Hi, I graduated from VJC a few years ago but my advice would be to go to the school that is nearer to your house. I don't think school cultures matter that much, because at the end of the day most people want to get a good A level grade to get them to university - at least that was what I was aiming for.


In VJ, if you want to join the students council, you have to make a speech in front of your \"house\" (of which there are 6) and people will vote you in. I think this is the most straightforward out of all the leadership groups BUT, you must be prepared to spend a lot of time in school planning activities. (actually, all leadership groups will be very time consuming)

Then there is the CT council, of which you just need your class to elect you for it, and you will automatically be filtered into the leadership group. (CT council is like a class representative thing)

Lastly, there is the house committee, which is the most rah-rah of all the leadership groups - I was part of the house committee and I remember doing the most insane things like doing cheers on top of canteen tables and shamelessly asking everyone to vote for me. Still, I did enjoy my time and it really made me a lot more confident. (I don't think the school considers the house committee a leadership group anymore, so you have to clarify that)

My friends from NJ tell me the environment there is rather \"mugger-ish\" but to be honest, VJ is the same, when exams come around the school is so quiet and people are all scrambling to book consultation timings and photocopying papers. In fact, all JCs will be about the same because everyone has the same aim - to make it to university and score in the A levels.

And because school activities are normally so time consuming and will take up the most of your march and september holidays, I would advice you to choose whichever is nearer to your house so that you get enough rest everyday because when school is at its busiest (with activities and not exams) you can sometimes go home latest around 11pm.

BUT, don't be alarmed cause they do hold CCAs for 2 weeks before exams so you get time to study. And, don't be intimidated if other people seem more rah-rah than you, push yourself to do it if you want a leadership position, it will go a long way when you start applying for scholarships later.

(there's this thing called the top 3 achievements, some of my friends didn't have much to write, but if you can easily fill it up it will be a good bonus on top of your grades)

Hope this helps, good luck!