Uni 101: Avoiding Common Issues That Could Arise in Final Year

I’m writing this today so you all can learn from my mistake, so you don’t experience similar frustration I am currently experiencing. The worst thing about being a student – human being even – is that you’re likely to get important information late. So, you’re probably in your first year or maybe you’re in other higher levels, what you probably don’t know is that your final year clearance will be even more frustrating if you don’t start preparing for it now. It’s nothing that frightening but there are some important information you should be aware of right now – before your final year – so your final year and graduation can become smoother and less stressful. Honestly, I wish someone had informed about these earlier. 

First of all, were you admitted based on the Merit List? If yes, then that means JAMB gave you admission which means you are on JAMB MATRICULATION LIST. If not, the consequence of this, if not resolved, is that you will not go for NYSC service because you’ll not be on their database. Usually, there are other admission lists after the merit. Those lists are very valid; the only problem is that those admitted on any list other than the merit list is likely to not be on the JAMB MATRICULATION LIST. Now, sometimes the school requests for your JAMB ADMISSION LETTER during your first-year clearance. This is necessary but some schools do not make it compulsory, at least my school did not. If you don’t submit your admission letter, you might be safe with some schools but the problem is that you will be unaware of the fact that you’re not on the very very important JAMB matric list. You’ll be unaware of the fact that you need to pay small cash to print out your PROVISIONAL ADMISSION LETTER that’ll automatically add you onto the matric list thereby making you eligible for NYSC. 

Sometimes, you may write multiple POST-UTME exams in different schools you applied to. Luckily, you get admitted to your first choice AND the other choice schools so you decide to go with the one you love most but JAMB is not you. They may give you admission in one of the other schools you got admission without your knowledge. So there you are studying in UNN while JAMB has you at Abia Poly on their database. Do you see how this can be a huge problem? Don’t despair though. This is a huge but solvable problem that requires money, running around and the cooperation of the admission officers of both schools. But you can avoid all these by checking your name on the JAMB MATRIC LIST today. Search for and find the link online and check it out. If you’re sure that you did not print out your JAMB ADMISSION LETTER in your first year, please ensure you go print it out today just to be on the safe side.

Second, please keep ALL your official academic documents, including all the bank tellers you received from payments you made to the school. ALL of them will be needed when it’s time for your final year clearance. You don’t need to run around like a headless chicken during that time when you can actually start saving them today. 

Third, the most important thing you need to do in your final year clearance is to change your school fees receipt invoice into the OFFICIAL school fees receipt. You know all those receipts you print out online after paying your school fees? Yeah, those ones are not the official ones. The school will give you the original receipt during your final year clearance. That original receipt will help facilitate your audit clearance which will clear you for NYSC. Sometimes, especially if you are a member of a large class and you have a slow officer in charge of doing it, it can be long and frustrating. In order to avoid the frustration of dealing with an incompetent civil servant, you can actually start early. Every time you pay your school fees, rush down to the finance office and change it into the original receipt. 

This advice is free of charge. Adhere to it and you’ll thank me later.