My 4 Weeks at Network School

Chapter 1: What, Why, and Where is NS?

I've spent about a month at Network School — viewed by many as a "utopia for ambitious people." It's based in a ghost town called Forest City, Johor, Malaysia. A lot of people wanted to know about my experience, so here it is.

Why Did I Want to Go?

After college, you're left with almost no opportunities to co-live with new people and actually learn things together.

After almost 2 years of working a job, I really wanted to relive that feeling. NS seemed like a place where ambitious folks from around the globe come to lock in, focus on building, and stay fit — all at the same time. That sounded very lucrative to me.

How Do You Apply?

Honestly, it's not that hard.

Almost everyone with a normal X or LinkedIn profile and a good reason for wanting to come gets in. Just apply at the NS website and wait for a confirmation email. Which looks something like:

That's it. No, really — it's not hard.

How Much Does It Cost?

NS is extremely affordable for what you get:

• Sharing room: $1,500 USD/month
• Private room: $3,000 USD/month

Use my referral link and get a free extra week worth $375 USD.

My honest advice? Get the sharing room. You end up becoming close friends with your roommate. That relationship alone is worth it.

How Do You Get There?

I travelled from Bangalore and had two options:

Option 1 — Via Singapore (what I did) Fly into Singapore's Changi Airport, then commute to NS.

Option 2 — Via Kuala Lumpur Fly into KL, then take a connecting flight to Senai International Airport in Johor.

Should You Get a Singapore Visa?

Yes — 100% get one.

You'll need a Singapore visa if you enter via Singapore. But trust me, it's absolutely worth it. You'll want to visit Singapore at least once during your month. Malaysia and Singapore are miles apart in terms of infrastructure, culture, and vibe. Singapore is like New York — skyscrapers, expensive cars, walkable streets, and Michelin-starred restaurants everywhere.

Get a multi-entry Singapore visa so you can re-enter when you want to do a weekend trip. It costs around SGD 30. I paid ₹6K through an agent and got my multi-entry visa without any issues.

Changi to NS — What Actually Happens

NS offers a free bus service on the 1st of every month.

Jakson (a core NS team member) is at Changi Airport at 9AM. Everyone gathers near the exit by Baggage Claim 19, Terminal 1. They take a headcount — and that's where the networking actually begins.

You're standing there with complete strangers — Indians, Americans, Europeans, Australians. You hop on the bus, leave the airport, and spend the next 1.5 hours admiring Singapore from the window.

My advice? Don't stare at Singapore too much — spend that time talking to the people on the bus instead. You'll have plenty of time to visit Singapore later.

After about 1.5 hours, you hit the Singapore border crossing. You don't need to get off here. Then you cross a bridge into Malaysia for immigration.

This is how the Singapore border looks from the other side of the bridge. You'll have to get down, wait in the line of immigration (moves super fast) and show your passport for immigration. Indians get 30 days of visa-free stay in Malaysia, so you don't need to worry about applying for a visa.

Another 15–20 minutes and you're in Forest City. And then you see it — the Forest City Marina Hotel. A 5-star hotel in the middle of what feels like nowhere.

For a moment, you genuinely feel like you've arrived to an utopia.

Will share about what's next after you reach the hotel — read the next chapter for it.

Read Chapter 2 to find out what happens once you check in →