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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Life After SPM? You Wouldn’t Want To Miss These!

Guest post by Achmad Bakhtiar M Yuni

Aloha, friends!

This post is especially tailored for all of the SPM-leavers of 2014. Don’t belong to the group? No worries! Feel free to breeze through this post so that you will be able to draft an early plan of what to do right after the SPM.

First and foremost,
Thumbs Up Guy
Thumbs up! / PicCredit
Congratulations for successfully going through all of the subjects that you have taken. May you will be granted the best result parallel to your effort, God Willing.

High school experience is such a great and marvellous thing! Do you agree? I suppose during this time period, you might still be thinking about your best friends, roommate, classmates, and all of the things you guys have done together, as well as things that you regret for not doing them before. No worries, I know exactly those feelings. Therefore, I am writing this post to share with you about the things that you can possibly do during this break so that you won't have anything to be regretted later on! Here it goes!

*drum rolls*

1) Future Academic Planning

Academic Planning Strategy
Academic Planning Strategy / PicCredit
"Oh maaaan, but I just finished my high school and the SPM. Give me a break!"

Well, I understand that you are seeking for a break time to simply relax, and I must say that you totally deserve it. However, I think that it is not a good idea to be relaxing all the way through your holiday. Aren't you jealous looking at your siblings, seniors and friends who have managed to go for a study abroad program and having people to sponsor them? I bet most of you do! Even if you don't, it is still wise to do a future academic planning so that you will be able to get into an academic program that you are passionate about.

a) Identify your passion and field of interest. Use this Future Study Planning Checklist that my fellow colleagues and I have prepared as rough guideline.

b) Draft the possible pathway that you have in order to achieve what you are targeting for. Know that there are several ways for you to achieve your ambition/dream. Therefore, sketch up your academic pathway and choose the path that you are most comfortable with. Here is an example:
After SPM Further Study Academic Pathway
Academic Paths After SPM
c) Have a big dream! You never know to what extent you can go until you try. Don't be afraid to have a dream such as "I wanna get a PhD!". It is not impossible. Have a dream, and work towards achieving it!

d) Are you interested in going for a studying abroad program? If you do, here are some of the terms that you would most probably need to know!

ADP (American Degree Program)
The American Degree Program is a program that is specially developed to prepare students of high calibre for entry into the first year or second year of prestigious American universities in the US. There are many institutions that offer this program. For more details, feel free to check out their website - INTEC / TAYLORS / INTI

AUSMAT (Australian Matriculation)
The Australian Matriculation Program is a package for selected students to further their studies in Australia and New Zealand. Courses are conducted based on the curriculum set by the SACE Board of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. Students who take this course will acquire the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) which is recognized by all Australian and New Zealand universities. It is also accepted by universities in the United States and Canada. For more details, here are some of the institutions that offer AUSMAT in Malaysia - INTEC/ SUNWAY/ OTHERS

A-Level Program
Also known as the Advanced Level course, A-Level Program is a pre-university course offered by tertiary education institutes. A-Levels are considered to be equivalent to form 6 in the UK. The A-Levels is well-known because it serves as one of the possible gateway for students to studying any course in any part of the world as the scope is very wide. A-Levels can take up to 18 months, depending on the specific programs offered by different institutions. With this qualification, you will be able to gain places at leading universities worldwide such as in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, India, Germany, Spain and many more! For more details and a list of participating institutions, visit the following – A-Levels in Malaysia

Study In France Foundation Program by INTEC
Bonjour! Are you interested to dwell within the unique cultures of the French while having the chance to complete your degree there? Here is your chance! The French Program prepares selected students to further their studies in Engineering in French universities approved by the Ministry of Education and Public Services Department of Malaysia. The pre-university studies is held at the language departments of selected institutions. Visit their website here for more details – Foundation Studies: FRANCE

