STUDENTS interested in doing STPM always had the fear that they may not easily be able to enter local public universities (IPTA).
If they are not offered any place, it would be a waste of about two years.
Re-sitting for STPM is not a favourable option. Going to a private college using their SPM results is also not a very good alternative.
These STPM dropouts will be going through a lot of stress and misery. Is there any help for them? This week let us look at their situation.
If you had done very well in STPM
If your grade point average (PNGK ) is above 2.5 you still stand a chance to enter IPTA. You may not be offered a competitive course such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, etc.
For competitive courses you need better than 3.5 on the average.
However, you may be offered non-competitive courses such as Economics, Social Studies, Nutrition, Project Management, Media Technology, etc.
That is why some students apply for accountancy and are offered Economics, they apply for Medicine and they are offered Applied Science, they apply for Law and are offered TESL.
Whether you want to accept the offer or not is completely your option.
Before you reject the offer, do some research on your own. Go to this website O*NET and learn about the course/career. It is a US website under the US Department of Labour.
It gives you information such as description of the career, what task people do in this career, what skills are required, what values are needed, the demand for this career/ course and also all the related careers.
It also tells you whether it is under the fastest growing careers or not.
After exploring, you can decide whether to accept the offer or to reject it. Base your decision on facts and figures and NOT on “hearsays.”
If your STPM results are weak
You may have got a grade point average (PNGK) of below 2.00.
You may not have been offered any course. What do you do? Don’t panic! It is not the end of the world.
When you meet an obstacle in your life, always find a way to go around the obstacle. In life there are many obstacles you need to face. There is always a way out. You need to find a way out.
Entry to local public universities is through UPU. That is the normal admission procedure. There are also other entry routes:
1. Many universities have a second intake. During the first intake not many students enrolled for the course or they have decided for other options. The university places are vacant.
So, universities have a second intake. Students can apply for the second intake.
The requirements are slightly lower and you have an opportunity to enter into the university. Go to the website of these universities and look out for admission dates and apply.
2. Some public universities have privatised wings. They conduct some courses as ODL (Open Distance Learning) programs privately. Application to enter these programs is not through UPU. You can apply directly online:
(a) UTM apply to SPACE
(b) UPM apply to PutraODL
(c) Universiti Malaya apply to UMCEED
(d) USM apply to Off campus
Programme/Uni Enrol
(e) UKM apply to ODL UKM
Visit these websites and find out their requirements. If you are more than 21 you can enter as a matured student. Admission requirements for matured students is very much lower. Check them out.
What about the tuition fees?
USM is considered as one of the leaders in ODL courses. The tuition fee between normal university fees and ODL courses are as follows:
Almost all the 20 universities would sooner or later offer ODL programs. This is good for the STPM dropouts. You can pick and choose the program of your choice,
Above all you can get a job, earn money and at the same time complete your degree. Remember, Life long learning will be the call for the day in future!
Career Tips:
If you have a question on careers please write to: [email protected].
