JAE 2018: Choosing the Polytechnic Diploma of Your Choice

'O' Levels results have been released yesterday on 12 January 2018!  Hope all of you have received the results you wanted!

Here is the list of diplomas (and their 2017 cut-off points) offered by the polytechnics in Singapore:
SP:  Applied Drama and Psychology (Cut-off: 14)  /  Human Resource Management with Psychology (Cut-off: 12)
NP:  Psychology Studies (Cut-off: 8)  /  Child Psychology and Early Childhood (Discontinued from 2019)
NYP:  Social Sciences (Social Work) (Cut-off: 15)
RP:  Human Resource Management with Psychology (Cut-off: 17)  /  Consumer Behaviour and Research (Cut-off: 19)
TP:  Psychology Studies (Cut-off: 9)

However the main question you might have is:

Which diploma should I take?

To better guide prospective psychology students taking up the polytechnic route, this post is written in the Question-and-Answer format with questions that students may actually ask.  Disclaimer:  This post is written with the assumption that you are eligible and able to enter the local programs with your current results. 

Question 1:

I am really interested in psychology, but I am not sure if I should go to a Junior College or Polytechnic first?

Answer:
This is not the main purpose of this post, but students with this questions, you may refer to the below posts to get some thoughts on this question and/or some comparison from seniors who have gone through both routes:
1) SGPsychStud: Diploma or A levels? A post for the secondary schoolers
2) Majoring in Psychology in Uni: Polytechnic vs Junior College Route [Revamped]

Question 2:

I am not too sure if I should be taking up psychology.

Answer:
Obviously you are interested in psychology, otherwise you will not be at this blog! Here are two posts that you can use to consider that thought:
1) SGPsychStud: Should you be taking up Psychology??
2) SGPsychStud: Seriously?? Psychology??

Question 3:

What do I study in Psychology Studies at a diploma (or even degree) level?

Answer:
These are two posts you definitely must read:-
1) So what am I going to study in Psychology? (Diploma/Bachelors)
2) SGPsychStud: Stereotypes vs Reality - Psychology Major

Question 4:

I am only interested in learning psychology and no other programs.

Answer:
Simple question.  You have two options: Diploma of Psychology Studies either at TP or NP, both under their respective Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Question 5:

What is the difference between the TP and NP Diplomas of Psychology Studies?

Answer:
From our knowledge, we only know that the TP diploma has a very strong inclination towards research, while the NP diploma has a strong inclination towards working in the community.  Otherwise they should be very similar.

Question 6:

What are my choices if I would like to try psychology with something else?

Answer:
For those also interested in the application of psychology in business and human resource, you have diploma options such as:

• SP's Human Resource Management with Psychology
• RP's Human Resource Management with Psychology

Make sure to read Effective Human Resource Management and Psychology for more information about the field.

For those interested in the application of psychology in communication, human behaviour, and the arts, you have diploma options such as:

• SP's Applied Drama and Psychology 
• RP's Consumer Behaviour and Research  -  Read Jerry O.: The Influence of Social Media on Behaviour on how social media can influence consumer behaviour.  This is only one example of consumer behaviour in our society

For those interested in the application of psychology in psychology-related fields, you have diploma options such as:

• NYP's Social Sciences (Social Work)  -  You may wish to read Challenges in the Social Work Field for more information about the field.

Question 7:

What degrees are available for me after the respective diplomas?

Answer:
It has already been answered previously here:  SGPsychStud: What’s Next? The Polytechnic Edition

Last Question:

How do I know whether which psychology/psychology-related diploma at which polytechnic is best for me?

Answer:
This is the most difficult question.  As we have learnt in psychology that humans are very complex and each of us a very different person, there is no standard answer to this question.  Each of you may be choosing the diploma and the polytechnic for different reasons.  I would advise that you seek the help of your secondary school's Education and Career Guidance (ECG) Counsellors, or the polytechnic's ECG Counsellors if they are available at the JAE exercises in the polytechnics, for their opinions as well.  You should also find out more about the respective diplomas from their websites as well as the lecturers available this week at the JAE exercise.

Good luck!!