Study In the Middle East Foundation Program by INTEC
Ahlan wa sahlan! Have you learnt Arabic Language before and feeling like you are having the drive to pursue your studies in the Middle East? The Middle-East Programme (MEP) prepares selected students to further their studies in Egyptian and Jordanian universities approved by the Ministry of Education and Public Services Department of Malaysia in the field of Medicine and Dentistry. The receiving universities in Egypt are Cairo University, Ains Sham University, Mansoura University, and Alexandria University in Egypt, while in Jordan it is the Jordan University of Science and Technology. Students in this programme spend 3 months at INTEC before pursuing their studies in the universities in Egypt and Jordan. Visit their website here for more details – Foundation Studies: Middle-East

2) Get A Driving License

Pass Driving Lesson Test
Pass Driving Exam / PicCredit
Getting a driving license during this break will serve you good later on! You will be able to move around independently and easily. This would be a great advantage especially when you're going to a university or college soon enough.

a) Identify the type of license that you wanna take
     - Motorcycle / Car / Both

b) Register yourself at the nearest driving driving academy

c) Attend the courses

d) Take the test

e) You're hot to go!

For detailed info or instructions for each step, feel free to check out this website!

3) Expand Your Readings

You are what you read
You are what you read / PicCredit
Do you still remember your KOMSAS and English Literature readings from your high school years? If you noticed, most of them are fiction stories, creative writings, poems and such. Things will be different as soon as you get into college or university. You will most probably need to take up one or two compulsory writing courses and be required to read non-fiction writings such as papers concerning real world issues, economy, religion, culture and such.

Therefore, it will be a very good idea to expand your readings! Try out different genres of books, especially those that you have never read before. Not only you will be able to be exposed to different ideologies and settings, you will also be able to write better and improve your vocabulary.

Books that I personally recommend:
- 7 Habits series

- Chicken Soup Series

- The Secret series

- Autobiographies of Successful Individuals

- Life Without Limits - Nick Vujicic

- DIAgnosis

- Other Side of The Coin – Aiman Azlan & Ameen Misran

- Novel version of Trending Movies (Hunger Games, Divergent, etc)

- Contemporary books on Religion

4) Develop Your Life Skills

Level Up Your Life Skills
Level Up Your Life Skills / PicCredit
Back then, I used to have some plans to polish up my cooking and carpentry skills during the holiday. But I was given the opportunity to further my studies earlier so I didn't have the time to do those things that I really wanted to.

This break right after SPM is a perfect time for you to learn and develop skills such as cleaning, cooking, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, arts and crafts and so on. Personally, I would suggest you to really learn how to cook, especially if you're planning to cut down your monthly expenditure during college. Being able to cook will save you a lot! Other skills such as sewing, carpentry and crafts are also promising. You will be able to fix that torn-pant from the taekwondo practice, create a lot of stuffs on your own using Do-It-Yourself materials. If you are good enough, you can also make some money by selling your own products! Be creative!
Learn Cooking
Learn to cook / PicCredit
Learn Sewing
Learn to sew / PicCredit

5) Participate in Seminars / Programs / Classes

Attend seminar
Attend seminar / PicCredit
"But seminars are so boring / I don't know what kind of seminars that I should join"

Usually in school, you got to attend some programs and seminars - some that you might like, some that you might not. Regardless of the interest factor, there is always something to be learnt from each program or seminar if you give a good amount of participation and commitment.

So, what makes joining a seminar or program by yourself different? Well, obviously you get to choose what you want to join! There are many kinds of programs that you can possibly join. Examples would be:

- Career Seminars

- Life Skills Development Program

- Adventure/Expedition Program

- Religious Camp

- Baking class

Say, for example, if you are want to be an aerospace engineer. So, try to look for programs or seminars that are related to your career interest or even something that you think might be suitable for you. It would not hurt to try. This is the time for you to explore more on a particular interest by getting first-hand experience sharing from individuals who are already in that field.

