Some see polytechnics as a faster route to varsity Polytechnic before heading to Australia for a university degree. But Miss Shamim, who left the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) this July with a degree in mass communications, graduated ahead of her Tanjong Katong Girls' Secondary schoolmates who went on to junior college and then on to the local universities. Now an intern with Bloomberg News here, she said that although she qualified for junior college, she enrolled in the mass communications diploma course at Ngee Ann in 1995 because it offered her a more direct route to the university. "I did my sums and realised that if I went to the poly and then on to the final year at RMIT, I will have a university degree by the time I am 21, and start on my journalism career." She says that the polytechnic route also turned out to be a blessing in other ways. "The course has a very hands-on approach -- so I got to try out the different fields in journalism and find out where my true aptitude and interest lies. "The polytechnic training is also good and highly regarded by universities abroad so it is easy to get into an overseas university and obtain a degree in one more year." Enrolment figures for the four polytechnics suggest that Miss Shamim is not the only one who has realised the advantages of taking the polytechnic route instead of the junior college one. The yearly intake for the four polytechnics has increased from 13,000 in 1993 to about 17,000 this year. The quality of entrants in terms of their O-level aggregate score has also gone up. The typical junior college student spends two years studying for his A levels before entering the university for a three- or four-year course. Polytechnic students spend three years on their diploma programme. But because many universities overseas offer advance placements which allow applicants to go directly to the second or even third year, they can go abroad for another one or two years and graduate with a degree. Going by the figures given by British, Australian and American universities, many polytechnic students are taking advantage of the faster route. Only about 800 enter the local universities every year. Overseas education counsellors estimate that some 60 per cent of the 5,000 students going overseas every year are polytechnic graduates. Those who opted for the polytechnic route argue that the polytechnics prepared them better for both university and working life. Said Terence Loh, 17, who is studying for a engineering diploma at Singapore Polytechnic: "The polytechnics function more like universities and treat us like adults which forces us to become more independent. JCs are no different from secondary school, you are still in a uniform." He added that even if he decides not to further his education, the poly diploma would offer him better job prospects than the A levels. "You get a job easily because your course is directly relevant to the jobs in demand. "Also, as poly courses are also very practice-oriented, employers snap you up."