How do I Improve My Portfolio? [Part 1]
- jcstarterpack
- Jan 16, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 19, 2023
Note: Click here for Part 2 of our series where we share general portfolio-building tips.
Ever scratched your head thinking about productive ways to spend your free time? Here’s a compilation of different extracurricular opportunities you can take outside your CCA activities, most of which you can independently pursue to build up your knowledge, experience and resume. This is particularly important if you intend to apply for merit-based scholarships or US universities. While this list isn’t exhaustive, we hope it gives you some ideas!
1. Competitions / Tests
Academic
Chemistry competition for secondary school and JC students. JC students can participate in the Senior (Year 11) and Final (Year 12) categories
Organized by the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute
MAS-ESS Essay Competition
An annual economics research and essay writing competition organized by Monetary Authority of Singapore (our central bank) and the Economics Society of Singapore
Every year, students from any JC, polytechnic, or national serviceman who have completed their pre-university education investigate and write essays related to a given theme. The word limit is 2,000 words, typically lasting between April and September.
Prize: Cash (In 2021, it was $3000, $2000 and $1000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize respectively.)
HSK
HSK is a measure of the level of candidates’ comprehensive language skills (including listening, speaking, reading and writing) while the Putonghua Proficiency Test is a test of spoken fluency in Standard Chinese.
Benefits:
To serve as a reference when you apply for a job position that requires a certain level of Chinese competency
To serve as a reference for primary and secondary school students in Singapore to predict and improve their results in Chinese language subject
To certify that you have obtained the required Chinese proficiency to enter a college or university in China as an undergraduate or graduate student
To provide additional 2 to 10 points in China’s new work permit scoring system
Application Process: https://hsk-crestar.com.sg
Engineering / Computer Science
An engineering competition organised by DSO (government agency) for JC, polytechnic, university students to construct a flying machine, fly it and complete a set of challenges in different categories (plane, drone etc.) Typically, the challenge is announced around October/November, and the event itself is in March/April
Tips from a regular/award-winner: If you’re serious about the competition, start early, soon after the challenge booklet is released! There are plenty of resources online about how to construct drones/planes and use RC technology. Prioritize newer information because the technologies are advancing rapidly.
Sandbox.sg
A compilation of different hackathons available in Singapore, including those organized by DSO, Shoppee
Writing
World’s oldest (and arguably most prestigious) writing competition. The maximum word counts are 1,500 words for Senior entries (14-18 years old) and 750 words (under-14 years old) for Junior entries. There is no minimum word count. These word limits apply to all topics and all formats (essay, poem, letter, etc).
Prize: A trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events
Fun fact: PM Lee Hsien Loong previously won the competition
An international creative and argumentative writing competition between January to February consisting of two rounds: a regional qualifying round, and a final round where the writers of the top 10 essays will be asked to further expound on their previous essay
There are multiple essay prompts; their argumentative prompts tend to resemble H1 GP Essay questions
Professional webinars will be provided to participants
Prizes: Cash, Crimson Education Credits, Internship and Harvard Merchandise (lol)
Humanities essay competition with 7 categories: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law.
2. Community Service / Volunteering
A one-stop government platform compiling the information and contact details for volunteering initiatives spanning all kinds of causes (e.g. Arts, Animal Welfare, Eldercare) and skill requirements
The National Youth Council (NYC) is a government organisation that seeks to engage and empower youths, and it runs several noteworthy programmes:
Youth Action Challenge: It’s an annual competition organized by the National Youth Council in which teams of youths brainstorm and pitch ideas to solve pertinent societal issues, aided by workshops and meetings with policymakers. If you’re interested in problem-solving for social issues or public policy, this might be the competition for you.
Asia-Ready Exposure Programme (AEP): a youth development programme that exposes youth to ASEAN member states, China and India (ACI). It includes online courses, projects
Young ChangeMakers (YCM): provides seed funding and additional support for ground-up initiatives that you start that can bless the community
Community Leadership Programme (CLP)
Volunteering as a Grassroots Volunteer:
Serving the residents, organising events and doing volunteer work.