Here are a few links to upcoming programs/seminars/classes that I have managed to find:

- MAPCU Higher Education Fair 2015 (17 - 18 January @ MidValley)

- The Star Education Fair 2015 (17 - 18 January @ KLCC; 21 - 22 March @ Penang PISA)

- International Education Fair Malaysia 2015 (14 - 22 March @ Various cities in Peninsular Malaysia)

6) Part-Time Jobs / Internship / Attachment

Part Time Jobs Waiter Restaurant
Working part time job as a waiter / PicCredit
Doing a part-time job is one of the famous options among SPM leavers. By doing a part-time job, you will be able to earn your own money, start saving up as well as learning how some things actually work in real life. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth. In other words, not everyone has the privilege of being in a luxury family. Therefore, it is normal for us to have this desire to start earning our own money in order to lessen the burden that we put on our parents' shoulders. Or, some people just wanna work for experience and to save up some money on their own.

Regardless of your reasons, there are always rewards for those who work for them. I myself had once worked with a wedding caterer as a waiter and was paid RM70 for several hours of job. I must say that the pay that I received was pretty decent for just several hours of work. There is a wide array of choices for you to choose. Some of the common jobs that are done by SPM leavers are:

- Wedding Caterer (Waiter, Cashier and etc)

- Academic Tutor; UPSR/PT3/SPM (Centralized/Private/Home)

- Small Business (Bake Sale and etc)

- Tailor (Depends on your skills and abilities)

Other than that, you can also go for an internship or attachment. An internship is a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, and it can be paid or unpaid. Having an internship experience is counted as having a working experience in a particular field or career and can greatly boost your skills as well as portfolio. Plus, you will be more likely to be accepted by universities if you have done an internship prior to applying because it makes you outshine the other applicants. Try asking around your teachers, family and friends who might know a company or agency that offers internships to SPM leavers. You can also try looking around at newspaper and internet advertisement, whichever works the best for you.

Another thing is an attachment. Basically, you attach yourself on a mutual agreement with someone who might currently be working in field that you are interested in to observe and gain experience mainly through observation. This is also a good choice for you to start seeing how things work and building up your connection at the same time. Usually, you will need to know some people who can recommend or connect you with people who are willing to have you on board with them. Nevertheless, it is also possible to contact the specific person personally through email, followed with an in-person meeting.

7) Volunteering

Volunteering for Volunteer Projects
Volunteering for Volunteer Projects / PicCredit
Want to make a difference in others’ life while waiting for your SPM results? Try being a volunteer!

Volunteering is the act of contributing your time and effort to a worthwhile cause such as a community project. In fact, the spirit of volunteering is deeply rooted in the Malaysian way of life – in the form of ‘gotong-royong’ where members of a neighbourhood or organisation get together to clean or build something.

So, how can you get involved in volunteer work and what can you gain from it?

Know Your Options
There are many volunteering opportunities in Malaysia. Non-profit organisations (NPOs), such as foster homes, are always in need of a helping hand. While it may not be a paid job, volunteer or charity work is a fulfilling way to turn your time into a working experience – all while making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Volunteering can be as simple as helping out at a recycling centre on the weekends. You could even get some friends together and organise a small community project in your neighbourhood. If you want to play an even bigger part, you can get in touch with one of the many volunteer organisations in the country such as:
- iM4U - 1Malaysia for Youth

- Befrienders

- Malaysian National Animal Welfare Foundation (MNAWF)

- Malaysian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MVFRA)

- St. John's Ambulance of Malaysia

- Women's Aid Organization (WAO)

- Yayasan Salam Malaysia

8) Take A Short Course

Arrows Target Goal
Set goal target / PicCredit
Short courses are short-term and usually intensive training classes. They can last from less than a week to six months, depending on the subject, the institution, and if a certification is being pursued.

There are also short courses that prepare you for taking an externally administered exam – for example, you could take an English language course at a language centre to prepare for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is administered by the British Council. Besides IELTS, you can also take a short course to prepare for the TOEFL Test. It measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. Plus, TOEFL is widely accepted among so many universities all around the world! So, you can consider it as one of your passport to study abroad. I myself sat for a TOEFL Test before coming here to the United States.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Next:

Short courses are available for a variety of subjects, ranging from foreign languages to photography to accounting. Usually, short courses are taken to learn or improve skills in an area of interest and/or for career advancement.

