Oh the insanity of it all

Uni has officially started for me.

The most stressful thing so far is bidding. NUS has a semi-liberal system where we are free to choose any 5 modules per semester as long as we meet the module pre-requisite and finish the core modules which we need to graduate. As may be expected, demand for core modules is very high, while places are limited. To resolve this problem, NUS has a bidding system. Each person gets "money," i.e points to bid for modules--1000 a semester. Bids can be as low as 1, or as high as 2500 (points accumulate over the semesters). The lowest and highest bids are revealed in the trial session before the real bidding starts. The number of bidders versus the quota is always disclosed. Thus if demand exceeds supply (more bidders than the quota), the bid automatically shoots up, as the lowest bidders get kicked out...there are a number of market manipulators (also known as ninjas), who only place bids 5 minutes before the session closes, so that their bid never appears in the trial session--yet they are able to view and beat the lowest bid. Fortunately, the system is more cushioned than it appears, as the minimum bid that gets in is accepted and everyone else gets a refund of points.

Everyone in NUS learns a little about everyday economics. I've already been kicked out of three modules, which is why I, a freshie, now have to take a second semester course in Sociology. I've already missed the first lecture as I thought I would get what I bidded for. Well, at least I only need 1 point to bid for the other course.

I intend to be a kiasu geek for university. I am starting my readings now! But so much money has to be spent on textbooks...sniff sniff. Englit has to be one of the most expensive courses in terms of reading material. I have four compulsory readings for just one module. I can't keep borrowing, as the semester lasts 16 weeks. So with all my reading combined, it's gonna be 150 SGD a semester, I think.