My attention was drawn to the above topic on SchoolGist homepage some days back (click here to read the original write-up). I was pressed to write a reply. Due to my busy schedule I wasn't able to write until this evening.
I understand obviously the position of the poster, having been in the same shoe over and over, year in year out. I understand the predicament of an average Nigerian trying to secure admission to a Tertiary institution in Nigeria. I am going to narrate what I went through before I finally was able to secure admission, the lessons learnt and the steps taken.
In 2008 I was in Senior Class 2. Due to sickness I was unable to attend school for my Senior Class 1. I passed through series of test before I could be passed on to Class 2. I finished my High school education in 2010. As a promising teenage boy of 15, I had already attempted SSCE exam the year before, but I failed woefully. I enrolled myself into a coaching class, sold my GSM phone in order to pay for the coaching class. I cleared my SSCE papers all at once.
The same year I did UTME exam, that year was when JAMB incorporated UME, PCE and Colleges of Education. I was opportuned to choose two Universities, two Polytechnics and two Colleges of Education. I had no one to advice me, I was all alone, not even my elder brother who was as at then busy with his Masters degree program could advice. My parent are semi-literates. I pushed forward unknowingly that it was all in vain.
I decided to go for what my study mates were opting for. Obviously, I wasn't the most brilliant student amongst my mates, but I was good. We all opted for University of Ibadan. I managed to score 252 in UTME and opted for Petroleum Engineering. My insistence on Pet engin was as a result of some UItes that came and delivered a seminar to us as part of their curriculum of course, when I was in Class 2. I never asked for advice, but I saw the way they all dressed neatly and at the same time blessed with brains and analytical skills. I saw only the outward appearance, I didn't know I was competing with almost 3000 student for the same course.
Lesson 1- Always seek for advice, ask questions.
Lesson 2 - Research and find out what your course entails
Lesson 3 - Don't base your choice on emotions, go for passion
After about a month waiting to do oral interview with UI, my brother came home from Ghana. He never asked about my education, neither did I bothered myself telling him. My mother told him of my Jamb result. When he heard, he came and descended raging words of fire on me. At last he was able to discourage me from pursuing the admission. Telling me, there were others out there better than me and that I would never make it to the school.
Lesson 3 - Never back down and don;t be discouraged by people.
In a bid not to remain idle, I opted for a Polytechnic. I was admitted, but my brother tried to discouraged me again. This time it didn't work. I waited at home till about a month to examination and a week to matriculation.
Despite the fact the fact that I resumed to school late, I had the best result in the whole of the Faculty.
Lesson 4: Previous failure should never be an excuse.
I finished my polytechnic education before clocking 18, and I was happy that I finished as the best in my department. I was rest assured, that I would secure admission into the University through Direct entry, or so I thought, thus I relaxed. I obtained DE form, and again handpicked the best universities, OAU and UI. It was all a futile ride. The second time, the same thing happened: I was disappointed. 2012 gone, 2013 gone, 2014 gone!
Lesson 5: Don't do same thing all the time and expect to get different results.
Moreover, in 2014, I met with a Professor at OAU. He explained the following to me
1. There are people far better than you, seeking admission into same institution and aspiring for the same course. So, stop thinking you the best, unless it's an open system- that would definitely warrant speaking against the institution.
2. Institution uses different methods to admit students,
a. based on statistics of applications received
b. Scores aggregate
c. Subject Combination, not a criterion in some institutions
d. O level grading - which is a secret in some federal schools
e. Catchment areas
f. Connection
3. Following up admission.
All these years I have made the same mistake over and over. I never followed up on my admission. Whilst other were in school, the faculty office, I was either at home seeing a movie, or sleeping. whilst other were checking for statistics, I was just home thinking my CGPA would speak for me. whilst my mates back in the Polytechnic days are almost rounding up their courses in the University, I was still at home thinking I am the best.
Whilst my only friend in school tried another O level exam in order to boost his chances of gaining admission, I was home eating my mother's food and bullying my younger sister that was about going for NYSC. Whilst my sister was receiving update from SchoolGist, I was there thinking the internet world has nothing to offer me, not knowing I can get all the info I need at the comfort of room.
At the beginning of this year, I pledged to try my hands on new things. I wrote several unsolicited post UTME exams (Thanks to SchoolGist for being a reliable source of info). I humbled myself and did another UTME exam. Before then, I researched on the schools I am to choose , the course and the statistics. I also prepared for the exams, of which I did excellently well. Thank God, I was admitted in four different schools.
Learn from me.
PS: This write-up is not to discourage or boast, but rather to uplift your spirit and boost your morale.
SUCCESS I PRAY.
See you there!