They also can serve as an introduction to a subject or skill area that you may not be familiar with. Thus, they are also a good way to find out if you are suited to the course or career that you are interested in.

Here are some sites that you can use to look for a nearest center that offers such kinds of short courses:

- TOEFL Preparation Programme

- IELTS Preparation Programme

- Professional Short Courses (Visual Graphics/App Development/Designing/Video Editing/ETC)

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Tadaaa! Coming to the end, aren’t we?

Well, I hope that you are able to gain something beneficial from this post.

Feel free to personally contact me through my email or Facebook account for any inquiries or request if you want me to specifically write on any topic that might be useful and interesting to you and other people as well.

Have a great holiday matey! Utilize your time and make full use out of it!

Ciao!

Infographic: Options After SPM by The Star
Infographic: Options After SPM by The Star

Achmad Bakhtiar bin M Yuni
Born on January 27th 1997, Achmad Bakhtiar bin M Yuni or usually known as Bakhtiar among his peers, is currently a first-year student at Rutgers University, US. Being a recipient of the PETRONAS Sponsorship Programme, he is now majoring in Biology at the university’s School of Arts and Sciences under a 4-years degree programme. He enjoys reading, writing, petting cats, adventuring, being involved in the community and aims to become a significant figure in the field of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine.

He can be reached through: • Email – [email protected] • Facebook – Achmad Bakhtiar / www.facebook.com/bakhtiar97 • Blog – turqoiseazure.blogspot.com
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Comments
41 Comments

41 comments:

  1. Thank you for the suggestions!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for this kinda sweet information. Thanks for guiding me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, this masterpiece of advices to SPM-leavers is really well written and insightful! It's very timely as well as most SPM-leavers have just completed the exam earlier this month and are still planning on what to do next while waiting for the result to be out in March next year.

    Bakhtiar, can you also share with us your PETRONAS Sponsorship application and interview process and what is it like studying in the States? Kudos to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the kind compliments :)

      I will try to spend some time writing on my the interview process that I've had with PETRONAS as well as my experience of studying in the States. Stay tuned. InsyaAllah.

      Delete
    2. For the time being, you can get more information about the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Program by checking out this website - http://www.petronas.com.my/community-education/education/educational-sponsorship-unit/Pages/educational-sponsorship-unit/sponsorship-programmes.aspx

      Delete
  4. Hi, I have read your post " Life After SPM? You Wouldn't Want To Miss These!" in Malaysia-Student. It is a very helpful post to me and I have shared it to my friends, thanks ! :)

    I'm writing this letter to inquiry some guidance from you about further education as I'm a SPM leaver 2014.

    Would you feel free to tell me your suggestion on:

    Finding a scholarship for science field (Chemistry & Physics)
    Application for scholarship
    Advantages & disadvantages to study abroad
    Preparation for university
    Extra information & preparation

    I would like to share the info. you have given to me with my friends as sharing is caring. Thank you in advance :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome Yoong! Glad that you shared it with your friends :)

      1) Scholarship for Science Field:

      For Science field (pure science), I'm familiar with the MyBrainScience Scholarship that is offered by the KPM. They can give you a scholarship for Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree and PhD. Check out their website here - https://biasiswa.moe.gov.my/MyBrainSc/

      2) Application for scholarship:

      Application differs for most scholarship but usually you would have to fill in a form (online/on-paper) for the first step where they would narrow down the candidates for further interviews or tests before being officially selected for a specific program. Therefore, I suggest that you identify the field or course that you would like to major in, and start searching for scholarship from there. Kindly access the [Future Study Planning Checklist] in the first numbered section of my post above. Here are some of the available scholarships - http://www.malaysia-students.com/2014/03/biasiswa-scholarships-stpm-spm-results.html

      3) Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad:

      There are pros and cons to almost everything, right? For a quick glance of what it would be like, check out this article - http://sustainablelifeblog.com/should-i-study-abroad-the-pros-and-cons-of-studying-in-another-country/

      4&5) Preparation for University

      Here are the some tips that would be wise to prepare for:
      a) Financial - Who's and how you're gonna pay for everything
      b) Learn to cook (seriously) - It will definitely help
      c) Find friends - find the students clubs or associations of your prospective university and join them. Especially if you're going overseas later, this will be vital. Unless you have family members who can pick you up from the airport and help you to settle down, now that is different story.
      d) Understand your future major. Plan your pathway. Make back up plans.

