THE message on its website was a pleasant surprise for the students: It said Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) was once again Singapore's top-choice polytechnic.

It had more students applying to it as their first choice compared with the other polys.

The same announcement was also in its quarterly school magazine.

NP was also the top-choice polytechnic in 2007, but lost to Singapore Polytechnic (SP) last year.

The New Paper could not get statistics, but it is understood that SP had reigned supreme for many years before that.

It could not be established how the other polys - Nanyang, Republic and Temasek - fared.

And the secret of NP's success: Its image.

Many of the students interviewed, including those from other polys, said NP projects a fun image, a place where students are friendly, have more autonomy and are generally unconventional.

Reynard Tan, 19, an SP student, said: 'NP has created the image of a school with a campus lifestyle that is different. It emphasises freedom, which is what youths are looking for.'

About 15 poly students said they thought of SP as more of a school providing a rigorous academic system.

'NP focuses more on marketing the school lifestyle aspect while SP focuses more on the relevance of what their students learn for their future,' added Reynard, a Banking and Finance student.

Greater competition

A second-year NP Molecular Biotechnology student, who wanted to be known only as Chua, said the new ranking could mean greater competition for places in courses.

Rachel Ong, 19, who is a year above Chua in the same course, was pleased with NP's achievement.

'It makes me proud to be part of the school. NP provides a well-rounded education.

Gurprit Kaur, 20, who is at Republic Poly, said: 'I'm not surprised because when I was applying, NP was my first choice. They seem to have a more diverse range of courses.'

Eoin Ee, 19, a third-year Media Studies student at Nanyang Poly, felt the rank was not that important.

'I feel that it's more important for students to choose the course based on what they are interested in than a poly's rank,' he said.

NP media relations manager, Ms Sadiah Ahmad, said the school is happy to be the top-choice polytechnic.

She added: 'We are also aware that O-level holders select their poly and diploma course based on many different factors.

'What is more important, therefore, is to focus on our mission of delivering the best possible learning experience to those who join us, so that they will look back at their three years with Ngee Ann as some of the best years of their lives.'

When approached, SP declined comment.

Pearly Tan, newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper.