Advice for All Newly Admitted Polytechnic Fresher Students

Have you been offered a National Diploma or Higher National Diploma admission to study your dream course in a polytechnic? First of all, congratulations on your admission! However, there are important things you need to know as a fresher. Understanding these factors will help you achieve your goals and contribute to your academic success. As a fresher, beloved, here are 15 important things you must take note of:

1. Lectures Are Important

According to the laid-down procedures by NBTE, all students must meet at least 70% of their class attendance. Most polytechnics in Nigeria enforce this rule strictly. So, if you don’t want academic problems like carryovers, make sure you don’t miss any of your lectures.

Attending lectures regularly can help you stay focused and understand the course better, which can also boost your CGPA.

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2. Do All Your Assignments

Assignments can be stressful and time-consuming, but they are very helpful because some lecturers award marks to students who complete them. It doesn’t matter if the lecturers always give you assignments at the end of every lecture—just make sure you do all your assignments.

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3. Do Not Spend Your School Fees

It is common among students to spend their school fees on unnecessary things such as birthdays, relationships, gambling, or the lottery. At the end of the semester, these students often regret their decision because the school management doesn’t allow defaulters to write exams. When this happens, it results in an automatic carryover or voluntary withdrawal.

Don’t make the mistake of spending your school fees. Pay your fees on time and complete your registration to avoid any challenges that could make you miss your examination papers.

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4. You Don’t Need a Relationship for Now

Relationships can be a big distraction to your academics, especially as a fresher. Your focus should be on your studies and how to build a good CGPA. Build your CGPA first, then you can consider relationships later.

Remember, spending time together, experiencing heartbreak, and giving your significant other your full attention can result in a shift in your focus as a fresher, thereby negatively impacting your academic performance.

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5. Practice Safe Sex

In polytechnic, you will meet students from different family backgrounds and cultures. It is possible to fall in love, and since sex is often a part of relationships, it is important for you to prioritize practicing safe sex, which includes using protection (condoms).

Remember, unwanted pregnancy and abortion could ruin your life, as many students often drop out of school after getting pregnant out of wedlock.

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6. Mind Who You Keep as Friends

A friend in need is a friend indeed. The type of students you keep as friends says a lot about who you are. Keeping bad company can negatively influence your life. Always associate with people who will contribute positively to your life and academic career.

For example, if you notice some of your friends are involved in hookups and fraud (Yahoo), distance yourself from them because bad friends corrupt good manners.

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7. Stay Away from Cultism

Cultism is a major challenge in various polytechnics and other institutions of higher learning. Do not be tempted to join them. Avoid keeping bad friends and attending unofficial campus parties. The consequences of cultism include expulsion and even death.

The school management may expel you if you are found guilty, and rival cult groups could target you during clashes. The best way to stay safe on campus is to mind your business and never join any cult group or their activities.

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8. Don’t Be a Copycat

Maintain your uniqueness and identity. Don’t compare yourself with others. Remember, we all come from different family backgrounds. Just because your coursemates wear expensive clothes and shoes doesn’t mean you should extort your parents to live that flashy lifestyle.

If you only have a few clothes, wear them happily and attend your lectures. You only have a few years on campus, so don’t allow peer pressure to push you into doing things you may later regret. Remember, there is life after school.

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9. Do Your Practical and Tests

Make sure you participate in every practical session and test, as they contribute to your CGPA. Fill in your logbook yourself and avoid copying others. Even if you must copy, make sure you add your own ideas to make your work stand out among your colleagues.

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10. Be Punctual

Most lecturers don’t tolerate lateness to class. If you don’t want to have issues with your lecturers, make sure you are already seated in the lecture hall before they arrive.

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11. Avoid Sleeping with Your Lecturer

Sexual misconduct is common in higher institutions, and most victims are freshers who are naive about the polytechnic environment. Some lecturers may approach you for sex in exchange for marks—reject their proposal and focus on your studies.

If you sleep with them once, they will demand more and may even pass you around to other lecturers. Some may threaten you, but they can’t harm you if you are serious about your studies and know what you are doing.

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12. Attend Tutorials

Some fellowships and social groups on campus organize tutorials for freshers. You can take advantage of these to learn more about your courses. Get past questions and solve them ahead of your first-semester examinations.

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13. Dress Decently

The way you dress is how you will be addressed. Many polytechnics are strongly against indecent dressing, so abide by the school rules and regulations.

For female students, indecent dressing can lead to sexual harassment by lecturers, so always dress appropriately to class.

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14. Network

Connect with other students in your school and make friends with them. Join different social and cultural groups on campus. These connections can be helpful to you after school.

However, avoid joining too many groups, so you can stay focused on your academics.

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