      Feel free to share this post. I'll be more than glad to have more people aware of what they are able to do to make the most out of the break as well as preparing for their varsity life :)

      Delete
  5. can you give me more information on political science? which IPTA or IPTS offer this? what careers can i have with this afterwards?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A great interest that you have there!

      I must say that most, if not all, universities offer Political Science as a major or minor for undergraduate programs and beyond. You just have to know which universities that you want to go to and start looking at their courses list.

      Here are some universities' Political Science websites:
      a) UKM: http://www.ukm.my/ppsps/study-with-us/undergraduate/
      b) IIUM: http://www.iium.edu.my/irkhs/programmes/undergraduate/bhscpolitical-science
      c) OUM: http://www.oum.edu.my/oum/v3/index.php/page/details/56

      I'm afraid I don't know much about careers in Political Science. But here is an article that I've found : http://afterschool.my/course-description/political-science/

      Delete
  6. Thank you for the awesome entry, bro!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow this is a really good guide for us spm leavers. Im really thankful for it.

    Anyway, im in the middle of confusion in choosing course to further my studies. I like mathematics, and ive followed the guide above. But then recently i developed interests in astronomy studies. A friend of mine advised me to take actuary. Can you help me?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad that it is helpful in some ways :)

      What I would suggest for you is to pursue the field that you have the most interest in or inclination to. It's perfectly normal to have more than 1 interest. That happens to me too.

      However, you don't necessarily have the same set of skills or natural tendency towards all of those. Think of it this way - You have interests in mathematics, astronomy and actuary. But, which one among these three is at the top of your interest chart? From there on, seek for more information about each choice:
      1) Seek out the usual academic pathway for each
      2) What careers can they lead you to?
      3) How about the career prospects especially in Malaysia?

      Seek advise from people who have knowledge and experience about the fields. Your parents or seniors or siblings or friends or teachers.

      Ultimately, the choice is in your hands. It is important to pursue what you are interested in, and what you will be able to do as a job (or jobs).

      On a side note, jobs will always be available especially if you are planning to become a specialist in the field that you're going to take. So, it is advisable to have a plan to continue your studies later on to become a specialist. We still lack local specialists, so that's why.

      Oh by the way, you mentioned about mathematics. Well, mathematics are both applied in astronomy and actuary. Majoring in Pure Mathematics? Now that is another thing. That is why I mentioned about understanding each of your choices first. So that you will be able to see them clearer, and make the best choice for yourself.

      You might like the idea of astronomy? But, are you wanting to be doing astronomy for another 30-40 years from now? Sometimes, we have interests, but they are more like a side-interest. You can always take these courses as a minor or electives during your degree. So, don't worry about that.

      Keep looking, and all the best :)

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for the very useful article :-)
    Btw,I was wondering if you could explain on how I can get or apply for a scholarship that can enable me to study law overseas?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome :)

      The answer is obvious, you have to look for them and go for them. The thing about scholarship and university is that they won't come easily to you. But thanks to the Internet and bunch of helpful people on the Net, you can easily google for the stuffs that you want.

      Among the scholarships that can allow you to study law at overseas are MARA, JPA, Bank Negara, and Maybank.

      There are more. Look specifically at each one for the details.

      Here are some sites that might help:
      - http://www.pendidikanmalaysia.com/2014/02/maybank-scholarship-awards-20142015.html
      - http://alumnikmns.blogspot.com/2012/12/biasiswa-dan-tajaan-20132014.html

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. You're welcome. I hope the article helped you somehow :)

      Delete
  11. May I know what internships are available for me as I've just finished my SPM and not sure what to study in the future?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never did any internship after the SPM so I can't say for sure what is there for you. But job experiences such as working as a teaching assistant at any tuition center counts as well.