Benefits: Get an unrivalled experience in the form of social visits, opportunities to interact with Members-of-Parliament
Time Commitment: Ad-hoc
Application Process: Varies according to the Community Club
PAP Case Writer Volunteer
As a volunteer, one needs to listen to the residents’ concerns and write letters to the relevant organisations to help address the issues raised.
Benefits: Understand the issues faced by citizens in Singapore
Time commitment: Ad-hoc
Application Process: https://www.pap.org.sg/be-a-volunteer/
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
BIBLY is a not-for-profit Youth Organisation, set up with the goal of empowering and reaching out to underprivileged, and at-risk youth
Their Youth Mentoring Programme provides one-to-one mentoring for youths who may require a helping hand through their different transitions in life
E.g. ONE (SINGAPORE)
ONE (SINGAPORE) is a non-profit charity aimed at making poverty history. It runs programmes like the Emergency Fund, which provides time-sensitive financial assistance for everything from spectacles to new bedsheets for needy families who may not have alternative sources of funding
You can volunteer with them as an intern, helping them in administrative tasks like transcribing and digitising their financial aid form, though the specific tasks assigned to you will vary over time.
Education-Related Initiatives
Contribute to the fight against educational inequality by tapping on your experience as a JC student!
JCStarterpack: Contribute notes or join us as a content moderator!! Feel free drop us an email at jcstarterpack@gmail.com
Jiayou Station x SGExams Volunteer Tutor
The Structured Peer Mentorship Programme is a collaboration between Jiayou Station and SGExams, and aims to provide mentorship and academic support to students in need. Through regular tutoring sessions, it aims to nurture greater motivation for students to aim higher, and to provide them with the knowledge needed to realise these aspirations.
Benefits: The programme involves a monthly review of the sessions to better tailor the programme to the students’ needs before restarting the cycle again
Commitment: According to the tutee’s schedule; no minimum hours
Application Process: Volunteer sign-up forms that are made available on SGExams.
Other initiatives include: Digital Senior, TaCo Taster Courses, SGExams, Smart Guppy, Unibridge, Inkie Learning etc.
Or… you can start your own self-initiated projects!
3. Courses / Training Programmes
Mass Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Coursera, edX and Udemy provide online courses covering everything from computer science to history, delivered by professors from some of the world’s best universities. The CS50 courses for computer science by Harvard are free, well-crafted and engaging
Tip 1: If you are from a low or middle-class family, do not worry about the course fees (typically 49-199 USD). You can apply for financial aid to undertake the paid version of the courses that come with a certificate, or opt for the free version without certification and some sections of the course. Coursera seems rather generous with aid.
SkillsFuture@National Service (SF@NS) (for those in National Service)
MINDEF provides unlimited funds for national servicemen to undertake online preparatory and refresher courses from the moment they enlist.
4. Internships
Public Service Internships
Consider interning at government ministries and statutory boards including: Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Sustainability and Environment, Urban Redevelopment Authority, People’s Association
MOE also offers a Student Mentorship Programme (SMP) in the December holidays of J1, and an internship programme that JC2 students can apply for in the second-half of the year. Look out for it on their website.
Benefits: Apart from gaining general work exposure, this is an opportunity to explore a possible career in the public service and/or better understand various policy challenges / current affairs issues that each organisation faces that are difficult to understand from an outsider’s perspective. This may help demonstrate interest and experience in the area the organisation handles, potentially helping with your university admissions, scholarships and future job applications. A good testimonial from your supervisor could help with public service scholarships, though this is not a guarantee.
Application: Most organisations that offer internships have a web page detailing the specific process. It is quite common for there to be an interview. Some schools like HCI directly provide you with such opportunities in December of J1 (through TAG programme in HCI), so do check if your school has this.
Note that some of these internships are used by public service agencies to scout for future Ministry/Stat Board scholarship applicants. If you’re not interested in their scholarship, they might be less inclined to take you because the slots are very limited, regardless of your qualifications (this is true of MFA). However, this isn’t true of all organisations, and don’t be afraid to try!
Note: Click here for Part 2 of our series where we share general portfolio-building tips.
By JC Starter Pack Team
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