It’s never an easy task figuring out what to do once you’ve completed your secondary studies.
“Where do I go from here?”
“Which university should I enrol in?”
“What courses suit my career path?”
These are just some of the questions that this article will address. Hopefully, by the end of it, you would have gained a better understanding on what you need to look out for before enrolling in a university.
Identify your academic direction
If you want to pursue a degree, masters or even PhD, you must be well-informed about the courses and the qualifications needed for enrolment.
There are many instances where students complete a diploma or a degree programme, only to discover later that the course they took is irrelevant or not accepted as part of furthering their studies.
Review the study programme
Students often overlook this important component when furthering their studies. That said, it is vital that you take note of the structure of the study programme you intend to enrol in.
Here are some questions that can lead to a better decision:
- What subjects will you be studying?
- How many subjects should you take every semester?
- How is the academic assessment conducted? (Is it based on CGPA pointer calculation?)
- What about exams and assignments?
- How long is the study period for each semester?
- How long is the semester break?
In order to be mentally prepared, visit the official website of each potential or shortlisted university and get more information about the courses offered.
Choose a suitable co-curricular activity
Each university requires students to participate in co-curricular activities. It is one of the conditions that must be met in order to be eligible for graduation. What’s more, the co-curricular activities also have an impact on your final pointer.
If you fail the co-curricular subject taken, you have no choice but to repeat the co-curricular subject. Therefore, take note of the co-curricular activities offered and choose some sports or clubs you are truly interested in.
Education financing
If you are bogged down by financial constraints, then you might want to consider applying for scholarships or education loans such as the government-funded PTPTN.
However, do take note that the majority of these financial aids will only be approved and released once you commence your studies. Hence, you might still require further help to pay for textbooks, registration fees, living expenses and so on.
There are other ways to obtain financial assistance especially from the following sources:
- Zakat centre of each state (for Muslims),
- Respective state government offices (Muslims and non-Muslims)
- PTPTN Down Payment (WPP)
Environment and facilities
Most students often overlook the fact that the environment and surrounding atmosphere of a university plays a huge role in their tertiary education, especially if they’re planning to live on campus.
For one, the location of a university, be it in an urban or rural area, will also challenge you. Among the other things to look out for in this regard are:
- Public transport facilities (bus, taxi, e-hailing services and trains)
- Travel costs
- Nearby banking facilities
- Options for groceries, food and beverage
- Health and leisure options (gyms, parks, sports complex and so on)
In addition, you also need to take note of areas with high-crime rates and try to avoid these as you don’t want to end up becoming a victim.
Mental and physical resilience
Do you know that many students drop out from their studies after just one or two semesters? Some of the reasons include feelings of homesickness and failure to make friends. This is precisely why most universities have an orientation week.
Even so, you must strive to respond to these challenges in a more mature manner and try to adapt so that you can make the best out of your time at university.
As for physical resilience, take your daily dose of vitamins and keep yourself fit by exercising regularly and eating healthy, with sufficient rest as well. Try as much as you can to stay positive throughout your higher education.
Most importantly, seek advice from more experienced family members and friends before you make any decision regarding your tertiary education. Good luck!
Afterschool.my is Malaysia’s no 1 higher education website that provides helpful information on courses, institutions and scholarships for students transitioning from secondary school to university level.