So, you are a bright-eyed freshman excited to find out what is in store for you. There is more to university life than heartbreaks, expanding waistlines, and a climb up the GPA ladder. Sergul Toh shares 10 things you need to know for the quintessential NTU experience

1. KNOW YOUR HALL HACKS

If you are staying in hall, there are some things you can do to make your life easier. First and foremost, save your new $1 coins! They will come in handy when you want to do your laundry. Buying appliances off your seniors, such as routers and fridges, can also help you save quite a bit of money. To ensure you are not locked out of your room, make it a routine to validate your key fob – a weekly must-do for security purposes – whenever you come into hall, otherwise you will most probably forget to do so.

2. TO PROF OR NOT

You may have heard your seniors addressing some professors or lecturers by name. It’s best to listen out for their preference at your first lesson with them. If you are unsure, calling them “Prof” is a safe bet. Remember to be consistent in your emails too. If you are emailing a prof and a lecturer in the same email, address both of them by their titles (Prof or Ms/Mr).

3. EMBRACE THE T-SHIRT CULTURE

The fashionistas – probably communication or business students – show up at the start of every semester. But when the workload hits them hard in the third week, they take the cue from their engineering peers and instead opt for something fuss-free, like the NTU T-shirt. Find one that fits you to a tee from the U-Shop at the North Spine Plaza, or roll up your sleeves and try to get your hands on the more exclusive faculty editions.

4. MAP OUT YOUR ROUTES

It’s easy to get lost in the maze of corridors and buildings when you first go for your classes at NTU. Find the location of your classroom in advance on maps.ntu.edu.sg. With several shuttle buses plying the campus, taking the right one may seem like a bumpy ride at the start, so cater extra travelling time! The Campus Loop buses circle the campus while the Campus Rider ventures off campus to and from Pioneer MRT station. Then there are the Campus Loop Express buses that only stop at selected stops. Remember to look up from your phone from time to time to make sure you’re on the right bus.

5. SUPPERS ARE A MUST

In NTU, supper can be considered a religion, especially for those who live on campus (much to the dismay of the buttons on their jeans). Regular haunts near NTU include Ah Lian Bee Hoon and the S11 Eating House NTU students know fondly as the “extension kopitiam”. Ratchada Thai Food, a hidden gem nestled in Pioneer Junction, sells $1 Thai boat noodles. In a pinch, vending machines on campus dispense sandwiches, salads and ready meals. Some canteens such as Canteen 11 also have stalls that operate till late (for example, check out @hallxiwaffleaunty on Instagram).

6. CHANNEL YOUR INNER AUNTY

7. GO THROUGH YOUR RITES OF PASSAGE

Aside from oversleeping and missing your 10am lectures, running for the campus shuttle bus, and getting hopelessly lost looking for your classroom, your life at NTU is incomplete without staying up the whole night watching movies, playing games or having deep conversations in hall with your (fewer than five) friends. Academics aside, your buddies will be among your greatest takeaways from university.

8. WORK (OUT) HARD

Time to burn off the calories from all the suppers and bubble tea! NTU has a variety of recreational facilities on campus, with many clustered at the Sports & Recreation Centre (SRC). Run on the 400m track, play a game of tennis, go for a swim, or even try your hand at the rock-climbing wall. Do book in advance with SRC’s office though – there is a limit on crowd size due to Phase 2 restrictions. There are also fitness corners around campus, like at the beautifully rejuvenated Yunnan Garden, complete with boardwalks and a waterfall to catch your breath at. Just avoid the afternoon sun, unless you are a fan of dehydration.

9. YOUR HALL EXPERIENCE WILL BE PRICELESS

10. NTU IS A UNIVERSITY OF FLAVOURS

With 13 canteens and a wide variety of stylish cafes, fast food joints and excellent restaurants on campus, lunch (and dinner) breaks are certainly food for thought. Eat your heart out with each canteen’s claim to fame – here are some of my top picks.

Quad cafe
Yong tau foo

Co-Op Cafe @ The Hive
Pan-fried dory

Connect 71 Cafe @ Innovation Centre
Japanese rice bowls

Of course, there are many other things to discover as you go along. And even if the journey isn’t always smooth, you can be sure it’d be one to remember.

This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2020 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.