Don’t Make the 5 Mistakes I Learned From Writing Post UTME 6 Times

The mistakes I made while sitting for different schools’ Post UTME exams haunted me for many years. Believe me when I say it is not easy to experience failure multiple times, denying you admission to the university or any other tertiary institution.

In 2012, I sat for my first Post UTME exam at Delta State University, applying to study Medicine and Surgery. I went on to write Post UTME for four different schools before finally gaining admission to the University of Nigeria, College of Medicine.

My story differs from those you read about who got 300+ in their first attempt. For me, it took me five tries to conquer that beast! But hey, on the bright side, I learned a ton along the way.

In this post, I will share the 5 biggest mistakes I made so you can avoid them. Let me know in the comment if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to hear from you.

Post UTME Mistakes

Here is the list of mistakes you can make with the Post UTME denying your admission;

1. Applying for a Competitive Course with a Low JAMB Score
2. Choosing the Wrong Institution
3. Lack of Exam Preparations
4. Cramming Post UTME Past Questions
5. Not Considering Other Admission Alternatives

Applying for a Competitive Course with a Low JAMB Score

Applying for a competitive course like Medicine and Surgery with a low JAMB score is why I had to write JAMB five (5) times.

Till today, I still see many students make the mistake of choosing highly sought-after courses like Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, etc, with a low JAMB score.

You need to apply to a suitable course if you have a low JAMB score. For example, if I applied to study Medical Laboratory Science at the Rivers State University but ended up with a JAMB score below 200. The best decision would be to apply to another course like Microbiology. That would increase your chances for admission.

I know you will say that my dream is to study mass communication, but I don’t want to change to philosophy. Well, you cannot do much at this stage because your JAMB score is out.

After the JAMB exam, the choice of course to apply to depends on your JAMB score and not your choice.

You can apply to your initial course if you get a high score, but if you score lower, you need to change.

The good news is that you always have the opportunity to change your course after your first year. Though there is no guarantee here, it is possible.

Choosing the Wrong Institution

The school you apply to for admission plays a huge role in guaranteeing your chances. Going to a highly competitive school would decrease your chances.

This directly relates to your JAMB score because you can apply to any school of your choice with a JAMB score.

Most Federal universities are competitive because many UTME applicants put in these schools because of their prestige and cheaper school fees.

Therefore, if you have a low JAMB score, it would be wise to consider other schools like State Universities with few applicants.

You must know that studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos is the same as studying at Lagos State University. Sometimes, some State Universities have better facilities than the so-called Federal schools.

I advise you not to apply to Federal schools with a low JAMB score. Let me know in the comment if you need guidance with the school you should apply to for admission.

Lack of Exam Preparations

Lack of exam preparation, including the Post UTME, would lead to failure or a low aggregate score. You need to prepare adequately for your exam to pass with flying colours.

The first step of your preparation is knowing the Post UTME syllabus and exam format. It would be a guide to know the questions and the difficulty you’d face in the exam.

It is a pity that many students relax after their JAMB exam and only start preparing for it in a few days. This is a wrong strategy.

The best step would be to start preparing a few months before the Post UTME exam by;

• Creating a study timetable
• Study everyday
• Handle difficult topics
• Practice past questions

You’re guaranteed to pass your Post UTME exam by doing all of these.

Cramming Post UTME Past Questions

It is a common practice for students sitting for this exam to cram past questions, expecting to see a repeat on the day of their exam.

I am sorry, but this approach does not often work out well. The reason is that the examination body may decide to make little changes here and there.

Also, cramming past questions would confuse you when you’re burdened with exam pressure. Cramming and pressure do not work well together.

What you need to do is to study the past questions by studying your textbooks alongside them. You need to know the reason for every question. By doing this, you can answer questions even when changes are made.

I want to use this opportunity to emphasize that you must get the past question for the school you’re applying to. It will help you understand the exam format and improve your exam preparations.

Not Considering Other Admission Alternatives

Universities are not the only tertiary institutions in Nigeria. There are;

• Polytechnics
• College of Education
• School of Nursing
• College of Health Science

As a student seeking admission, you must consider these other options if you don’t meet the university cut-off marks.

I know studying at the university is the best choice, but when life gives you a lemon, you must make a lemonade.

The best thing about these alternatives is you can still apply to study at the university via direct entry (DE).

My advice is that there is no point in wasting time if you fail to get admission to the university; rather, you should apply to either of these schools.

Conclusion

Following the advice on this page will help you avoid common mistakes many students make. I assure you there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Do not give up.

Let me know in the comment if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to hear from you.

Also, share your Post UTME experience; let’s hear your story.