      Honestly speaking, I personally suggest you to figure out what do you want to study later : What path or foundation or pre-university program or track will you be taking? What course would you be majoring in university?

      I think these 2 things are the most important things for you to figure out at this time. Most applications for pre-university programs and also scholarships will be made available right after the announcing of the SPM results, which is just around 2 months from now.

      So I guess it would be much better to prepare yourself ahead by taking the time to plan your studies.

      Delete
  12. Assalamualaikum dan Salam Sejahtera ..
    Elya merupakan seorang daripada batch 97, dan sekarang ini Elya sedang menunggu keputusan SPM2014 yg bakal diketahui pada bulan March nnt. Jadi Elya ingin bertanya, adakah Elya sudah boleh sambung belajar sekarang atau bagaimana. Jujur , Elya tengah buntu tentang apa yang harus Elya lakukan sekarang, tambahan pula Elya merupakan anak tunggal dalam keluarga, jadi Elya tidak pernah melalui pengalaman seperti ini, yang mana Elya dapat jadikan sebagai panduan untuk memohon melanjutkan pelajaran di masa depan. Dan bagaimanakah Elya perlu memohon untuk belajar di luar negara? Keputusan yang Elya perlukan untuk melayakkan diri bagi melanjukan pelajaran ke luar negara ? Apakah beza antara foundation jika dibandingkan IPT-IPT yang lain ?? Am totally clueless right now ! Need your help !! REALLY NEED IT NOW !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waalaikumussalam warahmatullah dan salam sejahtera Elya.

      First thing, bagus sebab Elya tampil untuk bertanya untuk rungkaikan segala kekeliruan. That is the first step.

      Berdasarkan pertanyaan-pertanyaan di atas, saya rasa lebih mudah untuk saya jelaskan satu persatu melalui medium lain seperti Personal Message (PM) di Facebook kerana lebih mudah untuk saya jawab sebarang pertanyaan yang akan timbul untuk setiap soalan.

      Elya boleh add saya di Facebook melalui maklumat akaun berikut dan PM saya di sana. Saya akan cuba terangkan satu persatu.

      Nama akaun: Achmad Bakhtiar
      Link: https://www.facebook.com/bakhtiar97

      Delete
  13. Thanks a lot bro for your entry.. That really help us a lot especially after spm and waiting for spm result.. Waiting for your next entry Bakte :D -prodigy97-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the support and motivation!

      InsyaAllah, I'll be sharing more articles in the time to come :)

      Delete
  14. I am also a batch '97 student and I am looking to do my degree overseas, preferably in the US. Other than having great academic results, could you tell me some tips on how to be accepted by these universities? What would make my resume more appealing and interesting to them? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there.

      Generally speaking, of course academic result is one of the main things or criteria in applying to any university.

      Other than that, here are some of the things that would be able to make your resume be more valuable and appealing to them:

      1) Work experience
      - be it personal/ just helping out your parents/ or small business/
      - it shows that you are someone who have the initiative to be independent

      2) Research/Project Experience
      - if you had been involved in this kind of project, you might as well include it in your resume

      3) Being holistic
      - Such that you have a good blend of good academic achievements, active participation in curricular activities, as well as notable leadership experience

      4) Volunteerism
      - Have you ever joined any volunteers activity before? This can also be a boost to your resume
      - Oh by the way, as the word 'volunteer' itself goes, do it because you honestly want to contribute and obtain new experience from the activity. The boosting part to your resume and stuffs is just a bonus to it :)

      5) If you are planning to apply to an American College, you will need to sit for the SAT I test and the TOEFL test.
      - Both are rudimentary in applying for an admission
      - By having a good score in both of these tests, you will have a good standing in being considered a place in the university

      6) Take the SAT Subject Test(s)
      - The SAT II or the SAT Subject Test is usually not compulsory. But by taking it (they have a lot of choices for the subjects, you can choose, usually people take 2), and getting a good score, it will be a boost to your university application

      7) Write an excellent essay
      - In applying for a university ( in the US), you will be required to write a sort of personal statement essay and other essays as well. The number depends on the university itself.
      - Write a well planned and nice essay, and you are more likely to get a place

      8) Do well in your pre-university or preparation program
      - Usually, people will go for the ADP (American Degree Program) as a preparation before coming to the US
      - Do well during the entire program so that you will be able to secure a good CGPA, which will, obviously boost your chance to get an admission.

