SEEKING FOR ADMISSION IN NIGERIA In secondary school one used to think that the most important things was

to pass all your papers o level , pass your matriculation exams as well and then boom!!! you get a university admission. The anxiety of wanting to know what and how it feels, being in a university was so strong that many of us just couldnt wait to write the qualifying exams. But nowadays things are different, a bit more difficult than we thought it to be, in fact its becoming more difficult every passing day. The first problem encountered is passing the o levels at one sitting. The standards of education as so much dropped that a lot of students can hardly pass their exams at 1 sitting so many have to go through illegal means because they just believe that is the only way they can come out in flying colours. Yet we still see students combining 2 results e.g. 2 WAEC results, 2 GCE, 1 WAEC 1 GCE. A funny situation occurred at a universitys interview centre, a student was trying to combine 3 different results! Can you imagine? When that hurdle is finally crossed there comes the UME now UTME popularly called JAMB exams. This is the most dreaded even those who are planning to go to private universities have to qualify through this exam. The desperate quest to pass this exam as led so many people to crazy means of exam malpractices such as hiding answers or mobile phones in their pants, on their laps under hijabs and so on. In worse cases some special centres are paid to do the job there is an agreement between the jambites and the supervisor or invigilator how much more worse can this get? That is why today you find a so called university graduate making grammatical errors while trying to express himself. That is why we have incompetent graduates. If after all this hurdles are crossed then comes the who do you know factor. Only few universities today accept students by merit most universities will not admit you if you dont have a solid backing especially into all this big, popularly known schools and competitive course of choice. Most students who find themselves victims of this often end up frustrated especially those that cant sponsor themselves or get a sponsor to private universities. That is why your junior in secondary school , someone you must have ordered around, sent on errands while in secondary school might still end up getting a degree before you. So many people have been reduced to an everyday crying, mourning self-pitying wart all because they feel life is being unfair some even go as far as committing suicide. Some years back a particular boy was known to have hung himself on tree after failing his o level papers this one hasnt even written twice or thrice he just couldnt imagine going through the stress and shame of re-writing his papers with his juniors. An advice for admission seekers, getting admission into the university is good but its not a do or die affair besides our destinies are different. University is not like primary and secondary school where when you want to get into school all you need is take a form and pre-requisite exams and you are admitted, its not like secondary school where only repeating or dropping out from school can stop you from being at the same level with your mates. University is an entire new world, a new society, a new setting were things are different you might decide to work or go into apprenticeship for the time being you await the admission. University especially has no age range,

they believe that all those admitted are matured and as you know maturity is not determined by age. Although the nursery rhyme tick says the clock.... is right because in the world today young higher institution trained achievers are highly recognised but its not foolhardy to earn or learn a trade whilst you await admission. Do not only attend JAMB lessons or pray all day that result will be good, dont do only this and waste valuable time waiting you can prepare for exams and still work or do anything worthwhile even as a pre-degree student. I had friends who learnt a lot of handwork/skills during our pre-degree days in fact I continued to write articles for newspapers and magazines. Remember that Gods time is the best and that God has a plan for everybody .Dont kill yourself with worry instead find out what God wants you to use that time for and never compare yourself with anybody even the bible is against it.