FOR those of you who sat for SPM last year, this week would have been quite a big deal as the results were announced on Thursday. Even before the results came out, some of you may have already begun your journey towards the next stage of your life, be it starting tertiary education or joining the workforce.
However, if you happen to be one of the successful exam candidates who haven’t made up your mind on what to study for the next three to five years, here are some tips for the coming weeks that may help in your decision-making.
1. Visit as many campuses as possible. Students are commonly advised to visit as many open days as possible. Universities and colleges often open their doors so that prospective students can catch a glimpse of life on campus. If you get a chance, chat with students to get their point of view of studying there. It may seem a hassle if the university is far from home, but the effort you make to visit during the open day could help you decide if it’s the right campus for you.
2. Choose a course you’ll enjoy. Doing a course that interests you is one of the first rules in helping you make your choice. You’ll find that you work harder if you’re passionate about your course.
3. Look for work experience opportunities A course that offers you an internship or placement opportunities is highly recommended. More and more universities and colleges are linking up with companies to take in interns. As a result, an internship can help harness your skills and provide a great avenue to apply everything you’ve learnt, which enhances the learning experience. A course that includes an internship programme as part of its syllabus can make a whole lot of difference because it gives you the added advantage – a foothold in the industry. You don’t even have to worry about applying for an internship position later in the course because being in that course virtually guarantees a slot with a company.
4. Consider relevance to job prospects. Another important step is to research the job prospects for courses you’re interested in. Even though you may not necessarily get your dream job after graduation, researching the career options available would help tremendously towards landing a fulfilling career. A clear understanding of the industry you’re interested to join in future will also help you decide what skills and qualifications are required and sought by prospective employers.
5. Types of assessments. In university or college, you’ll face different types of assessments. Some of you would still be used to studying for an exam at the end of the semester, just like in secondary school. However, research-intensive institutions and technical training institutions promote more coursework types of assessment, like hands-on examinations or essays, throughout the semester. The two most common types of assessments are coursework and exam-based assessments. While exams still play a big role, you need to determine whether you’re more inclined to take on coursework or more examination type of assessments. This will definitely help you manage your expectations for the course you eventually choose.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.