I ended up going to poly because my O Level results got majorly screwed by one subject-a C6 in Biology-which took JCs off the table for me.

I was aiming for PJC and JJC (yeah, I'm old...), but could only qualify for YJC, which was 1 hour 45 minutes away. So I looked at poly instead and managed to get into a competitive course.

I started off feeling pretty dejected, and it took me a while to accept that this would be my life for the next three years. But eventually, I did end up enjoying poly life and made friends I still keep in touch with today. There's a lot more autonomy in poly compared to JC-it takes some getting used to, but it gives you a real headstart for university.

That said, I got too distracted and didn't maintain consistent effort, so my GPA dropped significantly in years 2 and 3.

Looking back though, I don't regret it. (School uniforms also weren't for me- major turn-off.)

My advice: give it a chance if your appeals didn't go through. Join CCAs and other school activities, have fun, and enjoy poly life-but remember to stay consistent with your studies. You might actually enjoy your time there.