Tips

You have to think which field you are interested in and what is your future planning. To decide on the level of education, for example whether you would like to study for a certificate, diploma, or a pre-university programme that enables you to pursue year 1 of a bachelor’s degree. You can also consider an American Degree Program, a Teacher Training Programme, a semi-professional or professional qualification and many more. In order to apply for scholarship, spm result have to be good enough. Here is the list of scholarship in Malaysia: https://www.malaysiascholarships.my/

I am studying in Chemical Engineering now. Back then, I did not really understand what Chemical Engineering was about until I studied it. I chose this program was because I liked Chemistry but later I found out Chemical Engineering has nothing to do with Chemistry. This is a common mistake made by many Chemical Engineering student.

So, if you have any programs that you are interested in, I highly advise you to find out what are the courses you will need to study for that program to understand the program better. You can also research on the jobs that you can do after you graduate and study the roles. There is many information you can get from the Internet. This website provides many useful information too.

Do bear in mind that every university has different curriculum structure.

If you are interested in Chemical Engineering, you may refer to this: https://www.utp.edu.my/Pages/Admission/Undergraduate/Bachelor-of-Chemical-Engineering-with-Honours.aspx

In my opinion, firstly you must know what program you want to pursue in! Do your research in which programs suit you the most, and then only start choosing an institution best suited for your program. Be sure to relate it with your financial too, as private universities could be a burden to your family.

Scholarship is always there, so always check online on scholars that are available. Websites such as AfterSchool and IScholar provide scholarship information for you to do your research in, as well as link for you to apply to those scholar.

From my point of view, you need to start thinking about what you really wanna do. You don't want to spend the rest of your life on something you are not interested in. You may do more research on the topic of courses you are interested in with some future planning. Future planning is essential because it gives an overall image of what you will be doing in the future. Always do remember that there is no such thing as a science stream is always better than an art stream. Both streams are equally essential in promoting the economic development of a country.

For example, if you want to study abroad, pathways such as A-level is nice. However, if you are looking for cost-friendly options, choose Form 6 or matriculation instead. I hope that this gives you some hints on what you wanna pursue for your future.

To choose the right pathway is to know the right pathway! Find out the difference between each pathway;

1. The study duration

2. The programmes offered

3. The universities that provide that pathway

For example, if you aim to study until your degrees, then you may go into foundation or diploma. But if you're not aiming for degree studies, consider taking diploma because you can directly work after your diploma but you cannot do the same for foundation studies!

I think that, deciding a suitable program is one of the most important decisions. Because if you ended up pursuing the wrong program/course, you will not be able to enjoy what you are doing. I have some tips in choosing a suitable program before you apply for it !!!

1. Which program you are interested in? Art stream or science stream? If you prefer science stream, engineering or medical? You may list the courses that are linked to your interests and see which one matches the best !
   

2. Location Study abroad or study locally? If study abroad, which country? If study locally, which state is preferable?
   

3. Do some research If you have several options in choosing the suitable program and can't decide, you may do some research or ask your seniors in order to know better about the program you want.

For me, I think one should consider the capability of the family. If you have the capability, you can choose anything you want. If not financially capable, STPM and Matrikulasi are always a good choice too! Public universities in Malaysia are affordable and having good standards as well.

Of course, do try your best to get scholarships if you're aiming for private universities. As long as you're hardworking enough, nothing's impossible. Cheers!