      All the best!

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much!!! This really helped me.

      Delete
    3. Glad to hear that! You're welcome :)

      Delete
  15. Indeed its gave me good advices. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. Assalamualaikum, I'm also a batch 97 student. This article is really useful for me. Btw , I would like to ask. I like history subject , and I always score A+ for this subject, however , since I was in form four , I have told myself I want to be an accountant. And i must be an accountant. And now I a little bit confuse with myself because I was not so good in accounting since I only got A- , the highest score I ever got for my account subject , im afraid that I can't do my best in accounting as I want to apply for profesional accountant and I know to be an profesional accountant is really hard. My questions is should I take a course that is related to history because I'm good at it , or should I just continue on my study path which is accounting that I've already prepared since I was in form four. and what course that can be related to history ? I'm really confuse right now. Hopefully , you can help me T_T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waalaikumussalam warahmatullah.

      To be honest. A- is not bad. Things are different in high school and university. In high school (in malaysia), you are focusing on many subjects. In university, you are more focused in the particular area of your choice. Accounting, for example.

      If you really want or prefer or love to have a career (or careers) in Accountancy, then I would suggest you to go for it! Nothing is easy. Every major or subject has its own challenge. With determination, passion and effort, you will be able to get through. If you really want to do it, then you shouldn't really be worrying whether you will be fine or not - you just have to make sure that you try your best and make it happen. Make it a reality! If that is your choice :)

      Plus, again, your grade is not bad. That is quite decent. You still have a long way to improve and do better in university. Trust me, it will be better because your study will be more focused. I am not saying that it will be easy. Of course it will still be challenging. Universiti kot. Haha. But really, just go for it if that is what you really want.

      Regarding history, there are a couple of things that I know such as Anthropology, History of certain parts of the world and etc. You can try googling it or look for it at some universities' websites. They should have a list.

      All the best!

      Delete
    2. Wow this is really helpful. And now I have a strong spirit to apply for accounting in university. Thanks for the advices. Really really thanks.

      Delete
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  18. Assalamualaikum ,

    Look , I have taken a personality test and I got INFJ personality which is most of is accurate with my personality. And I don't know what course should I take in my university. And I tried to look what career is suit for my personality. And you know , the job that is suit for infj personality is such as writer , librarian , architect , dietition, and many more. And there is an article that writes about the career that infj should avoid an it is accountant, audit . my question is , I want to be an accountant but my personality doesnt fit for it. Should I look for other career , or should I just continue with my ambition? If yes , there is a comment from one person who is also infj personality , she said that she once an accountant and then she realized that job is not suit for her and she quit the job and chose other job that she likes. And I'm afraid that I will be like her , because I'm going to suffer doing something I dislike and that is going to be a waste of time taking an accounting course but end up at something else Then , what should I do ?

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  19. great entry!! it really helps me

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hye . Thank you for your kindness to share all this great things . Im the spm candidates 2015 . I just wanna ask , what should i choose if i dont want to go to matriculation ? It is because i heard that matriculation life is just like high school and im weak at that . What should i do to get the fastest diploma if i dont want neither pre-uni nor matriculation ? Is there any others choice for me ? And my friend ask how to be in the A level programme ? I mean which university had the A level programme in Malaysia ?

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  21. Hey, Thanks a ton for the wonderful help!!
    SPM results are to be announced on 3rd March 2016 (it's this Thursday, wahh!!!) and I wish all SPM 2015 candidates good luck!!
    Pray for me to get Straight A+ and I will definitely pray for all of you!!
    Good luck friends!!!

    Sincerely By,
    MC The 13th

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely bro, I will pray for you and all the others too!!
      Good luck dude..

      Broggy Tan N.H.

      Delete

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