefinition of what a “lecture” is. SMU back then did not have the resources to mount large lectures, space contraints too. So we named “tutorials” as “lectures” and made it look like we had small class size. In truth, NUS and NTU tutorial classes have smaller class sizes.

“Class participation” actually was there in NUS TDP, now known as USP. It is a liberal arts programme which requires lots of class participation, and even design your own modules. We just vocalise what they have nudged below too much information.

NUS and NTU each has about 200 student groups each. SMU has yet to muster that number even now. And we’re trying to make some ranking soon. So the world will know us somehow. The other 2 already have their degrees know and brand established outside Singapore and small little ASEAN.

After all these years, I do feel bad. Which is why I am confessing.

No. SMU was never “different”. We just screamed louder. Because we were more afraid.

then over the past 2 years while i was serving my NS, my female friends at smu would actually update me with how smu has actually evolved. having learnt that admissions cut-off have been increasing by the year, perfect a lvls graders are being offered scholarships w/o the need of interviews and SOA’s dean list being as long as a toilet paper… doesn’t sound as consistent as what i hope it would be. so eventually, smu’ll be only a uni that thrives on competition yet again?

nevertheless, i’ll still be looking fwd to an education at smu. i’ll like to believe that admist the paper chase, we should have enough time to stop and smell the roses. hopefully, this belief of mine will stand at least for the next 4 years to come.

However what is happening is a tragedy – not just for SMU and Singapore – but the next gen of student because at this rate, the only choice they’ll have for advanced knowledge will be which 3 letters they prefer on the building they walk into each day.

Great post …

Ambrose: I think there’s a difference between competition between universities, and competition between students. As SMU becomes bigger, competition for the best students with NTU and NUS becomes more heated up. But the problem is, SMU needn’t resort to just looking at grades, or making grades such a big thing because it simply sends a wrong message to the students. Friendly competition is one thing, but if people are trying to one-up each other even for presentations that aren’t being graded, then I do think something isn’t quite right.

i wholeheartedly agree with u regarding the state of SMU. it is a point of much sadness to me – i greatly treasured the experience of this school up to the point where it became soulless and elitist (when it comes to grades).

to answer ambrose’s question, i think that SMU’s difference then was – well, everything. the pedagogy, the way we were taught, the type of students they took in….. way back in the 1st batch of SMU, i was told (by seniors who were there to witness it) that every single student was a true character. they may have had the shittiest grades that NTU / NUS wouldn’t take ‘em, but the SMU population was colorful and vibrant. And the part, to me, that made SMU stand out was – it took these youths that other universities turned their noses up to, and shaped them like diamonds in the rough, to become the dynamic, outspoken, intelligent people they already were inside.

I’d like to think that’s what made SMU unique in the beginning. We believed that potential was something that could be dormant, and just needed a bit more tugging. Now, we want potential to be right there, on the surface – or we ain’t takin’ ‘em.

But then again, how do you differentiate and define “different” and “competitive” , in SMU (personally, I’m from NUS), I always thought that being different in you guys is because you are extra competitive considering the cohort is smaller and all. I have never seen it as a mutually exclusive issue.

I’m not trying to bitch or anything. I’m just wondering, what is the “difference” that SMU had in the beginning if it ain’t supreme competition ?