What to Do Next After Gaining Admission into a Polytechnic

So, you finally got admitted into a polytechnic—exciting, right? But wait… what comes next? Before you start celebrating too much, there are important things you need to do immediately to avoid unnecessary stress later. Many fresh students make costly mistakes because they don’t know what steps to take after admission. Do you want to start your polytechnic journey the right way? Keep reading, because missing out on this information could mean serious trouble later!

Below Are the Next Steps to Take

1. Print Your Admission Letter

After you have been offered admission, visit the school portal and print your admission letter from both the JAMB portal and the school portal. Your admission letter is one of the first documents that confirm you as a bona fide student of the polytechnic.

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2. Pay Your Acceptance Fee

After gaining admission, the next step is to pay your acceptance fee. The acceptance fee is the money freshers—both ND and HND—pay to confirm their admission. Failure to pay your acceptance fee on time may lead to the school authority revoking your admission, thinking you are not interested. So, make sure you pay your acceptance fee on time.

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3. Gather All Necessary Documents

Get all the necessary documents ready. Some polytechnics use online registration, while others adopt physical registration. Whichever method your school is using, having the necessary documents ready will make your registration process smoother. Some of the important documents include your O’Level result, JAMB result, attestation letter, state of origin certificate, birth certificate, ND result and IT certificate (for HND students), admission letter, passport photographs, and others.

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4. Complete Your Online Registration

After gaining admission, complete your online registration, which includes payment of the acceptance fee, uploading of your O’Level result, O’Level verification, and other required documents as indicated on the school portal.

5. Visit the School Office for Clearance Registration

This is the most stressful part of the registration process. If you have been offered admission, accepted it, and paid your acceptance fee, the next step is to visit the school for your clearance registration. Take along all the necessary documents. After you have been cleared at the admission office, proceed to your department and health center to complete other registrations.

When should I visit the school for clearance? The school management will release a circular or academic calendar indicating when clearance registration will commence.

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6. Pay Your Faculty and Departmental Dues

You may be required to pay additional dues such as faculty and departmental dues, SUG levy, entrepreneurship fee, T-ship fee, insurance, health or clinic registration, library fee, ID card fee, and others. All these are compulsory fees that must be paid after gaining admission, apart from tuition fees.

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7. Visit Your Department

After completing your registration, visit your department and familiarize yourself with the polytechnic environment. When you get to your department, you will meet other freshers or old students who can guide you to your lecture venues.

In some polytechnics, morning, evening, and part-time students have different lecture schedules, so ask returning students for directions to your class allocation.

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8. Join the School Groups on Social Media

Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp have made it easier for freshers to get important information. If you are new to the polytechnic community, join your school’s Facebook or WhatsApp groups and connect with your coursemates or senior students. You may also join the school’s WhatsApp TV. For example, NAIJA POLY TV is one of the best platforms for getting updates about Nigerian polytechnics. Being active in these groups will help you stay informed about campus-related news.

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9. Attend Lectures

Lectures don’t start immediately, so wait until the polytechnic releases the academic calendar and announces school resumption before going to class. Once lectures commence, make sure you attend regularly.

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10. Accommodation

After gaining admission, you need to decide which accommodation system is best for you—hostel or off-campus housing. If you are on a low budget, consider staying in the school hostel. However, if you have enough funds for off-campus accommodation, that is a good option too, provided you secure a place close to the polytechnic to reduce transportation costs.

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11. Pay Your School Fees

Your registration is incomplete without paying your school fees. Ensure you pay on time to avoid late registration penalties. After payment, print your course form and take it to your department for signing. Course registration is very important—get it done quickly because it is one of the prerequisites for writing exams.

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12. Budget Money for Handouts and Textbooks

Handouts and textbooks are important. Some lecturers make their handouts mandatory, and failure to buy them could lead to a loss of marks. Also, for students in the Schools of Science, Engineering, and Environmental Studies—where practicals are common—you may be required to buy practical manuals, logbooks, or other course materials. Budgeting for these will make your academic journey smoother and stress-free.

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13. Study Hard

Gaining admission is one thing, but graduating is another. Strive to study hard and maintain good grades. Not everyone who gains admission will graduate—some may be advised to withdraw due to poor academic performance. So, put in your best and leave the rest to God. Good luck!

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