Campus Life

Second class citizens in university

By Yun Songyi

Associate students feel that they are second class citizens in the university. That is because bachelor degree students take opportunities to apply for places in dormitories and different clubs for granted. Associate students, who are paying more or less the same amont of school fees, seem less motivated get the same offers. These associate degree students are labeled as half bachelor degree students.

When bachelor degree students are busily participating in extra-curricular activities, most associate degree students seldom involve themselves in these events. Lack of time is the first reason.

“I want to participate in those activities, but I don't have time to do so,” said Lee Wing Kin, 20, a year 2 associate degree student, enrolled in Applied Chinese Studies at the City University of Hong Kong.

Most of his time is spent on studying. He said, “Almost all associate degree students want to go to the bachelor degree program, but the competition is keen.”

Joanna Tsang, 21, was once an associate degree student at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and now majors in Business Administration at Lingnan University . According to her, there were more than 200 students in the associate program she took. However, they were competing for less than 20 bachelor degree seats.

Students have to get a grade point average of at least 3.2 in order to get a place in the bachelor programmes in the university. This explains why academic study overrides school activities. Great pressure from their homework discourages students' participations.

Carmen Wong, 20, was an associate degree student at City University of Hong Kong. She is now studying Translation at Lingan University . She did not pay much attention to school activities when she was an associate degree student.

She said, “I couldn't enjoy clubs or societies because of the pressure.”

Because of the keen competition, students' attitudes towards studying differs largely between associate degree students and bachelor degree students.

“Hunting for good grades always stayed top in my mind. I really wanted to get a bachelor degree,” said Carmen. “Sleeping becomes a luxury for associate degree students. ”

“I could do more revision if I sleep less. I suffered from insomnia because of the pressure, even when I don't have examinations,” said Joanna.

Passing the harsh ime, both Joanna and Carmen have successfully transferred to bachelor degree. They think they have achieved an important goal after getting their places in the bachelor degree programme.

They are more involved in extra-curricular activities now.

While Carmen is a member of the mandarin debate team and the aerobic club, Joanna is the public relations officer of the BBA society.

“Getting a seat in university eased my worries. I think I may spare time for school activities,

“Now I am so happy to tell people I am a bachelor degree student,

“There is a general perception that the associate degree programme is of less value. I felt embarrassed to tell my neighbor that I was enrolled in it. The same feeling appeared when I told someone I was studying associate degree but he had never heard about the program” said Joanna

Joanna remarked on the comparison between the two programs.

“In fact, associate students are not necessarily worse than bachelor students. Most of them are hard working. Some of them are just unlucky and did badly in the public exam,” she said.

Carmen is more confident after transferring to bachelor degree programme.
Emily Wong

Lee thinks the pressure of associate degree programme is too high. Emily Wong